Why are millions now buying international properties? Here are five of the top reasons in this guest report from Mike Cobb, CEO of ECI Development

April 25, 2022

Dear Fellow Investor,

If you’re thinking about owning property overseas, you’re in great company. One in 10 Americans are doing the same.

These folks are exploring everything from snow-capped mountains to charming Caribbean islands and everything in-between — and at prices that are incredibly affordable, many times under $100,000.

Here are the top five reasons people are looking overseas today:

• For many, it’s a lifelong dream to retire to the tropics.

• For others, it’s a vacation home.

• For some, it’s a cash-flow rental property.

• For those who appreciate the wisdom of owning inflationary hedges like metals, real estate overseas adds a valuable basket for a few of the investment nest eggs.

• For the visionary and prudent, it can be all of these...but also, something vital. Do you see the financial and social train wreck heading your way? If so, having a Plan B is critical, isn’t it? And having your bug-out pad in another country adds a whole new level of protection.

Guaranteeing one’s personal freedom with a property and residency outside one’s home country has recently taken on timely new importance. In fact, the overwhelming majority of international property buyers in the past two years have cited securing their personal liberty as their primary reason for taking this small step.

But no matter one’s reasons for investing in property overseas, getting the purchase right the first time is paramount. The good news is that there are tools to help evaluate and make prudent choices in a foreign country where the rules are different.

These resources will make the process smooth, simple, and safe. And many are free, like the Consumer Resource Guide available here and also mentioned below.

With that word of caution, let's focus on some critical factors for happiness: climate and location.

It goes without saying that the world is a big place and serves up every type of geography. And while many people are looking at Europe, Africa or Asia, most buyers from the U.S. decide to own property in the Americas. So for that reason the examples you will see here are from this region.

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The first big factor to consider is the weather. Fortunately, it’s an easy one to get right.

The geography of the Caribbean and Latin America serves up just about every climate type imaginable.

Buyers find breezy tropical islands, snow-capped Andes mountains, vineyard areas similar to Napa Valley, and tropical highlands where it’s springtime all the time. At the beach you can find lush lowlands, to semi-arid beaches with a southern California-feeling, to dry deserts along the coast.

Most people looking for property overseas want warm weather. But what kind of warm weather? Some people prefer hot, dry weather like Phoenix. If so, then the deserts of Mexico would be a great choice. For a Southern California climate, the coastline of Nicaragua and northern Costa Rica deliver that. Some folks want a hot, humid climate like Miami or Houston. Tropical Panama would be perfect for them.

The Caribbean islands really just have two seasons: dry and rainy, with humidity levels being seasonal. The rainy season runs from late summer to early December in the Caribbean, and temperatures generally band between 80°-90°F. The warm temps and gentle humidity are offset by the trade winds blowing in off the sea.

Many folks enjoy a cooler climate resembling springtime year-round. Throughout tropical Latin America, an area’s temperature is determined by elevation.

For example, Cuenca, Ecuador, possesses a wonderful year-round springtime climate because it sits at 8,500 feet above sea level. Temps are in the high 50s at night and mid-70s in the day. A little lower in elevation, places like the Central Valley of Costa Rica or Medellin, Colombia, temperatures are in the 80s during the day and the 70s at night, every day of the year.

The other major factor to consider is setting: urban, rural or resort.

Do you prefer a modern city with high rises, a subway and shopping malls? Or is a small colonial city with brick streets, small markets and rough sidewalks preferable? Maybe a resort setting with golf is more your style.

Take a look at three different beach locations, each fitting one of the above categories.

Panama City is a perfect example of a modern city at the beach. Cartagena is an old colonial city on the beach. Gran Pacifica provides year-round oceanside golf and a semi-arid, resort setting.

Answering these types of questions on climate and setting greatly helps people identify and locate possible cities and areas that meet their lifestyle criteria. The main factors to consider are these listed here, but none are black and white. It’s an open recipe that’s best experienced first-hand. The good news is that the incredibly varied geography of Latin America can usually serve up the right solution for almost any need.

So what should you do now?

First, get the Consumer Resource Guide and 15 questions every buyer should ask when buying property overseas.

Another helpful resource is the “Needs, Likes and Preferences Survey” designed for a deeper dive into how to define and identify the lifestyle elements you’ll want overseas and where best to find them. Both resources are complimentary and highly recommended as you begin your journey.

Most important: Register now for the free “Going Overseas 101” webinar featuring Mike Cobb of ECI Development and Brien Lundin of Gold Newsletter and the New Orleans Investment Conference, being presented on May 3rd at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

We’ll reveal the top 15 questions you should ask when considering property overseas and give you a solid understanding on where to start.

Just click on the link below to register!

CLICK HERE
To register for our free “Going Overseas 101” Webinar
May 3rd, 2:00 p.m. Eastern / 11:00 a.m. Pacific
…and also receive ECI’s Consumer Resource Guide