What do I need to know when buying a house in or other real estate in Mexico?
Mark O'Neill
If you are buying real estate in Mexico, I would encourage you do be sure that your title is free and clear. Make sure that whoever you are buying from has the legitimate right to sell the property and that there are no past owners or any liens on the property.
It’s my impression that title insurance is something that is needed if you were to secure a loan. If you are not borrowing the money, then title insurance is not needed. In the US, you...
If you are buying real estate in Mexico, I would encourage you do be sure that your title is free and clear. Make sure that whoever you are buying from has the legitimate right to sell the property and that there are no past owners or any liens on the property.
It’s my impression that title insurance is something that is needed if you were to secure a loan. If you are not borrowing the money, then title insurance is not needed. In the US, you don’t need title insurance if you purchase a property with more than 20% down payment. In Mexico, you typically pay a 100% down payment (in other words, you typically purchase real estate for cash) so title insurance is for naught.
This is one of the reasons why hopefully you have a good realtor to research who owns the title. In Mexico, just as in the US, you wouldn’t buy a property from someone who you weren’t certain was in a position to legally sell it to you.
If you are considering buying on the coastal areas, you might want to check if there are any water considerations and other items of that nature. Buyer beware. Make sure you are comfortable in your neighborhood. I would also look into the utilities, such as the source of power and water and Internet access.
What's the dress code in Granada, Nicaragua? What clothes do they wear in Granada, Nicaragua?
Linda Carlson
Nicaraguans dress casually but they are not sloppy. They take pride in their appearance. The men typically wear slacks and you won’t see them wear shorts. The middle-aged or older women typically wear dresses and younger women do wear slacks.
The women’s choice of clothing for the younger ones is usually body revealing as far as figure and “assets,” whereas older women are more conservative. Americans, in the area where I lived, were viewed as...
Nicaraguans dress casually but they are not sloppy. They take pride in their appearance. The men typically wear slacks and you won’t see them wear shorts. The middle-aged or older women typically wear dresses and younger women do wear slacks.
The women’s choice of clothing for the younger ones is usually body revealing as far as figure and “assets,” whereas older women are more conservative. Americans, in the area where I lived, were viewed as touristy or sloppy because a lot of them wear shorts and sneakers.
My landlady (a native Nicaraguan) went jogging every morning. She wore sneakers but she was always well dressed with her slacks and her tops and she had her makeup on and her hair propped. Her appearance is very important to her even though she was jogging.
I was in Managua for 4 months before I moved to Matagalpa, and even in Managua, Nicaraguans are better dressed than most tourists or expats. Nicaraguans are always well-groomed and always nicely dressed.
(Model on the runway for the Nicaragua International Fashion Weekend, pictured.)
How are the stores and shops in Boquete, Panama? How's the shopping in Boquete, Panama?
Linda Jensen
If you need a new outfit Le Reyna is
the place to shop! Boquete's full
service department store has a wide
array of popular styles and sizes for the entire family. So if you are just visiting or live in the Boquete area this store offers something for everyone.
You will want to have time to browse. The store front is very misleading a makes it appear quite small.
You won't find a lot of terribly expensive...
If you need a new outfit Le Reyna is
the place to shop! Boquete's full
service department store has a wide
array of popular styles and sizes for the entire family. So if you are just visiting or live in the Boquete area this store offers something for everyone.
You will want to have time to browse. The store front is very misleading a makes it appear quite small.
You won't find a lot of terribly expensive clothing but most items are priced in the average person's price range. This is a family owned store, they are nice people and the stall is helpful, most speak enough English to be of service, if not they will get someone who can translate.
All up and down the main streets are small mom and pop shops that offer unique clothing or apparel items. Panama hats, caps, sarongs. hand made purses, exquisite jewelry, high end hand bags and watches in the hundred plus category are also found in Boquete.
This photo is of the Plaza downtown.
Buses and taxis drop people off here. People linger here druing the day for conversation and relaxation.
You can indeed buy or you can create a business in Portugal. If you buy a business or create a business and you create a certain number of jobs, you will also be eligible for the Golden Visa.
Businesses in Portugal are transacted regularly. My perception is that small businesses don’t tend to be bought by external investors. Sometimes external investors will make an investment into a business but they wouldn’t tend to buy a small business. Large businesses, however,...
You can indeed buy or you can create a business in Portugal. If you buy a business or create a business and you create a certain number of jobs, you will also be eligible for the Golden Visa.
Businesses in Portugal are transacted regularly. My perception is that small businesses don’t tend to be bought by external investors. Sometimes external investors will make an investment into a business but they wouldn’t tend to buy a small business. Large businesses, however, including state-run businesses and utilities, have been increasingly put up in order to obtain foreign investment. We have a lot of Chinese investments into what are essentially state-run businesses and private partnerships in the energy sector, the health sector, the transportation sector, and the power distribution sector.
You can buy businesses here in Portugal. It is very transparent. It is market-lead and you could buy or start a business in many ways in the entire country.
In general, the best places to live is anywhere where you can find fresh food, areas where there is relative peace, areas where there is an emphasis on education, and a place where people want to be a productive member of society. You can look at different cultures through that lens and then start to identify parts of the world that are attractive.
The Mediterranean, traditionally, has a very good reputation as far as lifestyle and pace of life. There are parts of Mexico and...
In general, the best places to live is anywhere where you can find fresh food, areas where there is relative peace, areas where there is an emphasis on education, and a place where people want to be a productive member of society. You can look at different cultures through that lens and then start to identify parts of the world that are attractive.
The Mediterranean, traditionally, has a very good reputation as far as lifestyle and pace of life. There are parts of Mexico and Central America that come to mind. These places are also relatively peaceful. I haven’t been everywhere so it is hard for me to comment about places I haven’t been to but in general, if you want to live abroad, you must pick somewhere that aligns with your values. It is usually cloudy for half of the year in Germany but this country is really organized and you there is great infrastructure, so for some people, living in Germany offers a perfect lifestyle. A best place to live could be on an island of Belize where you wake up in the morning and go snorkeling every day.
Since my last post I had to return to Australia to sort out finances and final arrangements, after 13 months in Chiang Rai.
Lesson 1- When you are fully committed to a permanent move, settle all that stuff well in advance of departure date; I left behind a property which in retrospect had become a burden. I should have sold up before leaving, since the ensuing sale was close to being a nightmare of new rules and bureaucracy. Banks & settlement...
The Flower and Coffee International Fair in Boquete is one of the most important in the region. The town of about 25,000, plays host to an expected 130,000 visitors during the 10 day run, which estimates about $2 million dollars to the economy. The floral offerings come from Canada, the US, Central and South America. The crowds come quite literally from around the world.
The Metro de Panama, the first subway system in Central America, started operating on April 5. Line 1 operates from Albrook to Los Andes, with 19 trains that make stops at 12 stations. It takes only 23 minutes to travel the length of the line. Seven stations are underground and five are elevated.
Each train consists of three cars, with air conditioning, video surveillance, passenger information systems, and wheel chair accessibility. The trains also have fire safety systems...
If you are buying real estate in Mexico, I would encourage you do be sure that your title is free and clear. Make sure that whoever you are buying from has the legitimate right to sell the property and that there are no past owners or any liens on the property. 
Nicaraguans dress casually but they are not sloppy. They take pride in their appearance. The men typically wear slacks and you won’t see them wear shorts. The middle-aged or older women typically wear dresses and younger women do wear slacks.
Belize’s economic system is more free market and capitalistic. The economic system is very similar to the US. 
You can indeed buy or you can create a business in Portugal. If you buy a business or create a business and you create a certain number of jobs, you will also be eligible for the Golden Visa.
In general, the best places to live is anywhere where you can find fresh food, areas where there is relative peace, areas where there is an emphasis on education, and a place where people want to be a productive member of society. You can look at different cultures through that lens and then start to identify parts of the world that are attractive.
The Flower and Coffee International Fair in Boquete is one of the most important in the region. The town of about 25,000, plays host to an expected 130,000 visitors during the 10 day run, which estimates about $2 million dollars to the economy. The floral offerings come from Canada, the US, Central and South America. The crowds come quite literally from around the world. 
