By Ronan McMahon
AFR
I’m just back from my second scouting trip to Mexico’s Riviera Maya this year. I’m excited to tell you about a new strong early-in opportunity in a project I visited. Before I tell you about the deal, let me remind you about the Path of Progress I’ve seen in this region. Not too long ago, Playa del Carmen, the jewel in the Riviera Maya, was a small village with sand streets. In the last 10 years, it rapidly became a hip beach town.
I’m writing to you today to remind you about a great deal we have on lots in northeast Brazil—but the prices will go up in three more days. Brazil is famous for its endless miles of white-sand beach, turquoise lagoons and buzzing city beaches. For many decades Brazil was regarded as the country of the future. The world looked on in envy at her beaches, beautiful people and staggering potential to be one of the world’s richest places. Today, Brazil has arrived. It’s a global power broker. It’s the world’s sixth-biggest economy.
Imagine sipping a cool drink while listening to the sound of Pacific waves crashing against the rocks below. The ocean views are jaw-dropping. It seems a shame to leave your sunny spot by the pool at all. But you promised yourself a swim in one of the five beaches on your doorstep…or maybe some horseback riding on the warm sands…and you’ll relax this evening with dinner in The New York Times-acclaimed gourmet restaurant, with friends and fellow expats…
With only 390 lots spread out over 2,700 acres, it’s low density. It’s very private. While you can enjoy living in what feels like a secluded place overlooking the ocean, you are never too far away from the action. There’s a fabulous restaurant, grocery store, a tennis court and even yoga classes…
As a member of our little group, you will know that Ireland’s economy and property market is in a deep state of distress. The collapse of some real estate values has been of catastrophic proportions. I’ve told you in these dispatches about the opportunity to buy for 20% of peak prices…or even less.
Today, I’d like to tell you about a new deal near a pretty beach village in Brazil. It’s a great opportunity to buy a lot within commuting distance (10 minutes) of the port of Pecem I’ve been writing to you about. Pecem in north-east Brazil is set to explode with the creation of thousands of jobs there. All of the middle-class workers will need somewhere to live—and that’s why I’ve taken such an interest in the area.
As a member of our little group, you will know that one of the big trends I’m interested in is the “Path of Progress.” I’m talking about new roads or airports that make stunningly beautiful places more accessible. On my last visit to Costa Rica I drove a new highway to the Colinas de Miramar project west of San Jose. The upgraded route has halved the drive time from two hours to one hour.
Costa Rica is a destination rich in real estate opportunity right now.
In fact, I’ve negotiated preferential terms for you in four deeply undervalued pockets of this country.
I’ve just returned from a scouting trip to Panama. My trip focused on the city, beach areas within 90 minutes of the city and the mountain area of Boquete. I also spent four days on the road last month scouting deeply undervalued vacation homes in Ireland’s south-west. On my travels I uncovered some nuggets. I visited some areas with a distinct lack of opportunity. But, a trip is never wasted. Even if there’s no opportunity there’s something to be learned from each market if you scratch the surface..
It’s a little known fact but Costa Rica’s actually got a Caribbean coast. Real estate shoppers forgot about it when they got caught up in a buying frenzy on the northwest Pacific Coast. But this area is opening up to business and tourism and it’s starting to grab attention. Developer Gill Phelan is the guy behind the gold standard community in this area—Grand View Estates.
