Panama's Azuero Peninsula - Pedasi, in Search of The Tuscan Coast of the Americas.

Bordering the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Pedasi on the southern tip of the Azuero Peninsula lies the 40 hectare luxury beach development that is Andromeda Country Club. World-class features and unique design blend together with the natural elements of Pedasi to form an enchanting beach escape a mere four hours away from the bustle of Panama City. This gated beach community represents the first big development in Pedasi as well as an iconic beach lifestyle that offers elegance, adventure and recreation.

The development is only minutes away from the quiet fishing village of Pedasi, located in the Province of Los Santos. Pedasi has a small population mostly made up of warm and welcoming locals and expats who have tapped into the potential of the budding town and set up small shops, restaurants and supermarkets in the area. Though ultimately a tranquil town, Pedasi ranks as one of the most popular destinations for Panama’s annual Carnival with its vivid celebrations. Colorful well-maintained homes adorn the perfectly paved streets of the town, also home to Panama’s former president and Pedasi native Mireya Moscoso. Pedasi even has a small air strip that receives regional, charter and private flights.

Set amidst the vast richness of nature, culture and pristine beaches offered by Pedasi, residents of the Andromeda Country Club development have an array of attractions at their fingertips.

The tantalizing beaches of Pedasi are ideal for surfing as they come complete with breaks and swells for both beginner and experienced surfers. Playa Venao, a top surfing beach in Panama, is also in close proximity of Pedasi.

A diversity of fish such as amberjack, snapper, dolphin and tuna in the area make sport fishing a very popular attraction in Pedasi. Lucky beach-goers can even catch a glimpse of the vibrant fish that ride the waves of the crystalline waters.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are available at Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, a short boat-ride from any beach in Pedasi. The island has the only white-sand beach in the Azuero Peninsula and is haven to a vast population of iguanas, birds, marine wild life and the biggest well-preserved coral reef in the Gulf of Panama. Humpback whales can also be observed during their migration swim through the Island’s channel.

Andromeda Country Club offers sprawling beachfront lots of up to 1500m2 and condominiums of up to 100m2 that offer gorgeous ocean views as the development overlooks Playa El Toro. Drawing from Mediterranean, Panamanian and Mexican concepts, dazzling model designs for beach houses and apartments have been created by Zulcher and renowned architecture group Mallol & Mallol - a firm with a 25-year trajectory throughout Latin America.

Among the countless amenities to come in this Pedasi beach development, there is a Beach Club with adult and kiddy swimming pools, a sundeck with beach access as well as a spell-bounding view of the piercing blue waters that front the property; a gourmet restaurant that offers a variety of delectable fresh fish daily; a bar and fully-equipped gym.

There is also a business-ready meeting area for those who need to catch up on business, as well as a party area for those in the mood to celebrate. The Fishing Club offers the opportunity to enjoy deep-sea fishing for which Pedasi is famous.

Optimum relaxation and pampering can be achieved at the spa, while several game courts including volleyball, basketball, racquetball, tennis and mini-gulf serve for more athletic recreation. The development includes walking trails for nature lovers who can enjoy long serene afternoon strolls and observe the two natural seasonal creeks that run through the property.

Other services include concierge, maid services, high-speed internet and telephone lines. There is also a five-star hotel that sits on the property. Most importantly there is 24-hour onsite security.

Crafted to cater to the adventurous, the fishing enthusiast and those simply seeking lazy days on the beach, this Pedasi beach development is set to begin construction early next year.

Author: Jessica Rivera Edited by: Jose Goldner, josegoldner@usa.net

About Jose Goldner
Mr. Jose Goldner, was born in Panama and educated in Australia and The United States.

Based in Panama City, Mr. Goldner is the owner of several successful businesses, including the largest investment portal in Panama, http://www.panamabusinessandtravel.com/, http://www.pedasifishing.com/, http://www.andromedapedasi.com/ and http://www.panamavacationrealestate.com/.

In the last eight years he has personally brought investors over $35 million in equity by purchasing land in the Azuero Peninsula. His extensive knowledge of the real estate market in Azuero includes personal friendships with most of the large landowners and developers in the region. By his estimation he has visited (in many cases on horseback!) virtually every piece of property within 20km of the ocean on both sides of the Peninsula. His knowledge of the local market is unparalleled and has translated into huge returns on investment.

In Panama, like many places, relationships are everything. Mr. Goldner's reputation for business acumen, integrity and an intimate knowledge of real estate laws and regulations has not been overlooked by those in power in the country. Mr. Goldner is regularly consulted on foreign investment and tourism by top government officials.

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Want to Live and Work in the UK?

How to apply for a UK visa

A move to the UK, whether to start a job or to enjoy a new lifestyle, can hold many advantages, from an internationally recognised education system to plentiful employment opportunities across a number of industry sectors.

Before you can begin a new life in the UK, you or your family must hold a valid visa. Here is some useful advice for making sure you get the UK visa you need:

Know which visa you require
There are many different types of UK visas and work permits. From business visas for skilled migrants, to study and short-term visitor visas.

Business visas are split into Tier 1 (individuals with desired skills coming to the UK) and Tier 2 (individuals with a company sponsor). These visas both operate on a Points Based system and with the Tier 2 only, businesses, educational institutions and other organisations who wish to bring non-EEA nationals to live and work or study in the UK must apply for a sponsorship licence.

There’s also a special Entrepreneur visa for overseas investors who wish to start a business in the UK and a Tier 1 Investor visa for self-employed migrants.

Moving the family with you is also a concern and special visas exist to allow your partner and children to join you in the UK. A range of visas exist depending on your and your partner’s relationship status, including a UK Marriage visa, a UK Fiance visa or a De Facto visa, often known as an unmarried partner visa.

Work or your relationship may not be your only route into Britain. The UK Ancestry visa is open to any Commonwealth citizen with a link to the UK. Any applicant must have a grandparent born in the UK or Republic of Ireland before March 1922 to be considered. Unlike applying for a business visa, the UK Ancestry visa is not points based and is granted for a five year period after which applicants can apply for permanent residence.

Sometimes the move to the UK isn’t permanent. For tourists, there is a temporary UK visit visa that allows non-EU visitors to come to the UK for up to six months. It should be noted that no holder of such a visitor is allowed to work in the UK or receive state benefits.

Students coming to the UK on a Tier 4 student visa can both train in their field and experience life in the country. Beyond a study permit, the Post Study Work Programme and Youth Mobility Scheme offer young people the opportunity to work in the UK for a limited period of time.

No matter what UK visa you require, the UK’s strict immigration laws make applying for any visa a time-consuming process involving a lot of paperwork, phone calls and dealing with immigration officials. For many, it is a complex and frustrating journey that can often be made a lot easier by using a reputable immigration company.

Getting a UK visa can take anything from a few months to over a year and every year cases are delayed or rejected. Best advice for applicants is to be patient and let UK immigration deal with your application without harassment. While you wait, do not make travel plans to move to the UK until your visa is granted.

Finally, when your visa does arrive, always check that you have the correct documentation. Mistakes occasionally happen from a typing error to the wrong type of visa being issued. Any mistake by an immigration official can be easily fixed providing you contact them and they agree to make the changes. This takes no longer than a couple of weeks.

So now you know how the UK visa system works, what are you waiting for? Start applying for your UK visa today.


About Global Visas
Global Visas provides Immigration and Visa Solutions, assisting corporate and individuals to secure visas and work permits for destinations worldwide, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. Visit their website and start your work visa application
today.

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Buying Property in France - A survival guide

La Belle France, one of the most popular destinations for buying property abroad, is still something of an enigma to the Brits. We eye with curiosity its Gallic indifference, penchant for striking and same-sex kissing whilst can’t help but to admire the idyllic countryside, café society and many a premier cru. But beware, the enigma percolates through to the property market. You’d be wise to heed Burgundy-based Arena Park France’s tips to guide you through the murky waters of buying a home in rural France.

1 Clash of the Cultures. A rural French estate agent can be an awkward individual. Spontaneity is out – they need at least two days notice before they can take you on a viewing – and then are most-likely to take you to a selection of homes that bear little or no resemblance to your brief. Smile and be patient.

2 Mystery Tour. Estate agents will never tell you the exact location of a property until they have walked you over the threshold and introduced you personally. They’re all deeply paranoid that the purchaser will contact the owner direct and by cutting out the middle man save a princely 5 to 8% commission.

3 Lost in Translation. The gap is wider than the English Channel when it comes to the difference between French and British interpretations of certain words. What the English-speaking world deems to be ‘renovated’ and what French agents claim to be ‘renovated’ are two quite different matters.

4 Flaw Plans. French have an interesting way of constructing their homes. Walking through a bedroom to reach one or two others is not unusual. As is one decades-old bathroom considered to be perfectly adequate per three or four bedrooms. (How ironic that ‘en suite’ is a French term).

5 Vanishing Kitchens. Bizarrely the French are known to take their kitchen cupboards, appliances and worktops with them when they move house leaving a gaping hole behind. Don’t even expect a fitted kitchen in a new property – unless you pay extra. In fact a ‘kitchen’ is legally allowed to be termed a ‘kitchen’ merely by the presence of a sink and some taps.

6 Idyllic becomes Isolated. Inexpensive rural retreats still exist across the French countryside however you’d be wise to be close to some kind of life or security, particularly if the home is left vacant for lengthy periods of time, could become an issue. Similarly, unless you’re fans of ‘The Good Life’ self-sufficiency, access to shops, a fresh produce market and services are a must.

7 Cool-off. The French have got this part of the buying process spot on. Once you have found the perfect home and agreed the price, buyer and seller sign a ‘compromis de vente’ - an initial contract that takes the house off the market. Follows an officially-sanctioned seven day cooling-off period during which either the buyer or vendor may pull out of the sale without penalty. How very rational and civilised.

8 Legal Eyes. As in Spain, the French notary is there as an extra pair of eyes to see that the agent and lawyer have done their jobs correctly. He acts equally for both parties and ensures both sides are fairly treated according to the law. Fees are set and controlled by the government but payable by the buyer.

9 TVA (aka VAT). France has two levels of TVA - 19.6% and 5.5%. If you’re renovating an existing house that is more than two years old the work is perceived to be relatively minor so the 5.5% tariff can be applied. This lower rate only applies if you have work done that is supplied and installed. On the other hand if you buy a kitchen and plan to install it yourself, you will be charged at 19.6% to buy the materials. Likewise if you are for example converting a barn into a house, then the work is deemed to be more major and the builders will have to charge you the higher rate.

10 Utility Futility. When you move in, you will need to make sure you have all utilities connected and signed over into your name. This process can be more frustrating than any other as the utilities companies are famously slow to react. Expect to wait anything up to a month or longer for your details to be changed, and for a phone or internet line to be installed well, your guess is as good as ours…

Headed up by experienced husband and wife team Su and David Bishop, Arena Park France has been at the forefront of high-quality conversions since in Burgundy’s sophisticated wine villages since setting up in 2003.

On the market in Burgundy:

Cottage in Cissey

Original stone cottage dating back to 1820 sitting on the outskirts of the picturesque Burgundy farming village of Cissey. Being 5km south of Beaune, this property represents excellent value for money. Uninhabited for 50 years, this complete refurbishment will create a two bedroom home with an abundance of original character. With tranquil views over the surrounding fields the property has an open-plan living/dining area with authentic fireplace opening onto a south-facing walled garden complete with well. Both bedrooms have lofty oak-beamed ceilings and are en-suite, the master with a sunny roof terrace, whilst off-street parking for two cars completes the property.


Price 360,000 euros (excl. kitchen)

Contact Arena Park France on tel 00 33 (0) 3 80 21 48 04, email mail@arena-park.com or visit http://www.arena-park.com/

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Expat Success Story - Chocolate Cream Pies come to Downtown Rosarito, Baja Sur Mexico

Diego's Pies opened just a few months ago on the main street in Rosarito to make pies for the expats and the locals in this area. The owner's name is Dennis and he retired from being a plant manager but did not want to stop being active. So he learned from a pastry chef friend of his how to make pies. He found a great location on Blvd. Benito Juarez, bought his ovens and all the other items he would need to open his pie shop and had his grand opening. His pies are great and he has been making more pies every week since he opened.

On offer are delicious fruit pies and you can choose from Apple, Cherry, Boysenberry and Peach. Or you can opt for the creamy favorites, Banana, Chocolate or Coconut. Dennis also tempts you with the good old classics, Pumpkin, Pecan and Lemon Meringue, my favorite. He also has a lunch menu and offers different specials each week.

Diego's has been a gathering place for a Thursday lunch group that discusses American politics and world events. It is open to everyone and the participants may change from week to week and the topics are usually current events. It is attended by a very diverse group of Americans and Canadians with views that start from the extreme left and reach the extreme right and with everything in between. It is an intelligent group that has lively debates over lunch and pie. If you are in town on a Thursday at noon stop in and join the discussion.

August 1st Diego's had a party celebrating the sale of its 750th pie. The party was a huge success and everyone had a great time and enjoyed the special food that was cooked for the occasion. There was a raffle for cash and coupons and one lucky winner took home $150. Diego's has promised another party when the 1,000th pie is sold. At the rate they are going out the door it will be very soon.

The pleasant weather in Rosarito at this time of year has been bringing a lot of people from the desert areas of the United States and Mexico to enjoy the beach during the day and the local entertainment at night. It is great to see the town coming alive again and that all of our guests will be returning to their home towns and sharing with their friends and family the great time that they had in Rosarito.

Story by David Biondolillo, President of Baja123 - Mexico Real Estate

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The Sunniest City in Spain

As we hit the downward slope to Winter (how many shopping days ‘til Christmas?) it’s swimwear off, knitwear on and the prospect of months of gloomy grey skies. Unless you live in Huelva that is. This southern Spanish city has just been declared the sunniest in Spain. No SAD here...

The National Institute for Statistics in Spain has recently released a report which ranks Huelva, located at the westernmost tip of the Costa de la Luz, first in terms of hours of sunshine each year with a mammoth 3,200 – almost nine each day. Little wonder the local area is filled with tourists, many of them Spanish nationals from the cooler north of the country, seeking out the clean white-sand beaches, tasty seafood restaurants and clutch of first-rate golf courses.

Andrew Benitz, Director of local real estate specialists Titan Properties, comments, “We shouldn’t be overly surprised at the findings as of course Costa de la Luz means Coast of Light so it’s named after this pleasant climate condition. What’s important to mention is that although Huelva has the most sunshine it doesn’t have the highest temperatures in the heat of the summer. Cities like Seville and Madrid can stifle in the high 30s Celsius in August whereas the maritime influence takes ten degrees off in Huelva. The Atlantic breezes are most welcome and, unlike the eastern end of Costa de la Luz, rarely escalate into strong winds as is evident from our tall, straight palm trees.”

Titan Properties is promoting a range of properties across the western Costa de la Luz from 99,000 euro one bedroom golf apartments through to 500,000 euro plus four bedroom detached villas on Nuevo Portil Golf Course.

Contact Titan Properties on 00 34 959 399 982, UK Freephone 0800 358 7969. Email info@titan-properties.com or visit www.titan-properties.com .


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Property Overseas - Guide to the Spanish and Costa de la Luz Property Markets

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Hot Topic: An Easy Way Out?

Try to bribe a police officer in the United States and you will find yourself in jail pretty damn quick. Failure to bribe a cop in some parts of the world will see you in bracelets, on your way to a festering detention center faster than you can say “let me go you corrupt asshole”.

It is not uncommon in poorer nations for police service funds to be badly managed and as a result the uniformed officers on the streets are paid a pittance. What they do have in the way of compensation though, is a uniform, a gun and the power position in the cat and mouse game. The cat and mouse game being you, the rich foreigner cast as the mouse and the poorly paid cop playing the cat.

You have committed a real or fictitious driving infraction somewhere in South America and you are now in your car at eye level with a 9mm, double action, semi-automatic pistol which is dangling from the belt of a cop with a bad attitude. You roll the window down and hand over your documents in accordance with the not so polite request from the law enforcement officer. If the cop didn’t already know, your passport has now confirmed you as a foreigner and you are thereby perceived as a mobile ATM.

So the game begins. He takes a long time looking over your documents. He looks at you, your car, your wife. It’s getting uncomfortable. You want a quick solution to this problem, the cop wants a fast buck. However, if you have misread the situation and start flashing your cash and you happen to be in the presence of an honest cop then you are in trouble. So what do you do? Try smiling, be very genial and look dumb and this will often frustrate the officer in to handing you back your papers and waving you on your way.

If this doesn’t work and you think there is no way of avoiding payment one widely used method of figuring things out is to ask if there is a fine to pay for your infraction and if so can you pay it here and now . This gives the officer an opportunity to give you an amount that will work for him and you the chance to pay and be on your way. Negotiation is not out of the question if you think the amount is high. Respond with “I only have this much” while showing a note you are prepared to hand over and see what happens. If this fails you can always remember the extra note you keep hidden under the floor mat.

Now, if you are outraged by the thought of having to pay a bribe to a cop you should be. It is corrupt, it is wrong and by participating you are endorsing and encouraging it and making it worse by placing a target mark on other foreigners. However, some would argue that paying a bribe buys you out of a whole world of hassle if you accused of a wrong doing. No ticket, no court appearance, an easy fix and you are on your way and the recipient is happy. At the end of the day, it’s you in the sticky situation, it’s your conscience , it’s your call. Your payment could be feeding a child or a drug habit, you will never know.

Just for a moment put the boot on the other foot. You are in a rotten job. Poorly paid, if indeed you have been paid in the last 6 months and here comes a source of cash. What are you going to do? Sure as hell, you are going to take it.

What are your thoughts on this? Is is ever OK to bribe a cop to get out of a sticky situation or is it sometimes simply unavoidable? Does paying a bribe make it worse for other foreign travelers or is it just an accepted practice that makes things easier for everyone? Would you ever pay a bribe, have you paid a bribe? Have you as a cop taken a bribe? Be sure to leave your comments

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Buying Property in Brazil - Interest Rates on Mortgages at Record Lows

The central bank in Brazil has cut the country's benchmark interest rate by 0.5 per cent to a record low of 8.75 per cent, which is good news for anyone looking to buy a property in Brazil.

It is the fifth time in the past five months that the country's policymakers have agreed to reduce interest rates, which in turn lowers mortgage borrowing rates for existing Brazil property owners as well as for people currently looking to buy a home in Brazil.

The central bank is taking the opportunity to reduce rates to historically low levels, after predicting that Brazil's economy would contract by 0.3 per cent this year.

However, Brazilian property owners could see interest rates shoot back up next year, with many experts projecting that the economy will grow by as much as 4.5 per cent in 2010.

A series of Government measures, such as tax breaks and greater Government spending has already led to genuine signs that the country is now starting to emerge from recession.

The Brazil property market is expected to strengthen next year, with the United Nations predicting growth of 3.5 per cent next year.

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Real Estate in Saudi Arabia - Delays on the horizon

Around 80 property projects in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or delayed this year despite a huge demand for residential accommodation, according to the latest research...

Although 350 projects are still under construction the fact that so many projects worth $20 billion have been affected directly by the global economic slowdown is a blow, says research firm Proleads.

The report, Insights Saudi Arabia: An Investigation into the Current and Future State of the Civil Building Construction Industry, looked at more than 720 projects with a total budget of more than $430 billion across commercial, retail, education, healthcare, leisure, entertainment and residential sectors.

Although in its report it concludes that the Saudi Arabian construction market is one of the healthiest in the world. 'Saudi Arabia is one of the most active construction markets in the world as it grows its infrastructure to meet domestic demands,' the report says.

Proleads expects Saudi Arabia to maintain its present levels of construction activity into 2010. However, it predicted a slight drop in education and health sectors, although it believes this will be offset by slight growth in commercial and residential projects.

'The economic crisis has not had a great effect on the rate at which projects have been cancelled in Saudi Arabia. Our cash-flow projections show the Saudi Arabian industry will continue building from a position of strength well into 2010, whereas other Arabian Gulf markets continue to seek stability,' said Emil Rademeyer, director of Proleads Global.

Proleads recently found that in the UAE some 400 projects totalling over $300 billion had been cancelled or put on hold.

The report also found that in Saudi Arabia residential makes up the biggest share of the market in terms of value but education and healthcare has the most projects. It predicts that a significant number of current projects will be completed in 2011. Risk in the market is tightly linked to relatively few projects with 2per cent of projects making up 43per cent of the total budget.

Rademeyer said the aim of the study is to quantify the civil construction market as accurately as possible, rather than rely simply on anecdotal evidence. 'It is vital to know how fast and by how much an industry is changing, not just for the industry and its suppliers but also for planners, Governments and financial institutions,' he added.

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Central Panama : A Beautiful Journey

Inside every story, there is a beautiful journey.

Most people spend their whole lives waiting for extraordinary things to happen. A sign, an adventure, a promise somewhere, perhaps triggered by something or someone. Something that makes you want to say, “There is a God,” or “I am a good person, perhaps I deserved this”.

Before I begin this story….let me just say that being pragmatic and skeptical has its benefits but once in a while it can dull perception and make you callused and used to seeing everything from a slightly cynical lens. This is a story about the little signs of an extraordinary circumstance, in an extraordinary place. What is interesting is that this story is that it is still occurring even as you read this.

Ryrie and Karla came to Pedasi on a well needed vacation (15 years of marriage, and their first real break). Ryrie a bass player from Brisbane and Karla a dedicated mother of 4 children, they decided to visit me from Australia (my childhood home) to really take a break and enjoy time alone. My wife and I helped them to rent a house near Pedasi and it didn’t take long before we began gravitating to their house every afternoon to grill fresh fish and steaks on the barbecue. Ryrie reminded me of how much Australians love to barbecue and how darn good a piece of grilled pineapple tastes on the barbecue. I talked to him about the different species of fish in Azuero and had him accompany me to buy the fresh catch from a local fisherman. For an average of $1.50 a pound, we bought 4 pounds of red snapper (skin on, whole) and 3 pounds of black grouper (filets). We bought 8 beers from a local bar for 50 cents each.

Nothing makes me happier than catching fish, and cooking it for guests. My wife would say that I enjoy watching a guest trying a recipe more than eating it myself. What I consider of infinite enjoyment however, is the amount of spices and exotic fruits Panama offers that enable you to try an endless number of fish recipes. Engineering a different blend of spices to blacken a fresh catch is an endless passion, almost as much as swimming through a school of yellow fin tuna when the water is crystal clear. In Panama, signs of a good life fall around you everywhere, signs that are like a sudden mango hitting the ground off a tree. Which by the way, a big bag of mangoes can go for as little as a few dollars. Cooking fish with slices of mango and a mix of peppers is an old pastime and the availability of fresh ginger, Panamanian cilantro, black pepper, lemon grass, sesame seeds, makes for a perfect combination of a fresh filet tightly wrapped inside a giant banana tree leaf ready for the barbecue.

“Listening is not a risk” Ryrie said probing, when he began asking me about where I thought Pedasi was going and with immediate hesitation, I said. “Whatever I say, is biased and opinionated” “collect evidence for yourself,” I said to him, and after this exchange, the investing conversation was kept at bay and we talked about the children, growing up in Australia and the inevitable changes of growing older. We spent many afternoons (without talking about business), ceasing to compete with the ocean, the sound of the palm trees, and once in a while the distant hum of a fisherman engine passing by on his panga. At the time, it was great for me to get away and leave my internet business and focus on my surroundings a little, an easy thing to forget (for a computer nerd) even living in Pedasi ! But more importantly, for Ryrie and Karla it was simply tasting a lifestyle in Pedasi before considering an investment. A mantra I live by, why invest somewhere unless you really love the place and see its value !

As children Ryrie and I had been on the swimming team, and went to the sunshine coast often to compete in surf life saving competitions. So a lifestyle by the sea for some Aussies is almost an inherent Australian requisite to choosing a lifestyle. Ryrie and Karla took an immediate liking to Pedasi, its openness to the natural elements, and the blurring distinction between living inside and outside for the locals. The fact that when you go to a person’s house, the first thing they do is reach for chairs for you to sit on their front porch. It is common is Pedasi for the locals to sit outside every afternoon and say hello to everyone that walks by their house. Ryrie and Karla imagined entertaining people in similar ways. They imagined the children coming in and out of the house after being out in the ocean. Their children taking a shower outside and not having to reprimand them about coming into the house wet after a swim. “Low maintenance is key,” said Karla often when we discussed the type of house that suited them most. With three boys, I had to agree.

It was inevitable, that as the days passed Ryrie and Karla fell in love with Pedasi. I warned my friend that there is always a romance when you go to a new place, especially for vacation and it was best to consider any decisions, after some time had passed from the vacation. Ryrie began discussing what he would get if he sold his house in Brisbane. How much would be left after paying his mortgage. How much money he would be left to invest. What the exchange rate would be. And of utmost importance, what he would get for his investment with money left over to live comfortably. When you think about a lifestyle change one thing is for sure. A vacation is a good way to bring you one step closer.

A month went by after Ryrie had returned to Australia before he called me on the telephone and said, “We are moving to Panama.” They sold their house for $400,000 payed their debt to the bank, and transferred the money to a company in Panama that my wife helped to incorporate, and began to plan their move. After 2 months the Pollards were settled in a rented house in Chitre (a town near Pedasi) and not long after, bought a property on the ocean for $90,000. Today they have been offered for that property $250,000, in less than one year.

They also purchased land in a beautiful area with 60 degree weather, overlooking the ocean for $10,000 a hectare (one hectare is 2.47 acres.) They bought a total of 2 lots in this area for a total of $20,000. The two lots appreciated in value as the road to the property was recently paved (a tip I was more than happy to give my friend), and now nothing is available in this area for less than $50,000 a hectare. Their investment now is worth $100,000.

As a skeptic one could ask, “How much is it going to appreciate ?” and “How much land is still available?” “sounds too good to be true!” “whats the catch ?” a thousand questions, that I cannot answer ……because “whatever the value is, you have to come see for yourself” Ryrie and Karla from a total investment of $110,000, are now sitting on $350,000 (despite the crisis). And they are continuing to buy more farms. Ryrie and Karla are not business people but trusted their initial intuition and until they discovered it just made plain common sense. Ryrie and Karla’s story is more about how happiness is knowing what you want and when you want it. Perhaps Ryrie and Karla still think about an extraordinary thing happening to them, perhaps now in their sleep.

To learn more on how you can experience a beautiful journey visit http://www.andromedapedasi.com/

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Punta del Diablo, Uruguay – Fun and Profit in the Southern Hemisphere

Punta del Diablo is a Uruguayan fishing village located 43 kilometers from the Uruguay/Brazil border. It has good surf and a rustic beauty that is said to arouse one’s primal spirit. This magic environment combined with a little imagination (or a little alcohol) enables one to discover his or her inner Bohemian. As a result, Punta del Diablo has grown into a summer beach vacation Mecca, which subsequently provides a rosy real estate opportunity at a time when international diversification makes more sense than ever.

One of the best things going for Punta del Diablo is that it is in Uruguay. Foreigners are able to buy and sell Uruguay real estate without any residency requirements or government approvals. Uruguay is also one of the few countries still experiencing some economic growth. On Monday, June 13th, 2009, Fitch Ratings revised Uruguay’s credit ratings from “stable” to “positive”, citing Uruguay’s economic resilience to the global financial crisis.

Punta del Diablo vacation rentals stood out in 2008 for producing one of the region’s best returns on investment. A local property manager reported that last year well marketed and managed vacation rentals brought an average return of 10%. Undeveloped beach lots have also made impressive gains, with many doubling in value over the last two years.

A continuation of increasing property values is supported by a trend of gentrification that seems to be firmly in motion. Punta del Diablo vacation rentals have traditionally been small inexpensive cabins arranged in tight clusters. However, now, to the west of the village, there are a growing number of roomy architect designed beach homes being constructed for a more affluent crowd that is joining the Punta del Diablo pilgrimage.

Buying and holding a Punta del Diablo beach lot is a simple and low maintenance way for many foreign investors to add a promising international element to their portfolio. Most beach lots are a little over 500 square meters. At this writing (July 2009) lots within five blocks from the beach have prices that start at just under 25,000 US dollars and go up to over 60,000 US dollars.

However, perhaps you are looking for more than just a simple and low maintenance way to invest in offshore real estate. Perhaps you are ready for a change - and spending part of the year managing and marketing your own vacation rentals on one of the hippest beaches in the southern hemisphere is just the opportunity you have been looking for.

By David Hammond

David Hammond is the author of the eBook Buying Real Estate in Uruguay available to purchase and download now.

You can contact David on David@ParadiseUruguay.com
Or visit his website: http://www.paradiseuruguay.com/

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Hot Topic: A Dangerous Game

I tried to warn her but she didn’t listen. Now we are sitting at the police station recounting the sorry tale to a disinterested cop who is smirking and clearly thinks she was asking for it.

Three hours earlier we were getting ready for a night on the South American town where I had lived for 2 years. It was her first time in the country, it was summer, a Friday night and we just had to go out and sample the night life. Two “Gringas”, in our mid thirties, happy, confident and complimenting each other on how good we looked.

We had dinner first and then on to a bar. It was still early in the evening and so there were very few other customers. My companion made eye contact with two local guys across the room and winked at them. That was the only invitation they needed and a few seconds later they were at our side. I wasn´t interested and I quickly found out that my companion didn’t like them either but simply wanted to mess with them, get them to pay the bar tab and then we would leave.

“That’s not how it is here” I told her. “Don’t let them pay for the drinks, don’t let them think you are even remotely interested in sleeping with them” .

“Brush them off now I urged”.

She didn’t listen she was already half way to the dance floor with a warmed up macho man in tow. I blew the other guy out, made it clear I had no interest and then could only watch as my companion fired her man up even more with seductive dancing followed by hot passionate kissing.

Another drink, then another, then macho man decided it was time to take the lady home. As he was paying the tab she grabbed my arm saying “let’s get out of here”.

“Hey” macho man shouted, “come back!”.

She made a run for it but he grabbed her roughly. He had paid her bar tab and now he wanted what was due, he was expecting to have her company for the rest of the night. The scene turned ugly. Violent struggling, shouting, screaming and a flurry of obscenities followed. He didn’t hit her but he did make marks and bruises on her face and bare arms, he grabbed her breasts and called her a whore.

Somehow we broke away and ran into a cab. I flinched when I heard her demand the driver take us to the nearest police station. Through broken Spanish and angry tears she explained to the on duty officer what had happened. The cop had no idea why she was there, or what exactly she was complaining about.

She tried to explain to the police officer that in the U.S. that even if a man pays for drinks or dinner there was no foregone conclusion that his date was going to go home and have sex with him. This was a game she safely played every Friday night in her home town. See what you can get out of a guy then leave him hanging, it was fun, a sport. She was, what guys call, a prick tease. In the States a guy knows that if he pursues the “come on gone cold” and persists, he is likely to be arrested for sexual assault and then his life is pretty much over.

The rules are different here. You don’t play that game. You can’t give a guy a green light and then turn it to red and expect to get away lightly. Latino men will not take that kind of humiliation, they will try and collect their dues. The police will take an unprovoked sexual attack on a woman seriously but if she led him on, gave him the go and then called a halt it is likely she will be told to get out and stop wasting their time.

This time it stopped short of rape, others may not be so lucky and if that is the end result of playing the dangerous game then the victim should not expect a sympathetic response from the police.

What do you think of this situation? Was it a cultural misunderstanding or unacceptable behaviour? Did she get what she deserved? Should the guy have been arrested? Be sure to leave your comments for this post.

Got a hot topic of your own. Click here – tell us what you want to say. Contributions from all around the world welcome.

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