August 2015 Newsletter
Communication with loved ones
For generations, people in North America have considered moving south. They long for days filled with sunshine and a better way of life. Long ago, international living meant leaving family behind and barely being able to communicate due to poor phone lines and unreliable mail service.
Fortunately, Baby Boomers have found many of the challenges with communication are no longer a hindrance to international living. With the innovation of VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) people can use companies such as Vonage, 8 x 8, and Magic Jack to communicate easily. Those living on The Bay Islands can even have local area codes which plug-in to the Internet. This makes talking with kids, friends, and relatives simple. Add Facetime or Skype to the mix and the grandkids can see your face and spend time with you even when you are an ocean away.
In addition, having an international airport allows for flights from Roatan to the U.S. in a little over two hours. Airfare bargains can be found and credit card miles can also be used to help minimize travel expenses. I use http://www.airfarewatchdog.com/, a site that sends alerts about airfare prices to my favorite cities.
Reasons to consider buying real estate on the Bay Islands
Whether you are moving to the Bay Islands, investing for future retirement, diversifying your financial portfolio, or you have decided you want a little more adventure in life, there are many excellent reasons to move to the Bay Islands.
- A better quality of life
- A luxurious lifestyle for a fraction of the cost
- A life with less stress
- You can own your own business where you’ll pay fewer taxes and keep more of what you make.
- The IRS deduction for foreign earned income tax credit is very close to $100,000 per person annually.
- Great weather
- No shoveling snow, scraping ice, or heating your house!
Yes, I understand, winter can be fun. For many years our family was cross-country skiers. We rode snowmobiles, and I have been in many ice shanti, fishing structures. That said, that was then and this is now, and I do not see myself venturing above the Mason-Dixon line ever again, unless of course, it is during a summer visit to see family!
More on taxes
Having a good business plan and putting yourself in a location that can generate that type of tax credit can help you accumulate assets and pay less taxes. Basically, you can arrange your financial affairs so you’re maximizing your tax liability on your U.S. taxes. Therefore, leaving more money in your pocket where it belongs!
How does island life change a person?
Many of my clients ask me about life here and how it changes when you move to the Bay Islands. For me, one of the biggest changes was food.
Being from the Midwest, we were pretty much brought up on meat and potatoes. My kids would jokingly call any form of meat “roast beast.” The child who said that the most is now a happily practicing vegan, but there is no doubt your eating habits change for the better when you move here.
Having large supplies of fresh seafood, shrimp, and lobster is really pleasant. (sea bass is about $4.00 per pound for fillets. How much is it where you live?). Seafood is available in numerous places on the island but a couple of my favorites spots are Hybur Seafood and Snappers, which are both in French Harbor.
At Snappers, guests can order in or take food home.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g292019-d7188065-r238555827-Snappers_Seafood_House-Roatan_Bay_Islands.html and http://s2.findyello.hn/Roatan/Mariscos-Hybur/profile
Fruit and veggies are also plentiful and one of my favorite sources for fruits and vegetables is the Blue Harbor Arboretum. With thousands of fruit trees and an abundance of hydroponic lettuce (yes, that’s right, lettuce that is so fresh picked it can actually be in you refrigerator a couple of weeks+ without going bad) many varieties of mangoes, bananas, guava, pineapple, papaya, herbs, and herbs/spices can all be found here. How about having fresh basil plants on your patio and putting a little basil in your scrambled eggs with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese? Yum!
The Bay Islands will take your taste buds on an adventure. It makes your taste buds EXPLODE!
Want to visit Blue Harbor? Check them out here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g292019-d2577928-Reviews-Blue_Harbor_Tropical_Arboretum-Roatan_Bay_Islands.html
Mark your calendars!
February 22, 2016 is the first day or our next Discovery and Investment Tour. This is your chance to get all the information you need and all of your questions answered in one place at one time. RE/MAX gathers a variety of professionals all in one room for you: U.S. attorney, U.S. accountant, Honduran attorney and Honduran accountant, insurance specialists for home, life, car, boat and health, along with long-term island residents who have lived here for 15-30 years and who moved here set up businesses and provide input from real experience. We are also working on adding a Canadian tax specialist to this group, but we are not quite there yet.
I know February seems like a long time away, but please understand the Discovery and Investment Tour is a concierge service. We cap the number of participants, and we already have people signed-up. Do not get left out!
Utila related news
The Utila Dream is a new ferry that will be offering service from Utila to La Ceiba. It is scheduled to start service sometime this October. This new ship will hold up to 250 people versus the 50 people the older ship held, and the new ship should provide a much smoother ride.
A new Internet service provider is now available on Utila, and it offers the following service: D&D Internet offering Internet connection via radio link.
Free installation with 12-month contract. Prices are 1.2 Mbps = Lps 800, 2 Mbps = Lps 1,400, 3 Mbps = Lps 1,850, 4 Mbps = Lps 2,300, 5 Mbps = Lps 2,800. No data limits. (Lempira are 22 to 1 vs. dollars)
For the people interested in Utila, there is now Utila Buy & Sell – Utila’s Daily Tickertape https://www.facebook.com/groups/116804641783120/ This is a place for you to shop and sell items.
An update on CEMESA Hospital
During a recent meeting with a U.S. doctor and his administrator, I was informed that the CEMESA in San Pedro Sula is earmarking new equipment for the new facility being built on Roatan. They already have it purchased, in stock and ready for shipment.
For those not familiar with CEMESA, they are the best medical provider in this country. I have had considerable experience with this organization, including three surgeries and have always been very pleased with their operation. In addition, CEMESA has dealt with my insurance companies easily and efficiently.
The doctor and his administrator informed me about two very important items. First, the hospital will be operational before the end of this year. If you drive by the site now, you can see the installation of the interior walls. I was also told that CEMESA will be installing the windows and doors, and then painting and installing the new equipment. In addition, I learned the hospital will be offering health insurance for both citizens and foreigners.
The offering of a top-end medical care facility on the island is great news for the Bay Islands. A 24/7 Emergency room mid-island will also be a great asset.
Real Estate Guarantee
Do you know RE/MAX Bay Islands is the only company in the country (not just the Bay Islands) that has a real estate guarantee? We have this guarantee but ONLY with RE/MAX Bay Islands & RE/MAX Western Sunsets. In addition, we also provide our Buyers with an asset list. The asset list is based on the combined knowledge of myself and our office personnel and includes information on area doctors, lawyers, dentists, stores, handymen and repair people. The asset list is sort of like a RE/MAX’s List instead of an Angie’s List.
Before you get into the properties below I wished to let you know that I am starting a new series of Customer Surveys to better gauge what your wants, likes and desires are. This first one is geared to potential Purchasers and will only take about 2 minuts, (11 questions). Upcoming will be another for Seller’s and yet a third on how to ‘fine tune” our “news” on our Newsletters. After that I may also want to send out some others in regard to more exact wants, likes and desires. If you are a Seller, casual news reader no need to click on the link. If you are a Purchaser or potential Purchaser we certainly would appreciate your input. The first survey is here. https://larry27.typeform.com/to/PJt6TB
Real Estate New Listings, Price Reductions & Great Deals-
One of the best home deals, if not THE best home deal on the island of Utila-
SPECTACULAR views of West Bay and the Caribbean, Plenty of room for a triplex/quadplex or very large house.Approximately 0.45 Acres
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Tamarind-Drive-Tamarind-drive-subdivision-Roatan-mls_15-252
This 5 bedroom house is located on a unique private bluff with an amazing view. The land has a constant breeze from the south shore of Roatan. Huge parking area with a private garage. There is also a care taker house on the lower part of the land. Recently build, this is the perfect house if you want to be located in the mid area of the island and own your private estate. A must see property !!
http://roatanbayisland.com/listing/listing-36-home-in-dixon-cove/
2br/2ba condo only $99,000 U.S. Close to all the activity of West End Village, (Shopping, diving, restaurants, nightlife)
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Sunset-Villas-West-End-2-Bed-2-Bath-Unit-12K-Roatan-mls_15-315
Land bank for your retirement or investment this great little lot. Easy to build flat topography. Adjoins a swimming pool. The premier community of Lawson Rock boasts of top end homes, 3000 feet of beach, community swimming pools, restaurant and gym. This centrally located community is only 15 minutes from the Roatan International Airport and a short drive to the West End/ West Bay areas.
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Adjoining-Community-Pool-Lawson-Rock-45-Roatan-mls_15-70
Top end community home site very near the beachfront
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Large-Hm-Site-near-water-Lawson-Rock-1B-Roatan-mls_15-69
Nice Home site, a short walk to the beach, no HOA fees. Ready for you to start your new home-
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Ocean-View-Home-Site-Roatan-mls_15-306
Large 3 acres and views to both shorelines, north or south. Subdivide it yourself or for you own tropical estate. https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Ocean-Views-3-Acres-Jonesville-Pointe-Roatan-mls_15-301
The lowest priced home site on the Pete Dye designed Black Pearl golf course- https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/3012-Pristine-Bay-Roatan-mls_15-59
Beautiful Hillside lot with amazing views of the protected bay and reef. Infrastructure is in and ready for building. A wonderful spot to build your Dream home! https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Wonderful-Water-Views-Terra-Chula-1-2-Acre-Lot-15-Roatan-mls_15-180
This first floor 2br/2ba Villa is decorated in a Beach style. Comfortable and relaxed, just outside your patio door lies a private rock lined pool with cascading waterfall. Turtle pond to the right and greenery and flowers surround this Luxury Villa. also, Community pool, 1st class Gym & Spa, Fine Steak House, Sports Bar, 24 hour security, great management! Golfers, enjoy a Pete Dye Golf course next door. Only $189,000.
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Pool-front-Villa-812-Pineapple-Villas-Luxury-Roatan-mls_15-103
5 br home on a high bluff with amazing views and marvelous tropical breezes. https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Dixon-Cove-Home-in-Dixon-Cove-Roatan-mls_15-195
How about tossing in the towel in a rat race life and operate your own high end boutique Hotel? https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Sandy-Bay-Tranquil-Seas-Roatan-mls_15-277
Short walk to West Bay Beach building site – two to choose from – https://www.roatan-realestate.com/idx/Beachers-Road-Turtle-Trail-West-Bay-Lot-B-Roatan-mls_15-329
That is it for edition of the RE/MAX Bay Islands. I hope you enjoyed and thank you for reading.
