In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…
- How to Make a Fortune in Real Estate
- A Travel Note from Greece
- Where the Opportunity Is Going Next in Cabo
- Your Questions Answered on Buying in Italy
Sometimes, entire fortunes are made when a highway is laid, a runway extended, or a railway completed.
This week, we’re digging into a big idea that’s behind some of the most dramatic real estate success stories in the world: the “Path of Progress.”
A Path of Progress is anything that makes a place easier to get to or more desirable. Think new roads, bridges, or airports, or a 5-star resort where previously there were only budget accommodations.
From citrus groves outside 1950s Orlando to the luxury resorts of Los Cabos, from the sandy coastlines of Punta Cana to the high-rises of Playa del Carmen—massive transformations often begin with infrastructure. And for the savvy investor, they spell opportunity.
That’s why my team and I spent more than $1 million on travel and research every year. So we can get out ahead and track the next Paths of Progress.
Look at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, for example.
Cabo, once a remote outpost with nothing but a tuna cannery, today home to lavish 5-star resorts and multi-million-dollar homes, a leader in global luxury.
For decades, Cabo was a quiet haven known mainly to fishermen and yacht owners. That changed when celebrities began to arrive—first flying in on private jets, soon followed by developers.
The government responded with major infrastructure upgrades, including airport expansions and new highway connections.
Today, Cabo has transformed into a premier luxury destination, home to multimillion-dollar resorts, high-end branded residences, and a booming rental market.
Click here for a deeper dive on Paths of Progress.
If you want to learn how to invest smartly in these fast-changing markets, then don’t miss the new RETA Academy masterclass Your RETA Blueprint to a Boundless Life and Real Estate Riches. Presented by RETA Senior Researcher Margaret Summerfield and I, the masterclass spans six live online sessions held on Thursdays at 1 p.m. ET. We started on July 10, but recordings of previous sessions are available to watch at your leisure.
Session 1 was all about ruthlessly profiling yourself…
Then in Sessions 2 and 3, we explored the best destinations to buy today…
But knowing where to buy is only half the equation.
In Session 4, we tackled the “what” and “how”—diving into the different types of real estate opportunities available and the multiple ways you can finance your dream overseas property.
Two more sessions are coming up and you won’t want to miss them…
But this masterclass is for RETA members only. Join RETA now to enjoy this benefit.
To get the most of the masterclass, I strongly advise attending live. The event is designed to be interactive. At the end of every session, Margaret and I host a live Q&A where you can ask any questions you have on that week’s topic.
We talk about Paths of Progress in the masterclass.
You can bet that we’ll also be discussing them at The Gathering…
The Gathering is the annual get-together for Lifetime members of my Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) group. We’ll be meeting from March 12 to 14 next year in the 5-star Santa Maria country club and resort in booming, cosmopolitan Panama City.
If you’re not a RETA member, you’ll have a chance to join as a RETA Lifetime member and attend this event. (More on that soon.)
So stick the dates March 12 to 14 in your diary…
Now let’s hear from two of my scouts who recently had boots on the ground checking out unfolding transformations with their own eyes—one on the Aegean coast of Greece and the other in Mexico’s Baja California.
A Travel Note from Greece
Dinner on the beach as the sun dips behind pine-studded hills. A carafe of local wine. The scent of grilled sea bream in the air.
No crowds. No queues.
Just the hum of cicadas and the sound of fishing boats returning to a sleepy harbor.
That’s the Greece my scouts Eoin Bassett and Alan Kennedy found on a recent scouting trip—from Kavala to Stavros, along a forgotten stretch of the northern coast.
It reminded me of the Greek islands I knew decades ago…before the crowds, before the high-rises, before the cruise ships.
Following Eoin and Alan’s Greek adventure, I felt that I could relive my Greek island-hopping experiences of 30 years ago.
This is a place of empty coves, slow lunches, and timeless villages. A place to disconnect—and maybe, if you’re lucky, to put down roots.
And yet, they found signs of subtle transformation.
Don’t miss Eoin’s travel note.
My scouts Eoin Bassett and Alan Kennedy reported getting “Portugal vibes” as they roadtripped the Greek coast… They found good roads, slow living, charming beaches, green-studded hills
Now from Greece all the way to Mexico…
Where the Opportunity Is Going Next in Cabo
There’s something very special happening in Baja California—and my scout Ciaran Madden has just returned with a firsthand report from San José del Cabo, a town brimming with charm, culture, and a whole lot of potential.
You’ve probably heard of Cabo San Lucas. That’s the Cabo most folks think of when they picture this region…big resorts, celebrity sightings, mega-marinas, and late-night revelry.
But nearby, in the walkable colonial town of San José del Cabo, a different story is unfolding.
Ciaran was on the ground for a week, meeting with developers and dining in incredible restaurants. What he discovered is a town still under the radar—but not for long. The “Path of Progress” is shifting. Whereas, in the past, much of the development in Los Cabos was focused in Cabo San Lucas, it has now spread along what’s called the Cabo Corridor…the road linking Cabo San Lucas to San José del Cabo.
Developers are taking notice. Plans are in motion for stylish, amenity-rich condo communities in San José—offering ocean views, walkability, and good-value luxury that’s been missing here until now.
This is a place we’re watching closely.
The stunning coast around San José is dotted with stunning resorts, beach clubs, and low-density, high-end communities, where homes and condos come with big price tags.
Your Questions Answered
Have a comment for me or my team? A question about owning overseas? Share it here. I’d love to hear from you. Here’s a question I got from a reader recently…
Christian M. asks: I am interested in purchasing a home in Italy and would appreciate some guidance on the process. As an international buyer, I would like to understand the key steps involved and any requirements I should be aware of. Specifically, I would like to know:
- Which banks or financial institutions are commonly used for international buyers seeking mortgages or financial services?
- Is it necessary or advisable to hire a lawyer during the purchasing process?
- Are there any specific documents or permits required for non-residents to purchase property?
- What are the typical costs or taxes associated with buying property in Italy?
If you have any resources or contacts who specialize in assisting foreign buyers, I would be grateful if you could share them.
Thank you in advance for your time and assistance. I look forward to your response.
Ronan says: Hi Christian. Thank you for your message—your questions are spot-on for anyone considering a property purchase in Italy as an international buyer.
Buying property in Italy is not always straightforward and can be a challenging experience, especially for foreigners. A full explanation of the process would be quite long but here’s some guidance I hope you’ll find helpful.
Before you do anything else, you must obtain a codice fiscale (an Italian tax code). Some guides overlook this, but it is an absolute, non-negotiable requirement. You will need it to open an Italian bank account, sign any contracts, and set up utilities.
The cost of buying real estate in Italy includes a series of taxes and fees on top of the property’s purchase price. In total, a buyer should budget for an additional 7% to 12% of the property’s value, though this figure can be lower for a primary residence. These costs primarily consist of transfer taxes, professional fees for the notary and agent, and other smaller duties.
I always recommend that you speak to a lawyer. In fact, hiring a local attorney is one of the 13 steps on the Due Diligence Checklist that I outline in the brand-new edition of my bestselling book, Ronan McMahon’s Big Book of Profitable Real Estate Investing.
In some European countries like Italy, foreigners can borrow a significant percentage of a property’s value at attractive rates.
If you’re serious about buying in Italy—or anywhere overseas—this book is the perfect place to start. I wrote it based on decades of scouting and buying property all over the world, including Italy. It’s designed to help people like you make smart, confident decisions and avoid costly errors.
This book is so packed full of valuable information and hard-won insights that I recommend you make a point of reading it once a quarter to remind yourself of the core lessons.
Soon, I’ll be sharing how you can get a physical copy of this book for free (you pay only shipping). Stay tuned.
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, drop me a line here.
