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And that move, one that was a long time in the making, had the full support of the office of the Prime Minister today as both association presidents met at Belmopan's Sir Edney Cain building to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for what will be Belize's one unified Real Estate Association. 7 News was present for the signing and got to hear from three leading agents.

Hugo Moguel, President, AREBB
"This has been a long time coming, and we are very excited about it. It shows it's a big step in our industry right, it shows an evolution in our industry. It shows that the industry and Real Estate business has matured to a new step and has seen the value in having a united. voice. We have seen how important this industry has been to the entire country, right especially during hard times, and what we experienced during Covid so on the tailwinds of that I think the number of professionals that have risen all across this country and has been recognized by the public sector and has been more importantly recognized among ourselves, each other and so this MOU, memorandum of understanding between our two associations and it lays the groundwork for us coming together as one association."

Carlo Habet, President, BNAR
"We now have a unified voice, a stronger voice and we are now able to lobby, um, just are efficiently in general for our members and now that we are one we are actually very happy to pursue a number of other initiatives that have been on the back burner for quite some time but have been in development. Stuff that we have both been working on but now we are putting our resources together to basically make it the best it can be and we are looking at things like the passing of the real estate bill and we are here with the EDC for that reason, they have been so great to facilitate this, they are behind it and this will just really, in the end, result in basically a higher standard for all of the professionals in the industry. We're also looking at an MLS, very soon. That is something that our friends over at AREBB have been working hard on and we will be also helping them with this to roll out to our members, um, and also we are looking very seriously and very soon at offering classes for people who want. To get into the industry and those who want to continue their education and continue raising their level so with all this and the fact that we are now moving forward together we are really excited this is an excellent day and we're gonna celebrate."

Frik De Meyere, Partner, Boris Mannsfeld & Associates
"The whole real estate sector has been growing exponentially in the last years, right and we aren't talking small percentages. We are really talking about multitudes of growth both in the local market and also in the tourism sector."

"Foreign investors coming here, buying vacation homes, but also the. Local farming markets. A lot of people a lot of industries are involved, and um, so the market started growing so more. And more agents wanted to be employed and work in this industry and they are all looking for a source and a voice where. Can they learn about this, where can they get training, where can they learn how to do these things in a proper way and it's also important from the other side that people that want to but or sell property have you know a good reliable real estate agent who was trained and knows what he is doing."

Narda. Garcia, CEO, Office of the Prime Minister
"The economic development council and the office of the Prime Minister is here to assist you in any way we have been talking about the real estate bill and now it's even more in the forefront that you are working together on it. That and any other initiatives that you may have. I think it's very important for the business sector, for economic activity and for. All other reasons we need to ensure from the Office of the Prime Minister's standpoint and from the economic development council that we support you in every other initiative that you may have."

This new association will consult on the Real Estate Bill set to be passed by the Government Of Belize in the next 6-12 months. That bill will serve to create Belize real estate licenses which should ensure higher standards of professionalism for every professional that calls themself a real estate agent.