Nov. 15, 2009
Azuero Sunset Coast, Panama
PLUS: A South Of France Renovation Project For As Little As US$32,000...
AND: Old World Country Living Among The Vines For As Little As US$800 Per Month...
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It's Time to Come See For Yourself What All the Fuss Is About Down Here in Sunny Panama!
If you're searching for a place to live, retire, invest, keep your money, or do business overseas, I'd say you're doing yourself a big disservice if you're not considering all that Panama has to offer.
But don't take my word for it. Come on down to this beautiful, safe, sunny, and welcoming country and see for yourself.
With everything going on in the world right now, it's understandable if your thoughts are turning to things like safe haven and escape. For many, Panama is the answer.
Meet us in the Hub of the Americas Feb. 24-26, 2010, for our
Live & Invest in Panama Conference, and we'll show you why.
Details here.
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Dear
Overseas Opportunity Letter Reader,
Panama is the most user-friendly jurisdiction in Latin America when it comes to borrowing money locally as a foreigner to buy real estate. In most other countries in this part of the world, it's not only not easy, it's not possible. Try walking into a bank in Nicaragua and asking to speak with someone about property financing.
Panama is the top banking haven in the region, and a number of the banks operating in the country are happy to lend money to foreigners interested in purchasing a piece of real estate here. Terms can be attractive, though you won't find the interest rates available in the United States and Europe right now.
Resident global real estate investing expert Lief Simon met with his contact at Scotia Bank Friday afternoon. She assured him that this Canadian bank with nine branches in Panama City is actively lending, not only on capital city apartments, but on land and construction as well.
Lief scheduled the meeting to discuss the idea of lot buyers at his beachfront Los Islotes development being pre-approved for financing. The meeting was a success. Lief's contact assured him that the bank would be delighted to work with Los Islotes. Typical terms, if you qualify, are 50% loan to value amortized over 15 years with a balloon payment in 5.
I wrote to tell you about the launch of retail sales at Los Islotes, on this country's western Azuero Sunset Coast, 10 days ago. At the time, I explained that the developers at Los Islotes (including my husband, Lief Simon) were extending a special invitation to Live and Invest Overseas readers. Specifically, Lief and his partners offered a first shot at Phase I inventory--that is, a first shot at the best lots and also at significantly discounted pre-launch pricing that allowed for the first 5 retail lots in Phase I to be sold at a 30% discount to launch list price; the next 5 lots at a 25% discount to launch list price; and the 5 lots after that at 20% discount.
To update you, as of this writing, 5 lots have been reserved, and several other readers are engaged in serious discussions regarding other lots. However, you may still have an opportunity to participate in Los Islotes at a 25% discount to launch list price if you act quickly.
You can reserve a lot with a fully refundable deposit of US$5,000. You'll then have 45 days to visit Los Islotes if you'd like and to sign a purchase agreement. (Please understand that, during that 45-day window, sales will continue. If the second group of 5 lots sell, then the 25% discount is off the table.)
Furthermore, you're able to pay for your lot in installments. Your full payment is not due when you sign the purchase agreement. At that time, you make additional payment to equal only 40% of your purchase price. The balance is due in six months.
In addition, as I've explained, you could finance 50% of the lot purchase price through Scotia Bank. Remember, Scotia lends on construction, too, and it could be possible to roll your lot financing into home construction financing at some point during the five-year repayment period.
I've been scouting beaches around the world for 25 years. The long stretch of Los Islotes beach on this Azuero Sunset Coast is special...as is the community Lief and his partners are creating along it.
Full details here.
Kathleen Peddicord
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Live Like a Celebrity on Your Own Vineyard
in the New Napa
Enjoy a dream life among the vines...making, drinking, even marketing your own private label wines and savoring the romance of the wine-lover's life...
Sound like a pipe dream?
Here's an extraordinary opportunity to own your own vineyard for less than the cost of a new Cadillac...
You could finance your investment with pre-tax funds... pocket the profits...and experience romantic wine country living...without any of the hard work!
This is an exclusive offer for Live and Invest Overseas readers, and roll-back pricing is available for a limited time only.
Full details here.
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P.S. What else this week?
- "The more research I did into the idea of relocating to France, the more perfect our plan seemed," writes new France Correspondent Mitey de Aguiar.
"The country is within traveling distance of all of Europe (by plane, train, and auto), and, to my amazement, I discovered that the rural farmhouse of my fondest daydreams, in some parts of France, can be highly affordable.
"We drove around many parts of the country exploring. We wanted warm weather but knew that the Cote d'Azur was too expensive. Finally, in southwest France, the land of foie gras, d'Artagnan, and good wine, we found the place for us, and it is here that we settled, less than two hours drive from the ocean at Biarritz and about 90 minutes to cosmopolitan cities Toulouse and Bordeaux.
"That was four years ago. Admittedly, it hasn't been all roses since. (Although we do have red roses climbing the facade of our stone house mid-May!) The restoration has been hard work, and it's cost more than we planned for. But when the big sunflowers surround the fields of our house in July... and when we pick the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from our 3-acre vineyard come September...we have no doubts. We made the right choice.
"We're even more certain of our decision when we remember that we bought this house (sitting on nearly 7 acres of land with stunning views over rolling hills and woodlands) for less than I got for the one-bedroom apartment I sold in Palma, Mallorca. We have made a sound investment that is also allowing us to live the dream..."
PLUS: I've been introducing you this week to the charms and attractions of
San Rafael, in the heart of Argentine wine country. This Old World country town has a great deal to recommend it. It's charming and historic...safe... walkable...friendly...interesting...with great weather, solid infrastructure, and a highly affordable cost of living.
In fact, you could
retire well in San Rafael on less than US$800 per month (complete
budget details here) if you own your own home, forgo investing in a car, and don't require full-time household help.
Tom Phelan, an American friend, traveled to Mendoza province, Argentina, three years ago to attend a conference. He intended to stay for three weeks but extended that to three months once he got a good look at the place.
Then he and his wife decided they'd like to stay on for good.
Tom and Yvonne aren't alone. This part of Argentina has that effect on people. It's estimated that 400 American families live in the area. San Rafael, with its unique situation at the point where the
ríos Diamante and Atuel emerge from the Andean foothills, is a big part of the appeal. After the neighboring desert, San Rafael is lush, with sprawling vineyards. It has been observed that this town of about 170,000 residents is to Mendoza as Sonoma is to Napa, California--smaller and quieter and producing great wine.
Tom equates San Rafael to the Norman Rockwell California of 50 years ago (though it's probably the most modern of Mendoza's towns).
More than West Coast U.S., though,
San Rafael feels like forgotten Europe...
.
