Michael Cobb - ECI Development

International Investing, with Michael Cobb, ECI Development

In today’s show, we’re interviewing Michael Cobb, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of ECI Development. This real estate development company is building and financing inspired residences for adventurous souls in Belize, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica.  Prepare to expand your investor’s paradigm to consider diversifying your asset portfolio outside the US.  Think resort-style living for the middle class, including private villas, tiny homes, vineyards, private islands, and agricultural land with timber.

Whether you’re interested in expatriation or expanding your investments, you’ll gain a bigger worldview, and longer-term perspective of wealth creation.

Where Investing Fits into the Cash Flow System

Here at The Money Advantage, we are a community of wealth creators who are entrepreneurially-minded business owners taking control of our lives and financial destiny. 

It’s not enough to make a high income.  You have to keep more, protect that money, and finally, increase and make more through the right investing decisions.

That’s why we have created the 3-step Business Owner’s Cash Flow System.  It’s your roadmap to take you from just surviving, to a life of significance, purpose, and financial freedom.

The first step is keeping more of the money you make by fixing money leaks, becoming more efficient and profitable.  Then, you’ll protect your money with insurance and legal protection, and Privatized Banking.  Finally, you’ll put your money to work, increasing your income with cash-flowing assets.

Today’s conversation will expand your education and paradigm of investing.

Who Is Michael K Cobb?

At the height of a successful career in the computer industry, Mr. Cobb left to pursue more pioneering opportunities in the emerging real estate markets of Central America. In 1996, he and his business partner formed a company, Exotic Caye International, to provide loans to North Americans purchasing properties in Belize, Honduras, and throughout the region.

As the need for capital outstripped the supply, the mortgage company was converted to an international bank under the jurisdiction of Belize. It continues to provide mortgage services, but has expanded its services to encompass the full realm of financial products.

Mr. Cobb also saw the need for a regional real estate company that would serve the Baby Boomer consumer with a North American standard product for the next two decades. He led the group into real estate development and created a holding company for several properties, including a resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize. In August of 2000, Exotic Caye purchased 3.5 miles of Pacific Beachfront property due west of Managua, Nicaragua. This master-planned community hosts world-class infrastructure, homes, and condominium units. In February of 2006, the ECI Development group acquired 1100 acres and 3km of coastline in Costa Rica, setting the stage for expansion into this popular market. Most recently, they merged their Belize property with a much larger parcel and have begun to develop 200 condominiums units on Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Additionally, Michael has spoken at hundreds of international conferences about real estate financing and development. He has acted as a consultant to The Oxford Club and gives counsel to various real estate projects throughout Central America.

Conversation Highlights

  • Investing internationally to diversify your portfolio geographically.
  • The demographics of who is buying property through ECI development: 30% lifestyle, 30% pre-use buyers, and 40% investors.
  • What you need to know about the buyer beware environment of investing outside a nanny-state.
  • Investing in Latin America is like a time machine. You want to be in the path of progress.
  • Long-cycle cash flow with teak timber creates generational wealth that pays out every 25 years.

Connect with Michael Cobb

This conversation barely touched the tip of the iceberg on international real estate.  ECI offers a Consumer Resource Guide for an introduction to investing overseas, a 115-question survey to find out your ideal place to live abroad, and country handbooks to learn more about specific Latin American localities. To get these resources or start a conversation about international’s investing, email mcobb@ecidevelopment.com or visit ecidevelopment.com

Get Financial Clarity Today

If you would like to implement Privatized Banking, cash flow strategies, or alternative investments, so you can accelerate time and money freedom, we can help.  We’ll review your situation to help you decide what moves are best for you.

To start the conversation, book a call with our advisor team.

Success leaves clues.  Model the successful few, not the crowd, and build a life and business you love.

Rachel Marshall

Rachel Marshall is the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Educator of The Money Advantage and President of Marshall's Insurance and Financial Services. She is known for making money simple, fun, and doable. Rachel has built a team of licensed professionals (investment advisors, insurance agents, attorneys, tax strategists) to help her clients create time and money freedom with cash flow strategies, Privatized Banking, and alternative investments. Rachel is the co-host of The Money Advantage podcast, the popular business and personal finance show. She teaches how to keep more of the money you make, protect it, and turn it into cash-flowing assets.
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