What is the cost to buy land or a lot in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico
Chuck Bolotin - Best Mexico Movers
Like any place in the world with which I’m acquainted, the cost for land is largely a function of location. You’ll pay more around golf courses, places with incredible views, the better fraccionamientos (housing developments), and places around more desirable locations, like the center of Ajijic.
That said, the prices for raw land may surprise you, given how inexpensive so many other items are here in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area, including how relatively...
Like any place in the world with which I’m acquainted, the cost for land is largely a function of location. You’ll pay more around golf courses, places with incredible views, the better fraccionamientos (housing developments), and places around more desirable locations, like the center of Ajijic.
That said, the prices for raw land may surprise you, given how inexpensive so many other items are here in the Lake Chapala / Ajijic area, including how relatively inexpensive it is to do construction. There are several reasons for this, including that there isn’t that much raw land left in the area, and Mexicans tend to hold onto the land they own longer than most from the US or Canada. Reasons for this include that most of their land has no mortgage on it so they aren’t forced to sell if they can’t make the payments (because there are no payments), much of the land is owned by families who are unlikely to get together to make a sell decision, and property tax is so very low that the cost to carry the land for years is not a significant financial burden.
Real estate agents will tend to quote you prices in US dollars per square meter, so you may hear that a lot costs “one hundred dollars per meter.” Given that 1,000 square meters is about a quarter of an acre, a quarter acre lot this price will cost you US $100,000. Believe it or not, this is not an unusual price at Lakeside. Prices in the actual village of Ajijic may reach $200 per meter or more, and the lots may be only 500 meters, so in this case, an eighth of an acre may cost $100,000.
You can buy land for less in the less desirable areas, or if you make a purchase of a very large lot, but $100 per square meter is a good starting point.
The music of Belize is expressed in voices and instruments ranging from The Benque Viejo Marching Band (to the right); Belizean Mayan flautist, Pablo Collado (bottom); traditional Belize marimba music played by The Benque House of Culture Marimba Academy; and the Afro-Amerindian world music of The Garifuna Collective spurred on by Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records in Benque Viejo - the beauty of their music is as diversified and unique as the country of Belize.
The music of Belize is expressed in voices and instruments ranging from The Benque Viejo Marching Band (to the right); Belizean Mayan flautist, Pablo Collado (bottom); traditional Belize marimba music played by The Benque House of Culture Marimba Academy; and the Afro-Amerindian world music of The Garifuna Collective spurred on by Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records in Benque Viejo - the beauty of their music is as diversified and unique as the country of Belize.
What's it like to drive in Boquete, Chiriqui Province?
Howard Jones - The Haven Hotel and Health Spa, Boquete, Chiriqui, Panama
Driving around Boquete is a breeze by and large. The roads are pretty good and the new 4 lane highway to David make the shopping trips much easier ( especially when they finish it). The decision to by a four wheel drive is more about where you wish to live, off a main road perhaps, than it is is about any requirement to have one in general. If you don't intend to go off road there really is no need for a 4 wheel drive. For me there is another consideration, which is the size...
Driving around Boquete is a breeze by and large. The roads are pretty good and the new 4 lane highway to David make the shopping trips much easier ( especially when they finish it). The decision to by a four wheel drive is more about where you wish to live, off a main road perhaps, than it is is about any requirement to have one in general. If you don't intend to go off road there really is no need for a 4 wheel drive. For me there is another consideration, which is the size of your wheels. With roads often getting in bad repair, if you have a car with a small wheel size it much more difficult to navigate the pot holes!!
In general, how does the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) affect me if I move overseas?
Stewart Patton - U.S. Tax Services
There's quite a bit of misinformation and fear surrounding FATCA, but the bottom line is that it's not a big deal at all (assuming that you are OK with being 100% honest and open when it comes to complying with your U.S. federal income tax responsibilities).
If all you do is move your residence overseas, then FATCA will have no effect on you whatsoever. You could live your whole life overseas and never say or read "FATCA" ever again. Some...
There's quite a bit of misinformation and fear surrounding FATCA, but the bottom line is that it's not a big deal at all (assuming that you are OK with being 100% honest and open when it comes to complying with your U.S. federal income tax responsibilities).
If all you do is move your residence overseas, then FATCA will have no effect on you whatsoever. You could live your whole life overseas and never say or read "FATCA" ever again. Some people seem to think that FATCA requires 30% withholding on all international wire transfers or all amounts paid to persons who live overseas, but that is not the case at all. FATCA withholding only applies in very limited circumstances generally related to U.S. banks and brokers paying interest or dividends to non-U.S. persons.
Now, if you also move some assets overseas with you, or otherwise invest in non-U.S. assets (e.g., by forming a non-U.S. corporation, or opening non-U.S. bank accounts), then FATCA will be something you'll need to think about. However, it still won't negatively affect your life (as long as the assumption in the first sentence of my answer holds true).
FATCA is mainly an information-gathering tool for the IRS, and it has two parts.
First, FATCA requires some additional disclosure on your U.S. tax return--this is IRS Form 8938. So, you'll need to add a few extra pages to your return to tell the IRS about your non-U.S. bank accounts or interests in non-U.S. entities. No big deal (assuming you have your U.S. tax return prepared by someone knowledgeable in this area).
Second, FATCA essentially requires non-U.S. banks and brokers to provide information about their U.S. account holders. (I say "essentially requires" because FATCA subjects them to a punitive withholding regime if they don't comply.) So, when you open a non-U.S. financial account, you'll have some extra paperwork to fill out. Then, if you invest through fancy offshore structures, you'll need to make sure it is structured in a way that makes FATCA compliance easy (you'll need a tax attorney on board). Again, FATCA should not ultimately have a negative impact on your life.
So, no need to worry about FATCA--just enjoy your new life abroad!
(Lake Nicaragua and the island volcano Ometepe, Nicaragua, pictured.)
What's the dress code in Algarve? What clothes do they wear in Algarve?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright...
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country.
Our clothes style here in the Algarve is generally very relaxed—chinos, beige slacks, and so forth. We also fit in with the season and a very bright environment, even though the Portuguese tradition is one of wearing fairly dark clothes, particularly in the winter, including a lot of burgundy and black clothing. Generally in Algarve you’ll find a lot lighter colors—the blues, the beiges, the pinks, etc. It’s a very laidback, relaxed environment.
You won’t find the truly sloppy like you would see in Central America with shorts, flip-flops and T-shirts. You wouldn’t have the sort of the rag tag of people mulling about unshaven and with long hair. Having said that, we have a lot of wealthy people who just choose to walk in flip-flops. They will, however, look very proper as they walk in their flip-flops and nice shorts and maybe nice jersey or cardigan hung over their shoulders if it’s a cold evening.
(Traditional Portuguese clothing for women-- not what they wear every day, pictured.)
As a foreigner, can I buy real estate in Nicaragua?
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
You can buy real estate in Nicaragua, even as a foreigner. In fact, 90% of my buyers are from other countries. There are no restrictions for any citizen of the world to come to Nicaragua and buy a property. You don’t even have to live here full time. You just have to bring your passport, review the title, you can send the money and we’ll buy the property in your name, register the property in your name, and you start paying taxes in your name. Then that property actually...
You can buy real estate in Nicaragua, even as a foreigner. In fact, 90% of my buyers are from other countries. There are no restrictions for any citizen of the world to come to Nicaragua and buy a property. You don’t even have to live here full time. You just have to bring your passport, review the title, you can send the money and we’ll buy the property in your name, register the property in your name, and you start paying taxes in your name. Then that property actually becomes your residence here in Nicaragua, which is good.
If you buy a property that costs $30,000 or more that is a good thing to use once you are applying for a residency here in Nicaragua. The minimum investment that you have to prove in Nicaragua is $30,000 to get a certain type of permanent resident visa. If you are married and you are applying for a residency in Nicaragua, you don’t have to buy an investment of $30,000 for each spouse. You, your spouse, and your kids can use the same property as your minimum investment requirement. The minimum investment requirement is $30,000 per person or for the whole family.
Some of you may be tempted to buy one of those beautiful tropical dream homes overlooking the Pacific along the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua. It's very tempting, I have the same dream. But before you do please consider an alternative. CONDO'S
Your Realtor may show you what he or she thinks you want to see but I would advise that you also include condo's because you may decide that a smaller investment may be all you would like to...
In these days that moral and family values seem to be hiding in different ways, we are responsible to fight back to ensure that the new generation has a place where they will raise their children that will be safe, not only from crime or violence, but the safest place we can provide to give them values, as the best legacy we can give them.
The decrease in marriage has been considerable. Divorces have increased incredible fast. Abortion is something that women take...
I have lived in Panama for nearly seven years with my wife Any. We have a beautiful home on the Caribbean side (known as the Gold Coast), near the town of Portobello, Colon.
I spent three years researching Panama before my first visit and I brought six people to Panama on my first visit. I thought the people who came here with me were interested in moving to Panama, but they were much more interested in golfing than discovering the country.
Like any place in the world with which I’m acquainted, the cost for land is largely a function of location. You’ll pay more around golf courses, places with incredible views, the better fraccionamientos (housing developments), and places around more desirable locations, like the center of Ajijic. .png)
.jpg)
Marching Band (to the right); Belizean Mayan flautist, Pablo Collado (bottom); traditional Belize marimba music played by The Benque House of Culture Marimba Academy; and the Afro-Amerindian world music of The Garifuna Collective spurred on by Ivan Duran of Stonetree Records in Benque Viejo - the beauty of their music is as diversified and unique as the country of Belize.
.jpg)
There's quite a bit of misinformation and fear surrounding FATCA, but the bottom line is that it's not a big deal at all (assuming that you are OK with being 100% honest and open when it comes to complying with your U.S. federal income tax responsibilities). 
The dress code in the Algarve is “smart casual” or “casual.” There’s no one with a tie here unless that person works in a bank. If you come along with a tie then we’ll know that you’re from another city or another part of the country. 
You can buy real estate in Nicaragua, even as a foreigner. In fact, 90% of my buyers are from other countries. There are no restrictions for any citizen of the world to come to Nicaragua and buy a property. You don’t even have to live here full time. You just have to bring your passport, review the title, you can send the money and we’ll buy the property in your name, register the property in your name, and you start paying taxes in your name. Then that property actually...
Some of you may be tempted to buy one of those beautiful tropical dream homes overlooking the Pacific along the Emerald Coast of Nicaragua. It's very tempting, I have the same dream. But before you do please consider an alternative. CONDO'S 
In these days that moral and family values seem to be hiding in different ways, we are responsible to fight back to ensure that the new generation has a place where they will raise their children that will be safe, not only from crime or violence, but the safest place we can provide to give them values, as the best legacy we can give them.
