Despite Dire Predictions, Nicaragua Appears Poised for Growth Under Ortega: International Living Report

After initial panic caused by the election of the former Nicaraguan leader, the country's economy and real estate market appear to be on stable footing

For Immediate Release

July 26, 2007 - Nicaragua's economy and real estate market¾which investors had feared would be in jeopardy following Daniel Ortega's election¾have weathered an initial rough period and appear positioned for future growth, according to a new study from International Living, a leading resource for helping people live, travel, and prosper overseas.

"Despite the threats and dire predictions, Nicaragua remains as peaceful and stable as before. In some regards, the country is better off," according to the report, Daniel Ortega: The First 180 Days.

During the 1980s, Ortega nationalized properties to give to landless peasants. The hope was that the farmers would cultivate the land and prosper. Things didn't work out as planned, and Ortega now admits that the Sandinista revolution made mistakes.

Ortega has so far taken a different tack this time around. He has courted foreign investment and recently landed commitments from high-profile international investors. Ortega has also secured aid from several diverse countries such as Venezuela and the United States. Emergency oil shipments from Venezuela were credited with substantially reducing the blackouts that plagued Nicaragua in 2006.

The real estate market, despite some initial panic immediately after the election, has recovered and is showing signs of growth. The cost for buying colonial properties in Granada ¾one of Nicaragua's most desirable real estate markets¾dropped by 25% to 50% immediately after the election, but the market has since recuperated some 25% to 30% of its value.

Still, real estate sales are down for the year, largely due to the "Ortega factor." The country is also hampered by infrastructure problems like bad roads, frequent power outages, and water shortages.

Is it time to get into Nicaragua, or time to get out? This special report, Daniel Ortega: The First 180 Days, covers:

• Nicaragua's Economy Today: Where is the money coming from and where is it going? What do economists say?
• Infrastructure: Nicaragua's roads are some of the worst in the hemisphere. So are there any plans to upgrade them?
• Foes and Allies: What does Ortega expect his new global playmates to bring to the table? And are his critics doing anything to hold him back?
• Foreign Investment: Is it safe or is it time to get out? What are the industrial investors doing and saying? And what does all this mean to small investors in the country?
• Property Values: Global real estate investors, like International Living's own Lief Simon, say now is the time to "negotiate and bargain hard" in Nicaragua. What should the property investor's strategy be as a result? In or out?

Plus, for those who plan to forge ahead in today's current investment climate, the report reveals six places in Nicaragua that the potential real estate investor shouldn't overlook. It explains what can be done to protect investments and includes a handy resource Rolodex with information about expert contacts that International Living has spent years establishing.

"Is Nicaragua on the upswing or is it going down? I can tell you what I think," says International Living Publisher Kathleen Peddicord, "but it's far better if you learn what the experts in Nicaragua have to say¾economists, lawyers, journalists, government officials, businesspeople, and more¾and then decide for yourself."

To obtain a copy of Daniel Ortega: The First 180 Days, visit:

 http://www.web-purchases.com/120SORTE/E120H703/landing.html.

International Living (http://www.internationalliving.com), founded in 1979, helps people live out their dreams by relocating, traveling, and investing overseas. International Living publishes a monthly magazine; a free daily e-letter, which is read by more than 500,000 subscribers daily; and several country-specific e-letters, including the free Nicaragua First Alert service. The company is headquartered in Waterford, Ireland, with offices in Baltimore, Md.; Panama City, Panama; and Paris, France.