– Portugal Luxury Property, Mazatlan4sale and VISTA Real Estate share what makes their markets so special. –
A recent Forbes article (“Living And Retiring Overseas Post The Coronavirus—Three Top Options,” by Kathleen Peddicord) offered three prime destinations for consideration: Portugal’s Algarve Coast; Mazatlan, Mexico; and Cayo, Belize. As it happens, LeadingRE is well-represented in these markets by Portugal Luxury Property, Mazatlan4sale and VISTA Real Estate, respectively. We asked each of these companies for insights on what makes their markets so special and are pleased to share what we learned.
An insider’s look at Algarve, Portugal
Insights from Portugal Luxury Property
Tell us what makes the Algarve Coast special.
We are blessed with more annual sunshine than anywhere else in Europe. The stunningly beautiful coastline in the south of Portugal, known as the Algarve, stretches 150km from the Spanish border in the east to Cape St. Vincent in the west.
The south coast has a varied geography with long beaches backed by sand dunes and natural lagoons in the east and picturesque rocky coves, which protect magnificent beaches, in the west.
Its high desirability as a destination for holidaymakers offers a highly attractive environment for property investors. For many years, the Algarve has been a preferred destination for a home in the sun either as a permanent residence or a holiday home.
Boat owners and yachting enthusiasts will be thrilled to know that several modern marinas are available throughout the region, offering fully comprehensive facilities.
Many people with business interests elsewhere in the world choose to base themselves and their families in this privileged location, taking advantage of the excellent communication infrastructure and the proximity to Europe’s major capital cities. High-standard health care is ensured by several modern private hospitals in the region.
There is easy access from London and most major European cities via Faro International airport, which is just a half hour connecting flight or 2-hour drive from Lisbon, offering flights to other worldwide destinations.
Please explain the type of housing available in Algarve, and discuss the return on investment.
There is a wide range of properties in the Algarve, Lisbon and surrounding areas, including luxury golf villas and townhouses, beachfront villas, sea view homes, luxury penthouses, resort holiday homes and large permanent residences. Many buyers use the accommodations for their own vacations and rent the property out through a management company for the rest of the year, securing an excellent return on their investment. There are several purchasing options available, including properties with a rental guarantee (with or without flexibility on self-usage) and a privately owned property that is rented accordingly to owner preference.
An insider’s look at Mazatlán, Mexico
Insights from Mazatlan4sale
Tell us what makes Mazatlán special.
Over the past 20 years Mazatlan has gone from a sleepy fishing town to a world-renowned tourist destination, offering ideal weather, spectacular scenery, a family-friendly environment, and easy access. Mazatlán offers beautiful sand beaches, friendly people and amazing sunsets. Mazatlán also offers a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle at an affordable price.
Featured points of interest include: El Cid Country Club Golf Course, Olas Altas Beach, Mazatlán Golf Club, Playa Norte, and Estrella del Mar Turtle Sanctuary.
Below are some top reasons to invest in Mazatlán:
- Safety and security
- Lower cost of living
- Proximity to an international airport
- Ease of travel, with easy access to all that Mexico has to offer
- Investment potential
- A strong community that promotes interaction between residents
- Access to quality medical care
- Access to beaches
Please explain the type of housing available in Mazatlán, and discuss the return on investment.
Properties include beachfront homes, lots and condos. Private residences (mostly re-sales) are available in the town center of Mazatlán. The central historical area exhibits a significant number of buildings in various states of disrepair and ruin and may provide an ideal investment for people who want to create their home by means of a colonial restoration project.
In outlying areas, investors are buying homes offering semi-rural surroundings and ocean and/or mountain views. There are also a number of time-share projects in and around Mazatlán, and especially in the tourist “golden zone” area of the city (note that time share is not ownership). Mazatlán runs an average of 43% occupancy rate for the year. With an average nightly rental rate of $2000 Pesos.
An insider’s look at Cayo, Belize
Insights from VISTA Real Estate
Tell us what makes Cayo special.
The Cayo District has always been the heartland of Belize, providing a traditional way of life with abundant food and water resources, great weather and beautiful wide-open spaces. It is the largest district in the country and is home to over 90,000 residents of all cultures and ethnicities.
Cayo is the center of Maya culture and contains some of Belize’s most famous caves, waterfalls and natural attractions. It is approximately two hours away from Belize City and contains the very popular twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. It is also bordered to the West by Guatemala and hosts two of Belize largest Maya sites.
Popular activities within the Cayo District include cave tubing, Maya sites and caves, canoeing, horseback riding, birding, zipline, hiking, camping, waterfalls and much more.
Living expenses in Belize are substantially lower than those of the developed world. While goods and products are often priced relatively higher due to import duties, services are often quite cheaper than in the developed countries. Good healthcare, insurance, legal services and so forth can be found for reasonable prices.
Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world and three of four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. About 42% of Belize’s land is under protected status. Among some of these guarded treasures is the world’s only jaguar reserve (Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary), the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Community Baboon Sanctuary as well as scores of ancient Maya sites and many more protected areas.
Please explain the type of housing available in Cayo, Belize, and discuss the return on investment.
Recently in Belize, the housing market has become very diverse in terms of offerings and pricing. Single family detached homes can be found throughout Belize either on small lots or on acreages.
On the islands and beachfront communities, where beachfront land is scarce, condominium projects have been flourishing, ranging from basic accommodations to highly luxurious properties that bring the cache and recognition from major global brands. Recently, vacation rentals have increased in popularity as in other tourist driven markets. These products have also become popular in non-tourist and more commercial markets such as Belize City. This took away from the more traditional offerings that were rented long term.
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