About US real estate and freedom

In view of the German economy destroyed by the Corona policy and in my personal expectation, that the global financial system could collapse, the question arises about the right investment. I think, that real estate continues to be a good investment. I am particularly interested in vacation properties in Cape Coral, but that has a different background: Freedom.

As an entrepreneur, I am responsible for myself, my employees and everything around me, also for my retirement provision. In my case, this includes the value of my company, good interest (for decades it was like this) of my Life insurance, which I would no longer conclude today, as well as share portfolios, Gold and real estate. I am now 47 Years old and I made up my mind, still something to do for my age. From the middle 40 somehow you think more and more about your own age, funny.

Freedom

The thought of a property abroad began for me in autumn 2020. The increasing freedom-restricting political measures against the corona virus in Germany and the associated social change worries me. Since then, our cold and wet country has been in lockdown for months. It is very difficult for me to understand, because I have always been a critical and at the same time freedom-loving person. After all, it was not without reason that I started my own business. So this is how the wish arose in me, to be able to be in another place, who might have more freedom, more relaxed people, offers better weather and an overall higher quality of life. The thought has not let go of me since then and I want to realize this dream now. However, I have no experience with real estate abroad. The German-speaking countries or the other European countries are out of question for me against the background of my convictions. I also love challenges. So now I'm looking for places and real estate outside of Europe.

For me, a property abroad essentially has three aspects: (1) It can be a safe Investment with a good increase in value and proportionate high return on investment, which can be partially financed through currently very cheap loans. (2) You can sell it to tourists to rent and partially use it yourself. (3) Possibly it can even be used by myself in the long run as Retirement home maybe. If you take these criteria into account, looking for the right property, you will come across different results, looking for a money investment only. You are looking for a nice house, in which you want to live yourself, in a great place, on which one would like to live and not only from an economic perspective for a property with a high return.

Africa

In my search for the right place, I informed myself at first about South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania in Africa. Why? Because there are relatively many Germans there. or you sometimes speak German there, e.g.. on “Sauerkraut Hill” in Cape Town. Somehow I feel more comfortable with the idea, to be a bit among Germans abroad. For me it also has to be a country, German tourists like it too, be able to travel easily and as directly as possible. A country, where the weather is beautiful a long time in the year, a city, in which people live relaxed and politically free. One advantage of African states is, that they are in the same Time zone like in Germany. Should I as an entrepreneur during the next lockdown e.g.. want to spend my home office time there at least temporarily, it would be easier to communicate with my employees and customers.

United States of America

During my further research, I became aware of Florida. Somehow, I've always been interested in the United States. So far I haven't even spent a vacation there. I am most interested in California in the west and Florida in the east of the USA. Both countries are used to dealing with foreigners, which is not the case in every state. If its about vacation rentals goes, is the Sunshine State Florida is definitely the better choice.

(1) Florida lives from weather and tourism. When it is winter elsewhere, like here in Europe or Canada, many Snow Birds come to Florida. This is what Florida calls winter tourists from Canada, who travel to Florida from December to May due to the very cold winters and cause traffic chaos there. Many Germans also love Florida as a holiday destination or retirement home. Many are there up to 180 Days. I will write a dedicated article on the subject of visas later.

(2) The time shift is enclosed in Florida minus 6 Hours, that. means. 12 o'clock in Germany 6 o'clock in the morning in Florida. In fact, however, that means: at about 5 o'clock local time. (11 o'clock German time) a home office day would begin at the latest, so that you are within the normal business hours of Germany – eine Katastrophe 😉 In Kalifornien sind es 9 hours time difference, which makes things considerably more difficult. In addition, the flights from West Germany to California take longer, which is also a hurdle for some tourists.

(3) The political situation is clearly different in Republican Florida from my point of view, than in Democratic California. I think, Governor Ron DeSantis recognized a few things very early on the Coronoa crises and made the right decisions, which has led to a different political approach to the corona crisis, without any negative consequences for people's health.

Florida

When you think of Florida, there will be Miami in your mind. The city of the young, the beautiful and the rich is very attractive. However, it is not the best choice when it comes to real estate investment in my view, at least not then, if you initially want to invest with manageable sums. It is also important to me, that there is a German community in the city. What I didn't know before my research. e.g.. was, that about 70 % the population in Miami speaks Spanish and e.g.. comes from nearby Cuba. In addition, the cost of living in Miami is above average and the available attractive houses close to the water are not financially attractive to me.

Looking for houses with water access in cities in Florida, in which many Germans have settled down, you can get to the region of Lee County very quickly and then to Cape Coral and Fort Myers. Cape Coral in Southwest Florida (Southwest Florida = SWFL) has been 1957 developed and tapped on the drawing board by the Rosen Brothers, is round about 2,5 to 3 Hours away from Miami and Orlando (Walt Disney World) and is the Venice of Florida with hundreds of canals and many houses with “Waterfront”.

Cape Coral

Of the nearly 21,5 million. Florida residents in Cape Coral live almost 200.000, of which around 30.000 Germans. The city is right on Caloosahatchee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico .. Opposite is Fort Myers (also “the City of Palms” called), a city with around 65.000 residents and an international airport, of which you reach Cape Coral in 20 Minutes (except, when the Snow Birds paralyze traffic in winter). Due to the political entry restrictions, there are currently no direct flights from Düsseldorf or Cologne (anymore). Hopefully that will change soon. Located in the south of Fort Myers and also across from Cape Coral is Fort Myers Beach, a dream holiday destination with a Caribbean flair.

I am now going on an exciting journey for me. I want to learn more about the United States and the US state of Florida as well as the city of Cape Coral and other places in the area. I do all of this, because I want to invest there in the medium term. My knowledge, my notes, interesting links, Videos and other content I'll post here CapeCoral Voyager for you. This is my site. It helps me, structuring my thoughts and doing something for the general public at the same time. Because there are definitely still one or two Germans today, who wants to fulfill a similar dream and is looking for information. I would be very happy to have relevant contacts, Kommentare und Empfehlungen freuen 🙂 Zunächst interessieren mich die Real estate prices.