What are the home mortgages like in Mexico? How long are home mortgage terms and how much down payment is required?
Alicia Gomez - Collins Real Estate
If you are one of my clients and you tell me that you want a specific house but have no money for it, I will recommend that you get a mortgage. I have friends that offer mortgages at a low interest so I will give you the options.
Another option is for me to talk to the seller of the house and tell them my client doesn’t have money to pay cash and then I’ll try to strike a deal to get an installment payment with interest. We could have the deal that they...
If you are one of my clients and you tell me that you want a specific house but have no money for it, I will recommend that you get a mortgage. I have friends that offer mortgages at a low interest so I will give you the options.
Another option is for me to talk to the seller of the house and tell them my client doesn’t have money to pay cash and then I’ll try to strike a deal to get an installment payment with interest. We could have the deal that they keep the domain, meaning the house is still theirs until it is fully paid. It’s similar to getting a mortgage but there are no mortgage companies in Chapala and Ajijic where I live but you can get loans from individuals. You could apply for a mortgage through a bank that is not in the area but it will take a little longer. If you take a loan from an individual, the interest would be the same as with the bank and the process is faster and cheaper. You have several options here in Mexico. They are all good and which one you choose just depends on what you want.
How reliable is the water supply in Algarve? Are there water disruptions?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The Algarve may have a disruption in the water supply once every two to three years; certainly no more often than the typical US city.
Whenever there is a problem with the water supply in the Algarve, it is typically a water main bursting because of a fluctuation in the summer or winter. During this time, they may cut off your water for a few hours while they repair it.
(The pool at Algarve Senior Living, Algarve,...
The Algarve may have a disruption in the water supply once every two to three years; certainly no more often than the typical US city.
Whenever there is a problem with the water supply in the Algarve, it is typically a water main bursting because of a fluctuation in the summer or winter. During this time, they may cut off your water for a few hours while they repair it.
(The pool at Algarve Senior Living, Algarve, Portugal, pictured.)
What are the outdoor activities in and around the Panama City, Panama area of Marbella?
Jose Broce - Broce-Pinilla & Asociados
If you are in the Marbella area of Panama City, Panama and want to do some outdoor activities, you can go to Parque Omar, which is a beautiful park with lush green trees and trails where you can run, camp, and spend the day with your family. Walking to Parque Omar from Marbella can take about half an hour.
You can also go to Cinta Costera, which is a huge recreation area. Cinta Costera is a 10-minute walk from Marbella. As you walk to Cinta Costera,...
If you are in the Marbella area of Panama City, Panama and want to do some outdoor activities, you can go to Parque Omar, which is a beautiful park with lush green trees and trails where you can run, camp, and spend the day with your family. Walking to Parque Omar from Marbella can take about half an hour.
You can also go to Cinta Costera, which is a huge recreation area. Cinta Costera is a 10-minute walk from Marbella. As you walk to Cinta Costera, you will see people selling ice cream or water. You can go to the fish market and have a snack, too, or you can have a beer and talk to people of different classes and nationalities.
How much does it cost for a gardener in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?
Jeffrey Soderlind - Horizon Group
A full-time gardener in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua typically costs around US $250 per month after accounting for their regular salary as well as their vacation, holiday and severance pays.
This monthly cost can be further reduced by working with a property management company that provides this service, as it may not be necessary to have a full-time gardener for your property.
A gardener is also typically in...
A full-time gardener in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua typically costs around US $250 per month after accounting for their regular salary as well as their vacation, holiday and severance pays.
This monthly cost can be further reduced by working with a property management company that provides this service, as it may not be necessary to have a full-time gardener for your property.
A gardener is also typically in charge of pool maintenance for homes with a pool.
Will Belize make me pay income tax on money I earn outside of Belize?
David Drummond - Georgetown Trust
The concept of tax in Belize is very much dependent on what type of work you are doing in Belize. As an example, a hotel owner pays a hotel tax. A business owner pays a business tax. A worker pays an income tax. So how and what you are doing in Belize will dictate the type of tax that you would be subject to pay to Belize.
If I move to Belize but my income comes from outside of Belize because I am not technically working on my source of...
The concept of tax in Belize is very much dependent on what type of work you are doing in Belize. As an example, a hotel owner pays a hotel tax. A business owner pays a business tax. A worker pays an income tax. So how and what you are doing in Belize will dictate the type of tax that you would be subject to pay to Belize.
If I move to Belize but my income comes from outside of Belize because I am not technically working on my source of income while I am here, then Belize will not tax me on the income I generate outside of Belize. They will, however, tax me on income generated inside of Belize.
If you get taxed in Belize, you pay 25% of your taxable income that you generate while you are in Belize over what boils down to being about US $10,000.
(Casa Olita on Cayo Espanto, a private Island in Belize, pictured.)
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.
My new Mayan friend had a beautific smile. Most likely in her 50s, I met her as she and her family were making and selling sandwiches from the very small porch in front of her home with the half wall she used as a built-in shelf. On the street was a solitary plastic table covered by a plastic tablecloth, with two plastic chairs.
The street of my friend’s house was perpendicular to the main street bordering the hacienda in which we had rented a place to stay. ...
Jet Metier first heard of the term “tail twisting” from Kent Payne, who explained that it’s a way to get a cow to move where it should go by twisting its tail. Kent expounded that the same principle could be applied to people. Jet learns it did not take much tail twisting for Kent and his wife to settle down in beautiful Gran Pacifica, Nicaragua.
Jet Metier: Good morning, Kent! This interview is our way on behalf of our visitors to thank you for all...
At the culmination of Cancer Awareness Month, a huge rally was held on the last Sunday of October in Panamá City. Thousands of enthusiastic Panameños from all over the country marched down the length of the Cinta Costera in support of fund raising for cancer research. Marching bands, dancers in traditional costumes, school groups, bomberos (firefighters), the Darien frontier police, and many other organizations participated in this special event.
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If you are one of my clients and you tell me that you want a specific house but have no money for it, I will recommend that you get a mortgage. I have friends that offer mortgages at a low interest so I will give you the options. 
The Algarve may have a disruption in the water supply once every two to three years; certainly no more often than the typical US city. 
A full-time gardener in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua typically costs around US $250 per month after accounting for their regular salary as well as their vacation, holiday and severance pays. 
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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. 
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. 
My new Mayan friend had a beautific smile. Most likely in her 50s, I met her as she and her family were making and selling sandwiches from the very small porch in front of her home with the half wall she used as a built-in shelf. On the street was a solitary plastic table covered by a plastic tablecloth, with two plastic chairs.