March 11, 2010
Cayo, Belize
PLUS:
- Emerging Opportunities In A Retirement Haven You've Likely Never Considered...
- How To Get Full Details On Current Property Foreclosure Buys In Belize And Nicaragua...
- "You Think EU Membership Is A Plus?"...
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Asia Now
This is the best time in our lifetimes to consider Asia. This beautiful and exotic region is more open today than ever, and it's possible for Westerners to travel almost anywhere they'd want to go. At the same time, Asia is fast-changing, and you have now a window to experience it before the face of this ancient land of emperors and adventurers is too dramatically altered.
But perhaps the best reason to take a good look at this part of the world right now is that it hides the world's most affordable retirement havens...the cheapest places on earth to live well.
Intrepid Correspondents Paul and Vicki Terhorst have been tempting me with tales of comfortable US$11-a-night hotels and tasty, filling lunches for 50 cents for the past year-and-a-half, as they have been on the ground, scouting the opportunities.
The verdict? See Asia now.
Paul tells you more here.
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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
"Whether it's to escape the cold, to get out of the rat race, or to find a new direction in life, you'll find activities and adventures to last a lifetime in the
Cayo District of Belize," writes Correspondent from that country Phil Hahn.
"Some people come for a vacation, some for a second home, and others for a new life; Cayo welcomes them all.
"Belize is a schizophrenic little country, both Caribbean and Central American. Generally considered one of the best values in the Caribbean, it is, at the same time, relatively expensive by Central American standards. At least it can appear that way at first.
"However, like anywhere, the cost of living is highly dependent upon your lifestyle. The more time you spend here, the less expensive it can be. All too many expats fall into the trap of living overseas as if they are on vacation--living in a lavish resort-type setting and buying imported wine, food, and other products. After the first few months in their new home, they have blown their budgets and never get settled in.
"The key to maintaining a low cost of living is to get to know the local vendors, farmers, and suppliers. I have Belizean friends who enjoy higher standards of living than many 'First World' residents I know. They purchase locally grown foods, for example, which are far superior to the more expensive processed foods imported from abroad.
"They also enjoy more quality time with their family and friends because they can afford maids, cooks, and gardeners. They build their houses using readily available local materials and talent. If they need something that isn't on hand, they go to the Mennonites in Spanish Lookout, who can fabricate just about anything for far less than the cost of importing it.
"The bottom line is that, in Cayo, you can enjoy a very fulfilling life for US$1,000 per month, if you buy locally and use the local resources.
"And you'll find plenty of things to do that cost little or nothing. One of my family's favorite pursuits is a visit to the Belize Zoo, which was established by an expat to rescue and rehabilitate indigenous animals. Now it has educational programs for children, research facilities, and conservation programs. The daily admission if you buy tickets at the gate is only US$8 for adults and US$4 for children; however, if you book the trip through a resort, the cost is typically about US$50 per person.
"To avoid getting ripped off like this (that is, paying gringo prices), start by focusing on getting to know the people you'll be living among, your new neighbors. In my experience, Belize is an entire country that feels like a small town. Pretty soon, your neighbors go from being acquaintances to becoming friends, and, before you know it, they're like family. At that point, they'll help to make sure you know how to get around, how to find what you're looking for, and where to go for the best deals."
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. The details have been finalized for our
Live & Invest in Belize Conference scheduled now for June 21-22. Finishing touches are being put to the program, which features a special VIP Attendee opportunity that includes two free nights at your choice of one of three top resorts in this country.
Complete details will be published tomorrow. This is your final chance, therefore, to
get your name on the list for pre-registration discounts and first-in-line placement for VIP Registration.
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The Buyer's Market Of Our Lifetime
Sellers and developers worldwide are more willing than they've been in two decades to negotiate terms of purchase with you. No money down. No interest. Foreclosure deals. Payments over time...
Whether you're looking to speculate, to invest for long-term gain, or to take advantage of the current climate to purchase the retirement or second home overseas you've been dreaming of, now is the time to act.
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But the full scope of his knowledge, insight, and exclusive global network are only available for a select few...
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"I'm compiling notes for you," writes
Overseas Retirement Letter Editor-in-Chief Lynn Mulvihill from her base this month in
Kotor, Montenegro. "We've been exploring all around and absorbing the surroundings, and there is much here to follow up on for readers.
"Keeping two little men entertained [Lynn is traveling with her husband and two young sons] is challenging enough at home. In a Balkan state, it takes on whole new proportions. Yes, they have playgrounds here, but you have to watch for the odd two-foot drain just beyond the see-saw or the rusty nails sticking up from the ground...not to mention being a few feet from the sea.
"I've gotten a good feel for Kotor. It may suit some tastes, but I'd say it's too quiet in the off-season and too busy in the high season--not to mention being too expensive to make sense for retirees. I'm thinking Cetinje (for many years the capital city) would be a better retirement base. It's an attractive town on a plateau an hour from the coast, and prices of day-to-day living seem much lower. We had lunch there today for half the cost we've been paying on the coast.
"Cetinje has a fascinating history, and we're going to return to explore further on foot. The people seem much friendlier there, too, than in Kotor. Nobody we met had any English, but they were ever-patient and taught us a word or two...which is what we want.
"By contrast, Podgorica--now the capital--is a town I have no inclination to go back to. If you lived in the country, though, you'd need to visit for certain items and services. At the same time, I'm most sympathetic to Podgorica--it was badly hit in WWII.
"We're planning to go up to Durmitor national park in the next few days, via Kolasin. Because of the time of the year, there's little to do at Durmitor but visit the ski center. With the children so young, we won't have the opportunity to hit the piste, but we're hoping to do a sleigh ride. In the summer, more roads would be passable up there, and that'd open up more activities.
"I had coffee with a local lady earlier this week who recently had to sell her holiday house in Durmitor. She told me that her husband had spent three years in Switzerland, and, when he first saw Durmitor, his comment was that, if it were in Switzerland, everybody would know about it. However, because it's so difficult to get to this Montenegrin ski area, prices are kept low in the hopes of attracting more visitors.
"More soon..."
"Kathleen, as a follow-up to the reader's question you published yesterday related to the
foreclosure sales in Belize," writes our contact for the
foreclosure auctions we've been telling you about in that country, "you might also inform your readers that this is one of only a few special properties that Live and Invest Overseas has located. There are some in Nicaragua, as well, and Live and Invest Overseas readers are provided with quick, accurate, and complete information, upon sending an inquiry."
Here's how you do that if you're interested.
"In a recent edition of your newsletter, Lief Simon mentioned that
Croatia will be entering the EU sometime soon, as if EU membership would be a plus. Aside from destroying nationalism and abetting one world governance under UN rule (I see neither of these things as a plus...quite the opposite), just what could be the advantage of becoming a member of the EU as it relates to the values of something, like land?"
-- Walker W., United States
Lief Simon replies:
"Entry into the EU provides for a matching of Croatian laws to EU standards. This will allow for greatly simplified real estate ownership in this country. This is no small thing in a country with as complicated a history as Croatia.
"Entry into the EU will also eliminate the requirement for EU citizens to obtain a residency visa to spend more than six months a year in Croatia. This will have a carry-on effect for the real estate markets, both rental and sales, as the number of retiree and second home buyers from the EU will expand.
"Of course, some increase in real estate prices as a result of the expectation of EU entry has already occurred, but additional appreciation will carry on."
