Zapallar is a hot, new California coastal-clone in the Real Estate investment world market. Santiago is an international business center and beautiful city of just over six million people, with an excellent, modern business infastructure. It is known as the heart of Chile's pro-business economy. We don't see how anyone can miss with an investment in nearby Zapallar.

As natives of S. CA, we have commented so many times before exactly how nice CA was before the tremendous influx of people. CA, which is amazingly similar to Chile, has perfect weather, great beaches, excellent agriculture and many millions of, no, wait WAY TOO MANY people. Trying to drive anywhere in S. CA is an exercise in futility. We have found a new S. CA, it is beautiful and best of all, it's affordable. SHHHHHH, PLEASE DO NOT tell everyone!

While visiting this exclusive area, we will be touring the best Chilean Resort Communities. Each of these Real Estate developments have beautifully maintained golf courses, tennis centers, restaurants, swimming pools and Pacific Ocean views. One of our featured resorts also has a Five Star hotel as well as facilities for corporate gatherings or conferences. Each development has state-of-the-art, 24-hour security and private beach access. Every resort offers condominiums for sale as well as parcels for building custom homes. Most, if not all housing areas boast dramatic Pacific Ocean views. It was probably just our imagination but we could swear we saw New Zealand the other day from the living room of one of the beautiful and spacious golf course condos. Condominiums here range from 1,000 sq.ft. to nearly 3,000 sq.ft. of lavishly appointed living space.

While Pucon has a nice nine hole golf course on the "peninsula," it is not a golf resort community per se. The town has a charming woodsy feel with heavily German-influenced architecture and many log cabin or rough-sawn natural wood structures. It is also reminiscent of a mountain/lake town to be found in the Pacific Northwest. Many Germans came and settled here begining in the mid-1800's and it is common to overhear German being spoken. Several of my friends here are either German immigrants or were born to German immigrant parents and their impact on the community is unmistakable and quite beautiful.

When meeting with your new Chilean friends, expect to be greeted by the Chilean kiss on the cheek and plan to immediately feel like part of the family. In Chile you will be delighted by the wine (Chilean wine is amazing and sooo cheap here), cheese, typical Chilean sausages, sandwiches smothered with guacamole and of course grilled beef, a staple in most Chilean meals.

Pucon is an area of second and retirement homes for people from the world over. We have neighbors who own houses here who are from such diverse locales as France, the USA, The Netherlands, England, Canada and Austria but the most common are families from other cities in Chile.

In Pucon, we will visit several developments as well as homes which are currently on the market. One of our developments is out of town and very near another lake by the name of Carbugua. Parcels here are a minimum of 1.25 beautifully wooded acres with sunny Northern views of the fertile hills and the impressive snow capped Andes to the East. Just across the frontage road is the Rio Liucura, an excellent fly fishing river and a short distance up the road is Termas de Huife, a volcanic Thermal Spa. Here is a link for more information on the Termas de Huife Spa:

www.frommers.com/destinations/pucon/H41905.html

Your  purchase in this Development can include a new custom built home PLUS a two year membership for two at Termas de Huife, if you would like. Keep in mind that even though these discriptions sound like they would cost a million dollars, and they are like the million dollar development up in the USA, there is one HUGE exception: these properties can still be had for a fraction of what you would expect to be paying. How about $90,000 complete with your home and you own the land, owned by you free and clear! The annual taxes are less than $200. Yes, we did write "annual." This developer might also offer some financing. We might also talk him into including Summer Marina priviledges for a couple of years, along with your purchase.

Another Pucon Development we will view is perched above Lago Villarrica. These are also 1.25 acre parcels complete with outrageous views to the lake AND the volcano. The views alone are worth a million dollars! These parcels start at about $35,000 and with the addition of a beautiful home, built with native materials out-of-pocket payment will still be as low as $160,000. We do not know of any other location in the world where you can have so much for so very little money.

All of the descriptive words in the world just can not fully do justice to these beautiful parcels. Yes, you could go it alone in Chile trying to seek out decent places to move to or retire but we have trimmed the fat off of the meat for you. We can speak your language, take you to the best places, introduce you to the right people and answer all of your questions. We are looking for a few good neighbors so come aboard and join us in our rapidly expanding Expat community in Chile.