We’re exited to be hosting this edition of the carnival of investing all the way from Belize. Its an opportunity to share information from bloggers around the world about a subject we’re all interested in: investing. The posts in this carnival cover a variety of investing topics including real estate, forex and stock market investing. We’re excited to participate and hope you enjoy the articles.

1. When you’re researching stock investing you’ll come across both paid and free stock market tips. Read all the information you can to help you make an informed decision. Doing so will give you an edge that other investors don’t have.

2. Forex investing, a risky, but also very lucrative.  Critical skills are needed to profit in this highly competitive investment landscape, but these skills can be acquired through education, training and practice trading utilizing virtual (demo) accounts from the right broker. There is money on the table for those who can follow a system, control their emotions and practice good money management methods.

3. When the markets are volatile, deciding where to invest now can seem like a crap shoot if you don’t know what you’re doing.  In Saving Cash tips, they suggest investing in a variety of vehicles along with stocks, learning more about vehicles that might be new to you.  The idea is to try some new methods for investing to keep diversified, by using ETFs, cash and other investments.

4. If you were told that you could get free money in the form of a real estate grant that you would never have to pay back, what would you say? Nothing is free these days but if you are looking for a down payment on your mortgage, help towards the closing costs for your home purchase, or money to refurbish your home and then you could qualify for a real estate grant.

5. Let’s talk about trading currency futures. Currency futures are traded by hedging the exchange rates of one currency upon another.  The final settlement comes out in cash, on the currency of the exchange on which the trade is taking place.  Of course this is set at a future agreed upon date, where the contracts expires, thus completing the deal, if not done already by the traders. 

6. Filing for bankruptcy can be an emotionally draining experience and can also cost you quite a bit of money. Fortunately, there are some ways to achieve a cheap bankruptcy if you know where to look. At Claiming Bankruptcy, we provide you with just the information you need to get your claim off the ground.

7. Given the numerous area attractions, and the service staff it takes to run these facilities, Orlando investment property remains a secure place to shift your money to.  Flipping properties is harder and harder, but if you’re looking to regain a solid investment, keeping a property for the long term in an area like Orlando, FL is a good idea.
 
8. A Roth IRA can be the key investment you make to set up a great retirement. There are so many advantages to them, including the ability to take money back out before retirement if need be. Many people do not know the Roth IRA facts and that is the reason they do not invest this way. Be smart and learn about them today.

9. When you are ready to get started as a real estate investor, it can feel it is your first day of high school as a freshman.  You see all the older kids walking around, knowing where they are supposed to go, and you are just trying to not make a fool of yourself.  Well, real estate investing is just like starting anything else such as a new hobby, job, school, or church.  You just have to jump in and get started.  Just as important, though, is to find people you can trust to give you solid competent advice and help you navigate this new territory.

10. Forex investing has gotten a bad rap over the years, but the truth is that investing in the forex markets is a legitimate way to strengthen your portfolio. Knowing that there are inherent risks involved with any type of investment is the key to realizing that due diligence should be executed when researching any potential opportunity.

That’s all for this edition. Enjoy the read.

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We can say, in all good conscience, that the Choose Belize group of developers represents the very best Belize has to offer: strong brands, delivering quality products that are outperforming their competitors.

There is something here for everyone - and all of it best-in-class: ocean view condos, income generating units, luxury resort hotel property, dive real estate, eco-inspired communities, functional ‘casitas’ and beachfront property.

The finest real estate in Belize … and the best deals

No question, a real estate tour, where you get to see a choice of property options, selected by in-country experts, is a prudent way to make the decision if Belize is right for you.

Learn more about the Choose Belize real estate tours

The Choose Belize tour succeeds by showing you the finest real estate in the country. It’s intensive, you’ll get to see a lot of property with a special focus on Belize’s main hotspots:  Placencia boasting the best beach on the mainland, Ambergris Caye the geographic extension of the Yucatan peninsula immortalized in Madonna’s song “La Isla Bonita” and Corozal near the border with Mexico.

Mark March and May 2010 in your calendars and register your interest in the tours. We’ll be announcing the exact dates shortly.

Update:  Dates have been finalized for the first two tours which will run March 4-7th 2010 and 27-30th May 2010.  Contact us for the itinerary.

Learn more about the Choose Belize real estate tours

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But don’t look past Moon Belize (Moon Handbooks) written by former Belize resident Joshua Berman. He’s delivers a guide to some of the best experiences in Belize, from hiking waterfall, jungle horse-rides and diving the reefs. The guide covers the ground well and will give you all the tools and insight you need to experience the best of Belize.

The Rough Guide to Belize 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) is a comprehensive guide to the country and covers all the top attractions. The book also takes a detailed look at the region’s history, cuisine, environment and diverse culture and comes complete with maps and plans for the entire country.

Interested in diving while in Belize? Lonely Planet’s Diving & Snorkelling Belize explores 82 of the best dive sites off Belize, with full-color photos and easy-to-read maps throughout. Belize is home to the world’s second-largest barrier reef and three of the Western Hemisphere’s four coral atolls. Shallow reefs ring the more than 450 cayes and islets, while towering walls plunge into the sea. More than 400 fish species and a host of corals and invertebrates shelter in the warm Caribbean waters.

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“It is even possible to find a good bottle of French wine in San Pedro, the island’s main town.”

What starts as a holiday destination becomes a vacation homes for some.

“For foreign buyers, Belize offers many attractive features. English is the primary language, and the currency is fixed at two Belizean dollars to one United States dollar. It also makes it easy to retire there, simplifying the process for foreign citizens to establish residence and transfer possessions into the country. “

Read the full article.

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By late 2008 it will be possible to fly direct to Belize City from Europe.  This is big news for Belize and its real estate market.  The Europeans, armed with their strong currencies, will start to arrive to this English speaking country in numbers.  They will no longer have to transit through the US.

They will come for the classic Caribbean experience, the world class diving, the jungles and rainforests, the Mayan ruins, the waterfalls and rivers.  And the real estate dollars will follow close behind.

We have seen the effect of new flight routes on real estate markets before.  Dubbed the “Ryanair effect” (Ryaniar is a major European low cost airline).  Wherever Ryanair has started flying, the Irish and the Brits have followed and real estate markets have flourished.

There are also rumors that direct flights from Canada will also start.

Timing is everything in real estate and right now could be the perfect time to take a closer look at this stunning country - while property prices are still well below regional benchmarks.

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NAR is recognizing the growth of the real estate market in Belize, and there are a number of reasons for it:

English as a native language - Belize has adopted English as their native language.  The country is a former British Colony known as British Honduras.

Foreign citizen tax breaks - retirees in Belize can apply for special status that provides tax breaks on retirement income and import of household items and furnishings. This bodes well for investment in Belize real estate.

An expanding economy - the gross domestic product of Belize has grown for the last 30 or so years, with agriculture, services and manufacturing at the core.

As one can readily see, Belize is poised for more growth if the baby boomer generation recognizes the quality of life available for retirees.  And it’s not crowded either!  Belize has the lowest population density in the Central American Region, and one of the lowest in the world.  There’s room for you in Belize.

Belize is a parliamentary democracy and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.  The government is divided into 6 districts and 31 constituencies.  Belize is located between two rivers, and the Belize River flows through the middle of the country.  With a Caribbean coastline, the Belize Barrier Reef and the Maya Mountains, there is certainly a diversity of terrain and outdoor recreation.  A large area of savannas and wetlands provides a great biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.  With the longest living barrier reef in the western hemisphere, Belize attracts divers from all around the world.

Sugar, bananas and citrus production comprise the largest segment of the agricultural activities.  Recent discoveries of petroleum deposits bring exciting new possibilities to the manufacturing and mining segments of the economy.  The government is spending millions to better the standard of living of their poorer residents.  The Belize real estate market is gaining steam.

An interesting facet of Belize is the cultural and ethnic diversity.  There is almost no friction between the harmoniously blended cultures and races.  Belize has Mennonites, Chinese, Mayan, Spanish, Lebanese, East Indian and other ethnicities.  They all get along, and there is great religious tolerance. There are Christians and Roman Catholics.  Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism exist with Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It is readily apparent that the government, culture, economy and geography all combine to make Belize a highly desirable place to live.  With the boomer generation searching for interesting retirement locales that are economically advantageous, Belize is positioned for significant growth.  Make it your next vacation spot and you just might find the perfect Belize real estate for your retirement!

Contributed by Jim Kimmons, a Taos real estate broker and writer.

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