In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…
- My Summer Love Affair with Ireland
- Own in the Heart of Madrid
- Own a Traditional Moroccan Villa from $145,400
- Our Oasis deal in Playa Caracol
- Your Questions Answered on Buying in Panama
I’ve landed back in Ireland after my usual winter in Cabo.
And let me tell you, there’s something magical about returning home when the sun is shining and the days stretch long into the evening.
In just two weeks, my wife Sayuri and I have hiked the Saltee Islands, driven the Dingle Peninsula, and walked across Sherkin Island to one of the most stunning hidden beaches I’ve ever seen—all without unpacking a suitcase or checking into a hotel. Every evening I’ve slept in my own bed in Cork.
Last weekend I visited the Saltee Islands off the coast of Wexford for the first time. The views were stunning.
But it’s not all hidden beaches and scenic drives. Ireland’s property market is more dysfunctional than ever. That’s why I’m selling my rental portfolio in Ireland—and on the lookout for a lifestyle play instead, somewhere wild and beautiful with upside potential.
Own in the Heart of Madrid
Click here to discover where I’m looking—and why internationalizing my life has made me appreciate Ireland more than ever.
I haven’t set foot in Madrid in nearly 20 years—but I’m hearing a buzz I can’t ignore.
One of my scouts, Luis León, just spent time on the ground there, scouting neighborhoods, sipping coffee in tapas bars, and digging into the real estate scene.
Visit a bustling traditional bar and you’ll quickly see the joyful nature of Spanish society, and you’ll understand why Madrid is such a sought-after destination
Prices are still reasonable compared to other major capitals like London and Paris—for now—but demand is rising. Luis scoped out four expat-friendly neighborhoods—La Latina, Malasaña, El Retiro, and Moncloa—and brought back listings that reveal what your money can get you in Spain’s capital.
I share what he found. But I’ll also tell you why I’m steering most folks toward Spain’s overlooked secondary cities…and the next place I’m heading to scratch for opportunity.
Madrid is stylish, elegant, and well-connected—with top-notch food, culture, and architecture.
Own a Traditional Moroccan Villa from $145,400
There’s something about Morocco that gets under your skin.
It’s in the scent of orange blossoms drifting through a courtyard riad… the silence of an olive grove at sunset… the flash of cobalt blue in a Marrakech garden.
This place has long drawn expats and creatives—From William Burroughs to Orson Welles to Tennessee Williams.
Morocco continues to enchant a new generation of creatives, entrepreneurs, and expats.
This week my team took you on a journey through three destinations in the Marrakesh–Safi district of Morocco, spanning desert oases, bohemian port towns, and Atlas Mountain foothill villages, and showed you three very different dream homes for sale, starting at just $145,400.
Discover what my team found here.
Our New Deal: Oasis at Caracol
And of course, on Wednesday, the latest RETA deal opened. This was on comfortable two-bed homes just 160 paces from the stunning tropical beach in Playa Caracol, Panama
The extraordinary response to the Oasis deal is testament to how rare and special this deal is…
If you have reserved your two-bed home just two minutes’ walk from the beach already, then I congratulate you!
A render showing the homes at Oasis as planned by the developer. Renders shouldn’t be considered final but give us a great idea. I expect gains of $121,600 five years after delivery.
Your Questions Answered
Jill M. asks: I am interested in learning more about purchasing in Panama but I would want to rent for 3-4 weeks in July if possible.
Ronan says: Hi Jill. Renting for a few weeks is a good idea if you’re not familiar with where in Panama you want to buy a home. And obviously, you’ll have your own personal criteria and preferences which will determine your final location.
Be aware that July is rainy season in Panama. It usually starts around mid-May and at the beginning of the season you’ll get sporadic rain showers during the afternoon and evening hours. As the days pass the rain increases in duration, amounts, and evenings are full of thunderstorms and lightening. During the rainy season day time temperatures are about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the dry season but the humidity is much higher (average day time temperatures in dry season range from 90 F to 95 F with night temperatures dipping to 75 F. Mountain areas are typically about 15 to 20 degrees cooler).
The rainiest month is November but by mid-December the rain is completely gone in most of Panama on the Pacific side.
Dry season then begins in January. Rain is mostly non-existent and the days are usually cloudless, with hot breezes, and warmer temperatures.
Panama also benefits from being outside the hurricane belt, so no need to worry about big storms. Rainy season and dry season come and go without incidence so in terms of weather, predictability is Panama’s middle name.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
Ronan McMahon
Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S.If you have a question about buying real estate overseas or have suggestions for destinations my team and I should put on our scouting list, drop me a line here.
