Panama City’s Top 3 Luxury Neighborhoods
These are the places the well-heeled flock to...where you can live in swanky homes, surrounded by top-notch amenities and the bragging rights of a premium address...
Margaret Summerfield
How Far Will Your Real Estate Budget Go in this Cathedral City?
I wrote last week about the wonders of Chichester. On paper, this little cathedral city seems almost too good to be true…with history and culture, outdoor activities, shopping and conveniences…all wrapped up in a picturesque historic core. Indeed, there is one big flaw in Chichester’s near-perfection: its property prices. Development is constrained by the South Read more...: How Far Will Your Real Estate Budget Go in this Cathedral City?
A Lesson in Buying Pre-Construction in the Algarve
I’m on Portugal’s Algarve coast, in the town of Albufeira. It’s my first time in Portugal. I don’t speak the language. I don’t have friends or family here. I’m technically homeless. After years of living in Panama, I’m in search of a new base in southern Europe. It’s an adventure and a voyage of discovery rolled into one.
The Chic History of Menton, The Pearl of France
The city of Menton on France’s Côte d’Azur is said to have the best weather in France. Temperatures are always a couple of degrees warmer than neighbouring resorts on the Riviera. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Menton’s micro-climate lured royal visitors like Empress Eugénie, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII, and wealthy foreigners who stayed Read more...: The Chic History of Menton, The Pearl of France
An Insider’s Guide to Playa del Carmen
Playa charmed me on that first trip. I've gone back countless times since. Each time, I'm amazed by what's changed: New restaurants, new hotels, new businesses, new faces. And what hasn't changed: The beaches, the high quality of life, the instant appeal of Playa.
Calculating Risk and Reward in Real Estate
I’m in Lagos, on the western edge of the Algarve, continuing my search for a new base. I’m homeless…rootless…with a couple of suitcases and a husband in tow. I’ve already crossed off Faro and Albufeira. Lagos is more my style, but will it stack up as a more permanent stop? Let’s see… Mornings here start Read more...: Calculating Risk and Reward in Real Estate
My Real Estate Trip in Lagos, Portugal
I was chased by a lunatic yesterday. Lunatic might not be the right word. A man with an obsession might be closer to the mark. One that he felt obliged to share with the world at large… “So much sexier now!” was what he first shouted at me. Heads turned, to see what floor show Read more...: My Real Estate Trip in Lagos, Portugal
Three Things I Miss About Panama
After more than a decade in Panama, I’m back in Europe, looking for a new base. I still love Panama. The reasons why I chose it as a base back in 2007 are still the same. It’s an amazing, internationalized destination, with a lively and fun capital city, a global perspective and a strategic location Read more...: Three Things I Miss About Panama
A Ghost from the Past in Albufeira, Portugal
I came across this old building in Albufeira on a walk a few days ago. It’s got a plaque high up on the left that says Chalet Santa Rita 1938. It’s a beautiful building, but it’s empty, a ghost of the past. It’s sandwiched awkwardly between two big hotels, and its history seems to be Read more...: A Ghost from the Past in Albufeira, Portugal
Albufeira: The Algarve’s Wild Card
After almost 14 years in Latin America…where I scouted highland towns in Ecuador…checked out coastal resorts in Chile…tried to chase down the next hot spot in the Caribbean…I’m in southern Europe, looking for a new base and any real estate opportunities I come across. I’m in Albufeira, on Portugal’s Algarve coast, as I write. Faro, Read more...: Albufeira: The Algarve’s Wild Card