We’re proud to announce the opening of The Agency Belize, marking our fourth location in Central America alongside existing offices in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
The Agency Belize will be led by Managing Partners Dean Astren, who brings more than 27 years of experience in engineering, construction, and development to one of the region’s most compelling emerging luxury markets, and Kim Astren, a recognized top producer across the Caribbean and Central America. Working together, the two bring a rare combination of technical expertise, deep local knowledge, and care for the region to The Agency’s newest office.
As an English-speaking, Common Law country with no capital gains tax and no foreign ownership restrictions, Belize occupies a distinct position in the global real estate landscape.
Situated on the northeastern coast of Central America, it enjoys nearly 300 days of sunshine, 240 miles of Caribbean coastline, and the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere just offshore. Naturally beautiful and refreshingly unspoiled, Belize offers authentic, unhurried living, drawing retirees, second-home seekers, and investors from across North America and beyond.
“Belize is a market that the world is just beginning to pay attention to, and the timing couldn’t be better,” said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and Founder of The Agency. “What draws buyers here is something you can’t manufacture; pristine coastline, incredible biodiversity, a favorable investment climate, and a quality of life that is genuinely hard to find anywhere else in the region, let alone the world. As international buyers continue to look beyond traditional luxury destinations for opportunity and lifestyle, Belize keeps rising to the top of that conversation, and we’re proud to bring The Agency brand to this market.”
“Belize has been on our radar for some time, and finding the right partners to enter this market was everything,” said James Ramsay, EVP of The Agency’s Franchise Division. “In Dean and Kim, we found two people who don’t just understand this market; they’ve lived it, built a life in it, and earned the trust of the community in a meaningful way. That combination of local credibility, technical expertise, and proven production made this an easy decision, and we couldn’t be more excited about what they’re going to build here.”
“When Kim and I first visited Belize, we had no idea it would become our home,” said Dean Astren. “What followed was five years of exploring every corner of this country before we finally put down roots — and that journey gave us something no credential can replicate: a genuine understanding of what makes Belize special and what buyers need to know before they make the leap. The opportunity here is real, the lifestyle is unlike anything else in Central America, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring The Agency’s standard of service to a market we love deeply.”
“What Dean and I have built here is rooted in something deeply personal,” added Kim Astren. “We didn’t come to Belize as real estate professionals; we came as people who fell in love with a place and never looked back. That experience shapes everything about how we work with our clients, because we’ve been exactly where they are. We know what the questions feel like before they’re even asked. And pairing that with The Agency’s global platform and standard of service means we can offer buyers the intimacy of local expertise and the reach of a world-class brand.”
The Agency Belize will be located at #4 Tipsy Strip, Placencia, Stann Creek, Belize.
