A Popular Trend in Secret Beach
One very popular way to increase the potential return on your investment at Secret Beach is to employ the age-old method of “economies of scale.”
When you are able to add more units or structures to your lot you are increasing your potential for additional rental income. Or just have more places for family and friends to stay when they visit. Either way, having additional rental units or guest cottages can help to increase the value of your real estate.
In Belize and specifically, in and around Secret Beach, the building codes will allow for you to put multiple units on one lot, as long as the required setbacks against the boundary lines are met. What constitutes a unit? Pretty much whatever you can fit on the property. 2 small houses, 2 large casitas, 4 small casitas, a house, and a casita. You’re really only limited to your imagination and creativity, (and budget).
Can you put too many units on one lot? My answer to this would be absolutely! It’s important to remember that the structure itself is only one part of the process. Because Secret Beach is 100% off-grid you’ll need to consider the other components that go into making a house or casita an actual place where people can live or vacation comfortably.
This means hot water for the showers, Air conditioning, and plenty of electricity to power devices, internet, TV, cell phones, etc. In order to provide those everyday modern needs, consideration will need to be made for a solar system, hot water tanks, rainwater catch, or cistern. These components will need their own space on the property too. It’s common to see a utility shed or small out-building on the property in which these items are often housed.
Don’t forget about waste too. You’ll need to set up a proper waste system. What kind of sewer system and where it will be placed on the property will be determined beforehand in your building plans. These plans will need to be signed off on by the San Pedro town council before you can begin construction. If you have not left adequate room on the property for an approved sewer and waste system, your plans may not get approved by the town council.
So while you are technically allowed to have “as many units as you can fit” – there is a limit and consideration of all the components that go into the entire process will need to be made. It’s not enough to only consider the footprint of the building itself. Because there are no public utilities and everything at Secret Beach is off-grid the systems and mechanicals of the home are a major component. Everything is self-contained.
The off-grid factor is one of the things we love about Secret Beach. How many places can you find yourself in an awesome and fun vacation spot in the Caribbean, while at the same time reducing your carbon footprint and offering a unique nature-based, eco-friendly and sustainable property?
Secret Beach is where! That’s why we’re building off-grid nature-based homes and vacation properties in the hottest and fastest-growing destination in the Caribbean. Learn more about our projects and other home building and commercial projects that are happening at Secret Beach by following us on YouTube and subscribing to our newsletter.