“If Only I’d Bought in 2004”—Don’t Kick Yourself in 2012

Friday, Aug. 1, 2008

Dear International Living Reader,

“You could lounge on a talcum-fine beach in Mexico, palm trees rustling overhead…or hop from B&B to B&B in lushly green Ecuador…or scuba dive at one of Australia’s luxury resorts.” Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? But what if you could do all this without paying a single dollar?

In your August issue, expert travel writer and former editor of International Living, Jennifer Stevens, says that these are the perks enjoyed by travel writers she knows. And on top of the no-cost travel, these writers have been paid to tell people about their adventures. See page 28 of your issue this month to find out how you, too, can enjoy these perks. Jennifer offers her secrets to becoming a successful travel writer and also gives four great tips to get you started in the industry and tells you whom to contact to sell your story.

Suzan Haskins returns to Placencia, Belize, for our cover story this month. The last time she was here was back in 1992. She’s kicking herself that she didn’t buy a slice of this beautiful beach back then…but still, she says, today’s property prices are low compared with other, less-attractive areas of the Caribbean.

Real estate activity has descended upon the area with several resort and residential developers moving in to build thousands of hotel rooms, condos, and villas.

“It makes sense, of course, that the peninsula wouldn’t remain ‘undiscovered’ for long, no matter how much we might wish to keep it to ourselves,” Suzan says. “The country’s best beaches are here, after all. And just offshore is the world’s second longest barrier reef (after Australia’s).” Read her article starting on page 14 of the magazine to find out about the lots and houses that Suzan found on her scouting trip here.

In 2003, Steenie Harvey wrote about a two-bedroom townhouse on Gozo, Malta, selling for $76,000. Today, a similar property on Gozo would cost you $320,000. That’s a $244,000 price appreciation in five years.

We ran a postcard on a riverfront house in Colonia, Uruguay, listed at $38,000 back in 2005. It was bought for $35,000, flipped for $75,000 in 2006, and now is on offer for $131,000. Price appreciation: $96,000 in three years.

And when Lee Harrison read in these pages about beachfront lots in Nicaragua selling for $28,000, he thought he had time to think about the opportunity before snapping up this bargain. But when he got there three months later, they were gone. By November 2004, the best he could do for a beachfront lot at Playa Santa Rosa was $64,900. And, unfortunately, that wasn’t all. The $38,000 beachfront lot he had his eye on at Iguana Beach was now $83,000…headed for a price tag of over $200,000 within the next three years.

In this month's Last Word, Lee offers tips so that you don’t make his mistake. Lee is not suggesting that you buy impulsively…but if you’ve done your homework and you’re ready to make your move abroad, act when opportunities arise, he says.

Your August issue is packed with useful information. We spotlight the Costa Maya, where you can buy a piece of pristine beachfront from $110,000…or read about the real estate deals we found in Uruguay, like a colonial mansion with 17 bedrooms for $85,000. Also in this issue, we offer investment advice…find out about one stock that can double your money in Brazil. And if you move to Latin America, you can say adios to all those tedious household chores. Why? Because you can afford a maid and a gardener here. Suzan Haskins explains on page 36 of the magazine.

Finally, in our wine column, Steenie Harvey is mixing alcohol with music. Her personal recommendation is listening to Dire Straits’ Love Over Gold with a Campari aperitif. Also try a 2005 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon with Hendrix’s All Along the Watchtower. Steenie isn’t willing to do either Chardonnay or Kylie Minogue, so you’ll have to try that pairing for yourself.

Enjoy.

Laura Sheridan
Managing Editor, International Living

Editor’s Note: This month’s issue of International Living is jam-packed with useful, interesting, and fun information, but then again, it always is. If you are not yet a subscriber, you can sign up now to read the articles Laura writes about here…and, you will be just in time to receive next month’s issue—our annual Global Retirement Index. Find out which countries are the best in the world for retirement.