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Beach Property - International Ideas
June 10, 2010

In Real Estate terms, beach properties are liquid gold. They represent the most desired houses and bits of land no matter where you are in the world. Of course, thanks to a limited supply, that means paying a little more for an ocean view than you might other properties. That means if you want an affordable beachfront home, wait until youve got a sellers market, look into foreclosure properties, or consider international buying in countries where the tourist industry is still developing.

While buying in a sellers market means initially the houses value is lower, eventually real estate tends to level out. Remember that investing in anything is a long-term proposition. Its not this year or the next that really matters its 10 years down the road. Just take care that you can manage the monthly payments, and that youve done all your research into the manner in which the neighborhood might grow. Its one thing if youre adjacent to the water, but land and buildings further up can have that wonderful view transformed by new developments.

Go International:

Some of the least expensive beach property is outside the United States. Latin America in particular has some lovely oceanfront investment locations with incredible sand and surf. Costa Rica is one example. Here you have nearly an ideal climate for the beach bunnies, but youre well within reach of other types of weather. Prices compared to similar locations in the US are very affordable. Equator is another illustration. Think of Hawaiian-like breezes and sun, and smooth beaches, and it adds up to a fantastic location. Its relatively inexpensive to fly there, and the country welcomes foreign investors.

If those two locations arent quite your cup of tea, how about Granada, Panama, and St. Lucia instead? Again, youll get a lot more house for your money in these locations by about 50% (if not more). Note, however, that you should never sign any paperwork until youve personally visited the country in question and seen the property. That visit can save you a ton of money as in-person buying often means a better price than trying to work out a long-distance deal.

Think Belize:

Belize is rapidly becoming a good investment property location. You can get pristine beachfront property for very affordable prices. Better still the government here does what it can to make your buying experience trouble-free. You could do much worse than land in a region where people speak English, where you can dive a barrier reef, and where your U.S. dollar is worth twice as much as the local currency.

In terms of financial benefits, Belize charges to tax on any income you might make from your new beach house. You dont have to worry about capital gains. If you use the space for business, theres no business tax. And should you be so lucky to inherit a house, there are no inheritance taxes either.

While some of Latin America experiences upheavals, Belize is very stable. The likelihood of a coup is akin to one happening in Brittan. Additionally, youre not stuck with just hunting for houses here. Theres still plenty of land for the taking if you want to build, or just hold it for appreciation. Note that not all that land is next to the water either. If you want mountains youve got them. If you want forests you can have those too. And all this comes with exotic wildlife, palm trees and weather that cant be beat.

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