The most important advice (as said many times on this board) is use a reputable and established real estate company. With the boom in real estate here and no formal license needed, everybody and their brother seems to be opening up an 'office'. Sometimes their office is their golfcart. Check the company's website for listings you may be interested in. Companies that have a good selection include Ambergris Seaside Real Estate, Southwind Properties, Sunrise, and Pelican Properties. All these websites can be found from the real estate section of this website.