Retire To Mendoza, Argentina
Like Napa 50 Years Ago
Sept. 2, 2009
Mendoza, Argentina
PLUS:
- Olympic Walking London-Style...
- "What You Write Is The Fantasy, Not The Reality"...
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Unsurpassed Luxury
In A Beautiful, Exotic Beachfront Setting
In this oceanfront resort, hidden amongst lush tropical coco palms and cooled by the South Atlantic breezes, you can buy pre-construction for zero down and monthly payments of less than US$1,000.
Plus you're guaranteed rental yields of at least 6% for three years.
This is an exclusive offer for Overseas Opportunity Letter readers only.
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"Beyond my vineyard, I can see the towering, white-capped Andes. As I sip a glass of fabulous local wine, my cook is creating something in the kitchen that smells truly divine."
-- A friend reporting of his new life down Mendoza way...
Dear Overseas Opportunity Letter Reader,
"Life is so pampered in this part of the world," writes Correspondent Siri Lise Doub, "that you can feel like a guest in your own home.
"Can all this beauty, service, and quality of life be affordable, too? Surprisingly, yes. Your gardener's salary? US$100 a month. Grandchildren coming to visit? A full-time nanny costs US$400 a month; a full-time maid, the same. A round of golf is US$4; a cup of coffee is 95 cents. A good table wine is US$2--a really good one, US$5.
"For the active retiree, who isn't ready to sit back and rock on his front porch, there really is no better place than the Mendoza province of Argentina. Sports enthusiasts enjoy skiing, hiking, climbing, bird-watching, white-water rafting, kayaking, even kite-surfing. And golfers rejoice: Argentina has more golf courses than the rest of Latin America combined.
"Nature enthusiasts have their share of activities, as well, thanks to the vibrant natural bird life, inactive volcanoes, rivers and lakes, and reserves of guanacos and vicunas (relatives of the llama). And, after a day on the rocks or waters here, you can tango the night away at one of the many entertainment venues...or simply relax at the spas of Pismanta, which offer everything from hydro-massages and mud-therapy treatments to a vaporarium.
"Then again, in this part of the world, kicking back in a rocking chair on your front porch isn't a bad option here, either. With breathtaking views of the Western Hemisphere's highest point--the 6,959-meterhigh Cerro Aconcagua (the "roof of Americas")--and the rolling vineyards that have made this region popular among wine aficionados across the world, Mendoza's beauty attracts as many visitors as its sports activities.
"Wine, relaxation, and sports provide the recipe for a great vacation. But what about day-to-day living?
"Mendoza has a near-perfect climate. Its laid-back atmosphere, safe cities, strong infrastructure, unspoiled culture, affordability, and reliable and friendly people are drawing the attention of expats from around the world. And, with skiing in winter, sailing and trekking in summer, this region is as enticing as such premier vacation destinations as Switzerland and northern Italy....yet the cost of living is literally a fraction what it is in those
places.
"A drive west from Buenos Aires into the Cuyo province takes you across the desert park of San Luis and into the Mendoza region. You feel the rolling hillsides almost before they appear...then you see the vineyards and the lush hillsides that are putting Argentina on the world's wine map, all back-dropped by the formidable Andean mountain
range.
"Visitors to the Mendoza province are often captivated by San Rafael's charms. Tom Phelan, an American now living in Mendoza province, came for three weeks and stayed three months--before he decided to stay for good. I've heard again and again of other travelers who've had the same experience. They came to visit, then couldn't bear to leave. Today, it's estimated that 400 American families live in the area.
"San Rafael's situation is unique--right where the Ríos Diamante and Atuel emerge from the Andean foothills. The lushness of the town, in stark contrast to the neighboring desert landscape, explains the prosperity of its sprawling vineyards. Sanrafaelinos embrace their rivers: Atuel is the perfect starter river for rafters, while the Diamante offers some of the most exciting rafting in the country.
"It's been said that San Rafael (with about 170,000 residents) is to Mendoza as Sonoma is to Napa, California--smaller and quieter but with great wine. Tom equates it to the Norman Rockwell California of 50 years ago. Still, it's probably the most modern of Mendoza's towns.
"You'll immediately notice the relaxed atmosphere. It feels like a forgotten European town. Acequias, or streetside canals, line the clean, broad sidewalks where cafés buzz with the conversation of people tomar un cafe (taking a coffee). The central square is alive with couples walking hand-in-hand and kids on bikes, their girlfriends riding on the handlebars, and the benches are crowded with people chatting in the shade of the sycamore trees. San Martin's heroic Andes crossing is eternalized by a bronze statue here, and the classical San Rafael cathedral looms from the square's northeastern corner. There's not a fast-food restaurant in sight.
"The afternoon siesta, which lasts from lunch to about 4 p.m., quiets town traffic and creates a calmness along the streets in the afternoon sun. The town comes alive again at dusk.
"San Rafael is flat and laid out in a grid, so it's very walkable and easy to figure out. Move here, and you'll never have to get in your car again. Better still, bring your bike and leave your car behind. (Argentina has one of the highest traffic accident rates in the world.)
"Bicipartes is a good bike rental spot. The most popular ride leaves from the shop and runs parallel to Avenida Hipolito Yirigoyen. The wide bike lane here goes straight through the heart of San Rafael's wine country, taking you past a multitude of wineries..."
Kathleen Peddicord
Editor's Note: Siri Lise's full Mendoza Retirement Report is available here.
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The Smart and Experienced Money Is Moving Into International Real Estate...
But how do you begin? Where do you start?
Over three days in October, Lief Simon and 12 other international real estate investing professionals will discuss how and where to position yourself in world property markets for profit.
For instance, hear about a turn-key money-maker in arguably the most sophisticated city in Latin America. In a trendy neighborhood sought out by Hollywood moviemakers and tourists from North America and Europe, you could earn a reliable yield of as much as 18.2% per year, participating in this new 5-star rental investment opportunity.
Plus, you have personal use each year for your own luxury vacations (which could be tax-deductible, as you're visiting your own income-generating property)...
Learn more about this market, as well as over a dozen other unique globe-spanning opportunities, here.
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"Walking, unlike women's boxing, is not yet an Olympic sport," writes Correspondent Paul Lewis from London. "But the frantic construction of the 2012 Olympic Games site, under way on an abandoned industrial area near Stratford in East London, has created an Olympic walking opportunity that should not be missed by aficionados of the games and those who like exploring on foot.
"Take the eastern extension of the London Underground known as the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in the direction of Stratford but get off at the invitingly named Pudding Mill Lane Station. Already you are entering a futuristic wasteland of slowly emerging stadiums amidst a forest of cranes in a moonscape roamed by ferocious earth-guzzling monster machines.
"A new, carefully built pedestrian pathway starting at the station entrance allows you to wander right through the heart of this throbbing construction zone, past the almost completed main stadium--nothing like as adventurous as the 'bird's nest' stadium built to host the last Beijing Games--and emerging concrete humps that will eventually become aquatic centers and Olympic Villages. Although the landscape is unabashedly harsh at this stage of its transformation, it already bears signs of environmental sensitivity. Posters proclaim that clumps of wild roses and the odd crab apple tree will be protected from the bulldozers and survive in the eventual Olympic Park.
"After a mile or so of walking through this new Flanders (battle) Field, the path swings right to Swann's Wharf, where it meets the hitherto unseen River Lea, a part of London's hidden river system described in Christopher Fowler's thriller "The Water Room."
"For a mile-and-a-quarter, the path then follows this secret slow-moving river along the edge of the noisy bustling Olympic construction site. Ducks, egrets, and the occasional boat pass by. You eventually wind up at Bow Church, home of those famous bells, which define the true cockney, and a welcome tavern called The Bow Bells, with its collection of old stone beer bottles, ancient posters and photos, and birdcages. You can eat lunch there."
"Kathleen, this is simply an observation from an American. It appears that your advice works for high-income couples, US$300,000 homeowners, Europeans, and no less. Interesting because the demographics for the United States are much different than they were, say, in the early to
mid-80s.
"What you write is the fantasy, not the reality for most Americans and a bit of an insult to those who may not be in the States but are in the same us-not-them category.
"I wonder how many of the attendees at your recent seminar went back home and stayed there! This isn't meant to be a rant, and the primary reason for this little missive is this: People aren't worried about anything you covered in this recent update. They are most worried about running out of money to live modestly in a country where the barriers are so high.
"They aren't allowed to work, language is another issue, and, when they become destitute, there's no safety net to catch them."
-- Georjina S., United States
"Kathleen, I am wondering if a person on a fixed income of US$700 a month could live comfortably in Brazil or anywhere for that matter! Any suggestions?"
-- Naomi S., United States
Brazil would be a stretch. You could, though, live comfortably on a budget of US$700 a month in Ecuador, for example, or Thailand. |
