You Don’t Need to be Jeff Bezos to Live an Internationalized Life
I split my year between Cabo, Portugal, and Ireland—and my properties pay the bills.
One of the great benefits of being an international real estate scout is that it gives me the chance to base myself wherever I want in the world.
I spend time every winter at my condo in Cabo, Mexico. When spring rolls around in the Northern Hemisphere, I fly across the Atlantic Ocean to spend time in Portugal, and in my native Ireland.
I want bright sunshine… and to be in beautiful places close to international airports.
I organize my life around bases primarily in Cabo, Ireland, and Portugal.
In Cabo, you have the deep-blue ocean… long, pristine golden-sand beaches… a dramatic, rugged coastline… And then set back from it all are rolling desert landscapes, with towering cactuses and endemic elephant trees.
You've also got incredible beaches, marinas, and mountains… sensational fine dining… high-end malls… world-class golf courses… basically, every amenity you could ask for.
And it's not just about Cabo itself. When you live here, there are so many incredible towns to explore on the Baja California Sur peninsula. And Cabo is the perfect base from which to do that.
For example, I love heading to the town of Todos Santos, only an hour away from Cabo on the Pacific side of the peninsula.
Todos Santos is truly stunning, with amazing colonial architecture. It's also set in a fertile pocket of the Baja. Take a stroll down the town's cobbled lanes and you'll find farm-to-table restaurants alongside art galleries and boutique stores.
On Sunday mornings, my wife and I go straight to Oystera for a relaxing brunch, then stroll around town before heading home.
The beach of Santa Maria is close to Cabo San Lucas and it's an amazing place to spend a day. It lies a short drive northeast of the downtown area. I like to get up early in the morning and pack my things… a cool box, a picnic, anything I might need… Then it's time for a day at the beach: swimming, relaxing, snorkeling.
Another great way to spend a day is to drive to San Jose del Cabo, taking a scenic route to the East Cape. It's wild there… empty… This is a place to get in touch with nature and quiet all the noise of modern life.
I often take a walk along an East Cape beach. Bring your togs and take a dip in the sea. You can swim here, unlike on the Pacific side of the peninsula.
After a swim, I'll head into San Jose del Cabo and stroll around town. I might take part in the Art Walk, a great introduction to the local art scene. Then I'll have dinner in one of the great restaurants. There are plenty of choices around town.
Although I'm always sad to leave Cabo, when it gets warm enough for aircon, it's time for me to move on.
As I write this, I'm in Ireland, enjoying my homeland in the summer when the weather is at its best… May to September are the best months to experience all that Ireland has to offer.
The evenings are long and bright. I love being able to tee off at 7 p.m. for nine holes of golf with friends and neighbors. Right now, it's still light past 10 p.m.
So far this summer, my wife Sayuri and I have visited the puffins on the Saltee Islands… driven to Slea Head in the Dingle Peninsula… did a road trip to Baltimore and took the ferry to Sherkin Island, where we walked across the island to the white-sand beach on the far side…
And each night I've gone home to sleep in my own bed.
Bliss.
I've spent years crafting the life I lead… always enjoying perfect weather. Always where I want to be. Never again wishing away a dark, cold and dreary winter.
True freedom.
If you've ever wanted anything similar—maybe to spend part of the year in France or Italy… or live full-time in Spain… or own an ocean-view vacation home in Cabo—then you should know it's far more accessible than most people imagine.
It doesn't cost me money to live this lifestyle… in fact, I earn money living this way!
Take, for example, my base in Cabo, where I spend the winter months. I bought here in the best-in-class Copala community in Quivira back in 2015, as part of a deal I negotiated for members of my Real Estate Trend Alert(RETA) group.
I bought this home as an investment, and it was an excellent one. The off-market RETA-only price on a two-bed, ocean-view condo in the best-in-class Copala community in Quivira was $336,156. This year, a similar condo to mine listed for $729,000. That's $392,844 more.
When I'm not using my condo, I rent it out, earning $3,000 per month from a renter who's happy to work around my return dates. On an annualized basis, that's an incredible gross yield of more than 10.7%. (Last year I had offers of $3,500 per month that I refused because the dates I ringfence for personal use are non-negotiable.)
This is incredible, hassle-free, and I love it. I get paid for owning a condo in a literal paradise.
It's the same with my condo in Portugal…
I own a condo on Portugal's Silver Coast. My home in the Praia D'El Rey Beach and Golf Resort sits right up on the beach… a minute's stroll from the sand. I have panoramic ocean views from my large terrace. From my living room I can hear the Atlantic waves crashing on the shore and feel the sea air on my skin.
I didn't buy this beachfront condo as an investment. But it's sure worked out that way.
When I bought my condo back in 2020, it cost me €300,000. A few years back, a local agent wanted to list it for €450,000. I'd guess it would list for even more now, but I'm not selling…
When I'm not using this condo, I rent it out short-term. I just recently heard from my rental manager. In 2024, my condo generated €24,136.60—a more than 31% increase on the previous year and a more than 8% gross yield.
I have my other properties too. Some are purely for rental income. Some I choose not to rent out for personal reasons, like my Guadalajara home, which my wife and I bought to be near her parents.
Others will join the mix. For example, there's the historic mansion I bought in Portugal's far north late last year, and I'm adding new bases with a Caribbean flavor. I bought alongside RETA members in exclusive deals we've had in Playa del Carmen and Cap Cana. Those I expect to use like my Cabo condo… stay in them if and when I like. Rent them out for income when I'm not.
I understand if my life sounds impossibly glamorous—Cabo to Portugal, the Caribbean to Ireland. But here's the thing: You don't need to be super wealthy to live this life
Truly anyone can do this. You just need to identify the right destinations and opportunities for you.
Editor's Note: Ronan built a truly international life thanks to his expertise with overseas real estate. And he will be on-hand to share his wisdom in person this Labor Day weekend at our Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp.
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