There are the obvious costs to vacant rental properties: paying for the mortgage, insurance, taxes and utilities out of pocket. But the costs don’t end there. Break-ins, vandalism, landscaping, and upkeep are all additional risks and expenses, which all aggregate to a message that you already know — rental vacancies need to be slashed to…
The OECD sounded cautiously optimistic when it published its latest economic outlook in the middle of September. “Banks appear to have recognised most of the losses and write-downs related to sub-prime based securities,” it said. Yet within days, Lehman Brothers had slumped into bankruptcy protection, Bank of America had stepped in to bail our Merrill…
You’re considering an investment property or a second house in a Central American residential development—in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua or elsewhere. The shiny brochure is impressive, the website looked great, the pictures blew you away, the marketing representative of the development says all the right things and you’re dead set on getting that beachfront lot…
A soft market means it is a good time to buy and hold. But before writing any big checks there are a few things you should know to protect yourself from litigation and other legal issues related to being a landlord.Obtain a legal entity to purchase propertyToo many smart people make the mistake of buying…
Instead of being defeated by the political upheavals in Lebanon, the nation’s leading financial institution has acquired valuable banking lessons from repeated domestic crises as it embarks on a second wave of growth beyond its home borders. Blom Bank is parlaying its historic reputation for low-risk, innovative trade finance into full-service operations in some of…
Editor’s note This is an archived article. For the cover story concerning Sir Allen Stanford please click here. Sir Allen’s new and innovative cricketing enterprise is merely the latest innings in a business empire that spans financial services to upmarket real estate development, hospitality and professional sports. We talked to the Sir Allen about his…
Japan’s big banks, unburdened by heavy subprime losses, and stuck with sputtering growth at home, are once again investing and lending abroad, but investors should not expect a string of blockbuster buyouts. Only a few years removed from a bad-loan crisis that pushed many lenders to the brink of collapse and sparked widespread industry consolidation,…
Advice on due diligence and buying and operating mobile home parks effectively has filled dozens and dozens of books, but the general theory of how to make money with mobile home park investments could fit on the back of an envelope. This article will explain in a few, simple steps how to make money in…
The Future of the Boat Slip MarketOver the past 10 years, many investors (especially those who are also boat owners) have undoubtedly read many articles and heard the buzz terms “Dockominiums” and “Rackominiums”. Although the terms are often used incorrectly, they are always used to describe an individually owned “in-water boat slip (wet slip)” or “rack boat…
Buying real estate and building in Nicaragua can be intimidating for first-timers. Beyond the many unknowns, a potential language barrier can make things seem nearly impossible. Fortunately, many pathfinders have successfully navigated the process, proving that it can be done without even needing to be in Nicaragua.Proper planning is vital when buying real estate and…
