Has anyone reading this message thought about checking with the memenite lumber yards ,about building a house on Amberqris Caye? I done alittle research into the cost of a house by some of the local builders and it seem to run about 100.00 to 125.00 a square foot,for concret housing.Which seems some what high concedering the labor cost are lower their.Im only hoping to get some ideas so i can make this dream happen sooner then later.Our land is paid for, so were saving for a house not a big one ,but not the size of an out house either. i listening and any help would make this louisiana man happy.

E us, we will tell ya.
Our house is almost finshed, will be at the end of the year!!!
Rick

Lots of things to consider.
Do you need a cistern? Unless you are on town water you will need to collect rainwater or purify (RO) and store well water. There can be as much as 5 months with no rain on AC.
Does your property have electric?
You could build a nice wooden building for half what a concrete structure would cost. Do you want concrete piers (foundation) or wood?
When you start to research the actual type of construction you will see that you definately get what you pay for with concrete. Most of the cost is what is in the ground (your foundation work). If you can you should consider building up 8 to 10 feet (some kind of a raised structure) in case of high water. It would also give you more breeze and fewer bugs (and a better view!).
Depending on where you are building your materials will have to be transported to the site. Do you have time to oversee the construction yourself? You will need to build a storage building on site for your materials and tools so that they do not disappear.
We originally wanted a beach shack with a piling to tie a boat up to in the water. We ended up going with concrete construction.

If you are within 3 or so miles of the town center your new house should cost anything from 35.00US (wood, Menonite, finished with basic but functional fixtures and fittings) to 135US (concrete, deluxe construction and luxury everything) a sq ft. to build. Depends which contractor you hire and what level of luxury the finished fittings, fixtures and cabinets will be. I think contractors who offer basic stuff at the upper price range are padding their pockets excessively, but if they offer the luxury stuff and fine finshing then great.

The cost of your house will also depend on its location....if you're a landowner a wayyss up the island past the cut the cost will be higher because of transportation issues and the need to provide your own water supply....for underground cisterns expect to pay around $1.00US per gallon. If you are VERY far North you will also need to factor in the cost of adding your own electrical supply.

Talk to more than one contractor. If they go to the trouble of working out the costs of your new house based on plans supplied by you, do pay them their 100US or so fee for taking the trouble to work the numbers for you even if you decide not to use their services. Also, most contractors will haggle a bit. Three of the very best contractors are locals....Armando Graniel (Graniels Construction), Wayne or Dennis Alfaro and Daniel Camal (Rocamco).They are all well capable of building nice concrete homes for under 100US per square foot and considerably less than that for lumber or steel construction.

If your budget will only allow you to talk to the Menonites then no need to talk to anyone else...no one can beat their prices for decent but basic lumber construction.

One more point....lumber housing is insurable for a premium of 3-4% against storms and fire. Steel is about 1.25-1.5% and cement is about 0.8-1.25%.

Tincup -how did you get on with your 5% retention fee payable to the gov't.

thanks everyone for the info. Rick i dont seem to be able to find your email address,please help.thanks