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Recently Answered Questions

Where’s the best sightseeing in Mexico?

Vanessa Kerr

Coyoacan, Mexico – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

The best sightseeing in Mexico City is downtown where you will find the National Palace, which is the seat of the government. You will also find the Cathedral and many other colonial buildings, which were built around the 1700s and the 1800s. It is a beautiful place to go.

The Theater of Fine Arts is also in Mexico City, which is a beautiful building from the turn of the 20th century. You can also go to the area around Polanco, which is where we live, and...

How good are the medical centers, hospitals and health clinics in Belize, and how close are they?

Ima Faque

Belize has terrible healthcare. For example there is no chemotherapy in the entire nation, there is one poorly functioning MRI and I donate basic tools like forcepts and hemostats to our clinics because they can't get them. There is an Ado bus to Merida Mexico we call the hospital bus because 80% of the passengers are going to a Mexican hospital. If you look at Mexico, Panama even Cuba the level of healthcare makes Belize look like the stone age.

What are the best things to do in and around Boquete, Panama?

Spokesperson - Le Meridien Panama

One of my favorite thing to do in Boquete is going to the garden "Tu jardín es mi jardín". There are a large variety of flowers to see and also some fish and birds. Before or after I recommend a stop for a great cup of coffee at Cafe Ruiz which is on the way. They also offer a coffee tour.

What is Portugal's gun ownership policy and gun laws?

Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant

Caçador em Peralcovo, Hunter in Peralcovo, Portugal – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal.

Most of the people who have guns in Portugal, and how gun ownership started is that the guns were for hunters for the hunting season, but there are very strict rules for that.

The actual details of what would be required to get a license to have a gun and what it would cost, I don’t know. The reason...

How much is it to build a house in Granada, Nicaragua?

Paul Daemen - Aurora Granada

What are the prices to purchase a condo and homes in Granada? Los Balcones spec home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

This is not a simple question, since it varies by location, type of finish, square feet, renovated, age, historical district, for sale by owner. So if you take into consideration all these variables its basically telling you to shop around and analyze. Take note that the real estate market is not transparent as it is in such countries as USA, Canada and others that have a MLS (multi listing...

What are the prices to purchase a condo and homes in Granada? Los Balcones spec home – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

As you notice in some of the posts, people talk about prices but do not provide square foot or size of lot. All that must be taken into consideration, as well as HOA fees and what the fees entail and who holds the money!

The picture is of a new spec home being built in Los Balcones, outside of Granada. We are using an architect to design and build, and we are using ADA standard to have wider doors, no steps, and easy access to bathroom. The cost of this approximately 1,650 square foot home with all the upgrades is slightly over US$100 per square foot, which also includes the 6% real estate commission and the lot price of US $40,000. As you can see this is a concrete block home. We will be adding a steel roof structure and roof tiles. There are no HOA fees at Los Balcones.

On this 1,650 square foot home, as is the norm here you calculate all the area that's under the roof as the square feer. In some properties, they even add the square feet of the garage or storage, or patio.

When we shopped for our home we noticed that the value of homes in Granada were very high relative to what we could buy outside of town with similar square feet and finish. I would say the difference was close to 30-50%, depending on land and home condition.

As you can see, I am not going to place a price point but advising you to check and ask around when you are looking for a property. If you see a price on a home on the agent's website, make sure you confirm with agent prior does the price include the sales commission, which can be anywhere from 5 to 10%. On top of that add another 4-6% for closing costs (attorney fees, registration and taxes) depending on value of home.

Land prices are also all over the place and will all depend where you are going to buy and if the property has access to utilities and views of property and if land is in a development like Club Vista Lagos where lots on the rim can be as high as US $80,000 for a quarter acre lot to inside lots go for US $40,000 for a 2 acre lot, Los Balcones where lots are $40,000 for an acre, or you can go to the Mombacho area and pay in the neighborhood of US $30,000 per acre, or you come out to the farm community and you can pay around from US $12,000 to US $30,000 per manzana which is equal to 1.75 acres.

Club Vista Lagos' HOA is approximately US $40 per year for security, road maintenance, access to lake and club house (under construction)

One item to consider when buying on Laguna De Apoyo is can you get a permit to build. Make sure you have this confirmed prior to buying, prior to signing a purchase contract. Do not listen to seller or his attorney. Get it in writing that a home can be built. In developments such as Vista Lagos you can build with no issues, but don't assume you can build around the rim or on the laguna, it's not that simple.

Best advice we can provide is ask and verify in writing!

What are the least-expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?

Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America

There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:

The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)

Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica,...

There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:

The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)

Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay.

So, to best answer the question "What are the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?" the answer would rely heavily on whether you have the financial means to afford an 'economic citizenship' program or the time to wait for a 'naturalization' program to come to fruition. Generally speaking, economic citizenship programs make second passports available within 3 to 12 months while naturalization programs can take 5 to 7 years.

If the case is the former, then the Commonwealth of Dominica offers visa-free access to 76 countries with a charitable contribution starting at $100,000 for individuals and $175,000 for married couples.

The Dominican Republic offers visa-free access to 40 countries with a $200,000 business investment which "furthers the overall economic value of the Dominican Republic".

And St Kitts and Nevis offers access to over 125 countries through either a charitable contribution to the SIDF (Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation) which runs $250,000 for an individual and begins at $300,000 for married couples, or through the purchase of real property (the minimum investment is $400,000) with government fees running $50,000 for the head of household, $25,000 for the spouse, and an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per child depending on their age.

If the case is the latter, then prices and residency or visitation requirements can vary dramatically. Although your options are more abundant for 'naturalization' programs so too is the demand for you to thoroughly do your research before making a decision. Unfortunately the length of this article will not permit for a comprehensive answer to the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship by way of naturalization. I would suggest speaking at length to someone qualified to get more details if interested.

Regardless of which jurisdiction best meets your needs, you must be pointed to the specific underlying legal foundation upon which the dual citizenship program is being made available to the public. Meaning, if you are not provided with a section from the constitution, a constitutional amendment or piece of current legislation validating the program then you are likely to become involved in a scam.

Be leery of anyone who tries to sell you a second passport based on adoption, the death of a citizen, or 'special activities' such as an involvement in the film industry, etc. The use of a fraudulent passport is a serious international crime and punishable with long prison sentences in most every participating country.

Lastly, whomever you choose to provide your dual citizenship services, the actual work should be performed by legal counsel on-the-ground in the country wherein you are seeking your second citizenship. Under no circumstances whatsoever should you consider attempting to procure a second passport without competent and reliable legal counsel.

Recently Posted Expat Stories

Last Sunday of the Month, Boquete, Panamá

Yesterday was the last Sunday of the month which means it is the Amigos de Animales Spay and Neuter Clinic.

The day actually begins on Saturday when it is time to take a small day care center and turn it into an in-take processing area, pre-op area, surgical room, post-op area and recovery room. Every square inch is used in the most efficient manner possible.

On Sunday, the veterinarians arrive from Costa Rica to begin operating on at least 100 animals....

Panama History Was Made Today - Canadian Sunwing Charter Flight Lands At Panama's New Scarlett Martinez Airpoort!

Panama's new international beach airport Panama's Scarlett Martinez International Airport - First Canadian Sunwing Charter Flight Lands Today April 4, 2014 – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Panama's Scarlett Martinez International Airport - First Canadian Sunwing Charter Flight Lands Today April 4, 2014 – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

named Scarlett Martinez and located in the general Coronado Panama area received its very first international flight from Toronto Canada this morning! The Sunwing charter flight arrived right on time, packed with happy vacationing Canadians seeking to escape from the northland cold to the warm & sunny Panamanian Pacific Ocean Beaches.

Weekly Sunwing charter flights are scheduled for each...

The New Coastal Strip of Panama,The Subway, and Raspao

Yesterday, Holy Saturday, Mary and I Mary looking through telescope at Coastal Strip in Panama at night – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

Mary looking through telescope at Coastal Strip in Panama at night – Best Places In The World To Retire – International Living

went to the church to ask God for the peace of the world and ask for our union. It was a very beautiful and emotional Mass of 3 hours with songs and candles.

Then, after Mass, we went to see the new coastal belt. We have no words to describe our excitement at seeing Panama growing this most beautiful day. The belt goes from the Old Town (Casco Viejo) to the Bridge of the Americas. It has playgrounds, skating parks,...