What’s the best way to go about renting a house or apartment in Mexico?
Brenda de Groot - AvensaTravel
The best way to go about renting a house or apartment in Mexico is to ask other people. You need to have references of which real estate agent is good. If it´s your first visit to Oaxaca, I suggest first to know the city, to know the different neighborhoods and to get to know people. It is easy to get to know people and get advices in Oaxaca because you have an expat community and people always help and advice each other. There are also different Internet sites with announcements of...
The best way to go about renting a house or apartment in Mexico is to ask other people. You need to have references of which real estate agent is good. If it´s your first visit to Oaxaca, I suggest first to know the city, to know the different neighborhoods and to get to know people. It is easy to get to know people and get advices in Oaxaca because you have an expat community and people always help and advice each other. There are also different Internet sites with announcements of people renting or selling their houses.
There’s also a Facebook page of foreigners living in Oaxaca. It is a very useful page where everybody helps each other. People use it a lot so the information is up to date. On this site, you can share your experiences, find references of good local doctors, dentists, hairdressers and also real estate agents. There are often posts of people renting their house or apartments.
When I moved to Mexico, my husband already had a house ready. We recently bought land in a small village and what I learned is that if you buy land or a house in small village, you will first have to get familiar with the local community "rules." For example, in some villages they do not let people from outside the village be the owner, and once you are the owner you are obligated to do community services.
(Celebration and parade on Oaxaca street, Mexico, pictured.)
What is Portugal's gun ownership policy and gun laws?
Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant
In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal.
Most of the people who have guns in Portugal, and how gun ownership started is that the guns were for hunters for the hunting season, but there are very strict rules for that.
The actual details of what would be required to get a license to have a gun and what it would cost, I don’t know. The reason...
In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal.
Most of the people who have guns in Portugal, and how gun ownership started is that the guns were for hunters for the hunting season, but there are very strict rules for that.
The actual details of what would be required to get a license to have a gun and what it would cost, I don’t know. The reason is we don’t really discuss guns very much apart from if you see on television that they’ve arrested people because of drugs or something similar. Apart from that, fortunately, at this point in time, I think when you see what’s going on in the world, we feel reasonably safe without guns.
(1934 photo of a hunter in Peralcovo, Portugal, pictured.)
Do I need a Belize passport, citizenship or a visa if I retire or work in Belize?
Christian Burn
No, you do not need to have a Belize passport or citizenship to work in Belize. There are, however, other requirements you need to comply with in order to work in Belize.
For example, I am a permanent resident here in Belize, so I am legally entitled to work here, which is a different process than, for example, getting a Qualified Retired Person’s Residency. In order to become a permanent resident in Belize, you have to...
No, you do not need to have a Belize passport or citizenship to work in Belize. There are, however, other requirements you need to comply with in order to work in Belize.
For example, I am a permanent resident here in Belize, so I am legally entitled to work here, which is a different process than, for example, getting a Qualified Retired Person’s Residency. In order to become a permanent resident in Belize, you have to obtain a work permit and maintain it for a year. I was employed by a company in Belize that purchased a work permit for me. They wanted their senior staff to stick around so they decided to buy all their senior staff residency permits. This was way back in 1997. I ended up getting my residency then.
Once you have your residency in Belize, you have it for life. In Belize, getting a residency is extremely easy, because you don’t have to maintain it. I became a resident of Panama this year and the laws in Panama are such that every two years I have to make sure I am in Panama for a few days or I won’t be able to maintain my residency there. I also have to maintain an account in Panama. In Belize, you don’t have to do that. You don’t have to maintain anything.
The process of getting residency is relatively straightforward. The work permit is the first step. The next steps include an interview, a police report and a medical exam ensuring that you are not HIV positive. You also have to prove that you have the ability to support yourself. With my residency, I have the ability to work or buy real estate. A resident who is retired can buy real estate, too. For the younger people, even if you are working from home in Belize, technically in order to work, you should have a visa or permit that says that you are legally allowed to work.
What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?
Lissy Lezcano - Lissy Lezcano Attorney & Mediator
I think that, when retiring abroad, you should be most concerned about the culture, the area and the language. You need to know that every country is different and with its own rules. For example, in Panama things take more time than in North America and you need to be patient.
Also, make certain that you have a realistic budget. Some people think they can come to Panama and live on $500 per month, but they don't do...
I think that, when retiring abroad, you should be most concerned about the culture, the area and the language. You need to know that every country is different and with its own rules. For example, in Panama things take more time than in North America and you need to be patient.
Also, make certain that you have a realistic budget. Some people think they can come to Panama and live on $500 per month, but they don't do enough research and this is no longer true. Make certain that you know what things really cost.
I think you should move to the place you're considering for a couple of months and try it or you will never know.
Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and for the last 5 years, Nicaragua has been in the top 5 safest countries in all of Latin America.
But of course, just like anywhere else, if you go out in a dangerous neighborhood at 2 AM and you have your wallet and your cell phone, you could get robbed. However, even if you are the type of person who does not take lots of precautions, regardless of where you are, I can assure you that there...
Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and for the last 5 years, Nicaragua has been in the top 5 safest countries in all of Latin America.
But of course, just like anywhere else, if you go out in a dangerous neighborhood at 2 AM and you have your wallet and your cell phone, you could get robbed. However, even if you are the type of person who does not take lots of precautions, regardless of where you are, I can assure you that there are fewer possibilities to be hijacked or to be the victim of a similar crime here in Nicaragua than in any other country in Latin America.
My patients who are expats here in Nicaragua live in cities like Managua (the capital city), Granada, and Rivas. They also live in different cities other than the capital and they tell me that they can walk at night without any problem at all. They feel safe here in Nicaragua.
What are the construction standards in Coronado, Panama?
Sarah Booth - Panama Holiday Homes & Buyer's Consultant with My Panama Real Estate
The construction standards in Coronado, Panama depend on the developer and what they are building. As an investor, I am involved in projects that have very good construction standards but I have also seen construction that is not that great, so it is varied.
My recommendation is first of all, find someone who has been here in Coronado for some time and that person should be someone you can trust. Make sure that he has been here for a while and knows the ins and outs of things....
The construction standards in Coronado, Panama depend on the developer and what they are building. As an investor, I am involved in projects that have very good construction standards but I have also seen construction that is not that great, so it is varied.
My recommendation is first of all, find someone who has been here in Coronado for some time and that person should be someone you can trust. Make sure that he has been here for a while and knows the ins and outs of things. That way, if you meet a developer or a real estate agent who you are interested in working with, your trusted person can find out about that developer or real estate agent for you. Research is a vital part of the process. You have to sit down and research everything there is to know about the place you want to start your construction on and know the people who you are going to work and deal with.
Generally, you should check two things:
If that person is indeed a realtor and if that person is also an investor so they know what they are talking about first hand.
How long they been here.
Testimonials are very important, too. Find out what feedback you can get from other people who have already worked with the developer or investor you want to work with. To some extent, we are all investors and all of us may need to sell our properties one day and if we sell, unless we are independently wealthy and don’t care about the price, then good construction is a very important component of the price we can get.
Two bodies of water surround most of the peninsula of Baja California. On the eastern side is the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California), while the western side faces the more familiar Pacific Ocean. These watery expanses merge at what looks like the large, natural arch you've seen pictures of at Baja’s southern tip, Cabo San Lucas, about 750 miles roughly south of the US-Mexican border. At its widest, the peninsula measures about 85 miles from side...
I am so tired of seeing the words 'their,' 'there' and 'they're' misused that I thought I would put all three in the title of this post. That way, anyone who might chance on this post could at least see that each of the homonyms is spelled differently and might also deduce from the example that each has a different meaning.
Besides the purpose stated above, the title of this post refers to the reasons people I met in Panama had either settled there already or were exploring that...
Three years ago, I selected Panama as a regional base for my business. I am very pleased with the results and can state, unequivocally, that I accomplished the principle goal.
Moreover, I have been blessed with the opportunity to help many patients heal and put their lives back together. Being able to provide efficient access to affordable life-improving and/or life-saving medical care, is very gratifying.
The best way to go about renting a house or apartment in Mexico is to ask other people. You need to have references of which real estate agent is good. If it´s your first visit to Oaxaca, I suggest first to know the city, to know the different neighborhoods and to get to know people. It is easy to get to know people and get advices in Oaxaca because you have an expat community and people always help and advice each other. There are also different Internet sites with announcements of...
In order to have a gun in Portugal, you have to have a license. Foreigners can own guns in Portugal. 
Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America and for the last 5 years, Nicaragua has been in the top 5 safest countries in all of Latin America. .jpg)
Two bodies of water surround most of the peninsula of Baja California. On the eastern side is the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California), while the western side faces the more familiar Pacific Ocean. These watery expanses merge at what looks like the large, natural arch you've seen pictures of at Baja’s southern tip, Cabo San Lucas, about 750 miles roughly south of the US-Mexican border. At its widest, the peninsula measures about 85 miles from side...
I am so tired of seeing the words '