Nov. 16, 2009
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
PLUS:
- Falala'ing In London...The Christmas Season Is Off In The British Capital...
- Must Do's For Your Visit To Panama...
----------
*** Exclusive Opportunity For LIO Readers ***
Own A Vineyard in the Next Napa for US$48,975
For less than a price of a Cadillac, you can own your own Boutique Vineyard property in Argentina, complete with:
- Professionally designed vineyard, including all necessary infrastructure and irrigation systems...
- Housing for an on-site resident worker, providing 24/7 security...
- Various grapevine options...
- First two years of maintenance...
- Professional Agronomist, Vineyard Manager, and local day labor...
- And much more...
This is an extraordinary opportunity to live the wine-maker's dream life in one of the world's most beautiful, inviting, and affordable grape-growing regions.
There are
only 10 of these fully turn-key vineyards available, and pricing is limited-time only.
Go Here Now To Learn More
----------
Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"When we decided to move to
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia," writes Asia Correspondent Wendy Justice, "we wanted the experience to be as stress-free as possible, and we didn't want to have to stay in a cramped hotel room for weeks while we searched for just the right place to live longer-term.
"We turned to the Internet for help, where we found so many property websites listing so many options that we became overwhelmed. All the prices were reasonable, leaving us at a loss to choose.
"Then we noticed that most of the places advertised were being offered via property agents. Ah, that might make this easier, we thought...working with an agent who could vet listings in advance and then show us several good options upon our arrival.
"Our search for a good agent was surprisingly easy. We chose one who had several attractive listings on her site and e-mailed her to discuss her services. She replied right away with questions that helped us to define our search--What sort of neighborhood did we want?...How much did we want to spend on rent?...Did we want fully furnished?... Did we need easy access to public transportation and shopping? (The answer was yes to this important questions, as we didn't plan to have our own vehicle.)
"The agent assured us that she would be able to show us several properties in parts of the city that she thought would be most appealing to us. She e-mailed us a list of options in advance, and we selected those we liked best. We then set up a time to meet with her the day after we arrived in Malaysia.
"It was one of the most stress-free house-hunting experiences we have ever had. Our agent, Lorraine, had appointments set up so that we could view about 10 properties over two days, and she drove us to view each one. She was receptive to our needs, didn't try to upsell us, and never showed us anything that didn't fit the criteria we had discussed.
"Lorraine's service, though, went beyond that. When we finally did find a place that we liked--a condo on the 15th floor of a high-rise with jaw-dropping views, a five-minute walk from the iconic Petronas Towers--she successfully negotiated with the landlord for the purchase of additional furniture and household items (plates, pots and pans, bedding, etc.) and a reduced rent. We had to pay a deposit equal to one month's rent and a stamp duty, which is a tax paid to the government whenever someone rents a house or apartment. Once the deposit and stamp duty were paid, we signed the rental agreement and received a receipt for the deposit and stamping fee. Our agent took us back to our hotel.
"The next day, Lorraine called to tell us that she had filed the stamp duty and that our lease was now notarized and ready for final signatures. We set up a time to meet at our new rental to finalize things with the owner. It was all very straightforward. We paid a pro-rated amount of rent for the first month and a deposit equal to one month's utility bills--gas, water, and electricity. Landlords, we found, are happy to keep the utilities in their names. This is good, as a foreigner is required to make a deposit of roughly US$350 to each utility provider to have an account opened in his name. This can easily amount to more than US$1,000. We agreed with the landlord that he would give us the bills each month and that we'd then pay them before the due dates. We got our keys, and that was that! We had an apartment that we loved and a view that we never tired of, right in the heart of the city.
"Using an agent makes a lot of sense, especially as, unless it is negotiated otherwise, the landlord pays the agent's fees. Furthermore, no fee is due unless the agent is successful, so they are motivated to show you places that meet your needs. A good agent really knows the area and can set up appointments to allow you to see many places within a short period.
"Most agents work independently, meaning they answer to no one but you. They can negotiate much more effectively on your behalf, as ours did, than you could on your own. In addition to the language barrier, there are also the local customs and business protocols. You'll never figure these things out without help. A good agent will help you to file the stamp duty, will review the lease for you, and will serve as a general resource as you settle in your new home. Our agent spent time showing us where the markets and malls were located and how to use things, from the hot water heater and the phone to the train system. After we had lived in KL for a few months and learned the neighborhoods better, we contacted her again to see about finding a new and bigger condominium. Lorraine helped us to locate an even nicer place for less money.
"Bottom line, our agent made the experience very stress-free. She answered our calls and e-mails promptly and efficiently. She didn't waste our time or hers showing us units that were out of our price range. For every apartment she took us to see, she pointed out the negatives as well as the positives, to make certain that we would be happy with our decision. She even came by when we vacated our condominium, to make sure that that process went smoothly, too."
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Kuala Lumpur is one of the most appealing foreign retiree havens in Asia right now.
More here.
----------
Most Hassle-free Residency Program in Asia
It's surprisingly easy to start your new life in this tropical paradise of beautiful islands and beaches, cool mountain retreats, great food, excellent shopping, and a low cost of living.
Start a business or work part-time legally...import your belongings and your car duty-free...enjoy and finance your new home up to 80%...
You can apply and qualify at any age.
More details here
----------
"The British have no reason to wait before rolling out the Christmas decorations," writes Correspondent Vivian Lewis (
www.global-investing.com) from
London, "as they do not have Thanksgiving to finish first. And the shoppes here are doing a roaring trade even now. The idea is to catch the shoppers early, before another store has won their business. This is accomplished by price reductions and discounts for buying more than one item. Falalalala began in October and is now in full swing.
"The contrast to last year is palpable, and statistics from October are impressive. We went to Ikea to buy a new bed (required now that we have three grandchildren who sleep in twin beds), and there were mobs of shoppers, again, a great contrast to last year.
"John Lewis, the family emporium on Oxford Street, reported sales up 16% over last October. (My husband is descended from a brother of the founder of the U.K. chain now owned by its employees, not by family members.) Overall, London in October spent 2.6% more than a year earlier.
"But there is a threat from a new pair of Lehman Brothers, the firm whose collapse last year wiped out big spending by City financial services executives. This year's Lehmans are not from across the Atlantic, but from across the River Tweed. Scots Alisdair Darling and Gordon Brown, respectively Chancellor of the Exchequeur and Premier, want to tear up bankers' bonus deals.
"The Queen, who has no say in the matter, will present the government's position in her crown speech on Wednesday. Bonuses will be limited in amount and only become payable after three years. There goes Xmas spending...
"In theory, the bonus ban is aimed at reducing incentives to take excessive risk. In fact, it is mostly punitive in intent, aimed at keeping Labour's constituents happy after Brown and Darling used taxpayer money to bail out a bunch of badly run expansion-mad banks. Bonuses in non-state-owned banks are a target, although they were not a cause of the financial meltdown last year."
"I will be in
Panama from Dec. 13 through Dec. 21 on vacation. I'm wondering if you have a list of must-do recommendations, as well as perhaps some hotel suggestions? I'm hoping to spend time in the city and also at the beach (coming from New York in December, I'll be in need of some warm weather beach time!).
-- Alexandra R., United States
Here are Panama City hotels I'd recommend, in different price ranges:
For less than US$70/night, consider:
--
Hotel Milan
--
Hotel El Parador
These two hotels are on the same street in El Cangrejo, which is a good location, central and lively. You could walk to bars, restaurants, cafes, etc.
In the US$150 to US$300 range, consider:
--
Hotel Veneto
--
Bristol Hotel (the best hotel in the city in my experience)
--
Four Points Sheraton (where we're holding our
Live and Invest in Panama Conference Feb. 24-26, 2010)
Here's a beach hotel, comfortable and on a nice property about a half-hour outside downtown Panama City:
Intercontinental Playa Bonita
And here's another beach hotel, my personal favorite, a resort community developed by the people behind Panama City's Bristol Hotel:
Buenaventura This is the most upscale and charming beach property within easy driving distance of the city (about an hour-and-a-half away). The construction (of the hotel, the clubhouse, the condos attached to the hotel, etc.) is Spanish colonial, the landscaping is lovely, and the hotel restaurant is five-star.
Here's the biggest rain forest resort property, about 45 minutes from downtown (good for hiking, bird watching, etc.):
Gamboa Rainforest Resort
On the Caribbean side (Isla Grande), this is the best choice:
Bananas Resort.
I've visited or stayed at all these places. They're all worth experiencing at least once. However, I wouldn't return to any of them for longer than a night or two, with the exception of Buenaventura, where I'd happily retreat for a week or longer (if I could persuade Lief to go along with the idea...Buenaventura isn't cheap).
These places are all accessible, though, so here's what I'd recommend: Spend a couple of nights in each one. Do some touring, etc., in each location. That'd give you a good overview of the country, a good first impression of what Panama has to offer.
.
