This is the perfect time of year to be in Ireland.
It’s been glorious of late…a perfect 70 to 75 F…with long, bright days. Sunset today is due for after 10 p.m., meaning I have plenty of time in the evening to head out on the Fota Island golf course, right behind my house, to play a few holes.
The length of the summer days is a national obsession here.
In the midst of winter, when darkness can descend as early as 4 p.m., my countrymen pine for the days when they’ll be “a grand auld stretch in the evening,” as they put it.
Of course, I haven’t seen that dark, wintery Ireland in a very long time…
I only spend time in my homeland in summer, when the days are long and bright (though you still need a jacket sometimes…it’s Ireland after all!).
Longtime readers will know how I divide my life—winters in Cabo…summers in my native Ireland…
In between, when I’m not scouting for real estate, I’ll spend time at my oceanfront condo on Portugal’s Silver Coast…or my home in the booming, vibrant city of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Very soon, my recently purchased historic mansion in the town of Camina, in northern Portugal, will join the mix. My condo in the stunning Caribbean destination of Cap Cana will figure, too. (Congratulations to all the Real Estate Trend Alertmembers who got in on our Cap Cana deal yesterday!)
This international lifestyle means I’m always where I want to be…always enjoying perfect weather…no heating or air conditioning…
If you’ve ever wanted anything similar—maybe to spend part of the year in France or Italy…or live full-time in Spain…or own an ocean-view vacation home in Cabo—then you should know it’s far more accessible than most people imagine.
It doesn’t cost me money to live this lifestyle…in fact, I earn money living this way!
Later today at 12 p.m. ET, I’m joining a roundtable discussion with experts from International Living to dig into this and discuss some of the best ways to move overseas. It’s free to join. (Attend right here.)
First, I want to share how I built my life of freedom…and how I get paid for living it.
Santa Maria beach, my favorite in Los Cabos. I regularly visit Santa Maria in winter, when I’m staying at my Cabo condo…
Years ago, I vowed never again to face into snow, ice, or freezing rain, or oppressive heat and humidity. I promised myself a life of travel punctuated with enjoyable stays in properties I owned, doing things I loved.
A cornerstone of this life is my home in Los Cabos…
Cabo is my winter retreat. It’s where I come to re-energize and plan for the year ahead. I love the laidback vibe…the natural beauty of the desert and mountains meeting the sea in dramatic fashion…the perpetually sunny weather…
Once the morning sun passes by my condo there in the 5-stay Quivira Resort, I like to work from my terrace…gazing out periodically at the light glinting off the ocean, the whales breaching just offshore, and the small fishing boats zipping across the horizon.
Then, when I need to stretch my legs, I pop down to the beachfront driving range and hit a few balls, or head to the residents’ beach club for a coffee, or take a stroll along the beach, the warm sand beneath my feet. Paradise.
Plus, everything Cabo offers is on my doorstep—the marina…the resorts…the fine dining…the shopping…
The iconic Cabo San Lucas marina…a short drive from my home in Los Cabos.
I bought here in the best-in-class Copala community in Quivira back in 2015, as part of a deal I negotiated for members of my RETA group. The RETA-only price on a two-bed, two-bath ocean-view condo was $336,156. This year, a similar condo to mine listed for $729,000. That’s $392,844 more.
And I know that every month I’m away, my Cabo condo earns me money.
Right now, I’m renting my Cabo condo for $3,000 per month to a longer-term renter who can work around my return dates. (That’s a 10.7% gross yield on an annualized basis.)
I get paid for owning a place in Cabo that I can use whenever I want. It’s a similar story with my condo in Portugal…
The beach club and golf course at the Quivira Resort where I own in Los Cabos. This is where I go for my evening strolls in Cabo. I’ve often seen whales breaching steps from the shore…
My condo in Portugal is on the Silver Coast…a vast stretch of stunning Atlantic coastline between Lisbon and Porto. This region boasts pristine beaches, great golf, rich history and culture, and incredible food
My condo sits right on the coast in the community of Praia D’El Rey, which literally translates to “Beach of the King.”
There are miles of beaches all along the Silver Coast. They’re long, wild, and sandy—ideal for walkers. And I’m still amazed by how close the beach is to my condo, and all the great facilities I have access to. A championship golf course and driving range, tennis courts, communal pools… Not to mention all the charming towns and wonderful food on my doorstep.
When I bought my condo back in 2020, it cost me €300,000. A few years back, a local agent wanted to list it for €450,000. I’d guess it would list for even more now, but I’m not selling…
My condo on Portugal’s Silver Coast sits right up to this stunning beach.
I cleared the mortgage on this condo, but even before I did, I could recoup my entire annual costs, including taxes, HOA fees, golf club dues on two courses, and the mortgage just by renting my condo out in the peak summer months when I like to be in Ireland anyway. I essentially own a condo in Portugal for free.
I have my other properties too. Some are purely for rental income. Some I choose not to rent out for personal reasons, like my Guadalajara home, which my wife and I bought to be near her parents.
Others will join the mix. I’m redecorating my historic mansion in Portugal and may rent it out short term or I may use it to house-swap, as I wrote about yesterday.
And I’m adding new bases with a Caribbean flavor. I bought alongside RETA members in exclusive deals we’ve had in Playa del Carmen and Cap Cana. Those I expect to use like my Cabo condo… stay in them if and when I like. Rent them out for income when I’m not.
I understand if my life sounds impossibly glamorous—Cabo to Portugal, the Caribbean to Ireland. But here’s the thing: You don’t need to be super wealthy to live this life…
I tee off at my home links course at Praia D’El Rey. When I’m on the Silver Coast, you’ll often find me at this stunning course just a stroll from my beachfront home.
Truly anyone can do this. You just need to identify the right destinations and opportunities for you.
Later today, I’m joining a roundtable discussion with in-country experts from International Living to help dig into this. It’s at noon Eastern time and we will…
- Talk through real estate markets worth your attention today and explore what you need to understand before you buy overseas.
- Explore what makes life overseas in the world’s best-value havens so special… from a slower pace day-to-day… to the care and attention taken with the food and wine… to the friendliness of the people you’ll meet… and more…
- Consider the best ways to create a more international life for yourself—you have lots of good options all over the world today.
To attend at noon, just click on this link. It’s free.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
P.S. Whatever your motivation to go abroad may be, the challenge, when you’re still at home, is often figuring out not only where to go—but exactly how you want to do it.
→ Part-time? Full-time? One place? A few different bases, as I have?
→ Maybe buy a home now and rent it out till you’re ready to retire? Or jump in fully and find a place you want to live forever?
The great thing is that no matter your objectives, you have incredible options in terms of the destinations you can choose from…and how you live there.
I and the experts from International Living will take you through some of them at the “What’s the Best Way to Go Overseas?” Roundtable at 12 p.m. ET today.
