To be honest, if I were investing in property, I'm be looking at Asia such as the Phillipines and similar. Also some more stable African countries, such as Morroco.

The price might not be that high in the first place and secondly it doesn't appreciate. The appealing location for speculators is the Caribbean and Puerto Rico for example is still bullish because it's possible to make good money in a few years time according to those who are saying they've done so or they know someone who has cashed out.

I've started receiving email and now they are promoting Costa Rico and the bubble in Puerto Rico could be subsiding, but I've heard many people have made good money, and now they want to repeat that in Costa Rico.

I live in the carribean and can tell you real estate isn't the way to go.

Chris is right, i would rather invest in the suburbs then an island. You will make more though property vaule will be higher.

Morroco is an interesting suggestion ... I've never heard that before. I think a better bet than the caribbean would be South America. Has anyone looked at Argentina or Brazil.

As a future ex-pat I was looking at Costa Rica for the past 10 years but the gringos have all retired there and run up the property prices. Then, I started looking at Panama, and Ecuador. I have traveled Latin and South America and although I have never been to Paraguay, I am hearing that is is a very cheap place to start- it is not on a coastline and isn't as easy to get to as central America...so it is not inundated-YET.
As long as you remember: "manana" DOES mean "Not Today", and I speak Spanish. It's true. You have to be ready to let go of the American mindset and learn to take your time and lower your expectations.

According to me developing nations are providing better opportunities
so I'll invest in India

Lately I have been hearing a lot about the Spanish real estate. It seems that the home prices have really gone down. However, is buying in a market in which the home prices are slumping, profitable as an investment? Please suggest.

My understanding of Spain is that prices are already falling - also, in reference to the original post, the Caribbean is seen as an investment bubble...

I'm seeing repeated references to South America being good, not least Argentina - certainly at the time being...

according to me if i will be investing in properties,i will invest in asia.

Real estate is in complexes because of buying and selling.Construction in rural areas of the country is badly effected because of recent recession economy in the world.Dubai property was known as a best real estate in the world but nowadays dubai property price also down.

Real Estate investing is one of the oldest tricks in the book. It may be quite costly but it works. Properties lasts longer, it doesn't depreciate that easy, it can be transferred too to family, and most of all you can convert it to cash in times you need it badly.

What are you buying the real estate for? To build on and if so what? Do you want coastal property? How far do you want to travel to check on your real estate? Does the country in which the real estate is located have a stable government? You need to do your homework before you put down your hard earned money.

RichS CFP(r)
www.insimplelanguage.com