Overseas, Real Estate Still Costs What it Should Cost

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The real estate agent was slightly bashful about the price of the home he was showing me.

Almost apologetically, he mentioned that the three-bedroom, standalone house—with split-level garden, outbuildings, pool, and an entirely separate guest apartment with its own kitchen and bathroom—was on the market with an asking price of $400,000.

Did I mention that it was located a stone’s throw from the beach in a secluded bay that’s considered one of the most desirable addresses in the country?

That’s not an exaggeration—I could easily have punted a pebble into the warm Pacific water from its front yard. (I’ve put some video together from the trip. You can view that—and more exclusive online content—at IntLiving.com/Magazine)

The agent explained that the price would drop by about half if I wanted something similar a little farther from the beach.

Personally, I thought it was a bargain. What would a similar home cost in Malibu, or La Jolla, or Cape Cod? You wouldn’t see change from a million. Or two.

What I’m saying is that excellent-value real estate overseas isn’t found only on lockand- leave vacation condos. That’s a healthy sector, for sure, but what gets forgotten is that at a higher price point, you can get your hands on a luxury dream home, and still save yourself thousands. Or that, at the other end, fixer-uppers in southern Europe frequently sell for less than $80,000.

Whether you dream of a townhouse in Portugal, a condo in Puerto Vallarta, or a beach home in Panama, current exchange rates and financing options mean that now is the perfect time to get away from the overpriced insanity of the North American property market, and instead enjoy the genuine good values of real estate overseas. We’ve devoted this month’s issue to helping you do just that.