10 Places Your Dollar Buys a Lot of Beach

Read more about real estate overseas in International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007

If you want a place in the sun, but don't want to spend more than $100,000, there are but 10 destinations you need to consider:

Costa Rica: It's a favorite retreat for North Americans who like the country's cool mountains or beautiful, wide beaches. Costa Rica has superb sport fishing, birdwatching, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, surfing, and horseback riding. Prices for property and real estate in Costa Rica are rising--but not so fast that you can't still find bargains.

The Dominican Republic: It's one of the least expensive countries in the Western Hemisphere. Ocean-view condos are on the market for just over $100,000. For a little more than half that amount you can find an apartment in the capital Santo Domingo, known for its old world charm.

Belize: This English-speaking Caribbean country offers big tax incentives to foreigners who live part- or full-time in the country. While Ambergris Caye and several other coastal areas have become expensive, there are still real estate bargains galore, particularly in the exotic rainforests only a few miles from the ocean.

Mexico: The country has been a favorite of second-home owners for many years, but prices in Mexico can vary just as much as the climate. Today's savvy property shoppers are attracted by low prices around Yucatán's Gulf Coast and by the big advantages of the Lake Chapala area--golf, tennis, hiking, and horseback riding, as well as theater, concerts, and garden clubs.

The Bahamas: Sports, nature, and an elegant lifestyle continue to lure people to these islands just off the Florida coast. Though the Bahamas have a reputation for pricey real estate, it's not difficult to find condos for $100,000 and three-bedroom houses for around $200,000.

Guadeloupe and Martinique: The French West Indies combine Caribbean culture with a Riviera lifestyle. That means dining and dancing as well as opportunities to enjoy nature, whether it's a hike around a volcano or a dip in ocean waters that Jacques Cousteau described as among the best in the world.

Nicaragua: Despite the potentially worrisome outcome of recent elections, the country remains a haven for second-home owners. Bargains are the big reason. Even at property developments with top-notch golf courses, you can get a condo near the ocean for less than $100,000.

Guatemala: Despite the aftermath of a long civil war, this historically rich country is stabilizing. The major area for second homes is around exotic Lake Atitlán, but property shoppers are also discovering the charming old capital of Antigua, where it's easy to find apartments for less than $150,000.

Honduras: While the country differs greatly from region to region, many owners of second homes live comfortably on $1,500 a month. The price is especially low considering the country's clear ocean water, white-sand beaches, and the laidback lifestyle.

Panama: When you live in Panama, you have easy access to the ocean for swimming, fishing, and surfing, and to forests for hiking, birdwatching, and horseback riding. Moreover, Panama actually pays you to live there through its pensionado program, which provides discounts of up to 50% on everything from public transportation to doctor's visits, electricity, and restaurants.

Need help narrowing down the list? Follow the link to find out everything I discovered about these 10 beach destinations.

Don Ediger
For International Living

Editor's Note: Don Ediger is a regular contributor to IL Postcards, and has worked for BusinessWeek, The Miami Herald, and other leading publications. Don grew up in Mexico and speaks Spanish--he's as comfortable on the backstreets of San José, Costa Rica, as he is on the pink-white beaches of Eleuthera, Bahamas.