Whew! That’s a big title. But it’s fitting for a big topic – one that reminds us that the world is not only getting smaller, but is changing rapidly.
Money, jobs and people are moving around the world like never before. And while fewer people may feel rich coming out of this recession, there are other good reasons many are still looking at international real estate – both as an investment strategy and a safe haven hedge against inflation.
While we were at the International Property Congress in Miami Beach, in addition to talking big picture economics with National Association of Realtor’s Chief Economist Lawrence Yun and Federal Reserve Bank VP Thomas Cunningham (see our 11/21/10 show), we sat down and talked about who’s buying international real estate, where and why.
Behind our well-traveled microphones for an international chat-fest:
- Your host, the internationally renowned Robert Helms
- Your co-host and internationally obscure Russell Gray
- The man who has seen more changing landscapes than a migrant farm worker, the eternally international Godfather of Real Estate, Bob Helms
- Special Guest #1: International Property Journal reporter, Kevin Brass
- Special Guest #2: Representative from SECOVI, a Brazilian real estate trade association, Flavio Amary
It’s no secret that every country in the world has it’s own unique strengths and weaknesses. As the dominant economy in the world, Americans have long enjoyed a uniquely stable and high quality of life. It wasn’t necessary or commonplace to travel abroad. Even today, the majority of Americans do not have passports.
However, the world is changing. The US dollar, while still the dominant currency, is facing serious challenges. Job losses, deficit spending, an aging populace and huge unfunded entitlements are all piling up on Uncle Sam. Meanwhile, other countries are emerging as powerful economies in their own right – most notably China.
But this isn’t an episode about the woes facing the US. These aren’t the first challenges and they won’t be the last. Every country has its ups and downs.
This episode is about discovering how and why the dynamics of the world’s economies are changing the way people are approaching real estate.
While we’re more traveled than the average American, we took the opportunity while in Miami to connect with Kevin Brass. Kevin has been covering the international real estate industry for over 20 years and his articles and analyses have been regular features in the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times. Today, Kevin writes for the International Property Journal. His work takes him all around the globe and keeps him connected with many industry leaders worldwide. In this episode, Kevin shares his perspectives on the changing landscape of international real estate.
We also discuss some recent changes to the once vaunted tax and privacy advantages of Panama, who recently entered into an information sharing agreement with the United States. Tax and privacy advantages are often a prime motivator for people to acquire real estate and move to a particular country. Is what happened in Panama a portend of things to come?
Of course, what would an episode on international real estate be without an interview with someone with one of those really intriguing accents? We were privileged to find someone who not only sounds really cool, but has some very useful things to share with us about the robust economy of Brazil. If you haven’t been paying attention to Brazil, you may be surprised to hear about what’s happening there. Hint: not everyone’s in a recession.
Buone Feste, Boas Festas, Felices Fiestas, Frohe Festtage, Wesołych Świąt, Bonnes vacances, Sarbatori Fericite and Happy Holidays!
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