In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…
- This Week We’ve Got Boots on the Ground in Southern Portugal and Costa Rica
- New Report Released: The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Panama
- Homes from $155,000 in Europe’s “Secret” Springtime Cities
- Your Questions Answered on Buying Along the Riviera Maya
Say “The Algarve” and most people will picture golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, and dramatic cliffs…a sunseekers paradise.
But did you know, there’s a town on this stretch of Portugal’s southern coastline that was home to Henry the Navigator and the adventurers of the Age of Discovery? It’s compact, low-rise, and walkable. And from spots all over town you can catch breathtaking views of the Bay of Light, fringed by miles of golden sand.
Lagos is arguably the most historic town on the Algarve. The charming old town is a labyrinth of narrow, winding streets lined with whitewashed buildings adorned with colorful tiles.
Quaint cafes spill out onto vibrant squares, where the scent of fresh pastries fills the air, and locals mingle with visitors. The town is also home to historic churches, such as the Church of St. Anthony, renowned for its baroque architecture and golden interiors.
Right now, one of my team members, Ciaran Madden, has boots on the ground in Lagos in advance of a new opportunity I’ll be bringing to members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA).
When I first spotted opportunity in Lagos about 10 years ago, this stunning coastal town was still quiet, sleepy, and largely unknown to the millions of tourists flocking to the Algarve.
The Algarve has of course exploded in popularity in the last few years and today, Lagos is a modern, wealthy town with bustling beaches and an upscale marina (which by the way, is set to undergo redevelopment with Hilton building two new hotels in the area).
Since then, I’ve brought RETA some incredible deals in Lagos.
To give just a few examples…
- In December 2019, RETA members could buy in a community called Santa Maria from €310,500. When I last checked, two-bed condos available to RETA members for €390,000 were listing for €550,000—a boost of €160,000.
- In 2020, I recommended condos in a community called Adega. RETA members could get penthouses here for the incredible price of €480,000. Last year, a contact told me they were listing for around €1 million…meaning they’ve doubled in price.
- In 2021, we had our RETA deal in the luxury community of Dona Maria. One RETA member purchased a penthouse there for €1.1 million. In 2024 that listed at double that—€2.2 million. RETA members could also buy two-bed condos in Dona Maria from €575,000, which were listing for €850,000 last year—an uplift of €275,000.
Like I said, a new opportunity has arisen in Lagos.
It will be a chance to own stunning luxury condos right in the most desirable area of town at exclusive pricing.
I’ll be sharing more about Lagos…this new deal…and what Ciaran uncovers on his scouting trip in the coming days and weeks, so stay tuned.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, my own scouting itinerary is in full swing.
As I mentioned last week, Costa Rica is next up on the travel schedule. Tomorrow, I’ll be flying to Liberia airport in northwestern Costa Rica and spending eight days scouting destinations along this country’s stunning Pacific coast…
Demand here is incredible. More and more flights are coming from North America and the best opportunities will be in coastal destinations located within 90 minutes’ drive from booming Liberia airport.
That’s where I’m focusing my scouting…
I’m meeting best-in-class developers with potential projects in the works around the Papagayo peninsula…the renowned surf and beach town of Tamarindo…the upmarket beach and marina town of Playa Flamingo…
Lots to check out and I’ll be sharing my findings as I go.
New Report Released: The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Panama
Another destination on my international real estate beat that has served up incredible deals for RETA members over the years is Panama.
And earlier this week, I send you the latest of my buyers guide reports, The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Panama—a brand-new, comprehensive report covering everything you need to know before buying a dream home in Panama.
You can access this free report here.
In it, you’ll discover:
- How to buy property in Panama. (Yes, it is perfectly legal for foreigners to own property here. But there are some country-specific guidelines to keep in mind.)
- Everything you need to know about Panama’s real estate scene, from the best places to invest to how to negotiate prices and what to expect from the legal process…
- You’ll also discover the many visa options available and the incredible benefits they offer. But, bear in mind, you don’t need a visa to buy or own real estate in Panama.
- Lots of insider tips on living in Panama… low-cost/high-quality healthcare, infrastructure, the vibrant local culture…it’s all in this guide.
As a Your Overseas Dream Home reader, you get this report free. It’s my way of saying thank you for being a valued reader.
And we have more of these in-depth reports in the pipeline.
Next up will be Portugal…right now, my team are gathering all our best intel and info to include in this report and I’ll be sending it you very soon. Stay tuned to your inbox for that.
Homes from $155,000 in Europe’s “Secret” Springtime Cities
Spring has officially sprung, the days are finally longer than the nights. This time of year tends to bring a sense of renewed energy and adventure…and where better to explore at this time of year than Europe’s best cities.
There’s a romantic notion that Paris in the spring is the ultimate in European city breaks. And there was a time when that was true. But today, even though Paris doesn’t experience the same volumes of tourists in spring as it does in the height of summer, you’ll still be met with long lines for major attractions and high tourist prices.
And it’s no different when looking for a home here. Paris consistently ranks of one of Europe’s most expensive cities for real estate.
But Europe boasts plenty of other cities that will give you the same charm, beauty, and lower real estate prices than the continents more popular and well-known metropolises.
This week my team uncovered homes from $155,000 in cities that are some of Europe’s best-kept secrets.
Discover what they found here.
Your Questions Answered
Have a comment for me or my team? A question about owning overseas? A destination you’d like us to scout? Thoughts on destinations we’ve been telling you about lately? Share it here. I’d love to hear from you. Here’s a question I got from a reader recently…
Amy & Kenny S. ask: Hi Ronan. We read all your email articles and love them!
We have two high schoolers who will be graduating in next couple years and we are desperately ready to get away from the Colorado winters. We have two small Airbnb cabins on our property which we Airbnb. They cover our mortgage payments more or less.
We have often visited the Riviera Maya and like the Puerto Morelos area. It’s a 3.5-hour direct flight from Denver with affordable flights often. This makes a big difference in ease of going. We want to buy a two-bedroom place and we are looking seriously in this area. We are also intrigued by Costa Rica and possibly Panama but have not visited these yet.
Do you have an opinion on the best place to invest in these areas? We’re hoping to Airbnb it when we are not using it.
Thank you for any intel.
Ronan says: Hi Amy and Kenny, and thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you enjoy my articles.
Puerto Morelos, which sits south of Playa del carmen and north of Tulum on the Riviera Maya, was formerly a quaint fishing village. In recent decades, as nearby Cancun developed, Puerto Morelos has attracted an expat community looking for a quieter alternative. (Read about the American couple who moved here some years ago and now own three properties in this area.)
Today, this town has a stunning beach…a quaint, rustic charm…and it’s beginning to see some more development, including some new upscale condo communities. But it retains a small-town feel with a town square lined with little shops, restaurants, and cafés. The square is next to the seaside malecon (promenade) where you can still pick up fish, fresh off the boats.
Ultimately, though, Puerto Morelos has limitations in how and where it can grow. This is why development leapfrogged it to booming, cosmopolitan Playa del Carmen.
Have you considered buying in Playa?
I’ve been scouting Playa del Carmen for more than two decades.
In that time, it has undergone a dramatic transformation, evolving from a laidback backpacker retreat into a world-class luxury destination.
Central Playa is walkable, the type of place where you can grab an espresso and croissant at a co-working café in the morning…enjoy a lunch of fresh seafood on the beach with your toes in the sand…and have your choice of any number of gourmet options for dinner…with shopping for high-end fashions and artisan creations mixed in—not to mention relaxing spa treatments.
Playa is hip and chic. And it’s maturing into a sophisticated, upscale destination increasingly drawing a well-heeled clientele with money to spend.
It’s the beating heart of the Riviera Maya.
I recently bought RETA members an incredible deal there. (Not yet a RETA member? Learn how you can join here.) It was the chance to own stunning condos in a community called The Landmark right in the heart of Playa del Carmen, a short walk to the beach, the dining, the shows, gyms, stores…
This community will be next-level, with a half-acre rooftop amenity area called The Sky Club. This will be unique in Playa del Carmen. A half-acre of lushly landscaped luxury, with a sauna, infinity pool, gym, restaurant and Caribbean views. Resort-level amenities like this in Playa are a major premium, but nowhere has a rooftop amenities area as expansive and devoted to quiet luxury as Landmark.
I expect gains of $201,600 five years after delivery and red-hot rental income—I’d say an annual gross yield of 13%. That’s gross income of $41,500 per year! (That yield calculation allows for a lot of personal use by the way…)
Prices to own in similar high-end communities in downtown Playa run in the mid-$400,000s and even the $500,000s or more.
Yet the exclusive, RETA-only price was from just $318,400 for a luxury two-bed condo in The Landmark, in the heart of everything with that huge rooftop of resort-level luxury.
We had a huge response to this deal but RETA members can still join the waitlist (sometimes, RETA members who got in on deal launch day will back out for personal or financial reasons, and those on the waitlist get first pick when a unit becomes available). These deals are available to RETA members only. Get more info in becoming a member here.
You say you’re also curious about Costa Rica and Panama. I recently put together on the best places to own in Costa Rica, check it out here.
Right now, you can read our latest report, The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Panama. This guide covers the key information on owning real estate and living in Panama, including a step-by-step buying process, legal essentials, healthcare, taxes, visas, and more. And it’s free to you as a Your Overseas Dream Home reader. Access it here.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
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 for 2025, drop me a line here.
