One of the first things we tell people that are considering buying real estate is Belize is "Do NOT assume anything!" Things here are not the same as wherever you call "home." You are not guaranteed road access, electricity, city water, cable tv or phone service. Nor are you guaranteed that the fire department or ambulances will be able to reach you during an emergency. There are some major risks involved in choosing to live in this part of the world - and I haven't even mentioned them yet!

Perhaps it's not so much buyer beware as buyer BE aware.

I can tell you if I wanted easy road access, utilities, drive in theatres and mall shopping I would move to Miami.

The biggest risk I am going to take is meeting a bunch of folks I don't know in February in order to drink copious amount of alcohol whilst solving the problems of the island.