One of the most rewarding parts of leading a brokerage is watching people grow—not just individually, but as partners whose strengths complement each other over time.
This year, I’m proud to recognize Dean and Kim Astren as the Top Producing Team at RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize for 2025.
For those who know them, this recognition probably comes as no surprise.
What makes their success particularly meaningful is the way their partnership reflects the same journey many of our clients take when they first discover Belize.
Dean and Kim didn’t arrive here as real estate agents looking for a quick opportunity. Like many of the buyers they now help every day, they first experienced Belize as visitors exploring what life might look like in a different place.
After multiple trips over several years, they made the decision to relocate from Canada and settle in the Stann Creek District. That personal relocation journey now informs how they guide clients who are considering the same move today.
As Dean explains:
“When someone calls us about moving to Belize, we understand the questions they’re asking because we’ve asked them ourselves. We spent years exploring different parts of the country before deciding where we wanted to settle. That experience helps us guide buyers through the same process with confidence.”
Many of the people reaching out to our brokerage are navigating Belize real estate for the first time. They’re often coming from North America—curious about the lifestyle but cautious about how the process works.
Having advisors who have personally walked that path can make a significant difference.
A Natural Team Built on Complementary Expertise
Part of what makes Dean and Kim such an effective team is the way their professional backgrounds complement each other.
Before transitioning into real estate in Belize, Kim spent 26 years in the service industry and built a career as a Certified Interior Designer, developing a strong ability to understand how people envision living in a space.
Dean’s background brings a different dimension.
With 27 years of experience in engineering, construction, and development, he provides a practical understanding of how properties are built, maintained, and evaluated from a structural standpoint.
Together, those perspectives help buyers look at properties from both a lifestyle and an infrastructure point of view.
Kim describes their approach this way:
“Every buyer comes to Belize with a slightly different vision. Some are looking for a retirement home, others want an investment property, and some are just starting to imagine a different lifestyle. My role is often helping them see what a property could become for them.”
That balance is particularly helpful in Belize, where buyers are often evaluating properties from abroad and trying to make sense of a market that operates very differently from North America.
A Repeat High Performer
While Dean and Kim are being recognized this year as Top Producing Team at RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize for 2025, their success didn’t begin this year.
In 2024, Kim Astren was named Top Producer at RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize and ranked in the Top 2% of RE/MAX agents across the Caribbean and Central America region, which includes more than 1,100 agents.
That kind of performance rarely happens by accident. It reflects consistency, discipline, and strong relationships with clients.
As Kim puts it:
“For us, success comes down to relationships. We take the time to understand what people are really looking for—not just the property, but the lifestyle they want to create here.”
Serving Clients Across Placencia and Hopkins
Dean and Kim work across one of the most active real estate regions in Belize.
You’ll often find them at our Sidewalk Pop-Up location in Placencia Village, or working with buyers and sellers throughout the Placencia Peninsula, Maya Beach, Sittee River, and up to Hopkins Village, where Dean manages that office as well.
Kim has spent years working closely with clients throughout Placencia, and that experience continues to shape the way they guide buyers exploring the entire peninsula today.
Their presence in the Stann Creek area in particular, allows them to support buyers considering a wide range of property types – from beachfront homes to jungle retreats and development opportunities.
Dean explains:
“The Placencia Peninsula and the Hopkins area each offer something different. Some buyers want to be right in the village with restaurants and activity, while others prefer a little more space and quiet. Our job is helping people find the location that really fits how they want to live.”
Experience With Islands and Business Properties
Another area where Dean and Kim have developed particular expertise is in working with island properties and business opportunities in Belize.
These properties often require a deeper level of analysis—from infrastructure considerations to operational logistics – particularly when buyers are evaluating investment opportunities.
Dean’s engineering and development background often becomes especially valuable in these conversations.
Over the past year, Dean and Kim have also expanded their reach through collaborations with large North American brokerages, including members of The Agency RE and the SERHANT. networks, helping introduce Belize opportunities to a broader audience of international buyers.
For property owners in Belize, that type of exposure can make a meaningful difference.
One thing I’ve always emphasized to our entire team within our brokerage is that the real estate journey doesn’t end when a property closes.
For many buyers relocating to Belize, the real work begins after the purchase – learning the rhythms of the community, establishing local connections, and settling into a new way of life.
Dean has always taken that part of the process seriously.
“Buying property here is just one step,” Dean says. “Helping people feel comfortable in their new community is just as important. When clients know they have someone they can call with questions, it makes the whole experience smoother.”
That mindset reflects the type of long-term relationships we try to build with clients at RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize.
A Recognition Well Earned
Being named Top Producing Team at RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize for 2025 is an achievement worth celebrating.
More importantly, it reflects the steady work Dean and Kim have put into building a real estate business grounded in trust, experience, and genuine care for their clients.
As a broker, it’s always rewarding to see that kind of partnership take shape and grow.
Congratulations to Dean and Kim on a well-earned milestone!
If you’d like to learn more about working with Dean and Kim or explore property opportunities in Belize, you can reach out to them directly or visit their page and check out their listings on the RE/MAX 1st Choice Belize website