Jimmy Buffett found his island escape when he relocated to sunny, sand-fringed Key West, FL, from Nashville, TN, in the early 70s.
He’d been trying to make it in Nashville’s music scene, but with his unique style that wasn’t quite country and wasn’t quite rock, he didn’t have much success.
Everything changed after a busking expedition to Key West in 1971.
Tropical weather… sandy beaches with swaying palms and aquamarine Caribbean waters… a friendly, alternative community… a laid-back way of life…
He liked what he saw so much that he decided to move there a year later, which completely changed his life.
Key West was the launchpad for Jimmy Buffett’s career.
The island atmosphere and its quirky people were the inspiration for his “tropical rock” music style that became so popular that, by the time of his death on Sept. 1, 2023, he was one of the wealthiest musicians of all time.
But the appeal of Key West—that “island escapism” feeling that his music captured so well—isn’t limited to the Straits of Florida…
As Jimmy himself said, “There’s many, many Key Wests out there that have been created over the years…”
Key West Beyond The Borders Of The United States
Here at Live And Invest Overseas, we believe the biggest potential for both fun and profit lies beyond the borders of the United States.
One of the best places for a Key West lifestyle at a lower cost is little, unassuming Belize, a Caribbean nation of about 400,000 people.
“The good news from Belize is… no news from Belize.”
So said “60 Minutes” correspondent Morley Safer during his 1988 broadcast on Belize.
Thirty-five years later, the sentiment still holds true.
Aside from a handful of infrastructure upgrades to accommodate its tourism industry, not much has changed here, and that’s the way people like it.
It remains the perfect place to escape the world’s troubles, and for Americans, that peace of mind can be accessed in as little as two hours of flying from Miami.
2 Top Options For Key West Living In Belize
1. Ambergris Caye
Perhaps the friendliest part of this English-speaking country is Ambergris Caye, a 26-mile-long, 1-mile-wide island just off the Belize mainland.
About 15,000 people live here full-time, including about 3,000 expats who get from A to B on golf buggies and motorboats.
Its capital is San Pedro, a quirky, comfortable beachside town with open-air bars and restaurants, art galleries, wine shops, bakeries…
Ambergris Caye appeals to the retiree who wants the Caribbean and who appreciates that this classically Caribbean spot is also affordable.
It also offers a lot for the investor, with a mature tourism market, in a destination that’s best-in-class, in a country that’s world-renowned for its diverse tourism potential.
Just a five-minute walk from a white-sand Caribbean beach, there’s an opportunity to buy into an exclusive community from a developer that Lief Simon has worked with for over a decade.
It’s not your typical beach property investment… The developer has partnered with Best Western, one of the world’s biggest hotel chains, to deliver high standards, spending power, and experience.
The community boasts on-site amenities like the largest pool on the island (complete with a swim-up bar), a fitness center, tennis courts, and a restaurant.
It’s near restaurants and bars, and it’s right in the middle of a thriving tourist hot spot.
You’ll have diving, fishing, snorkeling, and swimming, as well as restaurants, shopping, and supermarkets, all nearby.
In short, it has everything needed to keep you or your rental clients happy and returning again and again. It offers strong ROI potential of 6% to 10%.
Studio apartments at this development start at just US$148,000… a bargain considering what the equivalent would cost in Florida or California.
2. Carmelita Gardens
Carmelita Gardens is a 98-acre self-sufficient community in Belize’s inland Cayo District.
It’s not oceanfront; instead, it sits along a meandering stretch of the Belize River.
Despite this, it captures the Key West spirit.
It’s home to a unique group of expats from all over the world who are attracted here by the laid-back, community spirit.
Residents tell me that it’s the perfect bolt hole in times of social, political, or economic turmoil.
The main attractions are the potlucks and socials held onsite, as well as the outdoors.
Carmelita offers horseback riding and river tubing. Basketball, frisbee golf, and pickleball are popular on-site, too.
If you like history and archaeology, El Pilar, an ancient Maya city founded 800 years before Carmelita Gardens is a few miles down the road.
Carmelita Gardens is located beside the village of Santa Familia. It’s 7 miles past the bustling town of San Ignacio and 7 miles before the modern Mennonite town of Spanish Lookout.
It’s in the sweet spot, halfway between San Ignacio and its social outlets and Spanish Lookout, a commercial and industrial center.
Carmelita Gardens Property Pick
Carmelita offers comfortable cottages with off-grid solar and water systems for sale, as well as bungalows and villas.
Every house in the community comes with its own solar power system and backup generator. Power cuts and electricity price spikes won’t affect you here.
Rainwater harvesting systems and under-house cisterns to see you through the dry season come with every house, too.
Each lot has enough space for a private garden, but there’s also a large community garden if you aren’t interested in growing for yourself.
Young families and young-at-heart retirees keep the community vibrant.
Sincerely,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Property Alert
