Panama, Honduras, Vietnam, Argentina, Thailand? Where to retire?

[Lusitan]

i am leaning more towards argentina's mendoza right now. i know i said i wanted beachfront, but i could always travel to a third location and vacation or rent there is a strong expat coummunity there and it is cheap.

Sounds like a better plan - I have heard many great things about Argentina. And moving inland away from the beach will definitely help you keep the cost down. I'd be interested to hear what you find out if you end up going down there to explore. Keep us posted

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

i am leaning more towards argentina's mendoza right now. i know i said i wanted beachfront, but i could always travel to a third location and vacation or rent there is a strong expat coummunity there and it is cheap. i could go to a beach like margarita island, venezuela, but with unstable political situation would not buy there. i personally like chavez, but not if i am a property owner.

as for brazil, it sounds great, but scared off about crime. panama seems pricey, don't know much about honduras.

You are sounding more sensible than you did at first (limited data; more detail helps). I am glad you are questioning the idea of buying right away. It is interesting that you only mention hubby later in the broadcast. There is something you are not telling us.

Think about it as a path that is new to you, to a place new to you. Would you consider walking the Adirondak Trail with as little information as you have given us? Would you take a bus to Newark? Your future is not something that can be bought out of a catalog.

You have a great idea. Now you have homework to do.

Excuse me for being a little pushy. I used to live in the NYC area. In my experience, New Yorkers always had nerve, but they didn't always have brains. You seem to have both. Now, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! or expect to lose a lot of money in the process.

If starting a business is vital to your transition, forget it. I looked into Costa Rica years ago with this in mind. Starting a business as an expat is a sucker's game. Also in Mexico. Also in Belize. At least Mexico makes it difficult to do. Mexico has a soft spot in their head for Yankees (God only knows why). There is an old saying in Belize: The way to have a million dollars in Belize is to come in with two million.

What is wrong with taking it a step at a time? As I pointed out above, you have the luxury of being able to wander around for a year without monetary risk--unless you start peeling off those greenbacks in front of the locals. (Is "tonto" in your Spanish vocabulary?)

By the way, Uruguay is NOT extremely expensive (unless you want to live in Puente del Este, in which case I am wasting your time). I suggest that you purchase this e-book (as I have):
http://www.escapeartist.com/e_Books/Uruguay/Live_In_Uruguay.html
It has a ring of credibility, which is not something that can be said of everything that comes out of Escape Artist.

Bon chance, mon ami.

Ed

 

[LEX]

I just spent a month touring Africa.  There are beaches in South Africa that are incredible and not very expensive.  Yes its also high adventure and risk, but there are things you can see and do in this place that make Centro America seem boring.  Do not rule South Africa out, at least for a visit. (You will not find many real estate development syndicates there a la Costa Rica, but the plane ride will cost you..). 

PS: Understand in advance that I like out of the way places, and so its rule one that you make up your own road map to where you want to go.  I have had a great time in north western Russia and the Crimean region, which is not exactly on the top of many folks trip-o-meter.  Helps to have a strong sense of adventure!

 

[jphripjah]

I think Thailand is a much more attractive option for young male retirees than female retirees.

I agree with the idea that you should strongly consider renting for a few years in a developing country before buying. You need time to learn the ins and outs of the country before making a huge investment like that. In many developing countries the ratio of rental cost  to property value is far lower than in the US.  You could probably rent a $200,000 home for about $500-$600 per month in many developing countries, where that would cost $1200 -$1500 per month to rent a similarly valued home in the US. I'm not sure why that is, but I think it has to do with the lack of a true middle class in some countries. Rich locals buy real estate and big houses as a way to park their money in something that can't be stolen from them overnight. But they have trouble renting them because the poor people don't have money to pay much rent.

 

[newyorklady]

Hello there. I am definitely planning on taking my time, living there for at least 6 months to decide if I really like it and get a feel for the market, get to know who the good local attorneys are, etc. I do not need to start any kind of business if I manage my money properly and live somewhere low cost. It would be an idea if I was bored and want something to keep me occupied, I am only 30 so might get bored. Would only do something with an extremely low start up cost. And that is jumping way ahead of myself.

Just gathering information up now as to where I should travel to narrow down the possibilities. I have lived abroad before, and have travelled quite a bit but want to live somewhere very cheap as I do have a substantial portfolio for someone my age and I would rather live well somewhere cheap than be stuck in the grind in new york, working for more money and not as nice of a lifestyle that i could have elsewhere.

And as for Africa, I have been to North Africa as well as Kenya and Tanzania. I would love to visit again, see the gorillas in uganda, and check out south africa, but don't think that is the continent for me to settle down in. Like I said I really want safety. I like to adventure travel, but finding a new home is a different story.

As for Thailand, yeah, don't want my husband bombarded with Thai women wanting a passport. Argentinian women are very beautiful too though, but probably not as desperate. I am very good looking, but for an American probably very plain for an Argentinian. Sounds vain, but I am a woman and this is an issue.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Yeah. I went to South Africa a few years ago on business. I was told that it had the highest murder rate outside of a war zone. (Think Port of Newark, on steroids.) I wouldn't go back, and I have a great idea for a business there and contacts to make it work. I work with a few Afrikaaners today. I don't think they will go back, either.

 

[newyorklady]

you mean newark, new jersey? yikes, that is the scariest place i know. nairobi seemed safer, though i didn't really spend much time there as i went for safari.

 

[GTM]

Would you take a bus to Newark?  Your future is not something that can be bought out of a catalog.   

Excuse me for being a little pushy.  I used to live in the NYC area.  In my experience, New Yorkers always had nerve, but they didn't always have brains.  You seem to have both.  Now, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! or expect to lose a lot of money in the process. 

If starting a business is vital to your transition, forget it.  I looked into Costa Rica years ago with this in mind.  Starting a business as an expat is a sucker's game.  Also in Mexico.  Also in Belize.  At least Mexico makes it difficult to do.  Mexico has a soft spot in their head for Yankees (God only knows why).  There is an old saying in Belize:  The way to have a million dollars in Belize is to come in with two million.



Ed

Take a bus to Newark "oh my dear"  Never

PS starting a business in a foreign land is difficult but certainly not impossible.
Some expats are doing very well in this suckers game.

I know one was from California and I believe the other may have been a brainless nervery
New Yorker.

 

[newyorklady]

the business thing would be way down the road. most businesses fail, no matter where you are. i am good at business as evidenced by my early accumulation of wealth. but i could still fail, so i would not invest more than i can afford to lose, and not start anything unless it is fully researched, etc. there are so many businesses that are such low start up that it really wouldn't matter much if i did fail anyway. besides, would have to speak with a good local and international accountants wherever i go since even a failing business can at times have tax benefits that would increase wealth.

 

[Helen]

I think Thailand is a much more attractive option for young male retirees than female retirees.

Could you expand on this a bit ? Is it safe for American women in Thailand ?

TIA,

-helen

 

[MJ]

I think Thailand is a much more attractive option for young male retirees than female retirees.

Could you expand on this a bit ? Is it safe for American women in Thailand ?

TIA,

-helen

I think believe jp was refering to the fact that some retired men find Thailand appealing because they can find young Thai woman looking husbands/boyfriends who will provide financial security for them and their family. I don't know if retired women would go to Thailand for the same reason.

 

[newyorklady]

The more I think about it, that is a big incentive for me as a woman to NOT move to Thailand.

 

[camberiu]

as for brazil, it sounds great, but scared off about crime. panama seems pricey, don't know much about honduras.

Florianopolis (Floripa) is in general A LOT safer than NYC. Of course there is crime there, but nowhere near the levels you see in Sao Paulo or Rio. For a New Yorker, Floripa should be a quiet and safe place. Also, Brazil has universal health care for EVERYONE. It is not great, but it is more than enough for emergencies (car accidents. broken limbs, etc...)

 

[Jane_Doe]

Hi, NY Lady! Welcome!

An idea that is quite safe, but much blander would be the Bahamas. We like Freeport and there are condos around that price range. Not terribly cheap to live there, but certainly close to home.

Just a thought.

Also, Hondurus does have crime issues. Gangs run rampant and police have little authority. They are lax in prosecuting criminals and it is easy for them to get out of jail after getting arrested (and I'm not talking about petty crimes). Sorry, but them's the facts.

Anyway, I'm sure you will find someplace if you are determined. Have a friend who has a girlfriend in Brazil and they own an awsome house there. Economy there is pretty shaky I believe. Always something!

Good Luck!

Jane

 

[WRBT]

Vietnam is a wonderful place... friendly people, great food, lovely beaches, beautiful mountainous countrysides, cheap, relatively safe, etc.

That said it's my understanding retiring there isn't so easy. I believe you need a student or business class visa to rent a place, and playing Thai style visa run isn't as simple.

What about India? Chile?

 

[newyorklady]

is brazil easy to get residency in? argentina is, that is one of the reasons why i am gravitating towards there.

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

is brazil easy to get residency in? argentina is, that is one of the reasons why i am gravitating towards there.

I have recently been told that it is also easy to reside legally in Chile. It is said to be one of the least corrupt countries in South America, has a stong economy and is easy to start businesses there. Cost of living is said to be one of the highest in Latin America, but not very high compared to the US. It sounds very promising from a business standpoint.

On the other hand, I have heard (and can attest) that Chilean men tend towards being lady-killers (macho with an exploitative attitude towards women).

By several accounts, manners in Uruguay are more like those in North America. Unfortunately, Uruguay has a sleepier economy and is not growing very fast.

Both Chile and Uruguay are said to be very safe. (Notwithstanding that a friend of mine was robbed of everything but his pants in a cab in Chile.)

All three countries sound very interesting to me personally and I have hopes of a long visit in that part of the world, but I have no thoughts of starting a business down there. I think they would be worth a fact-finding trip.

 

[mikew]

I think believe jp was refering to the fact that some retired men find Thailand appealing because they can find young Thai woman looking husbands/boyfriends who will provide financial security for them and their family.

The more I think about it, that is a big incentive for me as a woman to NOT move to Thailand.

Hmmm If you are hungry for a hamburger, eventually you will find a MickeyDs. That doesn't mean every shop on the street is selling hamburgers. OTOH if you aren't looking for a hamburger, you may just walk past a MickeyD without realizing 'Hey there's a MickeyD'. Although I have never been, I have a feeling there are a few MickeyDs in South America. And I have heard there might even be some outlets in the US. 

Mike

 

[newyorklady]

yeah, but if you aren't looking for a hamburger and mickyd's are all around you, you might just start thinking a hamburger might not be a bad idea.

 

[haha]

Why not just keep him in NYC, where although good looking enough, many of the women possess frightening personalities?

Ha

 

[camberiu]

is brazil easy to get residency in? argentina is, that is one of the reasons why i am gravitating towards there.

I do not know how easy it is to get "formal" residency in Brazil, but I do know that immigration rules are not enforced very strongly and the country is in general very open to outsides. For example, over the past several years there has been a wave of illegal immigrants from China into Brazil. Many of them sometimes get cought by police on completely unrelated matters. It has been the government policy NOT to deport these people, but simply legalize them. Brazil, like the USA, is a country made up of immigrants and it is just not part of the Brazilian culture to discriminate against people because they are born somewhere else. Xenophobia is a big taboo down there. Any politician down there who dared to propose building some sort of wall or fence to keep immigrants out would fairly quickly be labled as a racist pig or worse by the mass media. So I belive that you should not have a whole lot of problem getting residency. You might want to try to contact the Brazilian consulate in NYC. They tend to be quite helpful.

 

[WRBT]

Seriously why not India? I've not seriously researched it but curious if anyone else has.

Warm weather if not in far Northern part, lots of coastline, rising but still relatively low cost of living, less need to learn another language since so many English speakers, and you might even find your non-Indian accent quite in demand if you're looking for part time work.

If computer programmers are middle class making 8k/year how much could it possibly take for a Westerner to do so, especially without same need to commute/etc.

 

[MJ]

And the food. Mumm!

 

[Arif]

And the food. Mumm!

Past the pepto

 

[newyorklady]

Not too keen on India. If you aren't Indian they can be very racist- to both blacks and whites, but not to chinese for some reason. One of the reasons why I am thinking of Argentina, I would blend in there or even Brazil, well until they hear my accent. Keep in mind that everywhere is racist, but maybe in a different way than what you are used to. I would not want to be middle eastern in France, but wouldn't mind being black there. Wouldn't want to be filipino in japan but wouldn't mind being white there. I don't mean to offend anyone, but that is the way I see it. I find it fascinating how all groups have their own racist leanings. In Europe an American can get a lot of heat for their nationality but if you are a non-white American, they don't give you problems, because then you don't fit into the "evil white bush loving american" stereotype. And this is funny, because it is white europeans who would be the ones doing this. Please let me clarify, I dislike or like, whatever the mood I am in that day, all races equally. But the truth is if you are a white person in India, you will have beggars flocking around you and if you are white or black in india, then you are not welcome to marry one of them by their families. I hear that in other parts of Asia, it is a great thing to get a White American husband. I could be wrong here, but want somewhere that I can blend into better. Goa, though, I hear has a big expat community, so who knows. Never been to Goa though.