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There is a common thread in the conversation that many expats have when they first move to Belize and try to find long-term rentals—it is hard to do. There are many reasons for this, and I’ve experienced them while trying to rent in two of the most popular areas of Belize, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, and Placencia.
If you're in love with classic Europe and its history, romance and culture, take heart: Spain, Italy and France aren’t only for the vacationer who saves for months just to visit. Each one of these three countries has numerous small towns and villages that lie under the radar—places with enticingly affordable properties to rent or buy
When moving abroad, renting a place to stay is an attractive option that offers a lot of advantages, whether you're headed to Costa Rica, Malaysia, France, Mexico, Ecuador, Ireland...or any country. If you plan to buy or build a home eventually, renting allows you to investigate a region and/or community...or several...before you put down roots. You don't want to be stuck in a neighborhood, region, or home you don't like.
It’s difficult to beat the beauty of Thailand’s white-sand beaches, often with a backdrop of jungle-topped mountains in the distance. Living on, or near, the expansive coast of this tropical paradise could be your dream retirement. Although more expensive than living in less well-traveled areas, the cost of living can still be surprisingly inexpensive for a life of year-round warm weather and spectacular scenery.
The colonial city of Antigua in the Central highlands of Guatemala has a thriving expat community. It’s no surprise that foreigners choose to live here full- or part-time. They enjoy the history-steeped cobbled streets and a vibrant culture. Visitors often extend their stay, swapping family home stays or hotel accommodation for short or long-term rentals in Antigua.
Most of us dream of owning a beach property—where we can ride out the cold winters back home, enjoy beach living year-round, or even as a bolthole for a few weeks at a time. The good news is that, in some places, your dream beach home costs a lot less than you might think.
Ten years ago it was mainly scuba divers, anglers and adventure travelers who knew of Belize's natural treasures. At that time few tourists could point to Belize on a map. But there's been a growing buzz about Belize for the last few years. The constant press coverage about predictions of what would happen at the end of the Maya calendar (December 21, 2012) catapulted Belize into the international spotlight. Ever since, tourism numbers have been on the rise. And a growing number of Baby Boomers are retiring there.
On my international real estate beat I look for two things: Capital appreciation and strong rental income. Some locations will offer appreciation potential, others the income. Only in a rare place at a unique moment does an opportunity tick both boxes.
Real Estate Trend Alert gives you everything you need to take advantage of the very best global real estate investment opportunities available today. All the research… the hot tips… and the inside story is delivered to you through timely e-mail alerts. This service is for the aggressive yet prudent investor who wants to make serious money by taking advantage of investment situations before they become common knowledge.
There’s a steady breeze blowing. The sand is black—it’s volcanic—flecked with small crystals that twinkle in the sunlight. The sand is quite hot too in the heat of the day…best to wear flip-flops.