September 2011 Newsletter from Sanctuary Belize

Sanctuary Belize September 2011 Newsletter

Letter from the Chairman

Dear Friends,

The fall season this year is off to a quick start as many of the plans we have put together during the summer are starting to come into existence!

Model Home Builder Coming Soon:

After months of conversation and analysis, we are pleased to let you know that we have made an agreement with a general contractor to build 3 model homes for Sanctuary Belize. We hope to have full details to you in the near future, but in the meantime here are a few key points:

- The team that will be heading up the building includes a fully-licensed architect and a fully-licensed engineer, who together bring almost 100 years of experience building and designing in the United States.

- We have planned to build three model homes with either a 2, 3 or 4-bedroom floorplan that will be constructed in the western Sapodilla Ridge lots. These floorplans and renderings of the homes can be viewed by clicking the image below.

- We are planning to start building in January and complete the three homes by mid-2012. Interested buyers will be able to walk through the homes and choose a few basic customization options to make their future home unique.
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Beach Club Well Under Way:

In our tour photo album last month we shared pictures of the platforms that will be used to support our tent hotel, as well as the clearing for the beach club and pool. As of this writing, Sanctuary Belize approved builder Robert Kathman and Terry Tattersall of Eco Building Technologies/Eco Pool and Spa have started excavating the site and have installed pilings that will be used to support the pool base. All of the equipment, pipes, hoses, etc. are in Belize, and completion, weather-permitting, is expected within 90 days. We have attached a conceptual image of the pool area to give you a glimpse of the finished product!

Sanctuary Belize Beach Club

Contractor Chosen for Cement Slab Retaining Walls at Marina:

As of last month, we have contracted with a local business that will be providing the reinforced concrete slab that will be used to create the retaining walls at the marina. The slabs will be created offsite and installed post-production, which will give us more flexibility with time and weather to get the walls done and keep the marina opening on schedule. We expect the arrival in a couple weeks of a vibratory hammer which should greatly increase the rate at which we can complete this project.

We were excited to have an enthusiastic group of guests join us this weekend on our September tour to see our hard work in person. Our October tour is filling up quickly, but we still have space left. Please contact our Newport Beach office soon to reserve your place!

Johnny Usher

Sincerely,

Johnny Usher
Principal

Click Picture to read the editorial from Ocean Home Magazine

Ocean Home Magazine Article PDF Link

Tom and Patricia Herskowitz were clear on one thing when they first decided to visit Sanctuary Belize in March of 2010: they would not make any decision on investing and retiring overseas until they had also visited Panama and Costa Rica.

They had originally started their search for a retirement destination with the knowledge that they wanted to buy land in a place with existing infrastructure in a master-planned community, somewhere close to the sea where they could dock a boat. After a short time searching they decided to visit Sanctuary Belize as their first due diligence stop.

Tom's career as a real estate attorney, as well as his experience in hotel development left him immediately impressed with the scope and vision of Sanctuary Belize. He could see that the critical elements of success were in place: a common law nation where the government couldn't seize back the land without due process; a local partner who wouldn't cut and run at the first sign of trouble; a development team with the integrity to follow through on their plans; and the availability of roads, water, and electricity that would allow them to live on their property should the development plans be delayed.

As an adjunct professor of Spanish who lived in Mexico for 8 years, Patricia was excited by the fact that she could still use Spanish even though English is the official language. With their three kids almost all out of the house, she loved the idea of relocating to a tropical destination and enticing her children and their friends to visit on Spring Break. She also enjoys natural living and loved Belize's emphasis on holistic health and a relaxed lifestyle.

Meeting Johnny Usher was a high point for both Tom and Patricia. Even though the lot that caught their eye in the Estate Lots was a prime lot with canal access and an enticing resale price tag, "Johnny encouraged us not to rush," recalls Tom, "He advised us to spend some time touring the surrounding areas and make sure that we were comfortable with Belize and the areas around the development."

After a few days of sightseeing, they returned to the development, reminding each other of their agreement not to purchase without visiting other countries. "Except," Tom mused, "I doubt that a lot like this will be available in another three months when we're back from Panama and Costa Rica..." That was all the encouragement Patricia needed, and the Herskowitzes left Sanctuary Belize the proud owners of Estate Lot 98.

A year and a half later, Tom and Patricia are under construction on their new home under the experienced hand of Robert Kathman and Eco Building Technologies. It features three buildings: a main living area with master bedroom and office, a bedroom building with rooms for their three kids, and a guest house for the many friends that will be visiting. They are eager to finish their boat slip at the end of this year, at which point they will be sailing to Belize in a 40-foot sailboat from the British Virgin Islands with Tom's brother and wife.

Visitors to Sanctuary Belize will spot the new construction on the canal immediately. If all goes according to plan, this time next year visitors will be able to wave at Tom and Patricia as they work in their organic vegetable garden or relax in their outdoor living space. You can hear the anticipation in Tom's voice as he says, "I have never seen Patricia as excited about anything as she is about our adventure in Belize!"

Diving: Belize has some of the world's most breathtaking coral reefs and is home to the Great Blue Hole and Glover's Reef, two magnificent diving spots! The area is also a well known habitat for the migrating Whale Sharks.

Fishing: Belize is a mecca for the avid fisherman offering spin, fly and trolling all year long. The abundance of fish species that include tarpon, grouper, snapper, jacks, barracuda, sailfish, marlin and pompano makes Belize any angelers dream come true.

Hiking: The diverse eco-systems present in Belize that range from coastal palm strewn beaches, savannah grass lands, riverine systems and Belizean tropical jungles, offer hiker enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of indigenous fauna and flora species. Areas to consider are: Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve, Caves Branch River, Tapir Mountain Reserve and Victoria Peak.

Adventure: For those seeking a little more adventure Belize offers the best in outdoor recreation and exploration. Caving, cave kayaking, whitewater kayaking and horse back riding are all activities one can explore throughout the entire country.

Exploration: Belize is home to some of the best known pre-Columbian Maya archaelogical sites. Belize is considered part of the southern Maya lowlands of the Mesoamerican culture area, and the sites found there were occupied from the Preclassic era until and after the arrival of the Spanish. The most important site historically, is Caracol located in western Belize. Other exciting ruins to visit are Cerros and Xunantunich.