InternationalLiving.com

International Living Ultimate Event Attracts Nearly 300 Attendees Who Explore the Growing Trend of Retiring Overseas

Baltimore, MD, June 16, 2008 — More and more Americans are actively looking to retire outside the United States. And they’re doing their homework so they don’t make mistakes. That was the premise of the International Living Ultimate Event in Cancun, Mexico, in late May that attracted nearly 300 attendees—primarily from the U.S. and Canada—who want to retire or relocate outside their home countries.

According to a survey completed prior to the event, the majority of those attending (75%) were in the 50–70 age group. The top five countries of interest were (in order): Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Brazil. Respondents indicated they are looking for a lower cost of living, quality health care, better weather, and adventure...and that the deciding factor in selecting a new location is the personal safety it offers.

More than half (50.8%) of those surveyed said they plan to buy property overseas, and 75% of those said they hoped to do so within the next two years. Almost half (47.4%) said they will spend $150,000–250,000 for that property, and nearly 20% said they would spend up to $500,000.

Dan Prescher, a native of Omaha, Neb., and the publisher of International Living, emceed the event. He now lives in Merida, Mexico, and said, “This was our biggest event ever, and a clear indication to me that something big is happening, especially among baby boomers. With the cost of almost everything—including taxes and necessities like gasoline, food, and health care—going up while the dollar plummets, more people than ever, especially retirees, are looking abroad for a higher-quality, lower-cost lifestyle. And with our help they’re finding it. Besides, the baby boomer generation has always been about fun and adventure, and that’s what living in another country is all about.”

Held at the Fiesta Americana Condesa Resort in Cancun from May 28–31, the Ultimate Event featured speakers from around the world: experts in financial planning, foreign currencies, expat tax and legal issues, real estate, and more. International Living editors and correspondents from around the world spoke about lifestyle opportunities in countries they themselves have relocated to, including Mexico, Panama, Uruguay, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Argentina, Belize, and France.

There were plenty of one-on-one networking opportunities with the experts, both during the conference and at after-hours social events. As conference attendee Suzanne Bruner from Las Vegas, Nev., said, “The number of sessions was mind-boggling, but the content of each was so good I never lost interest. The opportunities to pursue topics at greater length with many of the presenters outside the sessions were also really excellent. This was a terrific overall chance to get a huge amount of really useful info in a short time frame.”

Those who were unable to attend the Ultimate Event in Cancun can obtain access to all the information presented there with this recordings package.

A similar upcoming International Living event, the Live Overseas Conference, will focus less on the financial aspect of retirement but will shine the spotlight on the best destinations in the world that offer opportunities for retirees and others. This conference will take place Oct. 3–5 in Long Beach, Calif., at the Hilton Long Beach Hotel. Information can be obtained here or by calling 1-866-381-8446 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada).

"Our goal is to help our readers find the best places in the world to live and do business,” said IL Conference Director Grant Perry, who is overseeing the event. “We have a stellar lineup of speakers for Long Beach. I think people will be surprised to learn about the economic values to be found in some of the places we’ll be profiling. In more than a few cases, I think attendees will discover that maybe they can retire even sooner than they thought possible.”

For the past 29 years, International Living has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, its extensive website and its online bookstore, International Living is a membership organization that believes its readers can live better for less, travel farther, have a lot of fun, and maybe make a lot of money when they expand their world beyond their own shores. International Living has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for real estate, travel, retirement, and investment.

For interviews and further comments, contact Suzan Haskins: shaskins@internationalliving.com.