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Recently Answered Questions

What are the construction standards in Puerto Vallarta?

David Schwendeman - Mexlend

Pool overlooking the romantic zone in an apartment hotel, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The construction standards in Puerto Vallarta are excellent. I wouldn’t say they’ve been always excellent but there was an earthquake in 1995 that shook things up a bit. Fortunately, there was no major damage or loss of life.

Consequently, post 1995, construction laws, norms, and practices really got beefed up. As a result, where in the past you might have seen a lower grade of rebar prior, now you’re seeing thicker and more...

How are the homes in Panama different than in the US or Canada?

Gonzalo de la Guardia - Panasurance

Panama City condo showing open eating area – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

In the US, since for the most part there is no house help like a cook or a maid, life is around the kitchen. So in the US, the kitchen is an open area where people sit around while you are preparing food and you can talk about your day. In the US, the kitchen is the more or less, the center of the house. In Panama, generally, the kitchen is out of sight because that is where the cook is. That is how Panamanian houses are constructed. They have a maid’s quarters or a maid’s...

Are there American-trained doctors in Granada, Nicaragua?

Janice Gallagher - Granada Property Services

In Granada, Nicaragua, there are a couple of American-trained dentists, but no American-trained doctors. There are, however, several good doctors here in Granada.

For example, we use Dr. Blanco, who is from Cuba and was trained in several other countries as well. Dr. Blanco speaks English and he makes house calls. I’ve had several clients for whom Dr. Blanco made a house call when they were sick or their children were sick and all of them were satisfied.
...

In general, what do I need to know about FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report)?

Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America

According to the Foreign Bank and Financial Authority (FBAR) regulations, the IRS must allow individuals to open private offshore bank accounts. So long as the aggregate value of all foreign financial accounts does not exceed $10,000 (USD) at any time during the calendar year, the assets need not be reported. Be mindful of interest bearing accounts, for if your total offshore accounts exceed $10,000 (USD) the IRS requires you to report it or risk facing a maximum penalty of five years in...

How much does it cost for a gardener in Ambergris Caye?

Christian Burn

Grounds people are pretty abundant in Belize. If you need someone who actually knows something about landscaping, that is a different thing, but if you are just talking about maintenance gardening, you will spend about US $30 per day. Gardeners work for about half a day or about four hours per day

The price for $30 per day is for using equipment such as a weed whacker, a lawn mower, shears, or similar tools. If you are just getting a guy to rake the beach,...

Do I need to own a car in Algarve?

Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living

The beach at Praia da Luz, Algarve, Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

You don’t have to own a car in the Algarve but many people do own cars here.

The Algarve is a little tricky in the sense that the distances can be misleading. Nothing is very far in the Algarve. A lot of people say they want to be able to be close to the coast, which they will define as about half an hour away, but you can be anywhere in the Algarve in half an hour’s drive.

But it is where you want to be in 5 to 10...

Recently Posted Expat Stories

The Most Important Thing To Do When You Move To Panama

Presented with permission from Bob Adams of Retirement Wave

Folks often ask me what’s important that I do when I get to Panama.

“Do I need to learn the language?”

“Is there some place I can go to learn the culture?”

“Should I travel around the country?”

Basically, while all these things are interesting and they’re good things to do, the most important thing for the entirety of the time you’re here, in...

Then Comes the Dawn

It is the same sun after all. Places seem familiar when you arrive in Panama City. You recognize the clean modern airport at Panama City as being so much like the airports in the United States. As you leave by car, taxi or bus you still feel quite impressed by the ease of it all. Once away from the airport, passing shopping venues, multi story apartments and condos, there are billboard signs with well known brand names the same as in the places you left behind. After a...

Surfing in Panamá

Regions of Panama: Punta Chame

Panamá has always been a country with warm and friendly people who welcome all nationalities. It has also been a place of transit since the 15th century, when visitors came with gold from Perú to Spain. Later, with the construction of the Panamá Canal (considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World), workers from all the world wanted to be part of this great mega-project.

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