“The heart of our Greek-Island home is the patio, radiant with Aegean light and heat as filtered through the bougainvillea from sunrise to sunset. I have a panoramic view of the village, the harbor, the beachfront with its boardwalk, and the tiny white chapels set into the sage-green hills,” writes J. Kathleen Thompson.
J. Kathleen is one reader who has discovered and acted on a simple fact: Overseas you will find dream properties for bargain prices. She paid $65,000 including all purchasing fees for her traditional stone house on the Greek island of Tilos. She spends a few months there every year, and says, “Coming from Canada in the spring or fall, we are always greeted by sunny and cloudless skies.”
Warm weather and ocean views are what living in the Caribbean is all about. Discover the best-value Caribbean island, a place with direct flights to the U.S. and a healthy rental market, where you can buy a two-bedroom home right on the water for $199,000.
And picture a balcony overlooking a beach…a large swimming pool, a two-bedroom property, on an acre of prime land… “In Miami a comparable lot without this house would cost us close to $3 million,” says S.D. Williams. But in a secret corner of Panama, he and wife Bobi got the lot, built the house, and enjoy the views for a total of $150,000. They enjoy this good value in their daily life there, too. Luxurious living, including a full-time staff and eating out regularly, would set you back only $2,100 a month in the hidden part of Panama.
You won’t just find better bang for your real estate buck overseas. Buy in the right place, at the right time, for the right price, and you could see double-digit yields or serious capital appreciation. Sometimes both. If the potential to double your money with a Caribbean property play sounds good, take a look here.
—Eoin Basset, International Executive Editor
Since moving to the island of Penang, Malaysia, I’ve spent many hours enjoying its gilded temples, palm-fringed beaches, and the wonderful eateries of its capital, George Town. But there are still secret getaways to enjoy here. One of my favorites is the mysterious island of Jerejak, just a 10-minute boat ride away.
Central America’s best contemporary art collection is housed in a lavish colonial mansion in a secret city. Actually, as you’re an IL reader, León may not be a total secret to you. But the biggest city in northern Nicaragua is unknown to most folks.
If you find yourself in Coimbra, Portugal, from May 8 to May 13, you may think you’ve stumbled onto a rehearsal for the musical A Chorus Line. Throngs of cane-carrying students wearing top hats will parade through the city and ride on decorated floats from the Alta—where the University of Coimbra, founded in the 13th century.
European stocks are staging a major breakout this year. But I’ve got an even more important reason to own Europe today…one that could mean triple-digit gains if history is any guide. Let’s think about two different investments.
Growing up in suburban Vancouver, I always wanted to live in a village. The kind of village where houses fit so snugly together that, if you’re on a hillside overlooking the sea, the adjoining staircases and tongue-and- grooved patios and eaves save you from tumbling headlong to the shore.
On many Caribbean islands, buying property on or near the water can seem out of reach…something reserved for the wealthy. But not on Roatán, where you can find the best-value real estate of any Caribbean island. Just imagine: For $199,000 you could have a two-bedroom Caribbean home right on the water in a quiet neighborhood with no tourists—your own private getaway.
Ron Piltzer’s house has a perfectly manicured front yard and patio. The 1,200-square-foot house has two large bedrooms, a large, Western-style kitchen, a gorgeous tiled bathroom, and a large living room and dining room. The attractive, high-quality furnishings are rich with tropical hardwoods. The backyard comes with a swimming pool and lounge area, and it’s surrounded by trees and a privacy wall.
From the rooftop terrace of her luxury condo, Lori Gold, 29, gazes toward the Caribbean Sea before sliding into the warm water of her rooftop pool. “Honestly, it’s like I live in a postcard,” she says. “A place like this would cost way more than I could afford in Toronto. Plus, you can’t get a place on the Caribbean in Canada!
When Aaron Brabham decided to move to the Colombian city of Medellín nearly a year and a half ago, he knew exactly what type of place he wanted to live in. “I’m really a penthouse kind of guy,” he says. “I was looking to live in the lap of luxury for much less than I could back in the U.S. I work at home as a digital marketer, so I like to have lots of space.”
As well as the great weather, thriving expat scene, and low-cost living, excellent, affordable healthcare is a big reason many folks retire to Ecuador. In Cuenca, the country’s main expat hub, a recent report on expats found that 75% cited quality healthcare services as their number-one reason for living here.