By Ronan McMahon
April 4-6, 2013 – Panama City, Panama
As quality of life (worsened by crumbling economies) deteriorates elsewhere in the world, Panama looks better and better…Nowhere else can you enjoy such a comfortable life…with near-perfect year-round weather, excellent medical care, fresh, healthy food straight from the farmer’s truck…and a retirement incentive program that’s truly welcoming of expats…Discover if Panama is for you.
On the Dominican Republic’s Samana peninsula, Las Terrenas is a little piece of paradise. Nineteen miles of walkable public beach, palm trees, warm breezes and stars so bright it feels like you could pluck them from the sky… I can’t think of a nicer place to have a beach home. You’ll find your dollars stretch here, too.
Next Thursday (March 1) the sixth fire sale auction in Irish real estate will take place in the luxurious Shelbourne Hotel on Dublin’s Stephen’s Green. I expect prices will hit an all-time low. Finally, it’s truly “game on” for distressed sales in Ireland.
The drive from La Romana to Las Terrenas brought me back toward Santo Domingo before joining the main highway from Santo Domingo to Las Terrenas. Studying the opportunity at Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic is the primary purpose of this scouting trip.
The plans at the Gran Bahia Principe (the new resort I told you about in my last report from the Dominican Republic) call for a self-contained mini-town. Residents here will be able to go to school…get medical treatment…enjoy their leisure activities (like golf and tennis)…dock their boat…get dressed up for fine dining…dress down for cocktails and a snack on the beach…buy groceries in the supermarket…You get the idea.
Today I want to interrupt my on-the- ground reporting from the DR with news about our latest “off market” deal. This opportunity in Uruguay is strong. I wanted to make sure you heard about it at the earliest possible opportunity.
Santo Domingo is the capital city of the Dominican Republic and one of the largest cities in Latin America. I haven’t explored it yet. That will have to wait until the tail end of my scouting trip. Pulling out of the airport…across the bay her skyline glimmers. I’m most interested in the restored colonial center. Museums, restaurants and short-term rental market. My 11-day scouting trip will end in Santo Domingo.
White-sand beaches. Turquoise waters. Coconut palms. Brightly colored beachfront pizzerias. And hopefully a big opportunity for us… My bags are packed. I’m heading to the Dominican Republic (DR).
Tulum’s beaches are mesmerizing.
Nestled at the end of a stunning powder sand Caribbean coastline, surrounded by untamed jungle, ancient forest cities, a protected nature reserve, and the crystal-clear Caribbean Sea, Tulum is one of the world’s best-kept secrets…for now.
Close by is the exclusive development called Tao. It’s a project made up of condos, town homes and residences. RETA members bought pre-release and pre-construction here 18 months ago. Back then, not a single sod had been turned. But developer Benjamin Beja had a vision, a hard-working team and a truly special piece of land.
Lake Arenal in Costa Rica’s lake country is stunningly beautiful. The weather, with year- round temperatures in the 70s, is near perfect.
From the lake (and from the elevated lots at The Preserve, the project I told you about yesterday) the views to the towering Arenal Volcano are jaw dropping.
This is rich pasture and tropical jungle country. You might think you are in Switzerland. The roar of howler monkeys… flamboyant and dramatic…and brightly colored birds tells me I’m not.
