There are five special regions of the world where people live exceptionally long and healthy lives.
These are known as “Blue Zones.”
Blue Zones are home to the world’s highest concentrations of people living to 100 years or more.
People in these regions also experience on average far lower levels of chronic diseases like obesity, cancer and diabetes than people in the U.S. and many other wealthy countries. And they report being active, happy and engaged with their community long into old age.
The Italian island of Sardinia is one of the world’s five “Blue Zones.” It’s home to some of the longest-lived men in the world, in part because it boasts a climate that’s perfect for spending time outdoors.
One of the five Blue Zones is in the U.S.
It’s a community of Seventh Day Adventists in Loma Linda, California. The other four Blue Zones are overseas…
Three of them are islands—a tiny Greek island called Ikaria, the Italian island of Sardinia, and Okinawa in Japan.
The final Blue Zone is the Nicoya Peninsula, on Costa Rica’s northwest Pacific coast.
While these regions are spread out geographically, the people in them live remarkably similar lifestyles.
They regularly engage in outdoor physical activities like gardening, swimming, and hiking. They use walking as their primary mode of transportation, which keeps them moving throughout the day.
They minimize stress through daily rituals such as regular naps or walks by the ocean. And they eat plenty of locally grown produce, drink moderate amounts of alcohol (often with friends) and prioritize strong family relations.
So, what does it cost to own real estate in one of these fountain-of-youth destinations?
The answer is a lot less than you might think.
My team have been digging into real estate listings in the four overseas Blue Zones, and they’ve found stunning homes from just $52,900. Check out the listings below. (Note, we haven’t visited these properties or done any due diligence on them.)
Residents of the Greek island of Ikaria are famed for their longevity, with one in three living into their 90s.
Historic Townhouses in Sardinia from €49,000
The Italian island of Sardinia is renowned for its sparkling blue waters, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering cuisine. The island also has an abundance of pristine beaches and some top-notch surfing locations, while inland you’ll find challenging hiking routes and ancient towns and villages.
One of the standout villages on Sardinia is Bosa. In 2022, CNN placed it on a list of 20 of the most beautiful villages in Italy, and it’s easy to see why.
Bosa sits on a river less than a 10-minute drive from the coast and the nearest beach.
The village is home to Malaspina Castle, built in 1112 and famed for offering spectacular views of the Mediterranean. The castle is now mostly ruins, but in the Middle Ages it was a vital part of Bosa’s defenses against pirates.
Bosa is the ideal Blue Zone location, the type of place where your exercise comes from strolling to the bakery during the day to get some pane carasau (a traditional Sardinian flatbread)…or walking down to your favorite restaurant in the evening for a glass of wine and plate of fresh seafood. And real estate there can be quite affordable.
My team came across this recently renovated traditional townhouse in Bosa. The charming home is on a picturesque street adjacent to a piazza. It spans four floors, each measuring around 320 square feet.
Across these four floors, you’ll find three bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living room with a delightful terrace on the top floor overlooking the square below. It’s listed for €165,000 ($178,000).
This newly renovated townhouse in the heart of the picturesque village of Bosa is on the market for €165,000. Listing here.
Elsewhere in Bosa, my team found this home in need of renovation in Bosa’s Old Town. It has easy access to amenities and parking, and it’s just over a mile from the beach.
It’s a five-level townhouse, with the first floor featuring an entrance, kitchen, and bathroom. The second and third floors each have a single room, while the fourth floor has a bedroom and bathroom. The top floor boasts a spacious terrace offering views of Malaspina Castle and the vibrant houses of the Old Town. It’s listed for €49,000.
This fixer-upper in Bosa offers views out over the village from its top-floor terrace. It’s on the market for €49,000. Listing here
Sea-View House in Ikaria, Greece for €130,000
The Greek island of Ikaria is named after the mythological figure Icarus, son of Daedalus. According to legend, Icarus and Daedalus escaped from the labyrinth of Crete using wings made of feathers and wax. However, Icarus flew too close to the sun, causing his wings to melt, and he fell to his death in the Aegean Sea. The island where his body is said to have been discovered was named Ikaria in his honor.
Beyond the legend, Ikaria has been renowned since ancient times for its thermal springs and its dark red wine. Today, it’s also known for its long-living residents…
Ikarians are almost completely free of the dementia and chronic diseases, with one in three living into their 90s.
As with Sardinia, real estate prices on Ikaria are very affordable.
My team found this one-bed sea-view house on the island listed for €130,000 ($140,000). The house is small, spanning 549 square feet, but it sits on a large plot measuring more than 9,500 square feet. Of that, 2,153 square feet can be built on, so the home could be expanded.
This small detached house on the Greek island of Ikaria sits on a large plot and offers spectacular sea-views. It’s on the market for €130,000. Listing here.
Three-Bed House with Bay Views in Okinawa for $250,000
Okinawa prefecture is an archipelago of almost 160 islands stretching south from Japan toward Taiwan.
The islands vary in character. Some are small and uninhabited. Others feature large luxury resorts adjacent to popular diving sites.
The Okinawa prefecture has a population of about 1.4 million, with an unusually high proportion of centenarians. According to one study, Okinawa has 68 centenarians per 100,000 residents, which is more than three times the ratio in the U.S.
On the archipelago’s main island, also called Okinawa, my team found this spacious three-bedroom house. The two-story home spans 1,750 square feet and has traditional Japanese characteristics, with wooden floors and partitions. On the second floor, there’s a large terrace offering spectacular views out across stunning Nakagusuku Bay. It’s listed at 39 million yen ($250,000).
This three-bedroom house would give you a base to enjoy Japan’s famed cherry blossom season, which starts in Okinawa in mid-January—several weeks earlier than in Tokyo and Kyoto. Listing here.
Cozy Cabin in Costa Rica for $125,000
The Nicoya Peninsula is in northwest Costa Rica, on the country’s Pacific Coast. This area is also known as the Gold Coast.
While homes in the other Blue Zone destinations are often affordable, the Gold Coast is different. This is a billionaire’s playground. Some of the world’s most exclusive resort brands are active in this region, creating coastal residences to sell for millions or even tens of millions of dollars.
So, if you want to live by the beach on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast, be prepared to pay a premium (unless you know the secret to getting off-market real estate deals…details below).
So, if you want to live by the beach on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast, be prepared to pay a premium.
But head back from the coast, into the small towns and communities of Nicoya, and you can find affordable real estate nestled within lush jungle surroundings.
My team found this cabin made from tropical hardwoods listed for $125,000.
Situated on an 8,320-square-foot plot, this teak-wood cabin has two air-conditioned bedrooms across 753 square feet of internal space. Outside there’s a small pool and a second, smaller cabin that serves as storage and provides space for appliances like the washing machine.
An open-air kitchen on the chalet’s terrace allows for al fresco dining. The property also has a covered parking, while the expansive plot provides opportunities for further development.
This cozy tropical cabin is set inland in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula, where real estate prices remain affordable. Listing here.
Ronan McMahon, Founder, Overseas Dream Home & Real Estate Trend Alert
P.S. Here’s the secret to getting in on off-market real estate deals…
Using the collective buying power of my Real Estate Trend Alert group, I’m able to negotiate exclusive deals for RETA members in the world’s most stunning destinations, including by the beach on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.
For instance, back in March, I brought RETA members an off-market deal in the upmarket Gold Coast community of Playa Flamingo. This deal was to own luxury homes with incredible resort-style amenities like pools, indoor and outdoor gym, co-work lounge, juice bar, jogging track… And the location is perfect, just a short walk to two beaches.
Around Playa Flamingo, condos sell for $600,000…the typical listing is well over a million dollars. Yet the off-market RETA member-only prices were from just $286,800 from luxurious two-bed homes and from just $386,800 for three beds. This was an insane deal. I expect these two-beds will be worth $525,000 just three years after delivery—a gain of $238,200. And I figure these three-bed homes will be worth $650,000 just three years after delivery—a gain of $263,200.
While you’ll get lots of travel, listings, and research reports in Your Overseas Dream Home…the best deals…the off-market, members-only deals, are only ever in Real Estate Trend Alert. Learn more about RETA and how you can join here.
P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Cheap Dream Home Instagram account.
