Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments3 Comments

Here’s My Four-Pronged Approach To International Property Investing

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Every successful investment consultant or experienced investor has a method to his success. An approach that fits no matter which market or situation you’re in. To make money in global real estate, I look for opportunities that fall into one of these four categories: 1. Buying Wholesale This is buying at a price below what the property would sell for to the general public, with the opportunity then to sell on (that is, to flip) to the general public at some key point in the future. This is where my worldwide network of property investing contacts really pays off. To … Continue reading Here’s My Four-Pronged Approach To International Property Investing

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Marketwatch 2010

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After months of persuasion, I’m delighted to report that resident global real estate investing expert Lief Simon has agreed, finally, to return to the role he filled for many years earlier in his career and to begin producing, again, a global property investment service. Lief has been making money buying, selling, flipping, and renting out real estate around the world for more than 17 years. He’s built an extensive portfolio of international property holdings and boasts an impressive track record of success. All this experience will be brought to bear in Lief’s new Global Property Investor’s Marketwatch, launch date imminent. … Continue reading Marketwatch 2010

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Caribbelgium–It’s Better On The French Side

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“Caribbelgium is what this island ought to be called,” writes Correspondent Paul Lewis, continuing his New Year’s Caribbean cruising. “Half-French and half-Dutch, St. Martin or Sint Maarten has no internal frontiers, and its two linguistic communities mix freely, united by a common ability to speak English, run duty-free shops, and extract money from visiting cruise-ship passengers. “If only Belgium’s perpetually feuding French- and Dutch-speaking communities could make common cause like those of St. Martin or Sint Maarten. “Legend has it the island was discovered simultaneously by Dutch and French warships whose captains, with improbable good sense, decided not to fight … Continue reading Caribbelgium–It’s Better On The French Side

Investments1 Comment

Black Gold Brings Good Fortune To The Port Of Spain

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“Trinidad has oil, a lot of oil,” writes Correspondent Paul Lewis, continuing his sunny island adventures. “And here in the capital of Port of Spain, it shows. “Downtown colonial buildings have been replaced by green glass skyscrapers, and the freeways are packed with black-windowed Mercedes and BMWs. The city is crowded and bustling. Many of its fine old buildings are being restored and repaired to celebrate the newfound good fortune. “At Woodford Square, the ornate Parliament building, known as Red House after it was inadvertently painted red on the eve of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, is now encased in matching … Continue reading Black Gold Brings Good Fortune To The Port Of Spain

Great Places For Holidays And Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate InvestmentsLeave a comment

Sand-Fringed, English-Speaking, And Seriously Tax-Advantaged

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“Initially, I was attracted to Belize by its natural beauty and environment, including the opportunity it offers for scuba diving and water sports,” writes Correspondent from that country Ann Kuffner. “Thinking back to when this country first got my attention, I realize that, then, I wasn’t in a hurry. I had a lucrative career. I wasn’t thinking of making an international move. Instead, my husband and I invested in a vacation home on the island of Ambergris Caye. For eight years, we traveled to Belize yearly, to relax and to scuba dive. “I wanted to be sure before committing to … Continue reading Sand-Fringed, English-Speaking, And Seriously Tax-Advantaged

Attitudes, Investments, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments1 Comment

Most Frequently Asked (And Not So Crazy) Questions About Retiring Overseas

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The following questions, which we receive regularly, are often preceded by, “I feel a little foolish asking, but I’m just not sure…” Don’t be shy. It never hurts to clarify. For example: 1. “If I move overseas, could I ever return home?” Yes, of course. Living overseas, even full-time, even as a legal resident of another country, affects your ability to spend time in your home country not at all. You’re still an American (or British or Australian, etc.) citizen, after all. You can come and go as you please. 2. Living overseas, would I lose my original citizenship? Again, … Continue reading Most Frequently Asked (And Not So Crazy) Questions About Retiring Overseas

Real Estate, Real Estate InvestmentsLeave a comment

How To Vet A Foreign Real Estate Buy

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“Here are the key factors to keep in mind as you scout opportunities: The real estate agents you encounter may not be licensed, and they may have next-to-no relevant experience (maybe they were travel agents or mechanical engineers in previous lives…I’ve known real estate agents in emerging markets who were both those things as recently as two weeks before I made their acquaintance)… The real estate agent you decide to work with probably isn’t working for you. In emerging and unregulated markets (like the ones I direct you to regularly), the property agents don’t work for the buyer, and they … Continue reading How To Vet A Foreign Real Estate Buy

Attitudes, Real Estate, Real Estate Investments3 Comments

How To Filter The Best Real Estate Investment Opportunities Of 2010

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“Falling markets over the past 18-plus months have created crisis buy opportunities,” writes resident global real estate investing expert Lief Simon, “for personal use and for investment. New Year 2010 is a year for action. I’ll present specific opportunities starting next week. “Meantime…invest in a piece of real estate in another country? How do you get started? “First, you ask yourself why you’re buying–for investment or for personal use. The answer may not be clear-cut. And the best case is when you find a piece of real estate that holds out the potential for an investment return (in the form … Continue reading How To Filter The Best Real Estate Investment Opportunities Of 2010

Great Places For Holidays And InvestmentsLeave a comment

The Simple And Satisfying Pleasures Of French Country Life

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“We recently visited an organic beef and lamb farm,” writes France Correspondent Lucy Culpepper from her home in the southwest of that country. “It was part of an annual, all-weekend event held across France. Farmers opened their doors (and their stables) to visitors to show off their animals, their cheese making, and their meat, wine, and vegetable production. “We visited the farm of Josie and Jean Pierre Pommiés, just outside the pretty village of Coarraze in the beautiful rolling countryside of the Haut Béarn. Jean Pierre is a classic shepherd; in early summer he drives his animals, on foot, up … Continue reading The Simple And Satisfying Pleasures Of French Country Life

Real Estate, Real Estate Investments1 Comment

The Noose Is Tightening — Here’s How You Slip Out

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Putting your money into foreign real estate is becoming a more appealing strategy all the time. Thanks to a crazy piece of pork in the recently passed U.S. HIRE Act, currency controls in that country have been seriously tightened. You know, of course, that you have to report any financial accounts you hold outside the United States with a value of more than US$10,000. Now, though, foreign financial institutions are required to report on the investment activities of U.S. citizens. It’s been increasingly difficult for some time for an American to open an international account abroad, and Switzerland recently has … Continue reading The Noose Is Tightening — Here’s How You Slip Out

Attitudes1 Comment

Why Did I Do This In The First Place?

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When my boss at the time came to me to explain that the U.S. publishing company where I’d been working for 13 years was interested in setting up a new base in Ireland and to ask if I’d be interested in making the move to open that office for him, I jumped at the chance. I was 34 years old, ready for a change, and eager for an adventure. I’d been covering this live, retire, and invest overseas beat for a long time, but I realized that that was not the same as living it. This was my chance to … Continue reading Why Did I Do This In The First Place?

Events, Music1 Comment

IMPRESSED BY 2010?….. 3 ‘EARLY BIRD’ TICKET OPTIONS FOR 2011!

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2011 IOM Bay Festival will have you Spelbound by their ‘Early Birds’! Following hot on the heels of the success of this year’s Manx Telecom Bay Festival the organisers have announced that they have already finalised the line-up for next year’s ‘X Factor Meets Britain’s Got Talent’. With over 8,000 in attendance this year the organisers have been inundated with requests asking when next years will be on sale as no one wants to miss out.  Jonathan Irving co-event promoter with his son Jamie said: “The Father’s Day spectacular starring Olly Murs, Diversity, Danyl Johnson, Signature, Stavros Flately etc went … Continue reading IMPRESSED BY 2010?….. 3 ‘EARLY BIRD’ TICKET OPTIONS FOR 2011!