Mara’s Sip & Dip is a great beach bar to chill out at on Caye Caulker. ©Ann Kuffner
Your Slice of a Caribbean Island From $35,000
Because Caye Caulker is small, there aren’t many homes or condos available for sale. It’s a thin market with high demand. And prices have risen over the last few years. But there are still good deals to be found.
If you’re willing to take a three- to five-year view, a property investment on north Caye Caulker could reap rewards as property prices increase.
One mile north of the Split, you can buy a 60-foot by 80-foot lot for $49,000. This lot is off-beach, but close to the sea, with plenty of coconut and fan palms.
A 50-foot by 100-foot ocean-front lot on north Caye Caulker recently sold for $89,000. A comparable lot on north Ambergris Caye would go for around $285,000.
If you’re willing to buy off-beach, you’ll find prices even lower. A 70-by-100-foot off-ocean lot, one mile north of the Split, can be bought for $35,000.
Development on the island’s north end is still in its infancy. The whispers on the street are that in the long term, a new village will be built on the north island. There’s plenty of room to expand there. There isn’t a bridge to the north caye. No one expects residents to support building a bridge over the gorgeous Split. But electricity lines have already been put in place for the first mile north of the Split. That means development will speed up. But lot prices haven’t risen yet.
Last October, a private water taxi began taking residents to the north on request. The price is $10 round-trip. As more people move north, the service will expand. Eventually there will be regularly scheduled trips.
As for the rest of Caye Caulker, homes and condominiums on the beach are priced similarly to those on Ambergris Caye. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,000-square-foot condo in the Seaside Villas complex lists for $275,000. If you look off-beach, you’ll find homes rather than condos. For instance, the Georgia Peach house is a three-bedroom, two-bathroom concrete house located in the village center. It also has a studio apartment, a rooftop deck, and front and back yards. The asking price is $355,000. You could live in the main house and rent out the studio. (Many expats on Caye Caulker rent their homes, or rooms, to vacationers during part of the year.)
But even less expensive options are available if you are willing to buy off-beach, or farther away from the village, and then build a home. There’s currently a 4,435-square-foot lot on offer for $60,000 close to the main village, located at the end of Ocean Academy Drive.
There are many advantages to living off-beach. It’s less expensive, for one. Move just a lot or two back from the beach, or a few blocks away, and the price for the same lot drops substantially. If you’d like to hire a local contractor to build a concrete home, it will cost $100 to $175 a square foot, depending on the quality of the finish you desire. Building on beachfront land costs the same.
Coco Plum and Bahia are two neighborhoods south of Caye Caulker Village where expats own off-beach homes. And quite a few lots are available south of the local airstrip. Two measuring 75 by 90 feet sold recently in the South Point neighborhood for $45,000 (sea view) and $99,500 (on the beach).
When buying property in Belize—whether land, a home, or a condo—be sure to have an attorney who specializes in properties check the validity of the title. Title inconsistencies do happen in Belize, so this is not something you want to skimp on.
Editor’s Note: To find out more about Caye Caulker and the other retirement havens Belize has to offer, why not speak to Ann in person at our exciting new event in Atlanta, Georgia, this coming May.
Ann and all the rest of our live-overseas experts will be on hand to help you find the retirement spot that’s perfect for you.
Caye Caulker vs. Ambergris Caye: Your Ideal Island in Caribbean Belize
Although close to one another, there are significant differences between Caye Caulker and its better-known neighbor, the island of Ambergris Caye, where I live.
Ambergris has over 20,000 residents. Half the tourists who visit Belize head to Ambergris Caye. You’ll find a large number of hotels and resorts, restaurants, banks, stores, doctors, and health clinics. And most of the amenities you expect are available on Ambergris. The Path of Progress has reached this island. Seawater is treated in a reverse-osmosis desalination treatment plant to make drinking water. The major roads have been paved. And recognized hotel chains are planning to build hotels in the near future. There is even discussion of building an international airport on the north island.
But with growth, Ambergris Caye has lost some of the tranquility and Caribbean charm that make Caye Caulker so appealing. In San Pedro, the main town on Ambergris, the sand roads have been paved, making travel faster and easier. But a constant stream of trucks, cars, vans, and motor scooters buzz past golf carts, bikes, and pedestrians on the two-lane roads.
Ambergris (like Caye Caulker) offers spectacular reef views, outstanding water sports, and tours. Ambergris has many more bars, restaurants, nighttime activities, volunteer options, and social groups. So more expats live there full-time. For expats seeking a sophisticated island lifestyle, Ambergris Caye offers more options. But all this comes with a higher price tag. Many expat couples now spend well over $3,000 a month to live on Ambergris, especially those who rent rather than own their homes. Getting from Ambergris to Belize City takes about 90 minutes.
Caye Caulker is much smaller, with one-tenth the population of Ambergris. It’s still committed to the “go slow” island approach. Strolling along Caye Caulker’s beach is a delight. The beach and streets are clean, and the yellow, blue, pink, and green clapboard buildings scream “classic Caribbean.” Residents go out of their way to make visitors feel welcome. And you can get to your destination on foot or a bike, without navigating aggressive traffic.
It’s easy to take a water taxi from Caye Caulker to Belize City. It’s much closer to the capital, with the journey taking only 45 minutes. Expats who live on Caye Caulker make regular trips to Belize City for any items they can’t get on the island, as well as for medical appointments.
Caye Caulker is perfect for nature lovers who seek a peaceful, pristine environment and are content to enjoy their surroundings with a group of loyal friends.