Here are the markets Jeffybaby thinks buyers will be flocking to if they aren't already...

Pacific Coast of Nicaragua

Pacific Coast property in Nicaragua remains one of the world's best bargains.  This is dramatic coastline, with rugged shores, cliffs and rocks, crashing surf, hidden coves, and pinkish white sand.  Residents enjoy the same beaches as in Costa Rica or southern California, but a one-quarter or one-tenth the cost, respectively.  A jeffybaby pick.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The Arentine peso, after nearly a decade pedgged to the U.S. dollar, has leaped from a low of 19 cents to around 30 cents.  But bargains still abound.  For investors willing to move quickly, the opportunities in this cosmopolitan city are promising.  A jeffybaby pick.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

A former city-state that once rivaled Venice, Dubrovnik dates back more than 1,300 yars and is considered by many to be the pearl of the Adriatic.  With Croatia seeking membership in the European Union, prices are likely to climb in the next couple of years.

 

Montenegro

This small country in southeastern Europe borders the Adriatic Sea between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Prices are less than $75 a square foot, although Russian buyers have pushed up prices for oceanfront lots.  In a good location near the shore, house typically sell for $150 to $200 per square foot.

 

Panama City, Panama

Panama is typically categorized as a developing country, but the infrastructure, diversity, and sophistication of the country, especially in Panama City -- with a metropolitan population of more than one million -- tell a different story.   The turnover of the Panama Canal in 1999 brough a glut of first-class propeties to the market.  Although the best opportunities are gone, prices sare expected to increase for years to come.

 

 

Volcan, Panama

Located in the Chiriqui province in the west, Volcan boasts a springlike climate year-round, fresh mountain air, and beuatiful scenery.  BUyers will spend half as much to won here but will miss some of the amenities and infrastructure of nearby Boquete.

 

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chaing Mai, Thailand's arts and Crafts center, was founded in 1296.  The land is a patchwork of misty hills, rice fields, and jungle, and the city's surrounding province is home to numerous hill tribes.  It's possible to buy attractive two-bedroom homes for less than $50,000.

 

La Ceiba, Honduras

La Ceiba, the third-largest city in Honduras, has grown along with its ecological tourism and agricultural industries.  La Ceiba residents enjoy Caribbean beaches, mountains, and rivers.  Construction prices start at just $35 per square foot for a simple, wooden house.

 

Costa Maya, Mexico

The Mexican government is committed to transforming Costa Maya into its next great tourist destination by installing millions of dollars of infrastructure, including new roads, telephone and electricity, houses for employees, marina and beach installations, and docks for cruise ships.  Property prices are on the rise and may one day rival the prices in Acapulco and Cancun.

 

Laguna Bacalar, Mexico

The Mayans believed this Lake of Seven Colors was a magical place.  Today, Laguna Bacalar is an undiscovered gem.  But, as development continues in the Riviera Maya region, this lake will begin to receive attention.

 

Source:  International Living (www.internationalliving.com),a magazine devoted to finding the best bargains in international living.