Awesome Beaches...Plus A Whole Lot More
April 29, 2009
Panama City, Panama
PLUS:
- Is South Africa Unsafe?...
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101 Things You Should Know Before You Even Think About Living,
Retiring, Or Investing Overseas
Shipping your belongings across international borders...moving with your
children...or a pet...obtaining residency...getting a visa...opening a bank
account...getting the best international phone rates...learning a new
language...using VOIP...obtaining an international driver's
license...working with an overseas real estate agent...shopping for
international health insurance...
This is everything we wish someone had told us before we set off on our own
live and invest overseas adventures. And it's available to you right now
Free.
Details here.
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The Dominican Republic is the best option for a new life in
the Caribbean right now...our favorite Caribbean island haven...and a place
you should know about.
That's why we dispatched Roving Editor Rebecca Tyre to this island nation
last week. This was Rebecca's first visit to the DR. Her initial report?
"I'm blown away by what this place has to offer..."
Rebecca continues:
Dear Overseas Opportunity Letter Reader,
"Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from the place.
"I knew that the Dominican Republic has great beaches and that, as a result,
it attracts big volumes of tourists every year. I knew many people who had
traveled to Punta Cana or La Romana to spend a week at an all-inclusive
resort, but I'd never met anyone who had chosen to become a DR expat.
"Based on that limited experience, I came to the misguided conclusion that
the Dominican Republic is a great vacation spot...but not a place to
consider for the longer term.
"I've returned today from a 10-day trip to the island, and, I have to tell
you, my initial assumptions were all wrong.
"Yes, there were thousands of tourists and incredibly beautiful beaches, but
the Dominican Republic has so much more to offer.
"The island is small, about twice the size of the state of New Hampshire,
yet it offers an estimated 1,000 miles of pristine, white-sand beaches, most
of them completely empty of people. Sure, in the resort areas, the beaches
are filled with tourists, but walk just a few short miles away in either
direction and you can find yourself completely alone on some of the most
picturesque stretches of sand you will ever lay eyes on.
"Dominicans are extremely friendly and hospitable people. I know that sounds
like a cliché, but they truly are warm and welcoming. I have been living in
Panama for more than three years. I'm single. Young. I've gotten used to
being whistled at and called out to by local men as they pass me on the
street. I was expecting the same thing in the Dominican Republic. But I was
wrong. I didn't hear one catcall.
"Dominicans realize that the island's tourism industry lives or dies on the
experience of every visitor. If you have an enjoyable vacation experience,
you want to come back and you tell your friends about it when you get home.
"I felt safe walking the streets of Las Terrenas, a town on the Samana
Peninsula, at night, by myself. I believe it is increasingly difficult to
get this feeling in many places around the globe. The Dominican Republic is
still one place where you are not targeted because you are obviously a
foreigner.
"I spent a lot of time driving around the country, which is one of the best
ways to get to know a country. The landscape is breathtaking. From the big,
tree-covered mountains in Los Haitises National Park to the green Caribbean
Sea splashing on to the white sand along the miles of coastline, every turn
in the road brings you an ever-more-awesome view.
"The cost of living is much less than in the United States or Europe. To
rent a comfortable one-bedroom apartment within walking distance of the
beach will set you back about US$400 a month. The cost of groceries is
comparable to that in Panama. Expect to pay about US$2.50 for a tube of
toothpaste. Gasoline is more expensive than in many countries; it's selling
for the equivalent of about US$4.25 a gallon.
"Like many places around the world right now, the Dominican Republic's real
estate market is down...way, way down. Construction companies are laying off
workers, and real estate agencies are closing their doors.
"Which is to say, there is a serious window of opportunity on this island
right now. If you are a buyer with cash, name your price. What could you
buy? How about a brand-new, one-bedroom apartment about a five-minute walk
from a pristine Caribbean beach for US$100,000...or even less.
"Interested in something bigger? I saw one top-of-the-line condo, about 250
square meters, sitting with the beach on its doorstep. Finished and
furnished to an impressive standard. In a full-amenities development. Even
the asking price is a good deal, given what you're buying...but I'd bet
that, if you made a cash offer, you might buy this for 50 cents on the
asking-price dollar. The seller needs cash.
"More on this later in the week.
"The Dominican Republic isn't your typical Caribbean getaway. It's more
international than you might expect...certainly more cosmopolitan, in some
ways, than I expected.
"Have a craving for blue cheese, authentic French baguettes, or fresh
gnocchi? In the DR, you can find all of these things. French and Italians
settled on the island about 30 years ago. They've since developed an
extensive and diverse culinary, business, and service
infrastructure...geared toward other expats.
"Getting to the Dominican Republic can be difficult. If you live in the
States, most flights to the island connect via Miami.
"One travel option I recommend is to purchase an airfare-only ticket from a
charter vacation company. These kinds of tickets can be more expensive than
a conventional commercial ticket, but they typically allow you to fly direct
from major U.S. and Canadian cities to your DR destination.
"The Dominican Republic was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise that I
am already thinking about when I might be able to return for another
vacation.
"And, if the opportunity were to present itself, I wouldn't think twice
about living there for a while..."
Kathleen Peddicord
P.S. Rebecca has a whole lot more to share regarding her recent experiences
in the Dominican Republic. I've asked her to prepare a series of reports on
the current (crisis) real estate market...her favorite beach...residency,
visa, banking, and tax issues... real-life stories from expats who've chosen
the island for their new lives in paradise...
Plus off-the-record tips, stories, and recommendations.
"Hold nothing back," I've urged Rebecca. "We want the real deal."
Rebecca has delighted us here in the office all morning with her tales.
Don't worry. I'll make sure you benefit from her adventures, too. Watch this
space.
Meantime, Rebecca will be sharing her stories live and in person during
our How To Retire Overseas Conference in Panama City next month.
This two-day program will introduce you to the world's top 12 overseas
havens right now. Yes, the DR is on that list. Rebecca will fill you in.
Full How
To Retire Overseas program details here.
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Good Wine, Grand Adventure, And A 17.24%
Annual Yield
We've watched this past year as friends Tom and Yvonne Phelan have made
their vintner's dreams come true in beautiful Mendoza, Argentina, and we've
been pleased to be able to invite Live and Invest Overseas readers to get in
on the adventure.
Great wines, great times, great adventures...all the fun of a vintner's
lifestyle without any of the work...plus the added incentive of a 17.24%
annual yield!
What's more, right now, you have the chance to participate for only half
down...with the 50% balance paid over 12 months, interest-free.
This is my favorite kind of opportunity. It combines an interesting
investment with a chance for a grand adventure in one of the world's most
inviting places to spend time.
But it's strictly limited.
Details here.
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"Kathleen, I read
the letter from Jenny W. on South Africa with interest.
"Yes, South Africa is a lovely country. Like most of the African continent,
it is blessed with exceptional scenery. And, yes, there are fine
restaurants, good food, and an abundance of good local wines.
"But there is also an abundance of violent crime, in a country where your
life comes cheap.
"Jenny W. wrote: 'Safety and security is not an issue at all. We go out at
night regularly, live with our doors and windows open, and, like virtually
everyone else we know, have never had a problem or felt threatened in any
way.'
"Clearly, Jenny W. does not live in the same Cape Town where I live. I live
in a country where thousands of innocent citizens are murdered every year,
often after having suffered gruesome torture. The South Africa I live in has
been described as 'the violent crime capital of the world.'
"'Safety and security are not an issue,' Jenny W. writes.
"To say this, unfortunately, is a dangerous denial of the South African
reality. Personal and family safety and security are the issues.
"In the Cape Times this morning (Easter weekend, April 11,
2009), this article says it all:
"'Cape criminals on the rampage...Armed gangs have been on the rampage
across Cape Town, killing several people in their homes and carrying out
brazen raids on at least two businesses over the past week...'
"Your writer maintains, "If you are looking for a fabulous lifestyle at a
fantastic price, this country, in our view, offers the best option.'
"She omits to say that the 'fantastic price' you may pay for this 'fabulous
lifestyle' in South Africa may well be your own life or that of a close
friend or relative.
"Dear Overseas Opportunity Letter readers, don't take my word for
it. Google some of the millions of sites on 'crime in South Africa.' Or
visit www.news24.com.
-- Michael E., Cape Town
South Africa Correspondent Susan Vial responds:
"Well, my immediate response, dear reader, is...Why on earth are you still
living here if life is so awful? If you've suffered some kind of personal
tragedy, I am truly sorry for your troubles, but my question still applies.
"If you're so unhappy in Cape Town, maybe you should try living somewhere
else.
"Yes, as I've written, South Africa has problems. Crime is high; AIDS is
rife. I, like you, know people who've been victims of violent crime. I've
held a 2-year-old dying of AIDS in my arms, knowing that in a month's time
she would no longer be with us.
"Corruption is all around, from the traffic cop asking for a bribe to our
new president, Jacob Zuma, exonerated of corruption charges a few short
weeks before the election. Was he, in fact, guilty? Only he knows...
"I don't mean to gloss over what are serious problems, but, by the same
token, I choose not to live in fear.
"The point is, life goes on. It comes down to point of view, attitude, and
awareness.
"Most expats I know are optimists. They are pioneers, adventurers, and
explorers. They break through boundaries to build new lives in new places.
"Today, more than ever, you have choices. Thanks to improved
communications--independent TV, radio, and, especially, the Internet--people
are waking up to the fact that they don't have to live up with the hands
they were dealt. They can decide what they want to do, and, just as
important, where they want to do it!
"Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in South Africa for a reason. The
quality of life in South Africa is fantastic. We have excellent
infrastructure. We have beautiful homes and are able to afford staff to help
take care of them. We have world-class amenities, such as shopping malls,
theaters, sporting facilities (SA is host to the World Cup in 2010),
restaurants...
"In addition, we have something you won't find on any other continent:
Africa's unique wildlife. The many game parks, with their diversity of
accommodation, from basic, rustic, up-close, and personal tented bush camps
to super-refined five-star lodges, offer something available nowhere else in
the world.
"I'm writing now from my veranda, the early morning sun warming my skin
before I take my coffee with me into the Jacuzzi. I'm starting my day gazing
through the rising mist into the Valley of 1000 Hills, with Inanda Dam below
me stretching out to the Great Rift Valley. Utter bliss! And this is just
another day in Africa.
"Here are some photos to give you an idea what I'm talking about--
the
view from my veranda. I live close to Tribal Trust Land and love
exchanging calls of 'hello' and waving to my neighbors down in the valley as
they tend their goats and their mealies fields (sweet corn).
"Incidentally, I live on my own, and, no, I do not own a gun."
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