Digital Nomads are Coming: How to Develop Overseas

Digital nomads aren’t just a trend—they’re a demand shift that’s changing what “success” looks like for overseas real estate. Michael K. Cobb shares how his team thinks about building the right product for renters who stay three to six months at a time, why “clusters” create momentum for entire markets, and what it really takes to develop across borders without getting “skinned alive.” Along the way, he breaks down the mindset that keeps projects (and reputations) intact: treat mistakes as tuition, lead with humility, and build local trust the hard way—without bribes.    Guest Bio Michael K. Cobb has been building communities and working on real estate development across Latin America for over 25 years, with experience in places like Belize, Nicaragua, and Panama.  He also consults with investors and developers on overseas due diligence and execution, and he’s the author of “How to Buy Your Home Overseas.”   Earlier in his international career, he helped start a mortgage company in Belize that later became a bank, giving foreign buyers access to financing in-market and adding liquidity for developers after sales close.  Episode Highlights and Chapters 00:00 Humility as the “biggest asset” when you leave your home turf  01:16 The real question: how to avoid getting destroyed building overseas  01:47 Horror stories, getting ripped off, and reframing mistakes as “tuition”  03:47 How to enter a new country: test every assumption, and use multiple lawyers (including a hyper-local one)  06:44 “We’ve never paid a bribe” and the CSR strategy that builds local advocates  08:59 Timelines and entitlements: a Panama “horror story,” and what “a long time” can mean  10:27 Project size and phasing: the Panama plan (110 acres, smaller phase one) and an anchor continuing-care concept  13:53 The demand shift: digital nomad visas, renters (not buyers), and why this wave is “exploding”  16:44 Build-and-sell vs. hold-and-rent, and how “easy button” services change long-term demand  19:10 Financing overseas: why it’s mostly private equity/private lending, plus buyer financing as liquidity  21:14 Pre-sales: how projects get stranded half-built, and when pre-sales can make sense  40:32 Belize as an “easy button,” and a 1,600-acre project looking for development partners  44:52 Mike’s book offer: email to get a free Amazon coupon  45:53 Where to find Mike and ECI Development online  Contact Information Michael K. Cobb / ECI Development [email protected] (email to request the free Amazon coupon for “How to Buy Your Home Overseas”)  www.ecidevelopment.com Host: Eugene Gershman https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenegershman/ To learn more about GIS and our real estate development services, explore our website and see what we’re building. www.giscompanies.co Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit our podcast page for details and how to connect: https://giscompanies.co/podcast/