Own Your Beachfront Dream Home From $140,000

28.02.2024 - 19:53 / forbes.com

Want to live the fantasy of living on the beach?

Or perhaps owning a second home by the ocean to visit whenever you feel like it?

One way to make that dream a reality is to look internationally…

Coastal real estate in the U.S. is out of reach for most regular folks, thanks to home prices and the sky-high real estate taxes you’ll have to shell out every year.

California and Florida top so many lists of “best places to buy a beach home,” but these are also some of the most expensive places to look at buying a seaside home, and come with thousand-dollar bills for taxes every year, maintenance costs aside.

In California, an average home is said to cost about $425 per square foot, with an average home totaling about $774,500, plus over $5,000 a year in taxes—but you can forget about actually living oceanfront for that price, which would run you several times those numbers.

Florida looks like a discount in comparison, with average home prices clocking in around $409,000 (at $278 per square foot), and annual taxes on it running $2,338. But, again, those are just averages that aren’t in line with beachfront real estate, which will cost a good bit more.

But, by comparison, the exciting international destinations below offer homes at a fraction of the price, with less than a couple hundred due in annual taxes.

Not to mention the exciting extras you can take advantage of…

Things like hiring affordable household help (from cleaning staff to in-home health care)…

Historical and cultural entertainment at your fingertips—think beautiful Spanish Colonial cities, museums, and active performance arts scenes…

Thrilling pastimes like water and mountain sports, national parks, and wildlife you just don’t see back home…

Owning international real estate is the adventure of a lifetime, and something I’ve built my life and business on, and have helped thousands to do themselves over the last 30+ years.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

Cost per square foot: $216

Property trades in: BZD (or USD)

Belize is an English-speaking Caribbean paradise with white-sand beaches, sun, surf, and scuba diving, and Ambergris Caye is the heart of this beachy delight. Plus, it’s close to the U.S., making travel to and from a quick and affordable prospect.

Belize is naturally beautiful, with year-round warm weather, warm waters, sandy beaches, swaying palms, and friendly people. This intrinsic beauty keeps Belize at the forefront as a successful and mature tourist market. It’s also a big player in the ecotourism market, and ranked as world-class for diving and snorkeling. Boaters, fishermen, and anyone who appreciates water sports will be kept busy and happy here.

Belize is the best property value you’ll find in the Caribbean, with properties selling