The World's Best Buy On A Private Little Beachfront House...in Nicaragua

Dear International Living Reader,

The south Pacific coast of Nicaragua is one of the most stunning seacoasts in the world. There are beaches 2 miles long...with no one on them. There are mountains, along the coast, from which you can see out for miles in every direction. There are monkeys in the trees. Turtles on the beach. And few humans. Just an occasional fisherman. Or a man lazing in a hammock. His job is to protect the property. But since nothing ever happens...he just dozes...

This is the Nicaraguan Riviera. Don't bother to look it up in the travel
guides. It doesn't exist...yet.

But little by little, this paradise is being discovered. People are
building luxury homes--nestled on the hillsides...or in the trees...or on
dramatic points of land jutting into the ocean. A new road is planned.
Developers are drawing up plans.

And prices are rising.

What if you could own your own little beach house here, turn-key, for less
than $110,000...furnished. Ready for you to take up residence...or to begin
renting out immediately.

But, wait. It gets better.

What if that private little beach house were part of the premier private
residential community in the entire country? Gated and protected, safe and
secure.

And knock-your-socks-off beautiful. With three sand beaches, one of them
rose-colored. And a private Clubhouse, for use by residents only, where you
could take your meals when you didn't feel like cooking...or meet with
fellow residents for a cocktail on the patio while you watch the sun set in
its tropical glory over the crashing Pacific before you.

ALL THE COMFORTS OF THE 21ST CENTURY

Plus a pool, tennis court, stables with thoroughbred stallions waiting for
you to take for a ride...along the beach or into the hills...whenever the
inclination strikes.

A workout center...a Spanish-language instructor on call...bicycles...a
Nature Trail.

And high-tech to boot. All the comforts of the 21st century. A DVD player
in the lounge and a library of DVD's to choose from. Wireless Internet. A
cell phone tower on the property. Direct TV.

And a staff of very friendly people, Nicaraguans, Americans, and others,
standing by to help you do whatever you'd like to do. Have a
meal...practice your Spanish...sip a cocktail on the patio...check your
e-mail.

The community I'm speaking of is Rancho Santana, the 1,700-acre coastal
ranch I've been telling International Living readers about for years. It's
one of my favorite places in the world...a sanctuary...a tropical paradise
escape that, over the past five years, has been outfitted with every
comfort and convenience you could hope for...and every distraction and
entertainment you could imagine.

Santana is a growing, thriving place. Visit anytime, and you won't want for
dinner company. Fifteen high-end homes have been built in these hills...and
another 15 are now under construction. A handful of residents call Santana
home full-time.

Until now, though, the only way to do that was to buy a lot...and build a
house. Not everyone is up for that.

Which is why, several months ago, we began building the Rancho Santana
Casitas.

These are charming little houses...the kinds of places we'd build for
ourselves. Each is 1,100 square feet with two bedrooms, a bathroom with
marble countertops, and walk-in closets...a large and enclosed living area,
ceramic tile floors, cedar and mahogany cabinetry, air conditioning in the
bedrooms, a well-equipped kitchen, with granite countertops and
refrigerator, oven, and stove in place...beds, tables, brand-new sofas and
chairs and other furniture...plus a terrace in front and a small porch off
the master bedroom…all topped with a traditional red clay tile roof.

Completely turn-key. You can even arrange to have the soft goods included
so that, when you take possession, your little beach house is also
outfitted with towels, sheets, curtains...dishes, silverware, pots, pans.

The community of 15 Casitas is being built around a central plaza and
fountain and the entire area is being landscaped with coconut trees,
bougainvillea, areca palms, and hibiscus.

HERE'S THE BEST PART: You can buy this little beach house in Paradise for
less than $110,000. And financing is available. Your monthly payment would
be $686. Details on this later.

I know...it sounds too good to be true. There must be a catch, right?

Unfortunately, there is. We've room to build only 15 of them.

AN OPPORTUNITY FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING

As an International Living reader, you've certainly heard us talk about
Rancho Santana, the property purchased about five years ago by Bill Bonner
(International Living's founder) and a handful of private investors
(including me).

That's where this small group of private beach houses is located.

Rancho Santana (or St. Ann's Ranch) has 3.2 kilometers of coastline and
three distinct beaches--Playa Rosada, Playa Dorada, and Playa Escondida.
(These 15 beach houses are being built across the road from the Clubhouse
and near Playa Rosada, all within a few minutes walk.)

In the past five years, the transformation of the landscape at Rancho
Santana has been amazing.

When we first bought the land, it was simply a stretch of rugged but
beautiful terrain, overlooking the Pacific. When I first visited, the only
way in to the beaches was on horseback.

Since then, we've built the Pacific Clubhouse (with four bedrooms for
guests, a private dining area for owners and their guests, an office, an
expansive patio, and a swimming pool) overlooking the crashing waves.

There's also a stable, as I've mentioned, if you like to ride horses. Of
course you can also swim, surf, snorkel, fish, bike, sail, sunbathe...or
just wander along the seemingly endless, empty beaches.

You can play tennis or basketball on the court we've built-we'll even
supply the equipment. There are mountain bikes...a nature trail for
hiking...and a DVD player in the library. A cell-phone tower installed by
Bell South lets you can keep in touch with the rest of the world from
anywhere on the property. Most recently, we've installed wireless Internet,
so you can check your e-mail daily if you want.

Other things have not changed: The beaches and the surrounding land are as
beautiful as ever. With its dramatic coastline and pristine views, Rancho
Santana remains an extraordinary piece of real estate.

We've worked hard to keep it that way.

Approximately 150 people now own a piece of this beautiful property. And
about 15 of these folks have already built spectacular houses as rental and
vacation properties. My husband and I haven't yet started our home yet--but
Bill Bonner (friend and founding publisher of International Living) and his
family have a very nice place overlooking Playa Escondida.

This brings me to the little beach houses I want you to know about.

A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE--FOR LESS THAN $110,000

We are making good progress on an exciting new development at Rancho
Santana--15 villas, which we call Casitas (or "little houses"), under
construction (in fact, three are already completed) near the Pacific
Clubhouse, just steps from the beach.

This project is a first at Santana. Until now, as I said, the only way to
have your own home here was to buy a piece of raw land--then hire local
builders to construct a house.

The Casitas, however, make owning and spending time here much simpler--and
less expensive. Perhaps even profitable (I'll explain more in a moment).

The charming villas, with traditional red clay tile roofs, are a part of
their own little community, being built by the best architects and builders
we've found in the country. The location is ideal--near the restaurant, one
of the pools, and the white sands of Playa Dorada.

The new Casitas, I believe, offer two great advantages:

ADVANTAGE #1: THEY ALLOW YOU AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO BE PART OF AN AMAZING, UNSPOILED PRIVATE OCEANFRONT DEVELOPMENT.

I've mentioned some of the amenities already--the pools, the workout area,
riding stables, the Clubhouse, etc. But what's really great about Rancho
Santana is the natural surroundings. It is, simply put, one of the most
beautiful places I've ever been, anywhere in the world.

When you walk the beaches, you only rarely encounter other people. You can
more than likely have a whole beach to yourself, anytime you want.

If you surf, you'll find some of the best waves in the world, right in
front of your beach house. And don't just take my word for it (because,
admittedly, I'm not a surfer). But one owner at Santana, Jan Glenn, is. A
serious surfer.

Here's what he has to say on the subject:

"My favorite part of Santana is the surfing. I have surfed since I was 12
years old. I am now 47, and I will do it until I die. The Santana area has
some of the best surfing reefs and beaches in the world. This is something
we do not want to publicize because the owners who surf (and there are many
of us) don't want the world to discover this paradise and have it become
crowded.

"My wife Nancy and I enjoy all the other amenities, too...clean, secluded
beaches, Clubhouse, pool, exercise equipment, friendly people, natural
environment, stunning sunsets, continuous breeze, wireless Internet and
cell phone communications, horseback riding, fishing, biking, nature
trails, and excellent food at the restaurant.

"Most importantly, Nancy and I are very impressed with the security. This
was a key factor in choosing Santana. If you can't feel safe somewhere,
then why bother?

"I looked for property a long time in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, the prime
beach lots were sold or were being resold at high prices. I had missed the
boat. Then a friend told me about Nicaragua. My first reaction was similar
to what everyone says to me now...'Isn't there a war down there? Aren't
there bands of armed gangs roaming the streets?' I know better now.
Nicaragua is one of the friendliest and safest places I have visited. I
think this country will experience great growth and economic success over
the next 10 years and beyond."

Of course, as Jan mentioned, there's much more to do at Santana than surf.
If you like to fish or snorkel, it doesn't get much better than these
pristine waters. (Watch how fast the locals can pull a beautiful fish from the
water...sometimes without even using a rod!) You can also ride bikes or
hike on the nature trails. You can visit the nearby towns. Go horseback
riding. Work out. Or just soak up the sun.

You can't help but to relax when you get here--away from all the
distractions of the everyday world. It's become my absolute favorite place
to rest and recharge.

Our main goal with Santana is to preserve the tremendous natural
beauty--while putting into place the infrastructure that will allow you to
enjoy it.

ADVANTAGE #2: YOU GET ALL OF THE FUN--WITHOUT ANY OF THE HASSLES.

Owning any beach house can be a major headache-especially if you decide to
rent the place when you're not there.

You have to make repairs, deal with renters, collect money, issue
keys...the list is long...sometimes long enough to keep you from making the
investment in the first place.

That's why we've put into place a Property Management Service and a Rental
Management Service to look after the Casitas...so their owners don't have
to. You can choose to take advantage of either one or both of these
services--or not…the choice is completely up to you.

With these services, you'll never have to worry about changing sheets or
cleaning the kitchen. You won't have to take out the trash...or replace a
light bulb. You won't even have to worry about shopping for groceries.

And if you choose to rent your Casita when you're not there, our Rental
Management Service will handle all of those details, as well. All you'll
have to worry about is depositing your checks.

The point is, you can buy a Casita, and begin using it right away. It will
already be furnished, ready and waiting-just add the final touches...your
own favorite artwork, for example...some good books. When you're not there,
you can rent it out, using the Rancho Santanta team. You don't have to worry about advertising, management, or repairs. Nothing.

These Casitas are the ultimate "buy-it-and-forget-it" resort getaway...and
investment. No hassles, no worries. Just a nice stream of income (if you
choose), and a great house in one of the world's most beautiful oceanfront
resorts--available for you, your family, and your friends to use whenever
you please.

THE SAFEST PLACE I KNOW

If you've never been to Rancho Santana or to Nicaragua before, there are a
few things I should tell you about the country and our little oceanfront
development.

We at International Living have been traveling to, writing about, and
investing in Nicaragua for more than a dozen years now. But it might be
helpful if I summarize here why you might want to consider Nicaragua...and
Rancho Santana in particular:

#1) THERE'S VERY LITTLE LAND LIKE THIS REMAINING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Even after several years of appreciation, the best deals in North American
property are still on Nicaragua's Pacific Coast.

If you look at buying similar land in Costa Rica, you'll pay about four
times as much. In Belize and Honduras, you'll pay about three times as
much. We expect similar appreciation in Nicaragua. And, of course, anything
even remotely similar in the United States will cost you 15 to 50 times the
money you'd spend for comparable property in Nicaragua.

#2) NICARAGUA IS ONE OF THE SAFEST PLACES ON EARTH

I know, that's hard to believe--but it's absolutely true. And I say this
not based only on statistics, but on my own on-the-ground experience. (I've
made hundreds of trips to more than 40 different countries over the past 18
years-and I've been to Nicaragua dozens of times, sometimes alone, often
with my children.) Despite what you might believe, there's no Civil War
raging in Nicaragua...or drug warlords roaming the streets. Nicaragua is
safe and peaceful...much safer than Baltimore, Maryland, for example, where
I'm from in the States.

You simply won't find the high level of violent crime you have in America.
And while petty theft is an issue in the urban centers (as in any city),
I've never seen or heard of any trouble in the dozens of trips my
colleagues and I have made here.

Rancho Santana, really, is about as safe as any place can be. On the
property, there's a full-time, uniformed security force of 19. They patrol
the area 24 hours a day, seven days a week-it must be one of the easiest
and most boring jobs in the world.

As you enter Rancho Santana through the main gates, you pass by a guard
post where you check in, so the security staff knows who is on the property
at all times.

While war, terrorism, bombings, and suicide attacks rage on around the
world, Santana remains our private little oasis...a private island in the
middle of the chaos.

It's a place where the politics and worries shown on nightly TV mean
little. A place where it's safe to walk on the beach all by yourself-any
time of day or night.

As I mentioned, we at International Living have been traveling to Nicaragua
for more than a decade now. We like this country a lot.

We've been writing about and reporting on the developments and the
opportunities taking shape. Along the way, we've brought hundreds of
readers along with us on exploratory tours. Many of these folks have
purchased real estate. And quite a few have even decided to move here
permanently, either to retire or start a business.

# 3) NICARAGUA IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BOOM TREND.

Millions of dollars, literally, are being poured into this country now,
year on year. There are new hotels and roads springing up all over the
country. The mall across the street from the InterContinental Hotel in
Managua, for example, looks like malls you'd find in the States. It's
currently being expanded to include 17 new shops and a parking garage.

Cruise ships are docking regularly at San Juan del Sur (south of Rancho
Santana). And the country has opened its first-ever tourist office in the
United States, on the streets of downtown Miami.

As The Wall Street Journal reported not too long ago: "Suddenly, Managua has
a skyline. New hotels and shopping centers-with elevators and even
escalators-have sprouted in a capital flattened by a 1972 earthquake and
laid low by failed socialism. Arco gas stations, Pizza Huts and McDonald's
golden arches rise from the gentle hills. Once a live-fire franchise of the
Cold War, Nicaragua and other Central American countries have embraced
franchise capitalism."

The paper continued: "U.S. companies arrive to build power plants and
telephone networks, to sell hamburgers and pizza. Foreign investors who
were fleeing the country a decade ago put $280 million into Nicaragua last
year."

All of this foreign investment is tremendously good news for us as
investors and local property owners.

#4) NICARAGUA OFFERS ADVANTAGES FEW OTHER PLACES CAN MATCH.

The cost of living, for example, is a fraction of what you're accustomed to
back home. You can employ a full-time maid here for about $125 per month.
You can see a movie for $3...and get your hair cut for $1.25. Two people
can have an excellent meal, including a good bottle of wine, for less than
$30.

You can buy a box of some of the best cigars in the world (which retail in
the United States for about $400) for less than $50.

While all of these figures and statistics about tourists and infrastructure
may be impressive, the numbers don't begin to tell the story of the
laid-back atmosphere and natural beauty of Nicaragua...and of Rancho
Santana in particular.

Nicaragua is an exotic land...where the sun shines all day long...on rugged
and tropical rivers, colonial cities, friendly and lively people, and the
largest body of fresh water south of the Great Lakes (with the world's only
freshwater sharks).

Nicaragua right now is in many ways like the American West 100 years ago.
Not only because of the price of land...or its undeveloped, pristine
nature. It's also about attitude. It's an attitude I don't think you find
much in the United States anymore.

Even today, it's not uncommon to see horses trotting beside trucks and
taxis on a Nicaraguan road...even in Managua. Nicaraguans have the souls of
rancheros. Even the most successful, elegantly dressed businessman will
pack his family into a 4X4 truck and head to a finca and their horses on
the weekends.

Nicaragua today is like what the United States must have been like a
century ago-before big governments, lawyers, and other groups decided to
interfere with almost every aspect of ordinary citizens' lives. In short,
it's a country just beginning to come into its own--brimming with
opportunity, natural beauty, and potential.

It is this raw potential that first attracted us to this country a dozen
years ago...and this potential that has kept us returning and investing
every year since. Most important, it is this potential that we see being
realized today. This country is remaking itself day by day, month on month.
The landscape is altered every time I visit...even if I've been away but a
couple of months. New roads, wider roads, paved roads. New shops.
International restaurant franchises.

SAFER THAN STOCKS

An investment in Nicaragua, specifically in Rancho Santana, is a far less
speculative proposition today than it was five years ago when we bought.
And the cost of investment is rising accordingly.

Still, as I've said, you can, right now, buy one of the new Casitas at
Rancho Santana for less than $110,000...a price that we won't be able to
hold long.

The truth is, these Casitas represent one of the smartest investments I
could imagine making today. They offer you a very good way to put part of
your overall investment portfolio in something besides stocks. Especially
U.S. stocks.

They diversify you out of the U.S. market generally.

And, as the saying goes, they're safe as houses.

To illustrate my point:

Property along the south Pacific coastline of Nicaragua is not only worth
what it was this time last year...it's worth, on average, 25% more.

You can't say the same for the U.S. stock markets right now.

Whither stock prices in the next 12 months. The truth is, I have no idea.
No one does.

That's why I think it makes a lot of sense to invest at least part of your
portfolio outside the U.S.-and outside stocks.

Real estate is the perfect alternative. And real estate outside the United
States (where prices have gotten outrageous) is even better.

Real estate, as you know, can't go to zero. It's a hard asset. You can
visit it...and stand on it. You can take enjoyment from it. You can use it
for vacations, for example, while you're watching the value increase, year
after year. And with the Casitas, you can even collect rent when you're not
there.

Should you buy a Casita and expect to make a big profit by renting it? No.
We do not expect or want large crowds of people converging on our little
private hideaway.

But these Casitas may, in fact, turn out to be one of the most rewarding
opportunities at Santana--completely hassle-free, with the potential for
return not only in the form of appreciation, but also in the form of rental
income, which will increase as the community continues to develop.

In the meantime, of course, you have full use of your charming little
villa...in the type of private Pacific coast retreat most people can only
dream of.

HOW TO JOIN US FOR JUST $686 PER MONTH

I've saved the best part for last: Not only are our new Casitas a
tremendous bargain...but they come with financing.

If you've looked at real estate in this part of the world, you know that
financing of any kind is hard to come by. Financing on the terms being
offered for the Casitas at Rancho Santana is unheard-of.

You make a down payment of 30% (that's $32,670). The remaining 70% is
financed over 20 years at 9% interest. In other words, your monthly
payments would be approximately $686.

This monthly payment is paid for 7 years, with the balance due (a "balloon
payment" in real estate terms) at the end of the 7 years.

And think about what that means.

For less than what you'd pay per month for a decent car, you can own a
private little beach house in one of the world's most exclusive
destinations.

HOW TO ENJOY AND PROFIT FROM YOUR OWN CASITA AT RANCHO SANTANA

Here's the bottom line: You won't find a better deal on a beach house in
this entire country. I know. I've looked.

And these aren't any old beach houses. These are well-built (to U.S.
standards), thoughtfully designed, charming little villas, furnished and
finished with care...and part of the premier private community on this
emerging Nicaraguan Riviera coast.

I guarantee these Casitas are special, because they're being designed,
built, and outfitted by friends and partners, people I trust and have
worked with for many years.

But, please, don't take my word on it.

Here's what I recommend you do:

Take a look at the website we've put together. You'll see photos and floor
plans, details on specs and pricing.

Then get in touch with Lief Simon, sales agent for the property (and as you
probably know, my husband), who knows both Rancho Santana and these new
Casitas better than anyone. Lief can answer all your questions.

Then he can walk you through the process of buying. You can hold your
Casita with a 10% deposit, $5,000 of which is non-refundable.

Once you have made your deposit, we encourage you to visit Santana if you
can. (This is by no means required.) Forty-five (45) days after the
execution of the contract and the receipt of initial deposit, the deposit
amount increases to 50% of the purchase price. $25,000 of this is
non-refundable.

(Unless you're financing, of course. Those terms I detailed above.)

Closing occurs within 21 days of your Casita's completion. A
gain, you'll find the complete details on the numbers on the Casita website
we've created.

Remember, this is a first offering...and there is limited inventory. We
expect these little houses to go quickly. There simply aren't many other
places like Rancho Santana, anywhere else in the world. And few other
opportunities anywhere to own a private beachhouse in an oceanfront
community of this calibre for less than $110,000.

This really is a tremendous value. Some property owners at Rancho Santana
have built homes here worth $250,000 to $1 million and more. Here's a
chance for you to become their neighbor...for a fraction the investment.

But I do not want to pressure you in any way. I say this only because I
want you to realize that this opportunity won't last long.

I should add, Rancho Santana is not for everyone. If you are looking for
amusement park rides, boardwalks, T-shirt shops, and wild nightlife, you're
not going to be happy here. If, on the other hand, you enjoy wide-open
spaces and want to join a group of like-minded people in one of the most
exciting real estate investments I've ever seen or been part of, I think
you'll appreciate Rancho Santana as much as I do.

One more thing: We want to make the whole buying process as smooth, as
comfortable, and as easy as possible, so we've arranged for in-house
counsel to handle the legal work free. We also recommend you have your own
lawyer look over the papers, of course. But our attorney has six years
experience helping Americans buy real estate in Nicaragua. He's experienced
and savvy, and he'll take you by the hand to walk you through the process,
step by step.

We searched for our own safe haven for years, which led us to Rancho
Santana in the first place. For some of us, it was a safe place to
diversify investments, a hedge against a volatile stock market. For others,
it was a physical retreat-a quiet, peaceful, affordable place to escape the
fast pace and stress back home, for a few weeks or months a year...maybe
full-time, eventually.

We saw this property that way back when only horse trails wound through it
to the beaches...back before the roads, electricity, and water were
in...before the homes were built and the nearby grocery store had opened.
It made sense to us back then...and, boy, it makes even more sense today.

To me, one of the biggest attractions of this new Casita development is
that it gives you the opportunity to enjoy a way of life that is just about
impossible to find anywhere else in the world--at a really low price.

Plus, you avoid all the risks and hassles usually associated with foreign
real estate--and you could even generate some nice rental revenues at the
same time.

Specifically, here's the deal:

The first Casita on offer with this letter is priced at $108,900. The
second will be priced $3,000 more...the third $3,000 more than that...etc.
As I've indicated already, you could finance the buy...which would mean
you'd put $32,670 down...then make payments of only $686 per month. Less
than the financing repayment for a decent car.

To capitalize on this opportunity, first take a look at the Rancho Santana
Casita website: http://www.ranchosantana.com/casitas.html

Then get in touch with Lief. You can reach him by e-mail at
Sales@RanchoSantana.com

If you want to look before you buy (risky, I have to point out, if all the
Casitas sell quickly), ask us to arrange a tour for you. We can
introduce you to the project architect and to our local counsel, Dr.
Modesto E. Barrios, former in-house counsel with Ford Motor Co., who has
represented several large foreign corporations in Nicaragua. His family has
had an ongoing practice here since 1879.

My advice--consider this deal carefully...but don't delay.

If you decide you'd like to join us and purchase a Rancho Santana Casita,
contact Lief and get in on this deal as soon as you've made up your mind.
You can put down a minimum payment to hold your property, and then visit
the property to see for yourself what a remarkable place this has become.

I hope to see you in person at Rancho Santana. I'll be heading there next
month...and count the days. My husband, two children, and I spend at least
several weeks a year here…as much time as we can manage. Once you've seen
the place, you'll understand.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

P.S. Is there anywhere else in the world where you can own a little
hideaway such as this for just $686 a month? Not that I know of...not
anywhere I'd actually want to spend any time.

And this place gets better and better. In the works right now, for example,
is a new two-story spa with a sauna and steam bath. As a Casita owner, you
have full use of every amenity on the property.

P.P.S. I can promise two things: 1) These properties will go quickly, and
2) They are beautiful little places. In other words, if owning a Casita at
Rancho Santana interests you, please act right away so you don't miss out.
Contact Lief at Sales@RanchoSantana.com

Important Note: In the interest of full disclosure, we want you to know that International Living receives commissions from sales at Rancho Santana.