The Speakers
As always, the speaker line-up at this year’s Gathering is made-up from my “million-dollar rolodex” of real estate insiders…
I created this rolodex the hard way, by racking-up millions of air miles, traveling to dozens of countries and meeting with the real estate elite there.
It’s the result of twenty years on the road.
You won’t see these people on Instagram, bragging about their wealth, or promising you how to get-rich-quick with real estate…
They are very private and very serious people and include a member of a political dynasty, a 50-year real estate veteran and a former central banker.
For many of them, The Gathering is the only public event they’ll attend all year.
And because of the small and intimate format of The Gathering, you’ll have the chance to mingle with them and ask them any questions you have about their beat.
When you attend The Gathering this year, you’ll hear from:
Ronan McMahon (Global)
At The Gathering 2023 you’ll hear my first-hand experience of staying at the master-planned community of Corasol in Playa del Carmen. Many RETA members have bought there (including me), so I’m making a point of basing myself in Corasol right before The Gathering.
I’ll lounge at the beach… play the golf course… even work from there… and just generally get a proper feel for what it’s like living at one of Playa del Carmen’s most prestigious destinations (and of course, I’ll also bring you a full report on construction progress at The Village and Punta Laguna in Corasol).
Plus, I’ll talk about my discoveries in Portugal, Spain and France… If there’s any investment opportunities left in my home country of Ireland… what I discovered in the Dominican Republic… my epic road-trip on the Baja California Sur… and much more!
Margaret Summerfield (Global)
As always, I’ll be joined on stage by my right-hand woman and Gathering Master of Ceremonies Margaret Summerfield.
Margaret has been with me at Real Estate Trend Alert from the very beginning. She’s a no-nonsense straight-talker and there’s no one I trust more.
In addition to emceeing and housekeeping duties at The Gathering, I’ll ask Margaret about house-hunting in The Era of Scarcity…
Jose Ramon Contijoch (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
At The Gathering last year Jose Ramon unveiled a brand-new investment opportunity in Playa del Carmen… a chance for attendees to buy in the master-planned community of Corasol.
Located just a 30-minute walk from downtown, Corasol is a beachside oasis with lots of open space and even a golf course, yet still close to all the action of Playa’s pumping Fifth Avenue.
Frankly there’s nothing else like it in Playa del Carme and that’s why I invested alongside attendees.
This year, Jose Ramon will give investors an update on the deal at Corasol and its future opportunities.
Alfredo Aleman (Panama)
Alfredo is a member of one of Central America’s most successful and prolific real estate families. His dad was a key player in the city’s transformation into a world trade hub.
Alfredo has been involved in building high-rise towers, malls, transport hubs, expat communities and even a luxury community on man-made islands in the Bay of Panama.
At this year’s Gathering, Alfredo will reveal the incredible investment opportunity in Panama’s growing tourism industry… few people know it, but Panama’s government is anxious to diversify its economy and claim its share of the $2.3 trillion global tourism industry… attendees of The Gathering 2023 can get the inside scoop, and get in on the ground floor.
Shawn Fletcher (Costa Rica)
Shawn was a realtor in his native California before a surfing trip to Costa Rica in 2004 convinced him to relocate there.
His passion is helping others buy their dream home in paradise, and he’s appeared on the TV shows International House Hunters and Beach Front Bargain Hunt.
In addition to sharing his expertise on the real estate market in Costa Rica, you’ll hear about a unique income investment strategy Shawn’s using to collect gross rental yields of more than 20%.
Geoffrey Donoghue (Spain)
Geoffrey has spent his entire life in real estate, over fifty years, starting as a kid by his father’s side on building projects in Dublin.
In the 1990’s he relocated from Ireland to Spain’s Costa del Sol and founded Always Marbella to help others buy their dream home in the sun.
Now with over two decades living on the Costa del Sol, and raising his family there, no one knows the real estate market better than Geoffrey.
This November 2nd – 4th at The Gathering 2023, I’ll be asking Geoffrey why more Americans are moving to Spain than ever before and what the big opportunity is for real estate investors…
Alan Gongora (Medellin, Colombia)
After earning his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, Alan became a lawyer in New York City. But the career was burning him out…
When the U.S. housing bubble collapsed and business slowed, Alan used the opportunity to travel and recuperate. His journey eventually took him to Medellin, Colombia where he settled and opened a law firm.
Alan has since helped hundreds of expats with a host of legal services, like setting up businesses to buying real estate in Colombia.
Zach Lunin (Nicaragua)
In 2003 Zach bought a one-way ticket to Mexico City to escape a corporate career in the Boston area. From Mexico City he journeyed south until he arrived in Nicaragua, where he’s lived ever since.
Settling in San Juan del Sur in 2004, Zach now helps others buy real estate in this overlooked paradise.
Sure, Nicaragua is a political basket-case. But in The Era of Scarcity, it could be among the best places in the world to buy real estate for those willing to look beyond the headlines. Zach will tell you where at The Gathering 2023.
Boris Mannsfeld (Belize)
No one knows Belize real estate like Boris. He’s been visiting and investing there since 1992.
With many years’ experience as a real estate agent and developer in Colorado, it was easy for Boris to see Belize’s massive potential…
In addition to its beautiful Caribbean beaches, English is the national language, it’s close to the US and the government is very welcoming to foreign investors.
Boris’ first major project in Belize, The Villas at Cocoplum, is considered one of the most desired addresses in all of Belize.
Daniel Oks (Argentina)
Daniel has a doctorate in macroeconomics from the University of Oxford, he’s worked for the Central Bank of Argentina and the World Bank… few people understand financial policy and its economic affect better.
With U.S. inflation still stubbornly high and soaring interest rates, I want Daniel’s take on what it all means for the bigger economy, and what can individual real estate investors do. Plus, I’m going to be asking what a financial whizz like Daniel is doing with his own money…
Jana Simon (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Jana lives on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a stretch of Caribbean coast from Cancun to Tulum…
For the last decade, she’s helped others realize their Riviera Maya dream too, working for the largest developer in the area and now as sales manager at Smart Money Homes.
And at this year’s Gathering she’ll be talking about her experience helping hundreds of people buy real estate abroad…
How to choose the right property for you… what mistakes to avoid… and more…
Ryan Pitts (Riviera Maya, Mexico)
Ryan moved from cold Winnipeg, Canada to Mexico’s Riviera Maya way back in 2007.
Originally a seller of real estate on the Riviera Maya, Ryan became a buyer when he realized the huge investment potential of the vacation rental industry there.
He’s bought and owned real estate in Tulum and Playa del Carmen and owns his own vacation rental management company that covers both cities.
At The Gathering 2023 he’s going to reveal everything he knows about boosting rental income…
Including how he got an unheard of 100% occupancy with one unit.
Jean De Villiers Vene (Venezuela)
Originally from Ontario, Canada, Jean has been an international teacher for 15 years and real estate investor for the last 12 years.
He’s lived in Japan, Malaysia, and spent the last eight years in Venezuela where he currently lives in the capital city of Caracas.
While most people see Venezuela as a basket-case country with a never-ending list of problems, as a real estate investor, we’re curious at RETA because with crisis often comes opportunity…
But is the reward worth the risk? Find out at The Gathering 2023.
Special Session:
Brad Costanzo on
the Impact of A.I. in Real Estate…
Brad Costanzo seasoned entrepreneur, growth strategist and investor. He advises business owners and corporations on how to grow their business using innovative yet proven strategies. He serves as the Chief AI Officer and Head of Strategy for Brandetize, an agency he’s a partner in.
Brad is also a RETA member with two properties in Lagos, Portugal.
At The Gathering 2023 Brad will talk about the game changing potential of A.I. and then I, and some of my fellow speakers will join him for a panel discussion on what this means for our beat and real estate investment opportunities.
*Remember, this is the speaker list so far and is subject to change.