Appendix B: Due Diligence Checklist
1. Access: How close is the nearest airport? Do you have to make a connection after arriving in the country? For rural properties, is there year-round access to the area? Not all roads are accessible year-round in Nicaragua, for example, or in parts of other countries in this region. For city properties, what are the traffic patterns? How will they affect your lifestyle or your ability to rent the property?
2. Security: How will security be provided? Apartment buildings in Latin America generally have doormen 24/7. In most buildings in France, the front door to the building or the building's courtyard, as the case may be, is kept locked at all times. Access is via a code shared with building residents only. Many buildings in France also have a concierge (although a concierge is more for service than security). If you're buying into a private development anywhere, you should expect 24/7 security at the entrance. If you're buying a farmhouse in the country, will you need to hire someone to keep an eye on the place?
3. Medical Care: Where is the nearest medical care facility? How many minutes to get there by car in both the wet and the dry seasons?
4. Title Insurance: Is title insurance available for the property from a reputable title insurance company? Insurance is available in most Latin American countries from either Stewart or First American Title and in much of Europe as well. If a developer or real estate agent tries to steer you away from ...
