-Baby Boomers, what are your plans?
-Rotary Golf Tournament
-Real Estate Steals and Deals
-Facebook?
-‘Canadians Flocking to Honduras’?
-American Airlines Expands Service
-RE/MAX Support, links and Services
-Baby Boomers, what are your plans? (Section also published on Honduras.com)
As U.S. Baby Boomers head for retirement, a look at the dreams of their parents brings back memories of the hundreds of thousands who retired to far off “promised lands” like Florida and Arizona. Pioneers, like Walt Disney, created fantasy worlds and helped shape an adventurous generation, and their children. They sought warm climates during winter months, low or no income taxes, golf, fishing, and numerous other benefits tailor-made for a budget-minded generation.
Where does the ‘Boomer Generation’ retiree go now? This is the generation that came of age in the 60’s & ’70s – the generation that brought technology from an idea to a staple of everyday life. These are the people who colored outside the lines, forging new frontiers, substituting world travel – their version of the same adventure – for a trip to Florida, and in the process, shrinking the world. Central America is steadily becoming “Florida” for retiring Boomers from around the world. Increasing numbers of them are turning to this part of the world to explore their retirement adventure. The more they look, the more real evidence they find that this just may be their place to find the same dream as their parents in retirement-warm climates and economic advantages. These include such things as very large income tax advantages for those who choose residency, low property taxes, reasonable medical care and prescription medication costs, and affordable housing – all within a couple of flight hours from the U.S.
Five Hundred dollars may be a good ‘average’ to report as a cost of a residential property taxes. I recently had a MRI on my jaw here for a ‘salivary stone’. The cost here $250.00. In that it is a very specialized surgery, (the Mayo Clinic does not even do it),
I made a trip to a specialist in Miami to have it done. Of course that doctor needed his own scan so a week later I had to have it redone Miami. Cost? Two thousand nine hundred dollars.
Obviously no place is nirvana but overall my 14 years here in the Bay Islands have been very pleasant with a very pleasant culture. Is it more adventurous than many would wish to choose? Probably, I would think, but the warm tropical weather, the lack of commercial businesses on every corner, the pleasant and friendly people all make for a pretty great life. How many people do you know that decide that life is too short and it’s time to ‘color outside the lines’ so to speak? Living the simple life to me is a very good thing.
-Common sense hits the island before it does the U.S.?
Did you ever watch the news and wonder why things that are so blatantly common sense are not as common as you’d think. And why is it that the governments of the world refuse to do the things that seem so self-evident? If you don’t have those thoughts you sure are not like me. Although I could write an untold quantity of pages about common sense, an amount that would probably depress many of my readers, what I will do instead is tell you the good news.
Here on the island there will soon be a new business opening that will convert vehicles from using gasoline for fuel into LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered systems. Supply & demand seems always to be what drives the world and when a poor country is asked to pay too much for fuel, it changes fuels. A taxi driver I know saves a full half of his fuel bill since he made the conversion. The payback period was only a few months. This business should start up within the next few weeks and will mean cheaper fuel for many and cleaner air for all. Are there any North American politicians subscribing to the RE/MAX Newsletter? Hmmm. Another thought along a ‘government savings’ line would be saving billions of dollars by allowing the hundreds of thousands in the ‘ex-pat’ community around the world to use their Medicare benefits where they live instead of making them travel to the U.S where prices can be 10 times as much? ‘Common sense’, where is it hiding?
-Rotary Golf Tournament
Are you a golfer? WIN a CAR! WIN a FREE Golf Cart! Try out what some are saying is the best golf course in Central America and do something great for the island at the same time. Participate in the Rotary Golf Tournament April 20th at the ‘Black Pearl’ golf course at the ‘Pristine Bay Resort.’ The Rotary Club of Roatan does some really great work as it does internationally. From educational scholarships and the establishment of sanitation facilities in schools on the island, to providing medical supplies, support of law enforcement and dozens of island projects. Rotary here on the island is always working hard to make the island a better place. Ask questions or register here – rotarygolfroatan@gmail.com
-Real Estate Steals and Deals
This home site in the prestigious Lawson Rock community is an extreme deal. With the original owner paying $79,000 U.S. in 2004 this site at half the price is a major bargain. https://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing/listing-131-lawson-rk/
Arguably the best quality condo project on the island, purified water at every tap, top end everything, private small beach and pool……….$165,000 U.S.
http://www.roatanbayisland.com/listing/listing-33-keyhole-bay-condo/
West End 2br/2ba Condo in Sunset only $99,000 U.S.
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing/listing-158-2-bedroom-2-bath-unit-12j/
Close to the beach, walking/golf cart distance, (200 yards), from golf course starting at $29,000 U.S. PLUS developer will finance with half down. Tough to beat that deal!
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing/listing-162-0-14-acres–ocean-view-lots/
Large 7 bedroom wooden house could make a great B & B with amazing views. It has 4 identical bedrooms with on-suite bathrooms on one floor. 2 large bedrooms in the main house. A maid’s quarters in an exterior bldg. Three large decks make this wonderful for entertaining. Recently had a huge price drop of almost $100,000 U.S.
http://www.roatanbayisland.com/listing/listing-157-casa-sonrisa/
Caribbean views from this cool hillside home site in the tropics. All this property needs is your dream home. Private water, road, and electricity available.
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing/listing-135-0-12-acre–homesite/
Enjoy life in the tropics. Just a few minutes’ walk to West End Beach you can go for a swim, snorkel, dine or just relax and watch the boats sail. Unit 12K is fully furnished.
2b/1ba condo –
https://www.roatan-realestate.com/listing/listing-159-2-bedroom–2-bath-unit-12k/
Are you a golf nut? If you are not aware Roatan has what many are saying is the nicest golf in Central America. Check out this home site, a prime location site with unobstructed views to the azure waters and beautiful greens of the course-
http://www.roatanbayisland.com/listing/listing-167-prime-golf-home-sites/
How about a NEVER BEEN RENTED lower floor Mayan Princess custom feature condo unit? http://www.roatanbayisland.com/listing/listing-166-mayan-princess/
-Facebook?
Those of you who are on Facebook may wish to visit our RE/MAX site there. We have some great photos of the island and some special locations on the mainland including the Mayan ruins at Copan, one of the oldest cities in Central America, Comayagua and some great white water rafting in La Ceiba. http://www.facebook.com/RoatanRemax?ref=hl If you do visit, please ‘LIKE’ the page.
My personal page is http://www.facebook.com/larry.schlesser.9 and you are certainly welcome to visit that also.
-‘Canadians Flocking to Honduras’?
Here is an article regarding our Canadian friends’ desire to come to this beautiful country. Many good reasons, no matter what country you are from.
-American Airlines Expands Service
I am not sure as of yet how much of an expansion of flights there will be, but it does seem that American Airlines will at least be expanding service to Wednesdays. I just did a search on Wednesday June 12th and I was able to book a flight. I have been hearing that there will be a non seasonal, four day a week schedule starting up but I have seen nothing official yet. As of right now it is looking like Wednesday and Saturday flights are now set.
-RE/MAX Support and Services
Safety Deposit Boxes-
Protect your valuable property documents, corporate stock certificates and small valuables when you are not on the island. Our Jackson Plaza office has a safety deposit box service for your document storage. Email me for details.
Property Taxes – Do you need your Roatan property taxes paid this year or for previous years? Our office provides that service.
Helpful/educational Links-
Are you new to the newsletter and have questions about buying property here? Here is a handy FAQ page that may be helpful-
Are you wondering about the island as to where you may wish to consider a purchase? Are you looking for the ‘tourism area’? Maybe the remote end of the island or the beautiful golf course? This ‘Geography’ video may be just the thing for you.
On this link you can get a both a map you can print and a bit of the history of Roatan. It is not long but will give you a better handle on the island.
That is it for this month folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you are all booking your tickets for a visit. Great deals on your dreams are right now! Isn’t winter getting old?
Best regards,
Larry