It looks like the age-old question of when electricity will reach Secret Beach is finally being answered.
Along the main road to Secret Beach, we are starting to see power poles being installed in the recently cleared area near the main turn just past the new gas station.
Power poles are going up in Secret Beach!
What does this mean for Secret Beach? How soon will residents be able to receive services at their property? When and where should you buy land in the area?
Utility electricity is on its way to the Secret Beach area, but it may still be a while before you can get service directly to your home. To be fully transparent, we don’t know the timeline or the exact plans for how the infrastructure will be installed and built out over time. But we do know the conversation has changed, and the question of when is almost now.
It appears the utility pole installation is starting at the east end of the road leading to Secret Beach. Exactly where service will be brought in first is uncertain, but it’s clear that resources are now being used to bring utilities and services to the Secret Beach area.
Will solar systems still be used on homes?
We believe that yes, solar will continue to be a main source of power for a home in Secret Beach, but eventually it will become a backup or supplemental system.
The use of solar systems is a good thing for Belize and San Pedro. In high season and in the hottest time of year, the grid can become strained. When more and more residents use solar to power and supplement their homes, there is less demand and stress put on the main system. The solar systems help support the grid by reducing demand at peak times.
Not to mention, solar is a great backup. It’s quiet and eco-friendly, and with the right inverter equipment, you can have a system that will switch from grid to solar, and you will never know the difference other than a lower electricity bill and no more power outages.
For now, if you want a home in Secret Beach that you can use today, a solar system is the way to go. If you want to wait, it’s hard to say exactly when you will be able to add utility power from a service provider to your home, but we now know it might not be as far off as we thought!
The homes we build in Secret Beach are fully off-grid and use solar systems exclusively for electric current. We design each system for the house, so your off-grid experience feels more like a luxury vacation getaway than camping. Use the AC, enjoy the kitchen, and make yourself at home without feeling like you’re missing out.
Power will be nice to have when it arrives. But solar is always nice to have.
Will land values change?
We believe that bringing electric utilities to the area will be a game-changer for real estate values.
A solar system, while a worthy investment, still causes some people to not be able to get involved in building a home in the area because of the added expense of the system and equipment.
When utility power is available at a lower initial upfront cost, it allows more people to enter the market and build a home or vacation property.
However, one of the main reasons that the land values in the Secret Beach area have remained so affordable compared to other areas in the Caribbean is the lack of public infrastructure and utilities. Now that electricity is coming to the area, that is no longer an issue.
This will increase demand in the area, and because Secret Beach is limited in size and available land, the increased buyer demand will put upward pressure on land values, and we will see upward price appreciation that will remain elevated even in a softer buying environment relative to the COVID-era.
As the old saying goes, the best time to buy was 20 years ago, and the second-best time is right now. We believe owning a long-term asset like land in a rapidly growing area like Secret Beach can be a smart play if you want lifestyle-investing opportunities. Imagine owning land in some of the other fully developed areas of the Caribbean 10, 20, or 30 years ago. You have that opportunity again with a place like Belize.
Ready to invest in a place like Secret Beach? Start by owning a piece of land. Search land listings here and find your piece of paradise.
Already own land?
If you already own your land in Secret Beach and want to explore the idea of building your Caribbean dream home, then start by checking out the catalog of floor plans here.
When you’re ready to discuss design, budget, timelines and expectations for building in Belize, schedule an introduction call with our team to see if we are a good fit for making your Caribbean vacation dream home in Belize a reality.