Mike Cobb on The Weird Canadian Podcast
Mike Cobb stopped by The Weird Canadian Podcast to share how he went from a successful 90s tech career to building financing, development, and full resort communities in Latin America. He also lays out a practical expat roadmap built on due diligence: learn first, build a network, visit, then rent before buying. The big theme running through everything is that assumptions are the hidden risk abroad and humility is a competitive advantage.
The second half goes deep on teak: a long-cycle asset that’s historically been reserved for institutions, and how ECI structured it into small, professionally managed parcels so regular investors can participate, often paired with Panama residency as a Plan B.
Key takeaways from the episode
- Teak is a long-cycle, legacy-style investment. It’s not “cash flow now,” it’s “cash flow later,” designed for people who understand 20–25 year cycles.
- Time is the feature, not the bug. Teak’s value proposition improves with patience; the harvest is the payout moment.
- Teak has real-world utility. It’s prized for durability outdoors and in marine environments (high oil content, rot resistance), so it’s not a trend-driven asset.
- ECI’s angle is accessibility through scale. Big timber usually requires huge acreage and big capital; they aggregate plantations and sell smaller parcels while keeping professional management.
- Panama is a stability play. The canal provides consistent economic activity and political incentive for stability, which matters on multi-decade timelines.
- Plan B residency is bundled optionality. The residency program is positioned as a low-maintenance legal back-up plan you can keep active without living there full-time.
- Rule out fast, rule in slowly. For lifestyle moves: visit to eliminate, then rent months before buying to avoid expensive regret.
- Overseas success requires unlearning assumptions. The same mindset that wins at home can backfire abroad if you don’t adapt to different systems and norms.
If you’re exploring a second home, residency, or investment overseas, here are a few places to start:
