Guatemala Container Construction Information

Guatemala is a country in Latin America set in between Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. It borders both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, but for it's size, has less coastline than it's neighbors.

Some people may be surprised to know that Guatemala has both the largest country population in Central America (over 17 million) and has the largest city in Central America as well  (Guatemala City at almost 3 million). Generally, Guatemala is known more for its culture and geography than its urban landscapes though.

Guatemala is built in the location of what was once the sprawling Maya Civilization. This rich cultural heritage is the reason for numerous historical sites like the ancient city and pyramids of Tikal.

In more modern times, Guatemala has struggled to overcome political instability, poverty, and the influence of drug cartels. These issues and others like natural disasters have contributed to Guatemala's low rank in the Human Development Index.

Still, it's a beautiful country with much promise. Guatemala is a biodiversity hotspot, with tons of unique and significant ecosystems. That goes hand in hand with its geographic diversity which spans from beaches to an almost 14,000 ft volcano.

Guatemala's economy is largely centers on tourism and services, with the balance largely made up of agriculture and artisinal crafts. The country also has an established mining sector for several precious and industrial metals.

If you want to build a container home in Guatemala, you'll face a convoluted process. The country still doesn't have a national building code, and approvals are needed from various government organizations that can together end up taking months or ever years to get.

Many municipalities have some type of building regulations, but it often isn't technical in nature, and varies between locations. There are efforts to formalize and mature the building regulations in Guatemala, but it will likely take a long time for change to occur.

In the meantime, many people use the Institute for the Promotion of Insured Mortgages known as the FHA to acquire their own home. The FHA provides an Insured Mortgage System through Approved Financial Entities that enables normal Guatemalan families to secure the long-term credit needed for a home purchase or construction. In return the FHA does mandate some residential building regulations and construction standards.