Welcome to our Interview with an Expat in Belize series. Our goal is to offer a look at expats who live in different regions of the country, and those who have lived in Belize for different periods of time, both relative newcomers and long timers here in Belize
The fifth interview in our series, Interview with an Expat in Corozal, Belize, takes us to Corozal in northern Belize. In Corozal, one sees a lot of Spanish/Mexican influence, as the town is very close to the border with Mexico. The town sits on a large bay, and is surrounded by lots of smaller rural villages and agricultural areas. There are also several communities in which expats have settled near Corozal.
Living just outside of Corozal town, we meet an expat who visited the country with her family just once before buying a house, moving, and hitting the ground running by establishing a business and getting her Work Permit right away.
Tasha Lafave, longtime Realtor from Canada, makes the move to Corozal
Tasha moved with her family to Belize from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada on April 26, 2023. She is 45 years old, and her husband, Kris, is 52. They have their two boys, who are 13 and 18, in Belize with them.
Tasha has a Belize Work Visa, as the couple has started a business, Infinite Spectrum Ltd, which is a real estate and property management business. She is currently working with Re/Max 1st Choice Belize in Corozal. Tasha has held a real estate license from Ontario since 2005, and she is still a licensed realtor in Ontario.
Kris is retired, and their kids are students, enrolled in online education. While Tasha has her Work Permit, the rest of the family are on Tourist Visas, and they are currently gathering their paperwork to apply for Permanent Residency now.
Interview with Tasha Lafave
Life before moving to Belize
Q1: Where were you living before moving to Belize? Also, please describe whether you were working, retired, or something in between prior to your move. In other words, what was your daily life like?
We lived in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada where I was working as a Realtor, and my husband, Kris, was Owner/Operator of AFP Towing. I continued to actively work up until the day we moved, and Kris had sold his business and continued to help the new owners until December 2022.
Current location in Belize
Q2: Where do you currently live in Belize? And prior to moving here, what were the primary reasons for which you chose this area?
We currently reside just outside of Corozal town, near Consejo. We chose this area for the weather, as it has less rain than southern Belize; we love the beautiful bay, the amazing community, and the close proximity to Mexico.
Visit to Belize prior to making the move
Q3: How many times did you visit Belize before the move? Which areas did you visit, and how long was your longest stay in Belize prior to the move?
Prior to moving, we only visited once for two weeks. On this trip, we drove 1,100 miles around the country in the first nine days. We visited Ladyville, Little Belize, Sarteneja, Corozal, Belmopan, Hopkins, and Placencia. We bought our house while here on vacation and moved to Belize four months later.
Own a home or rent in Belize?
Q4: Do you own your current home in Belize or are you renting? Why did you choose either to buy or to rent? If you own a home, did you purchase an existing home or did you build here? What is your strongest piece of advice for someone looking either to buy or rent a place in Belize?
We own our home. We have never rented. Owning was the only option for us. The house we purchased was an existing house. We do plan to build a new home on the same lot. The house we currently live in is a duplex, so it is not ideal for a family but will be perfect for extended family and friends to stay in while visiting us.
My best piece of advice, whether renting or buying, is to find a Realtor you are comfortable working with, and make sure to find a Realtor who cooperates with other Realtors. Do your research.
The first year living in Belize
Q5: What were your greatest challenges or surprises during your first year living in Belize? What advice would you give to others to help the transition go smoothly?
Learning to slow down is very challenging. Also, shopping is different here; it’s an adventure every time. You will have to go to several stores to find what you need.
Belize Immigration Status
Q6: Describe your experience of acquiring long-term immigration status in Belize, whether that be as a QRP member, a permanent resident, a citizen, or as someone still waiting on residency. How long did the process take, and what challenges did you face?
I currently have a Work Permit, and we plan to apply for Permanent Residency but haven’t completed our application yet. We are gathering our paperwork now, and as soon as we are ready, we will book our appointments.
Belize Lifestyle
Q7: What are your favorite things about the community in which you are living in Belize? Be specific about the types of activities you enjoy, the people, the environment, or anything else you care to mention.
We love our neighborhood. We are about 15 minutes outside of Corozal Town. We don’t have a lot of neighbors, and our properties are all large, giving us more space to enjoy.
We like to swim and paddle board in the beautiful Corozal Bay. We have beautiful gardens and a few sheep, and just a few minutes up the road is another wonderful community, Consejo Shores. We have met many new friends there and enjoy many different activities in the community, including card games, lawn games, BBQ’s and gatherings.
Current lifestyle challenges in Belize
Q8: What are the downsides to the community in which you currently live? Are there any aspects of daily life which you find to be challenging in this community?
I have not yet found a downside.
Reality versus expectations of Belize
Q9: Do you think that your lifestyle in Belize is about what you had expected, very different from what you thought it would be, or somewhere in between? Tell us a bit about your expectations prior to moving to Belize and how daily life here differs from what you had expected.
Before moving to Belize, I really didn’t know what to expect other than warm, beautiful weather, new friends, and new adventures. We were welcomed into the community very quickly. Our social calendar is active, and we stay busy around our yard and within our community. Since I am here on a Work Visa, I do spend a lot of time working as well, especially during the tourist season.
What would you have done differently for your initial move to Belize?
Q10: Now that you are living in Belize, what are the one or two things which you would change about the way you made the initial move if you could go back and do it again? For example, would you ship more or fewer personal items, bring a car, rent instead of buying right away, or perhaps purchase instead of renting?
The only thing I would change is the items we shipped. We packed what we thought would be most useful here and sold the rest. I would have shipped my riding mower, my BBQ, dishes, pots and pans, and vacuum cleaner, and my husband would have packed some different tools.
Final thoughts on Interview with an Expat in Corozal, Belize
First, I must thank Tasha LaFave for the time and effort she put into answering our interview questions. Tasha hit the ground in Belize ready to work, and I know that she is busy, so I really appreciate her willingness to participate in our Interview with an Expat in Belize series.
For me, it is refreshing to read how quickly Tasha and her family became active in their community here, and Tasha’s story is particularly interesting to me for a couple of other reasons. First, I moved to Corozal from San Pedro about a year-and-a-half ago, and I currently live near Tasha in the Corozal district, so it is always good to hear another perspective of my area.
Next, I also came to Belize and started a business, though I was in San Pedro rather than in Corozal at the time. I permanently relocated from Kauai, Hawaii a bit before the strict Covid lock down on Ambergris Caye, and in my time in Belize, I have been told by many old timers here that they sense that there have been real changes in both Belize and the expat community since the end of Covid.
Because my experience sort of straddles pre and post-Covid Belize, it is really interesting to me to hear the experiences of someone who first came to Belize post-Covid.
I hope the Belize FAQs readers who are doing their research concerning a potential move to Belize will benefit from the differing perspectives we hope to present here in our Interview with an Expat in Belize series.
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