In this week’s Your Overseas Dream Home Digest…
- The Truth About Spain’s Proposed Tax on Foreign Property Buyers
- Homes from $94,500 in Colonial Asia
- VIDEO: How I Get Huge Discounts on Overseas Dream Homes
- Your Questions Answered on Where to Buy in Portugal and Capital Gains Taxes in Mexico
We’ve got some big things coming up very soon here in Your Overseas Dream Home.
New scouting…new opportunities…and a free, comprehensive guide to buying in Mexico. All of these are set to drop in your inbox in the days and weeks ahead.
Let’s dig into them, starting with the buyer’s guide…
Recently, my team have been pulling together a brand-new special resource for you. It’s called The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Mexico.
This guide will cover key questions about buying in, moving to, and living in Mexico, from the best places to own…to how visas, taxes, and healthcare work…to insider tips on topics like how to bring your car to Mexico.
And this guide is completely free…a special benefit to you as an Overseas Dream Home reader.
The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Mexico will be dropping in your inbox in the coming week. Keep an eye on your inbox for that.
Now, to our scouting plans…
From the pristine white sands of Tulum to the glistening shores of Los Cabos, Mexico has one of the world’s longest and most dramatic coastlines. You’ll learn about my top destinations to buy in Mexico in your new buyer’s guide report…dropping in your inbox for free next week.
I spend a lot of time on the road. My team of scouts likewise are regularly traveling. There’s always someone…somewhere…reporting back to me on something exciting. There’s no substitute for boots on the ground research. And the more of this in-person scouting my team and I do, the more opportunities we uncover.
Recently, one of the most senior members of my team had boots on the ground on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast.
Set on the country’s northwest Pacific coastline, the Gold Coast is a region of stunning beaches, towering rainforests, and lush rolling hills. It’s also a billionaire’s paradise, with branded residences that sell for $10 million…$25 million…
In March last year, members of my Real Estate Trend Alert group had the chance to own luxury homes here at exclusive, off-market pricing. This was an incredible deal. Last October, the developer told me two-bed homes similar to those that RETA members could buy from $286,800 were already listing for $339,000—an uplift of $52,200 in just six months!
Now, we may be closing in on a new opportunity here…near the renowned surf town of Tamarindo. I’ll have more about this astonishing stretch of coast soon.
And we have more scouting coming up…
The stunning coastline of Tamarindo on Costa Rica’s Gold Coast. My scout was just here hunting for opportunities.
Very soon, my team and I will be converging from around the world on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, known as the Riviera Maya.
We’re traveling there to meet with RETA members at our annual event, The Gathering.
Several members of my team are also flying out early to dig into the latest opportunities along this coast. They’ll be exploring the beach towns of Tulum and Puerto Morelos and the cosmopolitan city of Playa del Carmen (where our Gathering will be held).
I’ll share what they uncover. And this is worth following closely. For many months, we’ve been zeroing in on a mind-blowing opportunity here. Now it’s very close…
All this and more is coming to your inbox soon.
Today, here’s a wrap-up of what we covered in Your Overseas Dream Home this week, from Spain’s new 100% tax on foreign buyers to homes in colonial Asia from $94,500, as well as your questions answered on where to own in Portugal and capital gains taxes in Mexico.
Playa del Carmen on Mexico’s Caribbean coast draws folks from around the world thanks its glistening coastline and vibrant cosmopolitan lifestyle. This is an increasingly upmarket destination, a place rich with opportunity. I’m closing in on something special here for my RETA group…
The Truth About Spain’s Proposed New Tax on Foreign Property Buyers
Let’s begin in Spain…
With over 300 days of sunshine per year in regions like the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca, Spain has long been a firm favorite with retirees, vacationers, and remote workers. It’s also a popular destination among foreign real estate buyers.
The introduction of its Golden Visa program in 2013, granting residency to non-EU investors who spent at least €500,000 on property, further drove international interest in owning here.
But now, it seems the country’s prime minister is angling to change that…
Spain’s southern coast boasts 300 days of sunshine a year and is a big draw for folks looking for an affordable lifestyle in Europe.
In January, Spain announced that the Golden Visa program will end on April 3. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also made headlines around the world when he announced a plan to slap a 100% tax on property purchases by non-European Union citizens.
Will this tax be implemented? Is this the end of the road for non-EU buyers in Spain? I give you my take on this whole situation in this special video that I shot from my home in Los Cabos… click here to view at this private link exclusively for Overseas Dream Home readers.
Homes from Just $94,500 in Colonial Asia
The tropical Malaysian island of Penang is a prosperous destination. It’s also a living museum of colonial architecture. Its streets are adorned with well-preserved structures that date to the period of British rule, from churches and shophouses to landmarks like Fort Cornwallis. It feels like nowhere else in Asia.
With its mix of British colonial architecture and traditional Southeast Asian temples, Penang feels like nowhere else.
Penang’s colonial heritage emerged out of the spice trade.
During the 1780s, the Dutch East India Company held a chokehold on this lucrative market.
The British, eager to establish their own foothold in Southeast Asia, turned to a largely uninhabited island called Penang.
With its deep natural harbor, fresh water supply, and perfect position to control the northern entrance to the Strait of Malacca, it was an ideal location. It’s also a wonderful place to live, with lush rainforests and tropical beaches. Soon, Penang was the center of spice production and trade in the region.
Today, Penang is known more for silicon than spices. It’s now home to more than 300 multinational corporations, many of them tech companies. But unlike other Asian cities that underwent rapid modernization, Penang managed to retain its colonial charm. As a result, it feels like nowhere else in Asia.
This week, I asked my team to dig into properties in this unique corner of Asia and they found homes from $94,500…
Full details on Penang and the listings there in the full article here.
Imagine having this view from your condo, while living on an island renowned for its stunning food, culture, history, and architecture. You can in Penang, Malaysia. Details in our full article here.
VIDEO:
How I Get Huge Discounts on Overseas Dream Homes
Dig deep on listings around the world and you’ll find great deals. But to get the very best deals, you need to be a part of my Real Estate Trend Alert group.
The biggest benefit of being a RETA member is access to exclusive, off-market deals. (To learn more about what a RETA membership gives you, go here.)
People often react with scepticism and disbelief when I tell them about these deals. I can understand why…often they seem too good to be true.
But the reason we get such incredible deals at RETA is actually quite simple… Thanks to the combined buying power of all RETA members, I’m able to negotiate serious discounts on retail pricing from best-in-class developers.
In the video below, I dig into the question of how I negotiate off-market deals and why developers give my group such big discounts. Check it out…
RETA’s group buying power is a game-changer for developers and allows my group to get first dibs on best-in-class real estate at prices that ordinary investors never see. It creates a win-win situation for each side, as I explain in this video. Click to view…
Your Questions Answered
Have a comment for me or my team? A question about owning overseas? A destination you’d like us to scout. Share it here. I’d love to hear from you. Here’s a question I got from a reader recently…
Alan U. asks: Hello Ronan, I am interested in buying an investment property in the Algarve region of Portugal with hopes of maximum rental income and some capital appreciation. Which cities would you recommend to look at? I am looking to rent as many weeks out of the year as possible and would vacation there on the open weeks. I live in America and do not plan to move to Portugal. Thank you.
Ronan says: Hi Alan, I’m afraid to say that unless you have a time machine, the window for getting a good-value investment property in the Algarve has largely passed.
Dig deep there and you may be able to find a good one-off deal. But such is the demand in the Algarve that, on average, prices have been pushed to a very high level and deals that offer strong rental income and capital appreciation are very rare indeed.
Here’s what happened…
Stunning beaches, charming towns, and year-round good weather has seen millions flock to Portugal’s Algarve in recent years.
For decades, the Algarve was one of Europe’s premier beach destinations. But over the past 10 years, it has evolved into something else. It’s now a year-round destination for retirees, young families, digital nomads, and work-from-anywhere professionals. The traditional 10-week summer high season is a thing of the past.
As a result, the region’s international airport is struggling to handle the influx of vacationers, second home owners, and work-from-anywhere professionals. There’s now a critical shortage of inventory and a soaring demand for real estate, which has led to a big spike in prices. Resale and rental prices are at historic highs.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t still opportunity in Portugal, far from it. You just have to know where to look…
As places like the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto have exploded in popularity, my team and I have been looking elsewhere in Portugal for opportunity. And we found it, in northern Portugal.
The coast north of Portugal’s second city of Porto is stunningly beautiful, yet it remains overlooked and undervalued.
All along this coast, you’ll find “hidden” destinations where you can enjoy all the amazing lifestyle benefits of this incredible country—excellent food…stunning soft-sand beaches…rich history and culture…glorious weather… But the prices there can be mind-blowingly low in comparison to destinations to the south. RETA members can read more about Northern Portugal in this special report.
Northern Portugal is beautiful, historic and culture-rich, boasting some of the most pristine and livable cities and towns in the country. Yet it remains overlooked…for now.
I believe that this region won’t stay under the radar for long, it will be discovered by the masses, and I anticipate that prices will rise.
That’s why I’ve recently bought a large historic mansion here. My new property is in the medieval town of Caminha.
Located at the mouth of the Minho River that separates Portugal from Spain, this picturesque town has a long and rich history. Walk its cobblestoned lanes and alleys and you’ll see constant reminders of this heritage, from the 15th-century Igreja Matriz de Caminha church to the 13th-century Torre do Relogio clocktower, which stands watch over the town’s main plaza.
Despite this abundant history, Caminha today feels modern and upmarket. There are art galleries and boutique hotels, fine-dining restaurants and wine bars. Then just outside town you have lagoon and Atlantic beaches, bucolic countryside, and excellent hiking. It’s an idyllic setting.
If you’re interested in learning more about this part of Portugal, I’ve compiled The RETA Guide to Investing in Portugal’s “Undiscovered North—a special three-part video series and step-by-step report that explains the process I used to buy here and gives you all the info and contact details you need to do the same. RETA members can access it here. (Not a RETA member? All the details you’ll need to join are here.)
Nadine B. asks: Can you tell me how you have avoided paying the Mexican capital gains tax?
Ronan says: Thanks for your question Nadine. The answer is quite simple, I haven’t. You can’t avoid paying capital gains tax in Mexico. Like in most countries around the world, if you buy and then sell a property you will owe capital gains tax on it.
The capital gains rate in Mexico is up to 35% of the profit. But this can be lowered based on how long you’ve had the property and whether you’re a resident. And there are also authorised deductions that can further bring this number down.
For example, any capital improvements that you make to the property can be deducted, so make sure you get the correct receipts. In Mexico, you can only claim deductions for services and materials that are recorded on official receipts and invoices called facturas. Facturas must be printed on a government-authorized press and have the tax ID number (RFC number) of the company or individual issuing the receipt. No factura, no tax deduction.
As I say, next week I’ll be sharing a special (free!) report with you that provides lots of key insights about buying property in Mexico.
It’s stuffed full of info on the buying process, property taxes, the best places to buy and much more. Stay tuned. That’s dropping in your inbox soon.
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 for 2025, drop me a line here.
