What are the home mortgages like in Mexico? How long are home mortgage terms and how much down payment is required?
Ivan Castillo - Secure Title Riviera Maya
Mortgages in Mexico would be very similar to the ones in the US. However, the main differences are the interest rates. For example, currently there isn’t any single bank that will provide financing to foreigners, while in the past, there were multiple banks that were providing financing to American, Canadian, Spanish, and British residents and the citizens. These banks included Lehman Brothers, GMAC, Wachovia, and another small bank out of Texas that’s called International...
Mortgages in Mexico would be very similar to the ones in the US. However, the main differences are the interest rates. For example, currently there isn’t any single bank that will provide financing to foreigners, while in the past, there were multiple banks that were providing financing to American, Canadian, Spanish, and British residents and the citizens. These banks included Lehman Brothers, GMAC, Wachovia, and another small bank out of Texas that’s called International Bank. However, because of the real estate and financial crisis back in 2008 all those banks decided that they did not want any additional risk and they shut down their bilateral lending programs.
For Mexicans, the lending institution will appraise the value of the property you’re going to be using as collateral. The mortgage rates would be about 11% to 13% annually and the terms typically will be 10 years, 15 years, or 30 years.
(Beach on the Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, pictured.)
Walter T. (Tom) Fisher - Corozal Belize Properties
When we moved to Belize, I drove down my truck loaded with stuff, and a neighbor donating a small bus to Belize allowed me to use some of the bus for bringing a few extra things, probably a small trailer's worth. In the few years leading up to the full time move, we brought down suitcases jammed. We brought the following: dishes, pots and pans, limited artwork and pictures, computer, tools, Honda mower, cordless tools, a few select pieces of furniture, TV, sound dock, digital...
When we moved to Belize, I drove down my truck loaded with stuff, and a neighbor donating a small bus to Belize allowed me to use some of the bus for bringing a few extra things, probably a small trailer's worth. In the few years leading up to the full time move, we brought down suitcases jammed. We brought the following: dishes, pots and pans, limited artwork and pictures, computer, tools, Honda mower, cordless tools, a few select pieces of furniture, TV, sound dock, digital music, a set of 6 stackable faux wicker chairs, a few lamps, clothes, and our five cats (on the airline w/ my wife). I missed a few things, since replaced (small compressor, pressure washer, etc.). But, we did it mostly right, for us.
Things have changed a lot. There are shippers who can bring down everything from individual boxes to container loads. We had basically all of our furniture built here by a local cabinet maker. We are convinced it was the right call. We try to help people with resources for these decisions. We now use a very competent and reasonable shipper in the US for purchases on Amazon to Walmart, etc., to buy other "stuff." It's a very individualized question. For us it worked. Our goal was to simplify our life moving to Belize. That meant letting go of a lot of "stuff". You will figure it out!
(The Walmart in Mexico across the bay from Corozal, Belize, pictured.)
What are the sports and games in and around Portugal?
Juan Matias - BLUE Boutique Hostel & SUITES
The number one sport in Portugal is soccer. Then I would say, all these basketball, handball, and all these other sports with balls, that tend to be second and third steps. But basically it’s soccer, which here in Portugal, we call soccer.
In Portugal, everyone plays soccer in school as a child and it’s crazy. Everyone plays. And have you heard of Ronaldo? Cristiano Ronaldo the soccer player? He’s the best player in the world. He was nominated the best world...
The number one sport in Portugal is soccer. Then I would say, all these basketball, handball, and all these other sports with balls, that tend to be second and third steps. But basically it’s soccer, which here in Portugal, we call soccer.
In Portugal, everyone plays soccer in school as a child and it’s crazy. Everyone plays. And have you heard of Ronaldo? Cristiano Ronaldo the soccer player? He’s the best player in the world. He was nominated the best world player for three years in a row and he’s Portuguese. The best coach in the world, Jose Mourinho, he’s also Portuguese. They’ve been great ambassadors for Portugal because they are so well kown around the world and they are so good at what they do.
Our Tourism Board and Minister of Sports wants Portugal to be the number one golf destination in Europe by 2021. We have the best golf courses in Europe. One of them is called Oitavos Golf Course, which was elected quite recently top 10 in the world.
(Poster for The Ibercup, an international youth soccer tournament, Portugal, pictured.)
In my opinion, the worst reason to retire abroad is if you think your moving to "Paradise". Many people listen to the hype of certain publications that just want to sell you things and tout "Paradise". Any place you live will have it's problems and no place is perfect. Especially when moving to a different country which will have a different culture, different foods, possibly a different language that you will have to adjust to and learn...
In my opinion, the worst reason to retire abroad is if you think your moving to "Paradise". Many people listen to the hype of certain publications that just want to sell you things and tout "Paradise". Any place you live will have it's problems and no place is perfect. Especially when moving to a different country which will have a different culture, different foods, possibly a different language that you will have to adjust to and learn to live with. You have to not only 'be okay' with all the many different things about living in another country but if you actually 'enjoy' it and embrace the differences you'll be happy. It's so important, (in my opinion) to embrace the place you choose to move to. If you want to live in a gated community and isolate yourself from the people then you might as well stay in the States or Canada or wherever you came from. If your expectations of living abroad are that you will find all the same things there that you had wherever you came from you'll be very unhappy. If you expect to experience a completely different way of living then you will be in for the time of your life. Don't move for "Paradise", move for an Adventure! :)
Fishing In Panama is excellent. You can lake fish in Gatun Lake for Peacock Bass or go to the Bayano lakes and River for Snook or you can Ocean fish the Pacific and the Atlantic. the best Oean Fishing can be done as off shore fishing in Pedasi or go to Boca Brava area for Deep sea fishing. The Atlantic fishing is best done from Bocas Del Toro. Depending on what you want to catch Panama should have the best place to accomplish your fishing plans. Seasonality also plays a...
Fishing In Panama is excellent. You can lake fish in Gatun Lake for Peacock Bass or go to the Bayano lakes and River for Snook or you can Ocean fish the Pacific and the Atlantic. the best Oean Fishing can be done as off shore fishing in Pedasi or go to Boca Brava area for Deep sea fishing. The Atlantic fishing is best done from Bocas Del Toro. Depending on what you want to catch Panama should have the best place to accomplish your fishing plans. Seasonality also plays a part in when and where to go.
The food and cuisine of Nicaragua is very delicious. The only thing is, much of Nicaraguan typical dishes are fried. For example, we have delicious fried bananas, fried cheese, enchiladas (fried tortilla with rice and meat), fried beans and fried rice. This would be the menu in a typical restaurant in Managua.
We also have a very popular dish that can be found when traveling to Leon (Nagarote o La Paz Centro) called quesillo,...
The food and cuisine of Nicaragua is very delicious. The only thing is, much of Nicaraguan typical dishes are fried. For example, we have delicious fried bananas, fried cheese, enchiladas (fried tortilla with rice and meat), fried beans and fried rice. This would be the menu in a typical restaurant in Managua.
We also have a very popular dish that can be found when traveling to Leon (Nagarote o La Paz Centro) called quesillo, which is a thick corn tortilla, wrapped around onions, sour cream, salt and quesillo, which is like mozzarella cheese. We have vigoronin Granada, which is a fried pork skin with casava and Cobb salad. In the northern part of Nicaragua, we have in the city of Sebaco, our famous güirila, which is is a kind of tortilla made with young, sweet corn.
Nicaraguan home cooking is very good. It incorporates lots of veggies, and we mix them with either our rice or meat. The base for our foods is mostly beans, rice and meat. We are not used to salads. Our beverages are also great. We have a lot of natural drinks; pineapple with rice juice being my favorite. Traditional food is not that expensive. You can find it from US $3 to $5. This would depend on the area you are buying it in or the quality.
Good friends, good coffee, great climate. Why not check out Boquete?
It was sad seeing the changes in America in the 2009, 2010, 2011 years. Obama had proven to be a total disillusionment. The rising cost of living was hitting us hard with increased costs for medical care and fuel, higher taxes, and Obamacare looming out there at the time. We were worried. Arne worked and earned good money as a freelance sound-man mostly for Lockheed...
Ahhh, Panama, you have been sitting wherever for months trying to learn as much as you can about this place, finding some great info and some downright lies, I bet.
How you can retire here and live like a king for around $1,000 per month? That one always makes me laugh.
It is true some things are cheaper here, but overall a gallon of gas costs what it costs, right?
Now let’s say you’re getting older like me, not in too great of health and you see...
Another sunny and breezy day. It´s late in the day and I´m just now ready for lunch, waiting for my grilled tuna sandwich with a tall glass of fresh squeezed pineapple juice! After all, this is the famous “Tuna Coast” of Pacific Panama.
I certainly hope those reading this information about living in Panama can arrange a trip down soon. And see for themselves the beauty of the Azuero Peninsula, the tranquility of the town of Pedasi and the...
Mortgages in Mexico would be very similar to the ones in the US. However, the main differences are the interest rates. For example, currently there isn’t any single bank that will provide financing to foreigners, while in the past, there were multiple banks that were providing financing to American, Canadian, Spanish, and British residents and the citizens. These banks included Lehman Brothers, GMAC, Wachovia, and another small bank out of Texas that’s called International...
When we moved to Belize, I drove down my truck loaded with stuff, and a neighbor donating a small bus to Belize allowed me to use some of the bus for bringing a few extra things, probably a small trailer's worth. In the few years leading up to the full time move, we brought down suitcases jammed. We brought the following: dishes, pots and pans, limited artwork and pictures, computer, tools, Honda mower, cordless tools, a few select pieces of furniture, TV, sound dock, digital...
The number one sport in Portugal is soccer. Then I would say, all these basketball, handball, and all these other sports with balls, that tend to be second and third steps. But basically it’s soccer, which here in Portugal, we call soccer.
I´m just now ready for lunch, waiting for my grilled tuna sandwich with a tall glass of fresh squeezed pineapple juice! After all, this is the famous “Tuna Coast” of Pacific Panama. 
