“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
"Our new lives in Ecuador are better than we ever thought possible. We fall asleep to the lull of the waves and awake to a view of the sun reflecting off the blue Pacific… Because it costs so little to live here, we’re actually saving more than we spend… And best of all, we’re healthier than ever.”
The city spreads out below you: a panoramic view over the skyline, green areas, looming mountains, and surrounding countryside…perhaps even the ocean and sunset. Your expansive private terrace allows you to soak in the sun and enjoy meals, coffee, and glasses of wine in warm weather. You’re on the top floor, so the view is unobstructed.
"Are you serious? Grrr!” This was my typical response when first faced with the mañana culture of Latin America. Technically, mañana means tomorrow. But you’re better off translating it as “not today.” For example, when a plumber tells you he can’t make it today, but he’ll be there mañana…he’s just as likely to show up the day after tomorrow.
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