How bad are the mosquitoes and other bugs and insects in Los Cabos - La Paz, Mexico?
Pepe Acosta - Ventanas Hotel and Residences
Mosquitoes, bugs, and insects are more common in during the rainy season, but it is not a problem for us here in Cabo. The rainy season is not very long in Baja California Sur and is during the months of August and September, but more common in September.
Baja California Sur is a desert that gets very little rain so because it's so dry all the time, there are not very many insects.
(View of the desert from the rooftop...
Mosquitoes, bugs, and insects are more common in during the rainy season, but it is not a problem for us here in Cabo. The rainy season is not very long in Baja California Sur and is during the months of August and September, but more common in September.
Baja California Sur is a desert that gets very little rain so because it's so dry all the time, there are not very many insects.
(View of the desert from the rooftop pool at Ventanas Hotel & Residences, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, pictured.)
What are the most popular, typical or famous foods of Belize?
Irma Quiroz-Yuque - Belize Vacation Homes
Foods of Belize such a wonderful topic for a Foodie like myself. The most popular food in all of Belize is your typical Rice and Beans with Stewed Chicken or Stewed Beef. It is served with potato salad and a plantain. Anyone who first comes to Belize has to try this dish, of course with a cold Belikin Beer or Rum and Coke. You never come to a country without trying their most famous dish. All of these meals no matter where you go are homemade, no preservatives or any surprises. You can...
Foods of Belize such a wonderful topic for a Foodie like myself. The most popular food in all of Belize is your typical Rice and Beans with Stewed Chicken or Stewed Beef. It is served with potato salad and a plantain. Anyone who first comes to Belize has to try this dish, of course with a cold Belikin Beer or Rum and Coke. You never come to a country without trying their most famous dish. All of these meals no matter where you go are homemade, no preservatives or any surprises. You can even buy this meal on any local street stand or hole in the wall.
Since there are so many cultures in Belize, you are able to try almost anything from any ethnicity. Up North we are close to the Mexican border therefore you can get Mexican food with a twist. In Orange Walk town, they are famous for their tacos, and oh are they delicious. In Hopkins / Dangriga area you get Garifuna food such as Fish Sere. There is also a large population of East Indians and you can get Curry. There is a large concentration of Chinese from Taiwan, so you get authentic Taiwanese food, oh my. Due to the close proximity of El Salvador, we also find Salvadoran food and eat the Best Pupusas (stuffed corn tortilla) in all of Belize. Belize also borders Guatemala so we can find Tamales made in Banana leaves. I am drooling as I write this. We also border Honduras, so we can find pastelitos de carne or tostones. So what are you waiting for, if you are a Foodie it is time to visit Belize.
When it comes to desserts the traditional one in Belize is Cold Cake. But again you can find almost anything from Flan (baked custard) to best cakes ever. Like Tres Leches Cake from Mexico. We have discovered homemade ice cream, and homemade pop tarts made with natural fruits such as pineapple, mango and papaya. Oh my! And I must not forget the fry jacks, which you can eat them alone, with beans, honey, cinnamon and sugar, jam or homemade jellies. A must to try in Belize.
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...
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 prison and the loss of up to 50% of your assets.
Properly executed, the benefit to such a strategy of moving money offshore lies in having a family open an offshore bank account in the name of each family member in the amount of $9,990 (USD) into a non-interest bearing account. Provided a person is careful to adhere to established guidelines this is a safe way to quickly move tens of thousands of dollars out of the country, depending on the number of family members in your household.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers all income reportable regardless of the source or location derived and most assets held offshore are reportable, however some are not. When looking to preserve your assets it is important to understand the difference between taxable income and reportable assets. As with all offshore structuring, consult with your legal or tax advisor to ensure your activities are in compliance with the laws of your resident country.
Is there diving, SCUBA or snorkeling in or around the Pedasi, Azuero, Panama area?
Liatte Nicole Miller
You can scuba dive around Isla Iguana, which is about 20 minutes by boat from Pedasi. Isla Iguana is in the Pacific, so the visibility isn’t always that great. You can see stingrays and lots of colorful fish like parrotfish. There isn't a lot of coral. You could see turtles and crabs. It is nice to scuba dive around Isla Iguana, but I think there are better places in Panama.
You can also snorkel in Isla Iguana because it is quite shallow, so you do not have...
You can scuba dive around Isla Iguana, which is about 20 minutes by boat from Pedasi. Isla Iguana is in the Pacific, so the visibility isn’t always that great. You can see stingrays and lots of colorful fish like parrotfish. There isn't a lot of coral. You could see turtles and crabs. It is nice to scuba dive around Isla Iguana, but I think there are better places in Panama.
You can also snorkel in Isla Iguana because it is quite shallow, so you do not have to go very far. Because it is shallow, you can clearly see fish and turtles. It’s a very nice experience. You do not have to a professional and experienced snorkeler. If you’re with Pedasi Tours at Isla Iguana, they will give you snorkels and fins as part of the package. You can go on your own. You do not have to have a guide or instructor.
Personally, I think that one of the best places to scuba dive in the world is Coiba National Park, which is about four hours away from Pedasi. To get there from Pedasi, you drive to Santa Catalina, and then, you take a boat for about an hour to Coiba Island. There are around 20 dive sites and all of these sites ensure that you see sharks all year round.
The most popular shark there is the white tip reef shark (pictured above). There are also lots of big fish, barracudas, manta rays, stingrays, eels and schools of fish. It’s pretty impressive.
What should I know before buying a home in a new housing development in Nicaragua?
Frank Martínez
Before buying a home in a new housing development in Nicaragua, you need to know if a local bank will finance it. If a local bank will finance it, go ahead and buy the home. Banks have many strict compliance guidelines. If you do not comply with these, they will not finance you. When the local banks finance you, then you have legal clarity, background on the developer and the assurance that the house you bought would still be there in the next 20 years because you have an...
Before buying a home in a new housing development in Nicaragua, you need to know if a local bank will finance it. If a local bank will finance it, go ahead and buy the home. Banks have many strict compliance guidelines. If you do not comply with these, they will not finance you. When the local banks finance you, then you have legal clarity, background on the developer and the assurance that the house you bought would still be there in the next 20 years because you have an obligation to the bank during that time. Nobody will take that house from you, unless you do not pay the mortgage.
Whatever you buy, you have to go to a local bank and have them finance it. That’s what we recommend also. Get financed by a local bank because a local bank will make certain that everything is properly done.
Before buying a home in a new housing development in Nicaragua, you should also visit as many times as you want. Go out and see the houses and ask who the developers are and check their previous experiences. Go into the development and ask neighbors and those who have already owned the houses about the neighborhood and if there is water all the time, etc. There are many possible issues but you do have to remember that this is a handmade house and there could be inconsistencies. If the company is responsible, they will take care of the details fast and quickly so they can have a happy customer living inside.
(Las Isletas (The Islands) in Nicaragua available for home building, pictured.)
The Portuguese banks are not in a great state of health. The Spanish banks are in much better shape. However, Portuguese banks have a guarantee of up to 100,000 euros, which is provided by the Portuguese government. So generally, I would feel secure putting my money into a Portuguese bank account.
Currently, we have virtually negative interest rates, which is why the property market is doing well. People are investing in “buy to rent”...
The Portuguese banks are not in a great state of health. The Spanish banks are in much better shape. However, Portuguese banks have a guarantee of up to 100,000 euros, which is provided by the Portuguese government. So generally, I would feel secure putting my money into a Portuguese bank account.
Currently, we have virtually negative interest rates, which is why the property market is doing well. People are investing in “buy to rent” because you get close to nothing on your deposits at the bank.
But as far as making deposits into a Portuguese bank, it is very secure because of the insurance that you will not lose your deposit. These banks are now subject to stress tests, which are conducted by the European Banking Authority, so if they do not have enough capital then they have to find it and raise it.
Ex-patriots are one of the worst things about Panama. Why? Many people do nothing more than look at glossy magazines full of hype, vacation pamphlets filled with exciting activities and resort lifestyles. (Nothing wrong with those, by the way). However one should also do some research about the pros and cons of moving to Panama. Sites like this one have stories and questions answered by real people who have experienced expat live here. There are videos on YouTube that put you...
This little bird is a baby Panama Flycatcher. Mum and dad moved in above the light fitting in my kitchen in April 2012. I live on a little Caribbean island just off the coast of Panama in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. This short tale is taken from my new book "Paradise Delayed", which is sub-titled "The pitfalls and pleasures (mainly the pitfalls) of Caribbean island life in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama". Life can be challenging and frustrating at times here,...