The Insider's Guide to Buying Property in Honduras & Roatan
A breathtaking location with superb dives sites, white sand beaches and Mayan ruins, Honduras and Roatan in the Bay Islands in particular, is a comparatively affordable destination with a rapidly growing property market.
If you are currently considering investing in real estate in Honduras / Roatan but you are wondering “where are the best places to buy property in Honduras / Roatan?” or “how do I go about owning property in Honduras / Roatan as a foreign buyer” then this guide is for you.
Our guide takes you through the process of buying property in Honduras / Roatan from beginning to end, including an introduction to the real estate market, the buying process and the taxes you will need to be aware of.
Overview - The Honduras & Roatan Real Estate Market
Located in Central America, Honduras borders Guatemala (which in turn borders Belize) to the north and El Salvador and Nicaragua to the south.
With a population of 8 million, the country spans 43,278 square miles, largely comprising mountains and pristine jungle filled with fascinating Mayan ruins and over a dozen national parks. Not having received the same degree of attention and investment as Central American countries such as Panama, Costa Rica, Belize and Nicaragua, the Honduras real estate market is in the very early stages of development and prices are generally much lower.
For property buyers, Roatan in Honduras’s Bay Islands is without a doubt the most developed real estate market. Here you can find tropical-style beach houses, contemporary villas and condos overlooking resort pools and golf courses. With beautiful white sand beaches, some of the best diving in the Caribbean and attractive property prices, Roatan is a popular choice for overseas buyers looking for value without sacrificing the experience of idyllic island life. The island is popular with buyers looking for a vacation home, to relocate and to retire in Roatan.
For those looking for a quieter island life, the sister islands of Guanaja and Utila in the Bay Islands are tranquil and beautiful.
Parts of Honduras’s northern coast are also starting to be developed. Fringed by long sandy beaches set against a backdrop of jungle, lagoons and mountains, the northern coast of Honduras is spectacularly beautiful. The resort towns of the northern coast enjoy beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea and access to magnificent national parks. Northern Honduras, including Tela Bay in the department of Atlántida and Trujillo in the department of Colon, is an emerging real estate market offering land for sale which is ideal for eco-development and beautifully appointed homes in new beach and golf resorts.
“With beautiful white sand beaches, some of the best diving in the Caribbean and attractive property prices, Roatan is a popular choice for overseas buyers looking for value without sacrificing the experience of idyllic island life”
Buying Process, Fees & Taxes
- Can foreigners buy property in Honduras & Roatan?
Yes, foreigners can buy property in Honduras / Roatan and the Government welcomes investment from overseas buyers. Foreign nationals can acquire up to 3,000 square meters (0.74 acres) of land in Honduras and Roatan. Larger areas can be acquired through a corporation, which a foreign national can be either sole or joint owner of.
- Buying process
Buying property in Honduras / Roatan is a relatively simple process, which typically involves the following steps:
- Begin your property search.
- Find your perfect property and make an offer.
- Once you have made an offer for a property and that offer has been accepted, you will be required to pay a 10% deposit which will be held in escrow by a Notary.
- Your attorney should undertake a title search.
- Once both you and the seller have signed the relevant documents, the balance should be transferred, the sale recorded and new title issued.
- Pay all required taxes and fees.
- Fees & taxes
Transfer Tax
There is a land transfer tax of 1.5% of the value of the property.
Property Tax
Property tax is low and would typically amount to approximately $500 per year.
Latest Real Estate Listings in Honduras & Roatán
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Residency & Citizenship
- How long can a foreign citizen stay in Honduras & Roatan?
Citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, EU countries and many Caribbean and Latin American countries can visit Honduras and the Bay Islands for up to 90 days without a visa. It is possible to apply for a one-time additional 30-day extension at the immigration office in Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula or Coxen Hole (Roatan).
- How do you become a resident of Honduras & Roatan?
Individuals looking to stay longer than 90 days in Honduras and the Bay Islands can apply for Honduran residency. To be eligible, applicants must conform to one of several categories, including (but not limited to) the following:
- A person of independent financial means who can demonstrate a minimum income of at least $2,500 per month from investments such as rental property,
- A retiree or pensioner who can demonstrate a minimum income of $1,500 per month from a verifiable private or governmental source,
- An individual investing at least $50,000 in a business or project in Honduras,
Applications must be submitted via a lawyer registered with the Honduran Bar Association and typically take 3 to 6 months until approval.
- How do you become a citizen of Honduras & Roatan?
Individuals who have lawfully resided in Honduras for 3 years can apply for citizenship by naturalization (after 1 year in the case of individuals who are Central American by birth and 2 years in the case of Spaniards and Spanish-Americans by birth).
Mortgages in Honduras & Roatan
Looking for financing to fund the purchase of property in Honduras or Roatan?
Most property transactions in Roatan are made outright in cash.
Overseas buyers investing in real estate in Roatan who require financing tend to seek financing in their home country via a second mortgage.
In some cases, the seller may offer financing.
Financing is available to foreign buyers who are resident in Roatan but interest rates and required downpayments tend to be higher and the term tends to be shorter.
How to Get There
International flights to Honduras arrive at airports in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Roatan.
From the USA, several airlines offer either direct or connecting flights to the international airport, Aeropuerto Juan Ramon Galvez, located in Coxen Hole.
United Airlines operates non-stop flights from Houston. Approximately 3 hours.
Delta Airlines operates non-stop flights from Atlanta. Approximately 3 hours.
American Airlines flies from Miami to Roatan. Approximately 3 hours.
From Canada, Sunwing Holidays and Air Transat offer seasonal charter service flights from Toronto and Montreal. Approximately 4 hours.
- Miami to Roatan 2h 00m
- Houston to Roatan 2h 50m
- Atlanta to Roatan 3h 15m
- Toronto to Roatan 4h 00m
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