International Newsletter

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Internationale A PUBLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE FROM

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE | GARY GREENE

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Expectations for the U.S. economy and housing market in 2015 point to an expanding economy, continued growth in the labor market, and home prices rising at a moderate but healthy clip.

Locally, in spite of the drop in oil prices, Houston's real estate market is expected to slow slightly in 2015 but certainly not crash. Going into 2015, 62,900 new jobs are forecasted, inventory still remains low, mortgage rates are favorable, and there remains a pent up demand for housing.

The cost for doing business in Houston remains below the U.S. average and lower than many major global cities. This trend will continue to make the Houston Metro area a major destination point for international organizations.

IN THIS ISSUE WE EXPLORE: • Buying a Retirement Home in Mexico • Cuba: The Next International Real Estate Opportunity • What the Panama Canal Expansion Means for Houston • The Promising Philippines Please contact me with your ideas on articles or topics you would like us to explore at oscar.gonzales@garygreene.com or 713-465-6644 ext.

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Oscar Gonzales MBA, PhD International Division Director

Internationale J A N -

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A PUBLICATION OF INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE FROM

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS REAL ESTATE | GARY GREENE

In this Issue: Buying A Retirement Home in Mexico Cuba: The Next International Real Estate Opportunity What the Panama Canal Expansion Means for Houston •

The Promising Philippines

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Buying a Retirement Home in Mexico

The largest number of Americans living outside the United States is in Mexico.

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City estimates that more than 1 million Americans live in the country either full or part time.

Mexico offers a warm climate, proximity to the United States and an affordable cost of living.

Click on the image to learn more

Cuba: The Next International Real Estate Opportunity

A recent announcement by the White House charts a new course in U.S. and Cuba relations.

The policy changes make it easier for Americans to provide business training for private Cuban businesses and to provide other support for the growth of Cuba’s private sector.

The new policy includes efforts to increase Cubans’ access to authorized transactions between the U.S. and Cuba, which may include inbound and outbound real estate transactions.

Click on the image for more information

What the Panama Canal Expansion Means for Houston While not all U.S. ports will benefit from the Panama Canal expansion, the dredging of the Port of Houston, addition of larger cranes, and other enhancements to accommodate bigger ships is expected increase post-canal-expansion traffic.

Plastic resins made from fossil fuels are in huge demand elsewhere in the world, especially China, and containers filled with grains of this resin already make up about 1/3 of exports from Houston.

Click on image learn more about the Port of Houston

The Promising Philippines A quietly emerging market on the horizon, one that isn’t making the headlines quite like China but still offers substantial opportunity for real estate agents, is the Philippines.

Houston ranks 3rd of the top U.S. cities of interest searched by Filipino buyers.

Click on the image to learn more