In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…
- Just Launched: The Ronan McMahon Report
- A “Castle” in Spain for $286,000
- “Why I Bought 3 Condos in RETA-only Deals in Cabo”
- Your Questions Answered on Boquete, Panama
Greetings…
I’ve just returned from a trip to Japan and I’ll tell you this…
Over there, your money goes further…
You can sit down to a great lunch for $5. Buy a nice house for $35,000. Enjoy world-class dining for $35 that would set you back ten times that in New York.
Even everyday things—like a coffee at Starbucks—come in at a fraction of what you’d expect to pay elsewhere.
And yet, this isn’t some rough-and-ready emerging market story. This is a country that’s safe, proven, and well-organized.
You have white-sand beaches…surf…golf…world-class skiing…distinct seasons that transform the landscape—from cherry blossom sakura in spring to blazing colors in the fall.
But here’s what makes this such a compelling story…
The opportunity here has been created by a set of macro forces that are as unusual as they are powerful—demographic decline, the aftermath of burst asset bubbles, and a currency that’s weakened significantly.
This week, I’ll be diving into the opportunity in Japan. Stay tuned for more on this…
But for now, let’s step back and take a look at everything else that’s been happening across my global beat, from a “castle” house in Spain to the story of a Real Estate Trend Alert (RETA) member who bought in three of the exclusive RETA-only deals I negotiated…
For those unfamiliar with it, I founded my RETA club in 2008 to bring together like-minded investors who recognize the incredible potential of overseas real estate. Using the collective-buying power of all RETA members, I can negotiate exclusive deals from developers.
I’ll begin today’s digest with an exciting development—the launch of my new YouTube channel.
Here’s a snapshot from Japan that I shared on my Instagram. You can follow my adventures on Instagram here.
Just Launched: The Ronan McMahon Report
On Wednesday, I launched a brand-new YouTube channel: The Ronan McMahon Report.
I’ve just published the first video, where I explain how I identify destinations before they take off.
Starting on Thursday, I’ll release a new video every week…
Each one spotlighting a specific destination on my global beat—breaking down what’s happening on the ground, what it costs to own there, and where I see the opportunity today.
I’ve been a full-time real estate investor and scout for more than two decades.
Over that time, I’ve built a small, dedicated team. Today, we spend more than $1 million per year on scouting and research—and collectively bring more than 100 years of experience to the table.
In a world of online influencers and self-proclaimed experts, I don’t believe anyone can match my team’s boots-on-the-ground experience.
That’s why I’ve launched this channel…
To take you inside the destinations my team and I are scouting—and show you how we evaluate them.
The weekly episodes of The Ronan McMahon Report won’t be surface-level overviews. Each is a true deep dive—built from what we’re seeing on the ground.
Watch the intro video below.
Start here. This is how I spot real estate opportunity—before the crowd arrives.
A “Castle” in Spain for $286,000
In yesterday’s dispatch, I shared a remarkable listing…
Out on the edge of Granada, Spain—where clay hills roll toward the Sierra Nevada and the pace of life slows—you’ll find a property that feels like it’s been lifted from another era.
From the outside, it looks like a small castle.
Turret-like features. Solid stone walls. A sense of presence you simply don’t see in modern builds.
But here’s the twist…
It’s not some remote ruin or restoration project. It’s a fully livable, six-bedroom home—set on its own plot, with outdoor terraces, a separate guest space, and views across a dramatic landscape.
And it sits just 15 minutes from one of Spain’s most culturally rich cities.
If you’ve ever wondered what your money can really buy in Europe today…this is a fascinating example.
You can read the full story—and see inside the property—right here.
I recently shared this castle-like Spanish house on our Your Overseas Dream Home Instagram account. Check out the post here.
“Why I Bought 3 Condos in RETA-only Deals”
You might have heard about the incredible deals I bring to members of my RETA group.
If you want to know how they work, it might help to hear from someone who has taken part in a RETA deal.
RETA member Ryan Combs has bought not once, but three times in off-market RETA deals—each time in a place I spend time every winter: Cabo, at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
Ryan knew the destination and understood the lifestyle. So when I brought RETA members the right opportunities, he moved fast.
The Monte Rocella community in Cabo where Ryan bought in a RETA-only deal in May 2022. RETA members are now starting to take delivery here…and have already seen big uplifts. A two-bed ocean-view condo in Monte Rocella that had a RETA-only price of $262,800 is now listed at $429,000—that’s $166,200 more. Read Ryan’s story here.
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…
Pierre L. asks: Hi!! Thank you for this beautiful report on Panama!! Do you have anything on Boquete, Panama? I would like to see it if there is one!!
Ronan says: Hi Pierre and thanks for your message. I’m glad you enjoyed this dispatch about things to do in and around Playa Caracol.
As for Boquete in the Chiriquí province, this is one of Panama’s top retirement destinations.
Sitting in the highlands, Boquete has a cooler climate, scenic views, and a well-established expat community. The area is known for its coffee farms, hiking trails, and peaceful lifestyle.
Boquete is only 40 minutes from David, Panama’s third largest city with a population of just under 82,000, via a well-paved four-lane road.
David is the commercial hub of the region, with shopping, restaurants, and all the services you might need, from government offices to medical providers. Two top-rated private hospitals offer affordable and accessible healthcare to residents of Boquete and all of Chiriquí province.
Boquete has long been a favorite destination of expats coming to live in Panama.
With an established expat population, Boquete is ideal for those looking to escape the heat and settle into a close-knit community.
Last summer, two of my scouts, Oliver and Noah, took a road-trip through Panama. One leg of their journey took them to the highlands of Boquete. You can read their scouting report 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, drop me a line here.
