Today we are in a declining market with experts predicting a pending recession and property values dropping 10-20% in some markets. 

Hence, it becomes my pet project to give a counter-argument, backed up with success and experience.This thread started Eight years ago... hmmm.. that's right after the Great Recession Crash of 2008!

Most tourists and expats go to Ambergris Caye when they are in Belize, the mainland is still fairly well under developed, not so on Ambergris Caye.I am investing on Ambergris and may be biased, but there is a reason why I decided to, and if you look into the growth drivers in the Belize tourism industry (20% growth 2009-2012 in all of Belize, 57% growth on the Island of Ambergris Caye) you will see some of the fastest growth rates in the Caribbean.So it all depends upon what your investment philosophy is, I buy for long term cash flow, back end appreciation is a secondary consideration, costs of land are low in Belize (even on Ambergris) relative to the nightly and weekly rental rates that are being attained in the market.During the recession Caribbean tourism dropped 20%, in Belize it dropped 1.8% and although sales volume declined, sales prices maintained.So I believe It is best to speak with people who actually have the data on a market and are also directly investing to get reliable information.If anyone would like me to send them the raw tourism numbers, just e-mail me, I'd be glad to.

We are coming out of the real estate recession in my area and I've seen lots and homes go up in value just in the six months I've been here.

It appears these areas stayed fairly stable during the Great Recession 

The loan term seems to be engineered accordingly.The concern that was raised is that what if there is a recession or a credit crisis and so it is hard to get loans.

I'll just leave this here, do with it what you will... for what it's worth peak unemployment rate during the great recession: 10%.

I own 32 doors there Upsides - recession resistant cash flow, houses are mostly small, simple, and don't need much. 

However that doesn’t mean jumping in on an upturn vs. a recession isn’t going to affect the speed at which I get going.The economy is tricky...Anyway.

Some reverse mortgages are also exempt from the post-Recession "LO Compensation Rule," meaning your loan originator may be able to get bonused, or otherwise paid more, if your family takes a higher rate or worse terms/conditions.