Question 1

Can foreigners legally own property in Roatán, Honduras?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and more simply than most of Latin America. Under Honduran law (Decree 90-90), foreign individuals may hold direct fee-simple title to up to 3,000 m² (about 0.72 acres). Larger holdings are secured through a Honduran corporation (Sociedad Anónima), a structure Paradise Living Realty SA sets up routinely. Roatán's tourism-zone status makes the process well-worn and predictable.

Question 2

How does the Pensionado (retiree) residency visa work?

Accepted Answer

The Pensionado residency is designed for retirees with a lifetime pension or Social Security income (currently around US$1,500/month). Benefits include residency for you and dependents, the right to import household goods and a vehicle with significant duty relief, and no requirement to renounce your home citizenship. Our legal advisor, Attorney Erick Merren, files the entire application with Migración Honduras — most clients are approved within months.

Question 3

What are property taxes and closing costs in Roatán?

Accepted Answer

Roatán carries some of the lowest holding costs in the Caribbean. Annual municipal property tax is a small fraction of assessed value — typically a few hundred dollars per year on a luxury villa. At closing, buyers should budget roughly 5–6% all-in: a 1.5% real-estate transfer tax, notary and registry fees, and legal costs. We model every figure for you before you write an offer.

Question 4

Is healthcare on the island adequate for retirees?

Accepted Answer

Roatán's healthcare has stepped up considerably. The new Hospital Satuyé in Loma Linda, just north of Coxen Hole, offers 24/7 emergency, imaging, surgery and inpatient care, and Hospital Cemesa has opened a new location in Dixon Cove in the large White Mansion on Roatán's main road. Emergency centres and modern private clinics with bilingual physicians serve West End, Sandy Bay, Los Fuertes and Coxen Hole, with the mainland's flagship hospitals an hour away by air. Most of our retiree clients combine local care with an international medical-evacuation policy costing a few hundred dollars a year.

Question 5

How safe is the property title? What due diligence is done?

Accepted Answer

Title quality varies parcel by parcel, which is exactly why our legal desk exists. Every acquisition runs a title search at the Roatán property registry, a survey verification, catastral certificate, municipal debt clearance.

Question 6

Can I still buy if I don't qualify for the Pensionado visa?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Ownership and residency are separate matters — you can own property as a tourist without any visa, and other residency paths exist: Rentista residency for those with investment income, and Investor residency for qualifying capital deployments. Our desk maps the right route to your situation in the first consultation.

Graceful Island Transition &Wealth Preservation

Your dedicated specialist team, led by Ana personally

Deynie Jackson

Erick Merren

Karen Ludlow

The retiree's Roatán knowledge base

Read the retiree guides

The Pensionado Residency Visa in Honduras: A Retiree's Complete Guide

Property Taxes & Closing Costs in Roatán: What Retirees Actually Pay

Healthcare in Roatán: Clinics, Hospitals & Insurance for Retirees

Title Safety in Roatán: How to Buy Property in Honduras Without Regret

Cost of Living in Roatán: A Real Monthly Budget for Retirees

The Best Roatán Neighborhoods for Retirees, Ranked by Lifestyle

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