Falling In Love Again With This Lovely City Of Flowers

Jan. 22, 2012, Panama City, Panama: Medellin, Colombia, is one of the world’s most pleasant and appealing cities, offering great weather and lots to do, including lively nightlife in Parque Lleras.

Also This Week: Panama Is #1, But It’s Not Always Best…The Cheapest Place In The World To Retire In 2012…Follow Your Priorities To The New Life Overseas That's Right For You…

Dear Overseas Opportunity Letter Reader,

Kathleen and Lief are en route to Medellin this morning, to prepare for our first-ever Live and Invest in Colombia Conference taking place in that city later this week. Kathleen didn't have time to write something for us before leaving for the airport but suggested that we re-run this brief dispatch written following her second visit to Medellin about a year ago this time...

Sometimes first impressions can be deceiving. So I'd worked hard to keep my expectations in check leading up to this return trip to Medellin. Surely, this city, upon second, closer look, couldn't live up to the rose-colored memory I've cultivated since my first visit a few months ago.

Caribbean Christmas

Dec. 21, 2010, Ambergris Caye, Belize: Home to 10 different ethnic groups, Belize boasts a very multicultural Christmas season.

Christmas Week Trivia Fun On Facebook!

Every entry wins a prize. Grand Prize is a FREE Conference Attendance in 2011!

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

"For those of us who grew up in snow country, it seems odd to be walking around in T-shirts and flip flops on Christmas Day," writes Belize Correspondent Ann Kuffner.

Why Costa Rica May Become One Of The Least Attractive Retirement Choices In The World

Dec. 19, 2011, San Jose, Costa Rica: If proposed tax changes in Costa Rica are passed, Costa Rica will become one of the least appealing overseas retirement choices in the world.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

The Costa Rica legislature is trying to fast-track new tax legislation...and the opposition has filed a suit with the Supreme Court to stop the fast-tracking. Not the legislation itself, just the fast-tracking.

Politics aside, the proposed tax changes show that a government (any government) can shift policies at a moment's notice. Among the more disturbing changes in the proposed law include allowances for taxing residents on worldwide income and for taxing income in the free trade zones (whose names, I guess, would need to be changed).

The breadth and depth of these proposed new taxes is easily explained. Costa Rica, like so many countries right now, is broke. They have too much government and welfare and too little income. So they are looking for ways to increase their revenues.

Ignore This Property Investing Due Diligence At Your Own Risk

Jan. 20, 2012, Panama City, Panama: When planning to purchase property overseas in a situation where you’ll become part of a home owners’ association (HOA), you want to carry out due diligence into the management of the property and the financial position of the HOA before making your foreign property investment.

Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,

Buying a piece of property in a gated community or an apartment building means that, as an owner, you're going to be part of some kind of home owners' association (HOA). How that association is run will affect not only the value of your property, but also your enjoyment and experience of the place overall. Not all associations are managed the same, and, unfortunately, not all are managed well.

Generally speaking, an owners' association should have a board of directors that oversees an administrator, either an employee or a management service, who deals with day-to-day management of the association and of the building. That team should work together, making decisions jointly.