Best Places In The World To Retire

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.)

The answer in most cases is no, Medicare will not pay for health care outside the U.S. However, if you’re in the U.S. and during a medical emergency a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, Medicare may pay for these expenses.

It is always recommended that individuals who have Medicare and live abroad secure an international policy. These policies will typically provide coverage anywhere in the world, free choice of doctors/hospitals and guarantee the...

The answer in most cases is no, Medicare will not pay for health care outside the U.S. However, if you’re in the U.S. and during a medical emergency a foreign hospital is closer than the nearest U.S. hospital, Medicare may pay for these expenses.

It is always recommended that individuals who have Medicare and live abroad secure an international policy. These policies will typically provide coverage anywhere in the world, free choice of doctors/hospitals and guarantee the renewal of the policy for life. International catastrophic policies for those 65 and older are relatively affordable and cost as little as $90 per month. It is important that retirees secure these policies before age 74; as this is the maximum age one can apply for a new international policy.

When we moved to Managua in 2010, longer power outages (1 hour or more) were fairly common. Over time though, the situation improved considerably. 

 

Nowadays (2015), there are hardly any longer outages. You can also always call the provider to either find out about the reason for the outage, and how long it will approximately take, or to report a problem. When you call the provider (the number is 125), have your invoice handy, as you will need your...

When we moved to Managua in 2010, longer power outages (1 hour or more) were fairly common. Over time though, the situation improved considerably. 

 

Nowadays (2015), there are hardly any longer outages. You can also always call the provider to either find out about the reason for the outage, and how long it will approximately take, or to report a problem. When you call the provider (the number is 125), have your invoice handy, as you will need your so-called "número NIS" (Número de Identificación de Suministro).

 

What still happens quite frequently, at least at the place where we live, are really short outages, sometimes just a few seconds... which can be annoying when you are just watching a movie, as your TV suddenly goes dark. ;-)

 

As I work from home, and need my Internet connection basically all the time, I bought myself a UPS battery. UPS stands for "uninterruptible power supply." It's a small rechargeable battery unit with several sockets. It protects your electrical devices from power fluctuations and supplies them with energy during an outage for about 30 to 40 minutes. I use it mainly to power my Internet router, so that I can continue working during a power outage.

 

(Pictured: uninterruptable power supply, or "UPS".)

What will your neighbors be like in this region? People are individuals here in the Volcán and Cerro Punta region as they are anywhere. Still, there are some general cultural proclivities.

 

I have lived in two homes in the little village of Paso Ancho (between Volcán and Cerro Punta), and all of my neighbors have been extremely friendly and helpful, and look out for my best interests. If there are any neighbors I don't  trust or don´t like,...

What will your neighbors be like in this region? People are individuals here in the Volcán and Cerro Punta region as they are anywhere. Still, there are some general cultural proclivities.

 

I have lived in two homes in the little village of Paso Ancho (between Volcán and Cerro Punta), and all of my neighbors have been extremely friendly and helpful, and look out for my best interests. If there are any neighbors I don't  trust or don´t like, they are almost always gringos. Sadly, some gringos have an "attitude" when they come here, expecting the "dark natives" to bow down and just about worship them. (And, of course, some gringos here are incredibly fine human beings; as I said, people are individuals.)

 

There are a few pointers that, if you follow them, will help you make fine neighbors - first, wave and smile and say ¡Buenos días! to people, including strangers. As you get on the bus, say the same thing to everyone aboard. Talk to the person sitting next to you on the bus. Speak Spanish as much as you can, and don´t expect Panamanians to speak English - do you think new residents from other countries, back in the States, should expect YOU to speak German or Japanese or Arabic?

 

From time to time, do something nice for your neighbors: bring over a plate of food and hand it to them with a smile. Or give them a bag of onions or potatoes you bought at a farm stand. I guarantee they will do the same thing - this is common practice among Panamanians here, and it is a wonderful way to build strong relationships of friendship.

 

I have been living for two and a half years in this village. All of the neighbors around here know me - and, what is more, they like me. They help me out. When we go on a trip somewhere they keep an eye on our house to make sure everything is all right. They bring over food now and then. They stop what they are doing to chat with me. This is the kind of neighborliness that I have not experienced since the 1950s and early 1960s in a little village in rural northern New York state - it is wonderful to experience it again!