We will get back with you about that dinner (unless my husband already
did?) You know how it is when you travel with a group...someone needs
to make an executive decision.  It sure is easier traveling by two!

I've been reading up on the history of Roatan.  Wow...very interesting.
 We just heard about the island 3 yrs. ago.  A friend of ours worked at
the missionary station ( as a teacher) on Helene for 1 yr. Several
mutual friends started coming down to visit her and do construction
projects for the islanders to make their life a little easier.  Our
friend Walt set up the first annual fishing tournament over there.  It
was a huge success.

We're interested in looking at available properties on the east side,
so this trip will be both for work and for pleasure. Would you happen
to know of any acreage for sale by owner?  Just thought I'd ask.

Janet & Mike Hagen

Hi Janet and Mike,

How do I begin to explain the ways that real estate in Honduras is
different than in the USA?  It would take a book!

But the short story is that land IS cheaper on the East end than the
West end--for a reason.  Titles on the property out east are often tied
up in heirship battles with locals--battles you likely won't hear about
until AFTER you buy it. (ask me about Civil law inheritance laws and
forced heirship when you get here--be prepared to listen for at least
an hour)  <grins>

After seeing friends go to court over and over--one getting evicted
from their retirement home at gunpoint with a hour to move--just to
battle thru court again--to get their home back 2 years
later--destroyed???

W--ELL!!!

It's very hard for me to discuss this "buy East End acreage from locals
and get it cheaper" idea with anyone without wanting to shake
them--HARD! I've been here seven years--know lots of locals--and still
would have to get an agent friend to help me do some research before
I'd buy anything up East.

I once owned 5 houses--did much real estate stuff stateside--even sold
our large home there myself --easily--just called myself a reputable
closing atty (the one with the biggest ad in the phone book) and BINGO!

But this is NOT the USA. Title searches and old surveys here mean can
next to nothing.

You MUST find someone here to deal with who is knowledgeable about the
history of the property you want to buy if you want to go East--or
anywhere where large, island family -owned acreage is still available.

Here an experienced RE agent IS worth what they charge!

And a closing atty can be worth very little past filling out forms (he
is NOT responsible for if the land he tranfers title to is owned by the
person you are paying or not--this is YOUR responsibility!!! An atty
will charge 7-10% of the value of the land to change the title (much of
this is a title transfer tax all must pay).  If the attys screw up and
transfer title on land that is NOT clear for sale you have--and please
put this down in blood--NO RECOURSE AGAINST THEM IN A COURT OF LAW! NO
BAR ASSOCIATION TO CALL!

In short my new friends--proceed VERY carefully--it's NOT Kansas it's
Honduras--and you are not Honduran. In a court the non-Honduran ALWAYS
loses.  So it's best NOT to get yourself taken there in the first
place.

So how do you buy land here? CAREFULLY!  And with the advice of the
best full-time resident agent you can find--the one who has been here
the longest and knows the most possible about local families, their
land holdings and heirs.Then there are other American's who have
bought--found out title isn't quite right--and now have listed land for
sale too.

That said, there are lots of RE agents who are OK here--some that are
VERY experienced stateside (but it does them no good here!!!)  And some
that are--well--unconcerned--others outright--crooks!!!

Now I've had my say--said it 100 times before.  Is anyone listening?
<chuckles>  If not, no biggie.  Have been down this road so many times
I KNOW how hard it is for most Americans to understand how things are
here. They listen to me REALLY well until some unscrupulous agent
presents them with an excellent "deal" and says everything they want to
hear.<sighs>

Me?  I just lucked out--bought NOT looking for a "deal." Then bought
more after I'd lived here a few years and had time to completely
research nearby land I wanted.

But most are not so lucky.

We can help you now--and will--we're one of the few folks on this rock
NOT in the Real Estate biz who have no reason to lie to you. But we
will not be able to help you later if you go the path of the foolish
who ALWAYS get what they pay for around here--or less.

So write me if you want to know who I'd buy land from--who I'd take
advice from. But please don't waste these people's time, as they will
be helping you specially as a favor to me and are my personal friends
for years.

How to approach an agent?
With the TRUTH!  Give them a real budget--and tell them what you want.
Knock off 10% of what you "think" you have to spend for closing and
incidentals. Arrange to have access to a 10% down payment if they do
have what you want.  'Cause if the miracle happens and they find the
right land at a decent price, it will NOT last long.

A sincere contract offering to buy here must include a 10% deposit to
take the property off the market. So bring a checkbook and make sure
the check will be good if you decide you want to buy something.

Questions to ask?
Neighbors?  Meet them and talk to them if you can--LOL and YOU buy the
beers! Tip HUGE everyone who will talk to you "off the record" and
honestly--'cause few will!
Property taxes? Are next to nothing here--don't bother to ask--maybe
$100 per year--just make SURE you have a receipt where the last owner
paid them or YOU will be held liable!!!.
Homeowners Insurance--costs about the same as stateside or less--just
doesn't cover theft--DOES cover hurricanes which we rarely get..
Road, water, and/or land owner Association dues?  May be HUGE!  Ask!
Verify this with neighbors! How is that dirt road taken care of?  The
well? By whom?  You alone? VERY EXPENSIVE!
Does the property have water rights--on paper--road--on paper?
Electricity?  Who put it in? Who do you have to pay to hook up to it?
will you need to buy a new transformer to hook into the system?
Will a cellphone call work from there? (few East End lots have hard
line phones--some spots are dead for cell phones too!)
What happens to this nice-looking road when rainy season comes (this is
dry season--beware bad roads that look good now!!)
Boat only access?  Are you really sure you want this?  In rainy season
too?
Employees on the property? Ask--this one takes a book!

LOL and this started out to be a short e-mail???

Where DID that soapbox come from!!!! <chuckles>

And I've barely scratched the surface!

Suffice it to say, that buying land in the third world as an expat is
MUCH different.

But helping out new folks is something we do--it's part of our job.  Ya
know?

Thanks for understanding! <HUGE smiles>

Just ask and I'll answer--and it'll be shorter next time! I promise!

Waylon and Sandy Sims
Coral Beach Inn and Vacation Rentals
http://coralbeachinn.com
Growing old is mandatory--Growing up is optional!
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