Live and Invest Overseas Presents The Panama Letter

More info here

"In spite of the fact that Buenos Aires (BA) is a big city, there is a laid-back quality of life here which many find refreshing," writes Correspondent Sire Lise Doub. "I spoke to one expat who declared that the best thing about living in BA was that 'people aren't trying to impress everyone with their success. It's not like the rat race you can get caught up in the states.'

"Another calls it 'removed,' with a 'small town feel.' The expat community is not overwhelming—you can do with it what you'd like—and the cultural barriers are not immense. People are friendly and pleasant—even in the service industry. Waiters, cashiers…even airport staff is less surly than you'll find in many other major cities. And, yet another expat said that although she was initially unsure about returning to Argentina, 'Once I arrived I was actually glad to have left America—a feeling I have never experienced before, in all the places I've lived.'"

Contributing Writer Siri Lise Doub takes you on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Argentina's wine country--a region that offers a most enviable lifestyle...on a very affordable budget. And you don't need to be a wine aficionado to fit in down Mendoza way. As Siri Lise explains, there's a lot more to "the next Napa" than its grapes.

Meanwhile, Paul Terhorst discusses why shrewd retirees should consider switching from income-based to asset-based thinking (and spending). See page 3 of your issue for details on how this approach has worked for Paul, Warren Buffet, and the Argentine nation...to name a few.

"Blessed by the Caribbean Sea, and the world's second-largest barrier reef, Ambergris Caye is an aquamarine water wonderland," writes Belize Correspondent Ann Kuffner. "From snorkeling and diving to fishing, kayaking, sailing, and parasailing, water sport options abound. But for those who'd rather kick back and shift to island time, the selection of quality restaurants and bars provides ample opportunities to do that, too. Today it's even possible to sip a fine Malbec or Cabernet accompanied by creamy brie or peppercorn pate in the shade of swaying palm trees…

"You'll note Hispanic, Mayan, Lebanese, Garifuna, Eastern Indian, and British roots in the faces of the local residents. American and Canadian Baby Boomers are only the most recent wave of newcomers to discover this Isla Bonita's charms. There are few places where such a melting pot of cultures and races gets along so well.

"This island is bursting with nature's bounty. And yet there are North American-style resorts and condominium developments where you can live full- or part-time in total comfort..."

Next month, Ann leads you on a golf cart tour of "Temptation Island," the name given to Ambergris Caye after the controversial reality show was filmed there in 2001. Look for Ann's full report in your May issue...

Belize correspondent Phil Hahn reveals a place of stunning landscapes and natural resources where you can live a luxury lifestyle for US$1,145 a month. And, despite an established expat population, property prices are still "local." Among Phil's best finds is a 3,200-square-foot villa--with a separate guesthouse--for US$125,000.

In the same report, Paul Terhorst asks what we've learned from the recent global meltdown...and how we can better prepare for future busts.

If you're looking to retire to a beachfront city in Northeast Brazil, look no farther than Maceió," writes Latin American Correspondent Christian MacDonald. "When it comes to making a terrific first impression on arrival, this is a city that's hard to beat.

"In fact, when I crested the hill on my approach to the beach, the view to the sea was so impressive that I missed my turn and got lost. But when I finally turned and hit the beachfront promenade, I was treated to a gleaming, modern city that soon jumped to the forefront of all the cities I've visited in Brazil with an eye on retirement.

"And, better yet, you can buy a large, three-bedroom apartment here for less than US$75,000, and enjoy the good life here for under US$1,400 per month." Full story from Christian in your September issue.

Retiring to Colombia is "not nearly as nutty a notion as it may sound," writes Publisher Kathleen Peddicord. "And, the city of Medellin has a great deal to recommend it, including: a temperate climate year-round, a great diversity of cultural and recreational offerings, infrastructure that works, and a very affordable cost of living. You could rent a comfortable apartment in this appealing city for US$300 per month or less...or invest in an apartment of your own for US$60,000 or US$70,000.

"All that said, this remains an emerging market, not yet very foreign retireefriendly. Things like establishing residency and opening a local bank account are still in the 'workaround stage,' as I think of it. That is, to do these things, you may need to put some workarounds in place. That can be fine, but not everyone is up for the hassle. "As I remind you often, it comes down to your priorities. Maybe you're not looking for a place to retire overseas full-time, so you don't mind that permanent full-time foreign residency can be complicated to organize. Maybe, for you, the near-perfect weather, the beauty of the setting and of the city itself, the friendliness of the people, and the great diversity of ways to spend your days and your nights are enough to warrant a closer look at the idea of spending time long term in Medellin."

"A sleepy seaside city a generation ago, today La Serena, northern Chile's 'serene one,' is one of the country's most popular beach resorts," writes Lauren Stanley.

As Lauren reports, La Serena has more character than your average beach town: "In the heart of downtown, most shopping is done at department stores and specialty shops. Semi-pedestrian streets like Prat and O'Higgins are lined with upscale wine stores, clothing boutiques, and shoe emporia. Trendy cafés and restaurants abound, and the streets are so clean you can practically eat off them."

Also in this report, Paul Terhorst explains how to efficiently keep up with the news you need online.

Take an in depth look at Cuenca, Ecuador--the country that Publisher Kathleen Peddicord has named the cheapest country in Latin America. Our reporter, Christian MacDonald, concurs: "In my opinion, the country of Ecuador is the best deal out there when it comes to an overseas retirement destination...and Cuenca is the best that Ecuador has to offer."

Expats here can take advantage of "a cost of living that's among the lowest in Latin America...real estate prices that are unheard-of in a city with such a rich quality of life...an unbeatable retiree benefit package...and a thriving expat community surrounded by a warm and welcoming people who make you feel like you really belong."

"Wedged between Guatemala and Honduras, and bordering the Pacific coast, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America. It's also the most densely populated and considered to be the most beautiful. From everything I've seen, its roads are the best in Central America and the gas stations are new, large, clean, and offer something called 'service' to the pumps: window cleaning, tire checking, and a smile," writes Central America Correspondent Michael Paladin.

"To make things even easier, all prices are in U.S. dollars. No liters, just gallons. El Salvador may be the easiest country in Central America for a visitor from the U.S. to find his bearings. The rental of a two-bedroom apartment in the better sections of San Salvador range from US$500 to US$800 a month, furnished. Meanwhile, new three-bedroom/two-bath apartments are offered for $115,800 with financing."

This overlooked colonial city in the heart of Central America has plenty to offer the would-be foreign retiree. Correspondent Michael Paladin recently set up home in Antigua and reports that real estate is affordable, the people are friendly, the climate is perfect with little to no humidity, overseas income is free of local tax, and you can live a very good lifestyle for less than US$1,400 a month, including regular entertainment, eating out, and a furnished rental at US$800 monthly.

In fact, though, you could live in Antigua on much less. For, as Michael explains, you could rent small and basic in this town for as little as US$250 a month. That'd make your total monthly budget but US$850. Own your own place, and you can do away with rent altogether...meaning you could enjoy life in this beautiful colonial city for as little as US$600 a month...

A low cost of living is important but not sufficient for a fulfilling life. If your wish-list for an overseas residence also includes a moderate climate, good food, old-world charm, friendly people, lots of culture, and engaging activities in a vibrant community, then the February issue of The Overseas Retirement Letter, will make you wonder why you still haven't made the overseas leap! This is romantic Old Mexico at its best - colorful, beautiful, passionate, and captivating... a place to rekindle your love of life and re-awaken the romance of your youth. At just two hours flight time from Texas and located in the heart of Mexico's Colonial Highlands, Guanajuato is still just a tiny blip on the expat radar. The small foreign community (about 300 folks) is large enough to provide fellowship and support for new arrivals, yet small enough that there's no doubt that you're living in a vintage Mexican town. Living in Guanajuato for 13 years with his family, Mexico Correspondent Mike Anderson delivers an insider's story revealing why Guanajuato is so much more than just another quaint World Heritage City. Look out for Guanajuato, Mexico in your inbox mid-February.

Michael Paladin introduces you to the little-known town of San Cristobal del las Casas, high up in the mountains of Mexico's Chiapas state. This colonial town is far from over-run with Americans (think San Miguel or Oaxaca three decades ago). A quirky place with its distinct architecture, vibrant colors (from buildings to textiles), and revered stashes of coffee and amber, you'll feel like you've entered an entirely different world.

In the same report, Paul Terhorst offers suggestions for what you can do now to help your financial situation in case you haven't planned so well for your retirement.

Chic, cosmopolitan, yet richly romantic, Puerto Vallarta is one beach resort you can enjoy even if you never set foot in the water. This city, located on Mexico's Pacific coast—and just a two-hour flight from the U.S.- -also offers fine dining, world-class shopping, cultural events, and intimate historic areas with cobblestoned streets that just beg to be explored.

Puerto Vallarta—or "PV," as many expats call it--lies along one of one of the world's most beautiful bays, the Bay of Banderas. Velvet-green mountains, running down almost to the bay, form its backdrop. Thanks to this location between hills and sea, you can swim or sail in the morning and enjoy walks, hiking or horseback riding in the hilly interior in the afternoon. You can also find hillside properties that offer sweeping, panoramic views of the bay…

And you don't need a fortune to live here. In Puerto Vallarta, there are properties to fit every budget. In-town apartments and condos in romantic, intimate neighborhoods with cobbled streets…high-rise modern condos in the marina area…and single-family homes in outlying neighborhoods are all to be found.

With all PV has to offer, no wonder it's a favorite with expats. As many as 10,000 expats may live here full or part-time…and many more come to visit. Read all about this perennial favorite in next month's issue.

You could live well in Nicaragua's most charming colonial city on less than US$1,000 per month. Correspondent Michael Paladin introduces you to our favorite city in Central America ,a little city with a long history where you can travel around by horse-drawn carriage and pass the balmy afternoons in a rocking chair on the wide front porch of the historic Alhambra Hotel overlooking the always-busy central square.

Also in this issue, Resident Retirement Planning Expert Paul Terhorst explains how your credit card company handles overseas transactions, and why you can be better off parting ways with your plastic before you leave home.

"Hidden behind the image of its picaresque president for the last few years, Nicaragua is suddenly emerging as one of the top 10 retirement and vacation hot spots in the world," writes Central America Correspondent Michael Paladin. "Why? MSN, The Lonely Planet Guidebook, and the US News and World publications have been naming, promoting, and giving a lot of ink lately to the largest country in Central America. However, the international yard-stick of popularity is the annual tourist count. And, Nicaragua, for the first time ever, notched over a million visitors in 2010.

"Right now, Nicaragua offers three primary choices for the potential retiree: Granada, the Pacific beach town of San Juan Del Sur, and the off-the-beaten track old city of Leon. Old is relative in Nicaragua, with Granada claiming the prize for longevity: the Leones dispute this, pointing to the original city built on the slopes of a sleeping volcano. It is a question of two months, more or less, but the centuries-long claims dating from 1524 have never healed."

Panama City has many neighborhoods that a foreign retire would find comfortable—Costa del Este, Casco Viejo, and Punta Pacifica, among others. All of these neighborhoods have their benefits and drawbacks, but few are as central, as eclectic, as welcoming, as interesting, and, in the current market, as affordable as El Cangrejo. El Cangrejo ("The crab") sits between the prestigious La Cresta and Obarrio neighborhoods, and some say that the place was named for the way the quiet, tree-lined streets protrude from Via Argentina, like the limbs of a crab. El Cangrejo is a popular relocation choice among young entrepreneurial expats and retirees who want a neighborhood with character and countless amenities—banks, hospitals, restaurants, casinos, and nighclubs, all within walking distance. This report, brought to you by our Panama Correspondent Rebecca Tyre, provides all the essential information for establishing yourself in this trendy and very expat-friendly neighborhood, one of our favorite in all Panama City.

If you've been following Kathleen Peddicord's writings in the daily Overseas Opportunity Letter, you're already acquainted with Panama. You know about the country's general attractions: arguably the world's best pensionado program, a stable economy, modern infrastructure, privacy and tax advantages, an affordable cost of living, affordable real estate, and world-class health care...to name a few...

El Valle is conveniently located 30 to 45 minutes from some of the Pacific coast's best beaches...and about two hours from Panama City (so you can regularly enjoy the best of the city, without its heat and humidity). Lucy Culpepper shares all her insider information on living, getting around, buying property, staying healthy, and making the best of your time in El Valle, where you can enjoy the best of Panama without the heat and humidity of Panama City.

You probably thought that the days of finding a house on the beach for US$75,000 were over… but, reports ORL's South America correspondent Christian MacDonald, they're not.

Christian reveals, in the September issue of the ORL, a jewel of a South American country whose world-famous beaches run the entire length of its coast. Where one section of this coast has been overlooked since the 1950s… left back in time.

And it's here that you'll find the best seaside values available in any first-world setting. There's an incredible 30 miles of uninterrupted golden sands…of gentle sweeping coves and uncrowded beaches, and some of the country's best coastal towns for full-time retirement living. Small, friendly towns with shady, tree-lined streets and stately homes from another era.

Uruguay is the country that Christian reports from. It's a country that offers a peaceful, genuinely laid-back culture, along with a notable absence from the world's conflicts…a place where expats can obtain easy residency, and even a second passport.

This secure South American country offers a solid (and still-confidential) financial center, with an economy that actually grew during the recent worldwide recession…one that continues to draw investors from the world over, seeking a financial and political safe haven.

Christian, a long-time resident of Uruguay, will reveal in the September issue of the Overseas Retirement Letter, the area of coastline that he has for many years chosen for Uruguay's best coastal value.

Latin America Correspondent Christian MacDonald reports from Uruguay, where he has discovered one of the world's best options for sophisticated seaside living in the little coastal town of La Barra. La Barra, as Christian explains, is also a place where you could generate good rental income if you were to invest now for a retirement home in the future.

Also in this issue resident Retirement Planning Expert Paul Terhorst, retired overseas for more than 25 years, since the ripe age of 35, begins a conversation that could be one of the most important of your life.

Paul has survived no fewer than 12 "financial meltdowns" in various corners of the world. In this report, Paul tells you what you need (and don't need) to make the leap to retirement overseas. Paul also shares his tried-and-tested methods for setting yourself up in retirement in a foreign country.

Plan for your retirement with a 12% annual yield in the "Next Napa."

This long-term yield play is worth your attention right now. It's the kind of back-to-basics play you want to be making in the current investment climate. And a lot of fun, too….the best of pleasure investing.

More info here

Our ever-expanding and most comprehensive Panama package.

In fact, the 2011 Panama Starter Kit is seven important Panama resources:

Our Panama Home Conference Kit includes all the components of our 2011 Panama Starter Kit:

-- "Live and Invest in Panama," the complete, 221-page guide (a US$79 value)-- This complete and current guide to Panama introduces you to the country's top seven choices for expat living and helps you to compare them, one to the other, with a clear look at the pluses and the minuses in each case...

--"Panama 101: 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama" (a US$9.99 value)-- This is the guide no one should come to Panama before reading first. In these pages, you'll learn vital lessons, including the absolute maximum you should ever pay for a taxi ride across Panama City...what not to wear if you want to be taken seriously by your new compatriots... where to go to shop for books in English...a guide to festivals and seasons...and helpful Panamanian-isms...

-- "Panama Residency Visas Supplement," containing fully up-to-date information on all 14 of this country's top foreign residency options (a US$9.99 value)--This is your step-by-step guide with answers to all your residency- and visa-related questions...

-- "Little Black Book for Panama," our private Rolodex, not available for sale anywhere. This is a guide to our best in-country resources, including contact information.

-- The Special Retirement Report "El Valle de Anton, the World's Top Retirement Haven" (a US$9.95 value)--To get you started on your Grand Tour of Panama, this special report features the little mountain town of El Valle de Anton, conveniently located 30 to 45 minutes from the beach and about two hours outside Panama City...so you can regularly enjoy the best of the city, without its heat and humidity...

--The Special Retirement Report on El Cangrejo, Panama City (a US$9.95 value)--To continue your Grand Tour of Panama, this special report features the metropolitan neighborhood of El Cangrejo. Central, eclectic, welcoming, and affordable, El Cangrejo is a popular relocation choice among young entrepreneurial expats and retirees who want a neighborhood with character and countless amenities—banks, hospitals, restaurants, casinos, and nightclubs­—all within walking distance. This report provides all the essential information for establishing yourself in this trendy and very expat-friendly neighborhood, one of our favorite in all Panama City…

--The special report, "44 Things You Must Know Before You Relocate, Retire, or Invest Offshore," the nuts-and-bolts support you need to plan your adventures in Panama with confidence (a US$29 value)...

In addition, this special complete package includes the audio recordings of every presentation made during our recent Live & Invest in Panama Conference, along with PowerPoint presentations and other supporting materials from each speaker and expert (a US$279 value)…

More info here

---- "Live and Invest in Belize," the complete guide for living, retiring, and investing in Belize (a US$79 value)-- This complete and current guide to Belize introduces you to the country's top choices for expat living and helps you to compare them, one to the other, with a clear look at the pluses and the minuses in each case...

--Our Special Retirement Report on Belize's Cayo District, one of our favorite spots in the country, offering perhaps the most affordable retirement lifestyle in Belize right now (a US$9.95 value)...

--"Retire At 45 In Tropical, Tax-Free Belize," our special report on Belize's QRP retirement program, detailing why this is one of the top three retirement residency programs in the world right now(a US$9.99 value)...

--The special report, "44 Things You Must Know Before You Relocate, Retire, or Invest Offshore," the nuts-and-bolts support you need to plan your adventures in Panama with confidence (a US$29 value)...

In addition, this special complete package includes the audio recordings of every presentation made during our recent Live & Invest in Belize Conference, along with PowerPoint presentations and other supporting materials from each speaker and expert (a US$279 value)…

More info here

If Belize is on your radar (as we suggest it should be), here's everything you need to take the first step toward realizing your dreams of a new life in this beautiful, English-speaking Caribbean nation.

We call it the "Belize Starter Kit." Think of it as Belize 101, everything the would-be expat or retiree considering a new life in Belize needs to get started. It includes:

---- "Live and Invest in Belize," the complete guide for living, retiring, and investing in Belize (a US$79 value)-- This complete and current guide to Belize introduces you to the country's top choices for expat living and helps you to compare them, one to the other, with a clear look at the pluses and the minuses in each case...
--Our Special Retirement Report on Belize's Cayo District, one of our favorite spots in the country, offering perhaps the most affordable retirement lifestyle in Belize right now (a US$9.95 value)...

--"Retire At 45 In Tropical, Tax-Free Belize," our special report on Belize's QRP retirement program, detailing why this is one of the top three retirement residency programs in the world right now(a US$9.99 value)...

--The special report, "44 Things You Must Know Before You Relocate, Retire, or Invest Offshore," the nuts-and-bolts support you need to plan your adventures in Panama with confidence (a US$29 value)...

More info here