Publisher’s Roundtable
Welcome! As a member of Publisher’s Roundtable, you are entitled to full access to every single resource ever produced by International Living—for life. Read on…
Log in to read the full article
The Lake District is one of Chile’s most popular vacation areas, with cool, freshwater lakes for summertime vacations and, in some parts, wintertime skiing, as well. It’s long had a smattering of mostly European expats. Now adventurous U.S. and Canadian expats are putting down roots in this region, too…Join Glynna as she tells IL Managing Editor, Eoin Bassett, why.
Brazil is on the up. Fortaleza is doing particularly well. Government policy calls for the creation of a mega manufacturing and export hub just outside Fortaleza. We can profit.
Introduction to Our Sponsors, Speakers and Exhibitors. (This presentation has no accompanying PowerPoint slideshow.)
We recap the major Panama pros and little known details that make this “one of a kind” country stand out for potential residents from around the world. From its high-tech telecommunications infrastructure to the man-made wonder that is the Panama Canal, there’s a reason Panama tops nearly every regional index there is.
Ecuador
We’re right on the beach and we love that,” says expat Cynthia Kelley. “We can hear the ocean at night and we love to watch the sunset over the water in the evenings.” It’s easy to get the feeling that you’re a million miles away from the rest of the world in Canoa, on Ecuador’s northern coast.
Winner of the 2012 Global Retirement Index, Ecuador offers sophisticated historical cities…miles of unspoiled, sun-kissed beaches…fertile farmland…and temperate mountain hideaways…and all of it for pennies on the dollar. You can live well for a fraction of the cost of living back in the U.S.
In pockets all across the planet, you’ll find amazing opportunities to make money from real estate. I’m talking about beautiful places tucked into lush jungle-clad hills, on white sandy coves, in bustling cities, and in small colonial towns. These are markets on the upswing. The mainstream hasn’t heard of them yet. And in them today you’ll get excellent bang for your buck as well as great profit potential.
The lush, green valley of Vilcabamba was where the royalty of the Inca Empire came for their rest and relaxation. You can still find reminders of their ancient civilization. And people are still coming here to find tranquility and live well. In the past three years, this magical place has experienced a tsunami of new arrivals.
Within a few hours of Ecuador’s capital, Quito, you can tour the jungles of the Amazon, relax on expansive, sandy beaches, or hike up snow-capped volcanoes. No wonder it’s a popular jumping-off point for adventures, or a great base from which to seek out the perfect retirement spot.
Mexico
Europe’s buzzing boho center, Berlin, bursts into life this month with the Carnival of Cultures. Thousands of performers will take to the streets and stages of the German capital to entertain over a million revelers. The party starts May 25.
Earlier in the month, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) takes place all over Mexico, especially the U.S. border towns. The day commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Puebla, a city and state in the south, has the best parades in the country.
I’m not usually a big fan of popular “resort” destinations. But I make an exception for Tulúm, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. This little beach town is very easy to like. In fact, if I had to recommend just one destination in Mexico for beach lovers today, it would be Tulúm.
Planning a trip to San Cristóbal? Here’s our quick guide to some of the region’s highlights.
The clouds are sliding off the mountaintops and the sun is warming the pine-scented air. I’m in tropical latitudes but the locals here go about their daily routines swaddled in multi-colored, locally-loomed woolens, just as they have for centuries. It can get chilly at night. Though during the day it’s usually mild enough to relax outdoors.
France
For most people, the idea of dinner in Paris likely conjures one of two images: an elegant restaurant where white-jacketed waiters glide about with silver- domed dishes, or a cozy bistro where a platter of steak frites is plunked down before you and the house red is as good as any you’ve tasted.
Bonsoir, bonsoir!” Sylvie sang out, kissing me on both cheeks before turning to my husband and doing the same.
She ushered us into her small, modern Parisian apartment, eyeing the bottle of champagne that we’d brought as a thank-you gift. “I’m glad you were able to come tonight.”
What Life Overseas Really Looks Like…
Skeptics inquire: Are the opportunities overseas really as great as we at IL portray them to be? The short answer is “yes.” But don’t take my word for it… Listen, instead, to the many firsthand stories we’ve collected in this month’s issue—on-the-ground reports from folks who decided to answer the question for themselves…at the beach…in the hills…in cities…or on islands…
When Elizabeth Milovidov stood on the cobbles before the thousand-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral and wandered Paris’s narrow stone streets, soaking up the history and elegant architecture, she knew that her heart was lost.
Five years into my expat life, I look forward to downsizing. In fact, I recently bought a small, manageable, lock-and-leave property in Guanajuato, in the Colonial Highlands.
Panama
We were flying low over the glittering Caribbean when I saw my dream out the window. Looking down on reefs of coral and lush green islands, I just knew I had to live down there, with my toes buried in those warm, white sands,” says Stephen Crabtree.
Since my first visit to Panama in the 1970s I’ve returned countless times and visited every part of the isthmus except one—the Darién Gap, a large swath of swamp, jungle and forest, 99 miles long and 31 miles wide, that separates Panama’s Darién Province from the Republic of Colombia.
To see what makes Panama unique, explore its rich and fascinating indigenous cultures. Bocas del Toro is the best place to start—by dint of sheer beauty. The province is partly made up of an archipelago of Caribbean islands ringed by white-sand beaches and waters the color of a summer sky. To get to Bocas del Toro from Panama City, catch a one-hour flight on domestic carrier Air Panama.
At home, prices are rising. It costs more to put gas in the car, buy groceries, and pay for health insurance. At the same time, retirement savings eroded in the market downturn. And with interest rates at near-zero today, it’s difficult to rebuild.
Santa Fe in Panama…Vilcabamba in Ecuador…Penang in Malaysia…Granada in Nicaragua…Campeche in Mexico…you know these havens come with a rock-bottom price tag, but on what, exactly, do expats in these locations spend their money on? We’ve asked on-the-ground experts for a detailed breakdown of what a typical couple might spend each month. Here’s what they said.
Uruguay
Sipping a cappuccino at a small table in a shady plaza outside my hotel, I’m reminded of days and evenings spent in similar sidewalk cafés in Europe. Stately 19th-century neo-classical and baroque-style buildings with wrought-iron balconies line the square. Curtains wave gaily through massive wood-framed windows.
Squashed into the back of a Buenos Aires taxi between the two women, I hadn’t been paying much attention. But once they mentioned MercadoLibre, it sounded like a conversation that I overheard several times during my three-week investment-scouting trip to Argentina and Uruguay.
A recent poll on government revealed that more than half the population of Uruguay feels that the country is being run “for the good of all the people.” You can guess how most Americans would answer that question…
We were tired of the rat race and charmed by the idea of a new adventure abroad,” says Moises Contreras. From San Diego, California, he and his wife Laura and their daughter Lexi moved to Punta del Este, Uruguay in 2008. Life was good and although happy to be living in the most popular beach resort in South America, they missed one thing in particular…
Italy
Making the decision to transplant ourselves to Italy was easy. Making the move itself was painless. Making ourselves at home was smooth and immediate. Making a living…well, that’s another beast. I’m not going to lie to you—working in Italy can be difficult. But it’s more than worth it.
Long before you reach the island, you’ll see the smoking cone of its volcano rising from the sea. Off the north coast of Sicily, the permanent cloud is a giveaway that you’re nearing Stromboli, one of the seven Aeolian Islands.
Together-forever partners. Passing fancies. Torrid affairs. Love comes in many guises— and Italy was made for amore. Yet although Florence is a love song to art and culture, it doesn’t fit my idea of a romantic summer getaway.
The couple’s 300-year-old Italian farmhouse is now open for business. ©Melissa Ruttanai
As newlyweds, Ashley and Jason Bartner were beginning a new phase in their lives. Jason was a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Ashley was an aspiring actress. But when they stepped off the plane for their honeymoon in Italy, they had no idea how different life was about to become.
If a small Italian farmhouse with a vineyard sounds sweet, then look to the Abruzzo (pictured), a region of southern central Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea.
Brazil
Brazil is on the up. Fortaleza is doing particularly well. Government policy calls for the creation of a mega manufacturing and export hub just outside Fortaleza. We can profit.
Europe’s buzzing boho center, Berlin, bursts into life this month with the Carnival of Cultures. Thousands of performers will take to the streets and stages of the German capital to entertain over a million revelers. The party starts May 25.
Earlier in the month, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) takes place all over Mexico, especially the U.S. border towns. The day commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Puebla, a city and state in the south, has the best parades in the country.
In northeast Brazil, miles of wide and deep white-sand beaches connect little fishing villages and kite surfing outposts. A typical year has 300 days of sunshine. A typical day is in the low 80s with sunshine and refreshing breezes from the ocean. This is where Brazilians and Europeans come to vacation.
This is a stretch of coast you should visit first-hand to see the opportunity I have been telling you about. Today, I’m extending a special invitation
In pockets all across the planet, you’ll find amazing opportunities to make money from real estate. I’m talking about beautiful places tucked into lush jungle-clad hills, on white sandy coves, in bustling cities, and in small colonial towns. These are markets on the upswing. The mainstream hasn’t heard of them yet. And in them today you’ll get excellent bang for your buck as well as great profit potential.
Some of the best properties up for grabs in the countries that topped IL’s Global Real Estate Index 2012.
Belize
Here’s a round-up of events, trips and excursions to some of the most exotic parts of the world – which you can book a place on.
Costa Rica
In January I told you about the opportunity we have in Costa Rica’s (formerly) undiscovered lake country of Arenal. It’s in a project called The Preserve. Guess what? The market in Arenal there has taken off. The early-in window of opportunity is closing. The best lots are being snapped up and prices are rising. For now we can buy a lake view lot “off market,” perched above the boat dock, with a down payment of $2,500 and monthly payment of $187.50.
In pockets all across the planet, you’ll find amazing opportunities to make money from real estate. I’m talking about beautiful places tucked into lush jungle-clad hills, on white sandy coves, in bustling cities, and in small colonial towns. These are markets on the upswing. The mainstream hasn’t heard of them yet. And in them today you’ll get excellent bang for your buck as well as great profit potential.
You may not see yourself on a surfboard, but when you’re in Nosara, Costa Rica, it’s hard not to get caught up in the appeal of the Pacific. The sun sparkles down on blue waters a bathtub-warm 80˚ F. The lifestyle is relaxed and this surf town has not one, but four beaches.
Fast-Track Costa Rica: Lifestyle & Opportunity Conference
November 12-14 – San Jose, Costa RicaCosta Rica is one country that may truly have it all: a year-round tropical climate, modern cities, Caribbean beaches, Pacific coastline, rain forests, lush valleys, and mountains. This November we’ll tell you exactly where to go, who to see, and what kinds of properties make sense if you’d like to buy in this country.
Here’s a round-up of the events you should be keeping an eye on over the coming months. First up, the Fast Track Panama: Lifestyle and Opportunity Conference which is kicking off this April in Panama City. Panama is, arguably, the one country on our beat that offers something for everyone. Beaches. Big City. Colonial enclaves. Highland retreats. In this diverse place, the sun shines someplace, 365 days a year. You have hundreds of miles of sandy expanse…in the hills, green valleys are spring-like, even in January and August…and Panama City is genuinely cosmopolitan, with one of the world’s largest financial districts.
Brazil is on the up. Fortaleza is doing particularly well. Government policy calls for the creation of a mega manufacturing and export hub just outside Fortaleza. We can profit.
In January I told you about the opportunity we have in Costa Rica’s (formerly) undiscovered lake country of Arenal. It’s in a project called The Preserve. Guess what? The market in Arenal there has taken off. The early-in window of opportunity is closing. The best lots are being snapped up and prices are rising. For now we can buy a lake view lot “off market,” perched above the boat dock, with a down payment of $2,500 and monthly payment of $187.50.
The air is thick and pungent and the ceiling black. This was the smokerie, where brown trout pulled from the lake were smoked. Nearby is an unfamiliar contraption used for plucking pheasants after a shoot. The stable next to that one is packed with 19th-century sash windows.
Not needed: coat, scarf or sweater. But some sun-block would be welcome. Early December and the afternoon temperature is nudging 70 F. Sunbathers are on Isla Plana’s beach, and children are building sand-castles. I can even see swimmers.
Sipping a cappuccino at a small table in a shady plaza outside my hotel, I’m reminded of days and evenings spent in similar sidewalk cafés in Europe. Stately 19th-century neo-classical and baroque-style buildings with wrought-iron balconies line the square. Curtains wave gaily through massive wood-framed windows.
Not needed: coat, scarf or sweater. But some sun-block would be welcome. Early December and the afternoon temperature is nudging 70 F. Sunbathers are on Isla Plana’s beach, and children are building sand-castles. I can even see swimmers.
Squashed into the back of a Buenos Aires taxi between the two women, I hadn’t been paying much attention. But once they mentioned MercadoLibre, it sounded like a conversation that I overheard several times during my three-week investment-scouting trip to Argentina and Uruguay.
Bull markets are all born in extreme pessimism. That means the time to invest is when the flames are licking higher, not after the fire trucks have arrived. And Europe is up in smoke right now…I’m not calling for the bottom in Europe stocks or for an immediate end to the debt crisis there. Plenty more can go wrong. But contrarian investors “run into burning buildings.”
Most investors don’t see fear or abject pessimism as powerful investing tools. But that’s exactly what they are. To maximize your profits you must invest at rock bottom.
If you want to live with world-class natural beauty without the world-class price tag, come to Mexico’s Baja California Sur. And be sure to bring a camera. This is a desert land of sharp, clear lines. The mountain peaks in the distance gleam a delicate mauve. I drive up a hill and suddenly there is the sea; a vast expanse of blue dotted with rocky, deserted islands.
Travel
Europe’s buzzing boho center, Berlin, bursts into life this month with the Carnival of Cultures. Thousands of performers will take to the streets and stages of the German capital to entertain over a million revelers. The party starts May 25.
Earlier in the month, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) takes place all over Mexico, especially the U.S. border towns. The day commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Puebla, a city and state in the south, has the best parades in the country.
It’s nicknamed the “Europe of South America” for a reason and you’ll find Uruguay’s Old-World heritage and atmosphere in the smallest of its riverside towns. But perhaps the best place to enjoy it is in the capital, Montevideo. Beautifully restored buildings and an established café culture give the city’s Old Town the air of a Spanish or Italian port city.
In the musical South Pacific, the island of Bali Ha’i is an exotic paradise off limits to all except the officers. But in reality, the tropical island of Tioman—where the 1958 blockbuster was filmed—is a destination open to any traveler.
A few years ago our friends spent a month in Tahiti, one of French Polynesia’s paradise islands. When they showed us photos of the house they stayed in, my wife and I were speechless.
For most people, the idea of dinner in Paris likely conjures one of two images: an elegant restaurant where white-jacketed waiters glide about with silver- domed dishes, or a cozy bistro where a platter of steak frites is plunked down before you and the house red is as good as any you’ve tasted.
Working
Malta offers an idyllic Mediterranean climate, extremely low levels of taxation, moderate property prices, reasonable living costs, excellent communications and a picturesque and friendly environment. For these reasons Malta continues to attract foreign nationals seeking to take up residency under the relatively simple procedures available.
The young lady came out of the bar with three mugs of dark beer. She put one in front of IL Real Estate Editor Ronan McMahon, one was for Eoin Bassett—managing editor of this magazine—and one was mine. Ronan ordered a sizzling burger… which the owner assured us was the city’s best. We were discussing our day spent exploring Medellín, Colombia, and how we were going to write about our various discoveries. Within a half-hour, a few expats joined us — Rich, Sarah, Scott, and Dennis. Each has a fascinating story.
Panama offers a range of residency options for the would-be investor. Here is how to secure yours.
Imagine if you could slide out of bed knowing your “work” for the day would be to scuba dive along the Great Barrier Reef … shop for the perfect cup of coffee in Paris … or kayak from island to island in the sleepy San Juans. If you ever dreamed about the romantic life of a travel writer, here’s a very unusual opportunity to actually live it!
In AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program you’ll learn just how,
Today, married to a pretty Ecuadorian, Henry is one of Quito’s most successful businessmen. For two years he traveled to Ecuador arranging mahogany shipments for a furniture company.
Lifestyle
We’re right on the beach and we love that,” says expat Cynthia Kelley. “We can hear the ocean at night and we love to watch the sunset over the water in the evenings.” It’s easy to get the feeling that you’re a million miles away from the rest of the world in Canoa, on Ecuador’s northern coast.
Just a few decades ago there were only two ways to reach the natural paradise of Las Terrenas, on the Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula. You could take a horse, or a boat.
I’m not usually a big fan of popular “resort” destinations. But I make an exception for Tulúm, in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. This little beach town is very easy to like. In fact, if I had to recommend just one destination in Mexico for beach lovers today, it would be Tulúm.
We were flying low over the glittering Caribbean when I saw my dream out the window. Looking down on reefs of coral and lush green islands, I just knew I had to live down there, with my toes buried in those warm, white sands,” says Stephen Crabtree.
Sipping a cappuccino at a small table in a shady plaza outside my hotel, I’m reminded of days and evenings spent in similar sidewalk cafés in Europe. Stately 19th-century neo-classical and baroque-style buildings with wrought-iron balconies line the square. Curtains wave gaily through massive wood-framed windows.
International Real Estate Investment Forum
June 7-9, 2012 – Casa de Campo, Dominican RepublicIn business, key deals are struck all the time over drinks or on the golf course. It’s no different with property transactions. Well-connected insiders can pay less… access preferential terms… and set themselves up for incredible profits…Like a 34.8% gain in 18 months… or 28.7% in less than a year…That’s how the folks we put on the inside last year are doing. This year, you could be the one getting in early with off-market deals.
Fast-Track Ecuador: Lifestyle & Opportunity Conference
August 2-4, 2012 – Quito, EcuadorAre you looking for a place with perfect weather year-round, a U.S.-dollar-based economy, top-notch medical care at one-fourth to one-tenth the costs of the U.S., affordable private health insurance plans and a new free government health plan, a retirement program that will save you thousands of dollars a year? If yes, join us in Ecuador this August for our Fast-Track Ecuador: Lifestyle & Opportunity Conference. Discover a place where you can live life like it’s meant to be lived.
Fast-Track Your Retirement Overseas Conference
September 28-30, 2012 – Las Vegas,NVMaybe you long for your own cottage on a quiet beach… a grand apartment in a city vibrant with concerts and cafes… a mountain villa where the air is crisp… or even your own vineyard amid gently rolling hills. Whatever you fantasize about… come with that idea in mind. We’ll show you the places in the world today where you can live your dream, for a small fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable life at home.
Fast-Track Costa Rica: Lifestyle & Opportunity Conference
November 12-14 – San Jose, Costa RicaCosta Rica is one country that may truly have it all: a year-round tropical climate, modern cities, Caribbean beaches, Pacific coastline, rain forests, lush valleys, and mountains. This November we’ll tell you exactly where to go, who to see, and what kinds of properties make sense if you’d like to buy in this country.
