Philippine Real Estate Investment and Retirement

The Philippines offers affordable real estate investments and retirement opportunities in a tropical climate

2009-11-02 14:34:19

For many British, Australians and Americans, retirement time is just around the corner. At home, with low interest rates and high cost of living, the prospect of trying to live on a pension, in old age, is a daunting one unless you are prepared to substantially downscale your lifestyle. For some, moving to retire in another country is an option which has been successful in the past with Spain, Portugal, Mexico and Puerto Rico being among some of the more popular destinations. But why not consider retiring in the Philippines?

Over the past decade, the Philippines has become a retirement haven for thousands of foreigners, particularly the Japanese, Korean, and Northern Europeans. Along with Thailand and Malaysia, the Philippines developed communications, infrastructure, and service delivery systems specifically geared to meet the needs of foreign retirees. Better yet, unlike most European Countries and South America, nearly everyone speaks English in the Philippines.

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Tamarack homeowners fear Idaho resort’s closing

On Monday, 4th District Court Judge Patrick Owen heard competing salvos from lawyers for homeowners and a lender group led by Zurich-based Credit Suisse Group.

Mexico-based Inmobiliaria Las Fuentes, S.A. de C.V. has offered the loan to reopen the ski resort and to protect unfinished buildings over the next 11 months, but made a deal contingent on being repaid before existing creditors, something Credit Suisse and others are fighting. Tamarack creditors are already owed upward of $300 million.

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The Next Middle Class

In this article, published in NAR’s quarterly magazine, Global Perspectives in Real Estate, Economist Lawrence Yun explains how the rise of international trade leads home purchases inside and outside the United States. Enjoy. . .

http://www.realtor.org/IntUpdt.nsf/Pages/TheNextMiddleClass

Americans Tame Their Wanderlust

U.S. Housing Market Still Attractive to Foreign Buyers

NAR has just released its 2009 International Home Buying Activity report. While the report shows a further decline in home sales to foreign buyers from the 2008 and 2007 studies, the percentage of decline has narrowed. According to the study, 23% of REALTORS® served international clients in 2008/2009, compared to 26% reported in the 2008 study and 32% reported in 2007. The decline mirrors the overall decline in the existing home sales market, which decreased 39% between September 2005 and January 2009. There is confidence that once the global economic market conditions improve, the rate of home purchases by foreign investors and buyers will increase as well. The reports offers detailed information on sources of in-bound buyers and buyers’ location and property type preferences. New with the 2009 study is data on commercial purchases and also information on barriers to successful transactions by foreign buyers of U.S. property. Download the full report.

Aspen Real Estate Market Picks Up With Summer

Another positive article about the real estate market gaining positive momentum.  Is this happening in your area?  Let us know!

Friday, August 28, 2009
ASPEN — Despite an “astounding” number of properties for sale in Aspen, summer real estate activity has been encouraging, according to one local broker.

From June 1 through this week, sales have roughly kept pace with last summer’s numbers, according to Carol Hood of Mason & Morse Real Estate.

“When I compare it to last year, it seems like we’re in line with last year’s sales,” she said.

READ MORE:   http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20090828/NEWS/908289998/1058

Kratovil Secures Immediate Visa Relief for Maryland Crab Industry

DHS Responds to Inquiries by Rep. Frank Kratovil and will Announce the Release of Additional H-2B Visas Read more

Best Places for Aging Entrepreneurs

This article came from the REALTOR(R) Magazine Daily News on June 30, 2009.  If you missed it . . .

Entrepreneurs don’t retire, they just find a new project.

Over the past decade, baby boomers produced a high rate of entrepreneurial activity, and Dan Stangler, senior analyst at the Kauffman Foundation, says the number of baby boomers starting a business in their traditional retirement years is likely to increase.

In response to that analysis, U.S. News & World Report identified 10 places that it says are the best places for an entrepreneurial baby boomer to retire. It picked the areas because they have an affordable cost of living, proximity to healthcare, fun recreational amenities, and access to information, particularly colleges and university with technology-focused departments.

Here are their 10 best suggestions:

1. Arlington, Va.
2. Columbia, Md.
3. Fargo, N.D.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Fort Collins, Colo.
6. Knoxville, Tenn.
7. Lincoln, Neb.
8. Madison, Wis.
9. Round Rock, Tex.
10. West Des Moines, Iowa

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Emily Brandon (06/29/2009)

NAR Awards $730,000 to Support Workforce Housing Initiatives in Five States

This is exciting news for resort and second-home specialists. Affordable housing for workforce is a key issue in many resort areas. ~ jmiller

 

            WASHINGTON (June 9, 2009) – The National Association of Realtors® has awarded $730,000 to five state Realtor® associations through the Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grant. The grants will help support workforce housing initiatives in California, Idaho, Maine, Maryland and Washington.

Ira Gribin Workforce Housing Grants are awarded to state Realtor® associations to fund programs that promote safe, decent housing for people with low and moderate incomes who cannot afford to live in the communities where they work. The grants are named in honor of Ira Gribin, a former NAR president who was a tireless advocate for fair and affordable housing for diverse populations.

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MSN Money picks the top 10 places to buy a second home

This article was released in 2003 but I was very interested in which areas made the top 10 list. I was hoping there might be comments about whether this list is accurate. -jmiller

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By Liz Pulliam Weston

Looking for vacation property that’s a good investment as well? These communities offer weather, scenery and active real estate markets. Plus: 10 more up-and-comers.

Popularity is a mixed bag when you’re looking for vacation property.

A hot destination means more crowds, more traffic, longer lines. But if you’re keeping an eye on investment potential — and more than one out of three second-home buyers say they are — then you want to buy where others want to be.

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