Here’s a little update on our Guatemalan telenovela! Last time, the big news was that our land development’s deeds got approved—complete with property titles!

It’s pretty satisfying because the council had previously demanded a bunch of expensive and useless studies, essentially to fish for a bribe. We didn’t give in, and now we have 95 out of 100 deeds approved. The remaining 5 are pending because they’re close to the lake shores, which are leased from the government for 30 years at a time. Fortunately, we don’t owe any back dues, as they’re happy we’re making things legal. We could have kept this quiet, but that would have complicated things for future buyers and potentially new laws.

Our land is close to the Maya biosphere, so environmental laws could tighten soon. We’re considering how many services we should provide for the buyers. Water and electricity are obvious, but selling plots close to the village might let new owners hook up to public utilities, saving us money but potentially lowering the selling price.

Last week, while driving back from Miami with some imported cars, we met two guys who volunteer with a charity called Water for Life. They drill wells across the country and use profits from paid work to fund their charity projects. They visited our land a few days later to identify a spot for a well that could serve our first customers.

We have a few drilling options: near the lake shore on leased land, higher up on fully owned land, or on the hilltop to save on pumping costs. They suggested drilling on our land near the lake but not too close, just in case the lease isn’t renewed. This spot is also near a power line, which is crucial for the pump.

An alternative is asking a neighboring landowner to let us pump water directly from the lake. This would save on well drilling costs but would require a submersible pump, which is expensive and could be stolen. We’re still deciding the best course of action.

Things are progressing, albeit slowly, but the land is appreciating in value over time. I also mentioned having some cash on hand for further investments. Although putting all my money into this area isn’t considered wise, the rapid development we’ve observed nearby is encouraging.

During a recent boat trip, we saw significant changes in just 18 months, including new hotels. One new hotel offers charming bungalows, while another more luxurious one features all the comforts of home, even in the jungle, with prices ranging from $200 to $300 a night.

Currently, I offer a fully finished luxury double room by the lake with total privacy, renting it out for $70 a night. Our Airbnb guests have praised it as a “unique piece of art.”

Future investments might include buying more waterfront plots for building additional rooms or a single-family home to sell later. I’m also considering building a second stone room, slightly smaller than my usual room. Renting one regularly and keeping the other for personal use would be ideal.

The cost for a new room, complete with amenities, is about $15,000, which I can recoup after renting it out for 200 nights at $70 each, considering price hikes during peak seasons like Christmas and Easter.

In the past three months, I’ve averaged 15 rented nights per month. During the rainy season (June to September), I expect this to drop to around 7 nights per month, allowing the investment to pay off in about two and a half years. Few rental properties offer such a quick return on investment. However, building the new room would mean enduring 3-4 months of construction chaos, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that upheaval.

That’s all for now! What’s new with you?