beachfront home for 200k or less?

[newyorklady]

I am 30 years old and would like to purchase a house abroad on a pretty sandy beach for 200k or less. Where do I go? Cheap cost of living and safety are factors.

 

[obryanjf]

Florianopolis, Brazil

http://ifloripa.com/default.aspx

job

 

[Lusitan]

Cheap cost of living and safety are factors.

Unfortunately, the two don't often go hand-in-hand. My sister lived in Brasil for a while, and basically the house where she lived was under private armed guard 24/7, as were all the neighbors.

Not to knock Brasil, but basically, there's a reason why things are cheap in some places - usually the economy is not developed, and you have all the attendant problems that come with an underdeveloped economy.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

here's 600 ft of oceanfront for $178k only the winters are probably a little chilly...

http://tinyurl.com/zfkk3


EDIT: Shortened URL

 

[dory36]

Features:
Waterfront on ocean, No heat

Yeah, maybe a bit chilly at times.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

The beachfront home might not be all its cracked up to be.

I remember reading a Thor Heyerdahl novel when I was a kid. He moved to a tropical island to try out the 'castaway' lifestyle. Set up shop on the nice sunny side of the beach. IIRC after getting creamed by weather, high variability in temperatures, and eaten alive by bugs, he moved to a cave on the far side of the island for the rest of his stay, where he was fairly comfortable.

 

[REWahoo]

here's 600 ft of oceanfront for $178k only the winters are probably a little chilly...

Unclemick, now that you've spent some time getting used to cooler winters, this might be just the place for you: "...Excellent area for kayaking..."

Sort of a "Slidell North"

 

[obryanjf]

Unfortunately, the two don't often go hand-in-hand. My sister lived in Brasil for a while, and basically the house where she lived was under private armed guard 24/7, as were all the neighbors.

What I've seen, is it really depends on where you are at. Some areas have little crime, others lots. Also must be smart about your activities, what you drive, how you present yourself, etc.

job

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i'm just a 3 mile bike ride to the beach now. what with greenland melting and all, by 2096 i just might already own some beachfront property and i won't even have to move. but i bet they try to raise my property taxes by then.

 

[Maximillion]

http://www.goderich.ca/

 

[Maximillion]

nyl, if you decide to move to Goderich you had better be Artsy Fartsy, they are big on local theatre, crafts, etc etc.

 

[brewer12345]

I think you could get a modest condo in St. Croix (USVI) for under $200k. You might also find something in PR for that amount, but I think the RE market there is pretty bubbly.

 

[newyorklady]

thanks, dont have to buy now, can wait a year or two. so do you think the general american real estate bubble extends to other countries as well? worried about baby boomers buying up foreign real estate to retire at. in a few more years this may be in full swing vs. my theory that many americans who own 2nd homes abroad may have to sell if they don't have a fixed mortgage on american home.

 

[brewer12345]

thanks, dont have to buy now, can wait a year or two.  so do you think the general american real estate bubble extends to other countries as well?  worried about baby boomers buying up foreign real estate to retire at.  in a few more years this may be in full swing vs. my theory that many americans who own 2nd homes abroad may have to sell if they don't have a fixed mortgage on american home. 

Dunno about other countries, but PR in many areas is totally bubbled up. There are very serious problems in the Puerto Rican banks (WHI, DRL, etc.) due to their foolish lending and balance sheet expansion, and that's without default activity really picking up (which it will). Given the price increases in Costa Rica, Belize, etc. I think many other countries have been affected by the US RE bubble. I think you would be much better off renting, simply because all it will take is a problem in the mortgage-backed securities world to have serious ramifications for US and related RE.

 

[newyorklady]

thanks for advice, i can always wait then vulture in when prices are lower.

 

[brewer12345]

thanks for advice, i can always wait then vulture in when prices are lower. 

That's my plan. If there is a real problem in RE, I would be extremely tempted to buy something on the cheap in PR. I would also probably look to hoover up something in northern New Mexico (not beachfront, but beautiful). In the meantime, I will be biding my time.

 

[unclemick]

My beachfront days are over for a while - 1979-2005/Katrina cure.

Getting used to Missouri and bib overalls - pretty good so far except I seemed to have bought near the local Tornado siren or it least it seems awfly loud.

heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh - got two empty lots that came with the house so IF the RE itch strikes too badly - then? Or maybe?