IMO, @chicagoan may be correct. If the unknown guy is going to buy land/house in kathmandu, then $500K is not a big amount. Houses in Kathmandu are now starting at that price range. However if the unknown guy does not plan to buy land/house and is going to invest, then $500K may be a good amount but still at the low range. Things are hell lot of expensive in Kathmandu than a decade ago.