Costa Rica Travel and Vacation

In the new century, Panama has established itself as a player in international real estate investment. The country’s economy continues to grow year on year. Foreign Direct Investment is still coming in. There are a variety of potential moneymaking real estate sectors. In short, Panama is more than holding its own during despite today’s global investment uncertainty. However, prospective investors should be aware of some very important changes affecting real estate investments in Panama in 2009. The basics are the same Foreign investors have chosen to put money in Panama because: The economy is strong. Panama has shown strong growth for the past five years (over 11% in 2007 and over 9% in 2008, 3. 5% predicted this year). Foreigners have the same rights to property and business as nationals. Panama uses the U. S. Dollar for currency. Tax breaks and exemptions are available. These pillars may be adapted somewhat but the base for solid opportunities show no signs of change. Enter Ricardo MartinelliThis year Panamanians elected Ricardo Martinelli, a self-made millionaire who owns businesses including supermarkets, banks and agricultural companies. Martinelli and his party hold the majority of seats in the National Assembly. This allows him to implement his reforms, three of which affect real estate investment. The first reform focuses on reviewing development and concession agreements to make certain taxes are applied to all and—in a major change from before—they get paid (in order to get money for infrastructure and social improvement projects). This is not an idle goal; Martinelli has already temporarily shut down some major real estate development projects in the Amador Causeway and has taken on the merchants of the Colon Free Zone, which is Panama’s second largest moneymaker. Some of these actions have lead to payment schedules and increases, and some are still in the “But I’m innocent” stage. Second, Martinelli has begun the process to change Rights of Possession (ROP) property into titled property. If and when this is completed, it will have a huge impact on buying real estate in Panama. Buying ROP has always been a riskier move, but some prime land could be obtained at bargain prices. Now the inverse is a possibility. It should be noted that the prospect of titling ROP is making some who have purchased ROP nervous. Finally, a flat tax of 1% is being introduced on real estate. According to the La Prensa newspaper in July 2009, “Property tax would decrease from 2% to 1% for those who willingly update the value of their properties in the civil registry. . . . The 2% real estate property tax is the highest of the region, we will be more competitive with the 1% tax incentive. ”In another article, La Prensa gives these comparison rate for taxes in Latin America: Colombia pays an average tax of 0. 75%, 0. 25% in Costa Rica, Guatemala 0. 56%, and in Mexico and Venezuela 0. 6%. Martinelli still has five years in office, so watch for more business-based reforms to come. Financing is available but the rules have changedDue to a conservative lending and investing policy, Panama’s International Banking Center has weathered the world financial crunch very well. Be that as it may, financiers are being cautious in order to protect their position. Latin Business Chronicle (LBC)describes the current bank situation as “extremely liquid. Nevertheless, the Panamanian and foreign banks have assumed a defensive posture as the foreign correspondent banks have cut the lines of credit to all the local banks. This has resulted in the continuation of real estate projects that had already started, but with more stringent credit policies. The developers have to come up with their part of their investments upfront, and any cost overruns have to be met by the developer. ”In addition to what LBC describes above, foreigners attempting to obtain financing should also be aware that LTVs are dropping, so getting 70% is doing very well. Also, it is important to remember that financers in Panama fund renovation and construction; they do not usually lend for the purchase of raw land. On a final financing note, private funders from the U. S. , and to a lesser extent other countries, are still doing deals in Panama. LTVs run about the same as above, and more than sweat equity up front is the norm. The condo and residential craze is over – at least for now:Estimates for new condos and high-end residential units currently available, under construction or slated for construction are at 12,000+. There is no MLS system in Panama as of yet, so real median prices for units are hard to determine. What is certain is that prices have dropped, but not bottomed out. Speculators are trying to get their deposits back. New sales and rentals are stagnant. On the flip side, some great deals can be negotiated—but make certain the building is completed!Commercial properties remain strongMegaprojectsBig commercial development is moving ahead. Some examples are:The $5+ billion Panama Canal expansion. A new terminal for Panama’s Tocumen International Airport. A new convention center. Panama Pacifico, a 1,400 hectare, mixed-use free zone, located in the old Howard U. S. military base. The giant Metromall, under construction near Tocumen. HotelsHotel rooms are a hot sector. In 2007, Panama climbed to second place in the world in hotel occupancy on the Deloitte Global Ranking Index, with 84. 7% occupancy. For 2008, international branded properties in Panama City performed at about 78% occupancy and an average daily rate of near US$175 per night, according to Rogerio Basso, a hospitality analyst with Ernst & Young in Miami. Nineteen major projects comprising 4,119 rooms were in development as of the close of the third quarter of 2008, according to the Portsmouth, New Hampshire–based Lodging Econometrics. Many more have been started since and most agree that even more rooms will be needed. OfficesFinally, there is a chronic shortage of Class-A office space due in part to Panama’s Law 41 initiative for multinationals. Again the numbers are sparse, but availability is estimated down from 30% last year to 3% now. Naturally, lease rates have risen accordingly. And the winners areThey can still be both you as an investor and Panama as the place you invest in. You simply have to dig below the hype to find the real story as it exists today. Can you say ‘Due Diligence’ anyone? And, welcome to Panama.

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Traveling is something that nobody expected. How can we achieve our dreams? This article explains how to obtain lower prices and still enjoy your vacation. When is the best time to go? Think about how many tourists visit a certain destination at a particular time of year. A place, usually with tourists when the weather is beautiful and full festival experience. The rates are expensive now. But there is always hope! LowSeason could be the best time to find the best prices. But when a balance between quantity and quality that you want to experience their trip, choose the time between high and low when prices tend to decline. At the same time, have a big party. For example, in late spring, the Caribbean is always great when the majority decides to American tourists, another time because the weather is still bearable, I’m traveling. Not onlySeason. During low season, clouds shadow the Caribbean, Egypt is too hot for hiking, and no other man on this night markets. Get the lowest rates does not mean that the quality of your trip. Where to go? The four seasons is a good season, the lowest rate. In winter, everyone wants to go shopping, so that you and travel in Asia, where it’s warm and sunny for almost thethroughout the year. Visit Tulip Farm in Holland, in the spring, just before it is heated and intensified its activities in Europe. Summer is when the herd of tourists around the world. But you can always go to quieter places, who wants to do is not much, but maybe the relaxation of the rest. Fall Time, Costa Rica is very convenient, since the period between the dry and wet season destination, where tourists are planning their trip. Trip to New Zealandwhen they get there. Inflation remains low, but the sight of the Golden Flower is absolutely amazing. Autumn is also when the school does not start to destinations too busy. A limited budget does not mean that we should postpone the trip as planned. You can go on vacation, if you know exactly what to wear! If it is too hot or too cold, if you have suitable clothing, you can always expect the best from a holiday out of season. AsThe reduction of tariffs for search? Search online for not only the largest companies travel. Use a search engine like FareChase, a travel planning services, TripAdvisor and auction sites. Being open to other options, but fast and not spend much time on the Internet. If you come across a great book, before he does another. Or better yet, a quick search of fares. You can also talk to travel agents. Reported lessPopular airlines, which are great for discounts. You can also use packages to reduce housing and rental costs in half. In addition, you can also take a closer look at favorite travel destination of the recommendations and reservations at restaurants. read more http://www. airlinefares. bankcreditsite. com/your-guide-to-the-lowest-airfares/

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A favorite topic these days in our Forex trading community is what to do with the ever expanding profits.   Many traders are excited about discovering good sources of long term passive income and the quest for ideal investments has proven to be a great source of fun and fulfillment.
Because they just aren’t making any new land and the demand is still growing, real estate remains one of the most solid investments available in spite of recent fears about the global economy. One way to beat the waiting game while markets are in temporary slumps is to locate emerging markets internationally that are likely to appreciate over the next several years.   I love to explore new emerging markets for international real estate investing and one of my favorites right now is in Brazil. What a great way to diversify your investment portfolio while also enjoying a few trips to beautiful and exotic destinations!
This year, Brazil is attracting a lot of attention as a rapidly emerging real estate market from investors around the world. And why is this so? Apparently there are many reasons that all combine to make this a hot opportunity. Brazil has a rapidly expanding economy just like China. Over the last four years alone, Brazil’s middle class has swelled by 24%, lifting roughly 20 million people out of poverty, according to Brazil’s Census Bureau. Today, many leading economists forecast Brazil to be among the 5 richest countries by GDP by year 2020.
Although Brazil was brought to my attention by one of the international real estate investing gurus, I have been hearing about the glories of Brazil for years prior to discovering its real estate opportunities.   My own brother has lived in Brazil for 16 years now and he cannot say enough good things about the benefits of living there. This year he is buying a new condo in Sao Poulo and will accompany me on my next real estate scouting trip.   Naturally, I am looking forward to having a tour of the locals’ favorite sites that are off the beaten path for tourists.
Brazil has also been selected to host Soccer’s Confederation Cup in 2113, the 2014 Football World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. This will result in the construction of new infrastructure, commercial buildings and homes across Brazil. $5. 5 billion will be spent on infrastructure and toursim amenities in the state of Ceara, of which Fortaleza is the capital. Aside from that, Brazil’s real estate market is flourishing because of its tropical climate, rich culture, some of the world’s best beaches and of course, low property prices. You can find townhouses beginning at $49,000, lots at $19,000, and oceanfront lots for $29,000.
To be able to purchase property in Brazil, a foreigner must obtain a Cadastro de Pessoas Fisicas or a CPF which is similar to a Social Security Number in the U. S. After that, you can now start looking for a property that best suits your budget and personality.  Limited financing can be obtained in installments of 12, 24, 36 or 48 months, but interest rates can be as high as 35%. If you opt to pay in installments, there is also a currency risk. In other words, if the value of the Brazilian Real goes down, your real estate becomes cheaper, and vice versa. Transferring the property to your name costs approximately 4%-5% of the purchase price.
Keep in mind that location is still the primary consideration when choosing investment property. For investment purposes, it only makes sense to buy a property in an area with an influx of potential tenants or buyers, whether it is for rental or re-sale purposes. Very few clients are interested in renting or buying a property in a location with no infrastructure like bars, restaurants and other amenities which are necessary for enjoying a vacation. One of my own mentors who owned a vast empire of apartment buildings and homes in Seattle’s most desirable areas told me to always look for the “areas of romance”.    The beachfront areas will always grow in desirability. Just look around and ask, “Where do people like to go when they are not working?”  Where are the art galleries and chic fashion boutiques?  Where do you smell the fine aroma of European coffee shops and gourmet international cuisine restaurants? Most likely this is a good place to start looking for long term investments.
Fortaleza and other beachfront cities in Northeastern Brazil have come to my attention over the last several months and some international real estate experts are saying this area now has the best beach front deals in the world. I am particularly interested in the low maintenance income of commercial office space and the case for buying this type of property is pretty straightforward.   There is a chronic shortage in that area.   As business is booming more office space is needed for leasing unlike what is happening accross America where commercial buildings sit vacant and bank owned.
There is so much to learn about investing in Brazil that this subject will require a series of articles.   Meanwhile, I am also currently scouting for opportunities in Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Uraguay, Guatemala, Romania and other emerging markets. The plan is simple.   Build capital through Forex trading and transfer the capital into international real estate.
 http://www. forextradingseminar. com/blog/312/why-you-should-put-25-of-your-forex-profits-into-real-estate-in-brazil/

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Forty years ago, a romantic weekend in a Niagara Falls suite with a heart-shaped Jacuzzi was a perfectly fine romantic vacation package following a wedding. Today’s standards have increased ten-fold. Couples are looking for more far-flung destinations with all the bells and whistles. “Hundreds of years ago, the honeymoon was a chance for the bride and groom to get to know one another,” Kyle Brown, executive director of the Bridal Association of America, says. “Now, it’s a chance to say, ‘Let’s get away from all this. ‘ It’s a vacation, an accepted and an expected vacation, and that’s why the percentage of married couples who take one is so high. I don’t see it dying down or going anywhere–it’s part of the wedding experience. ”  Couples headed to costly romantic travel hot spots may want to consider setting up a honeymoon registry, which can cut $1,000 to $2,000 off the cost of their trip. Guests can choose gifts like a massage for two ($130 per person), a candlelit dinner on the beach ($90) or contribute to round-trip airfare. These registries are customized for the destination of choice, so guests can also purchase a guided tour of a national park, drinks and dinner at a local club, or dance lessons. These registries can be found online at sites like www. sendusoff. com, www. thebigday. com or www. honeymoonwishes. com. Couples are then provided with a check or Paypal payment upon request. Some specific resorts and cruise ships also offer their own gift registries, allowing guests to directly purchase customized romantic vacation package gifts that can be picked up at boarding or check-in time.  Given the hefty price tag of most weddings, couples may need to find ways to save on their romantic vacation package, without sacrificing the luxury and pampering they deserve. One way couples are saving is to book all inclusive romantic vacation packages at a resort. For instance, the Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica includes a stay in a deluxe junior suite at a beachside resort, as well as activities like snorkeling, sailing, canopy tours, sunset walks and sport equipment rental for approximately $3,000/week, plus airfare. Couples who are more interested in amenities than activities may want to book Rosewood’s San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, California, where honeymooners can stay for a romantic weekend in a cottage with a sunken hot tub, private veranda and outdoor rain shower for $2,080. Some places to check for all inclusive packages that include airfare, resort stay, meals and activities are www. sandals. com, www. secretsresorts. com, www. couples. com, www. palaceresorts. com and www. superclubs. com. Couples can also get amazing bargains on a romantic vacation package if it’s booked alongside a destination wedding. Hotel chains like Sandals and Palace Resorts offer complimentary weddings when the newlyweds agree to stay at the hotel for the honeymoon. A seven-night stay for the couple and two guests at one of Sandal’s 12 Caribbean properties will cost around $3,500 to $5,000. This price does not include airfare, but includes all meals, premium drinks, activities and rooms. For more information on booking a destination wedding visit www. sandals. com or www. palaceresorts. com.

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If you love travel but you don’t want your vacation to break the bank, here are some helpful tips to keep the costs way down. 1. Join airline frequent flier programs and, if you like, sign up for credit cards that offer free miles. It’s awfully nice to kick off your vacation with a free flight to your vacation destination. But make sure to sign up for your free flight months in advance if possible. You want to make sure there are open seats on the flight. Also, if a flight is overbooked and you’re on vacation, why not give up your seat for a later flight and get a free ticket for your next trip? 2. If possible, find out the off-season for your destination and travel then. There’s a world of difference between season and off-season rates. Also, why travel to the most expensive international destinations? Some of the least expensive locations include Iceland, Hungary, Panama, Mexico, Argentina, Belize, Nicaragua, Brazil, and South Africa. You might be surprised what these nations have to offer tourists. Also check out the most reasonable currency exchange areas. For example, the internet says that in Taiwan or France, the most inexpensive places to exchange currency is at ATMs in the airport. 3. There are more and more all-inclusive vacation packages available at cut-rate prices. It can save a great deal of money to have tours/attractions, lodging, meals, and other amenities included in your package price. Paying for each of these things individually can easily double or triple your vacation costs. Sometimes you can get multi-day passes to various amusements or special rates if you go later in the day. Luxury cruises in particular offer some amazingly economical all-inclusive packages. 4. Ask your travel agent if there are apartments, condos, or even home rentals available at your destination. There are lots of desperate owners out there now who will rent a condo or fine home for significantly less than you’d pay in a nice hotel. Or check out Bed & Breakfasts: off season, you may pay less for extravagant lodging and gourmet breakfasts than you’d pay for a ho-hum hotel. If you have no choice, at least sign up for hotel loyalty programs that give you a free night after so many stays at their chain. 5. There are tons of ways to save on food. Many lodgings now offer free breakfast. If not, it’s usually less expensive to find a restaurant down the street for breakfast instead of eating in the hotel restaurant. Avoid room service or your hotel room mini-bar. Instead, bring soup or oatmeal packets and use the heated water in your coffee maker. If you want to splurge on a meal, lunches are usually less expensive in restaurants than dinners. Also you can save up for fabulous meals by eating nutrition bars during the day (Balance or Power bars), nuts, sandwiches, fruit, protein drinks, etc. In some places, restaurants which locals frequent can be much less expensive than the tourist traps. (Just make yourself aware of the countries where this can be hard on your digestive tract). 6. Speaking of food—what about coffee, local candies, gourmet delights. Instead of buying items like these in souvenir or touristy shops, check out local grocery stores or farmer’s markets for much lower prices. (just a head’s up: if you buy produce from a farmer’s market, make sure you wash it carefully with soap before consuming). You can buy a gourmet feast or great beverages for next to nothing in some countries. For example, in Costa Rica, superb coffee costs $8-12. 00 in tourist shops but in grocery stores it is $. 75-1. 00 per pound. You can almost always find bottled water at cheaper prices than in your hotel or the airport. Do a little searching. And carry around a giant thermos with your favorite beverage. You’ll be surprised how much you can save on drinks. 7. Transportation can be a huge expense, so check out your options carefully. When you factor travel time to airports, arriving at an airport early, baggage claim, flight delays, etc, it may be both cheaper and faster to use the bus or train. Also, figure out whether it would be cheaper and more convenient to rent a car than to pay for shuttles, taxis, or trains (Streetwise and Michelin’s spiral bound maps are great). Of course, in places like Europe, euro-rail passes can’t be beat when bought for several weeks or months at a time. And trains in many places are getting faster and faster. 8. For those with kids, just a few friendly hints. Bring your collapsible stroller for the tots. This can save you frustration as well as stroller rent. Also for tots, if you’re going to stay at a hotel for a week or two, why not buy things like diapers, wipes, sippy cups, snacks, and other baby items at Amazon. com and have them delivered in advance to the hotel? If you spend at least $25, delivery is free, and most hotels will accept deliveries as long as you already have a confirmed reservation. Give your kids a pre-set spending limit for arcades, souvenirs, etc. Knowing their limit may save a lot of whining and begging. If your lodging has a nice pool, Jacuzzi, workout room, etc. , why not spend a day with the kids at the pool? They’ll have fun and it will save you that extra day in amusement park costs. Yes, you can enjoy the vacation of a lifetime without putting your home in hock. Just follow these tips and plan ahead. Get ready for a lot of fun!

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There is no shortage of travel resources on the internet. There are two enormous sites dedicated to flight and auto bookings at www. expedia. net and www. travelocity. net. For purposes of exploring the cheapest way to fly from point A to point B, these two options are the best. They will show every flight available, with no bias toward advertisers or major airlines. They will also take a regional approach, and give you the cheapest flight to your destination from all locations in metro areas that have multiple airports. You can retrieve flight information to Boston, for example from San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose – all airports within a fifty mile radius of one another and easily reached via public transit.
You can also book car reservations through these sites, if you are so inclined. Occasionally the auto rental agencies will have bargain rates for online rentals. Both Travelocity and Expedia have hotel packages to match up with your flight destination but those are basically promotional deals and have little to do with enhancing your travel experience.
IF you are interested in some online feedback on hotels and attractions in various locations, www. tripadvisor. com is a good resource. The site has its share of advertising for hotels and other services, but it also has a rating system based on consumer feedback. For San Francisco, the site has a list of the 234 most popular hotels in the city, based on published reviews and opinions submitted by people who have used their site. There is also information on tourist attractions and public transportation for vacation destinations,
You can search the site by destination and retrieve a list of hotels ranked by popularity, by price and by availability. They also provide a list of attractions and dining options, also ranked by popularity and including pricing information. There is a section for maps and an area for forums that will contain commentary on your chosen destination.
Prominent on the page are advertisements for other websites that offer travel packages and deals. There are clickable sections for discount hotels and listings of travel packages that are not advertisers on the site. It’s a thorough resource and very informative about destinations and attractions as well as how to get there and where to stay.
You’ll find an interesting approach at www. vacationidea. com. Choose from a menu of concepts: beach vacations, weekenders, health spas, romantic getaways, family destinations, golf vacations, low cost choices, etc. The site will give you options in your chosen category that are both near and far, with a range of prices. At www. vacationplanning. net, you can click on any of the fifty states on a map of the U. S. A. Your choice will provide you with a list of popular tourist destinations for the state. Click on a destination within the state, and you’ll get details on the location, popular attractions there and links to more local information such as the local chamber of commerce or tourism bureau.
If you do an online search on a destination you’ve chosen, you’ll get lots of sites from local promotional organizations and even governmental sites, such as the Costa Rica Visitors Bureau. There are also United States regional sites to assist in planning touring vacations to some of the countries most scenic or historical areas. After all, there’s no rule you have to confine your vacation to a single state.
One of the better ones is http://www. abbington. com/ which is dedicated to planning a vacation in New England. It is a nicely done site, addressing the vacation opportunities for the various seasons in the region. There is a section dedicated to the winter sports, the fall foliage, and a great page for children’s attractions at their New England for Kids Page: http://www. abbington. com/kids. html.
These are a few quality selections; the internet is a rich resource for planning vacations. If you opt for a travel package however, be sure to check with the BBB and sources in the travel industry on the reliability of the firm you’ve chosen.

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People who took a chance and invested in coastal property in California, Hawaii and some parts of Florida with a $30,000 investment in any one of the three states mentioned above 30 years ago could have returned over $1,000,000.
Today Ocean view properties for sale here are expensive and Americans are looking elsewhere for property that’s cheap and has huge growth potential and getting an affordable slice of paradise
Where are they buying?
Ocean view property for sale can be purchased for just $60,000 and have huge growth potential and Americans are buying in increasing numbers in Central America.
Just a 3 hour flight away and yet ocean view property for sale is up to 70% cheaper than in the USA!
The main market is Costa Rica a safe, stable, friendly country with huge and growing foreign investment. Gains have been stunning for example.
Investors that purchased $30,000 of property in the town of Jaco, just 15 years ago are now worth as much as $750,000.
The Marriot Corporation which built its crown jewel of Latin America Los Suenos Resort and pre sold 50 condos of 2000 square feet for $250,000. The next year Marriot sold another fifty at $350,000. Now this years upper end units are being sold between $450,000 to $850,000.
The same scenario as California, Hawaii & Florida?
The boom in Central America has only just started, record investment and migrants from the US will push prices higher and we could see similar increases here over the next 10 or 15 years as we have seen in the USA.
The boom is set to continue
More Americans than ever are buying second homes and much of the US is expensive, yet Costa Rica remains cheap and gives a high standard of living at lower cost in one of the most beautiful countries on earth.
Buyers of property get the same rights as residents, property tax is minimal and the process of buying and selling is easy.
The capital gains potential
Ocean view property for sale can and does make many savvy investors triple digit annual gains and they are doing this with low risk. Furthermore, they are also able to gain income from the buoyant rental market.
If you are looking for a holiday, a second home or an investment property, then look at the booming ocean view property for sale market in Central America, you will see similar potential for gains that existed in America 30 years ago and the boom has only just begun.
Consider the facts and get on board for big capital gains potential combined with low risk.

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As the leading edge of the baby boomer generation starts inching ever closer to retirement, the reality of their financial situation is beginning to sink in.
Many are still in debt and have nothing but social security to look forward to. The way things are going, it looks like there will be no retirement – that they will have to keep working, even if it means being a greeter at Wal-Mart.
This is the time to do some serious financial planning.
If you are in this situation, but own your house you have a few options.
1. Sell your house and rent;
2. Get a reverse mortgage;
3. Take in tenants;
4. Move to a cheaper part of the country;
5. Move to another less expensive country;
6. Continue Working.
Sell and Rent
Your children should all be pretty grown up by the time you qualify for Social Security. This doesn’t mean they still don’t live with you. In that case, it might be time to shove them out of the nest.
[For those of you who had children late and still have teenagers in the house or in college, see below. ]
If you have a chunk of equity in your house, sell it, pay off your debt, invest the proceeds and rent an apartment. Except on the coasts, there are nice new rental units at reasonable prices. You might even find a house whose rent you can afford.
Depending on how much you clear, you might be able to live a comfortable life, afford new clothes, healthcare and an occasional vacation.
Reverse Mortgages
In this case, the lender gives you cash based on the equity of your house. You don’t have to repay the loan – that happens when you either decide to sell the house or you and your spouse passes away.
Your outstanding debts will first be repaid. You can use the balance will as you see fit.
When you sell or die, the loan is then repaid and if any money is left, you or your heirs get the balance.
These loans carry high fees, but are very popular with people who need money and don’t want to move. Rising housing costs have created extra equity to borrow against.
Take in Tenants
If your house is big enough and you live in a desirable area, this may be a way to supplement your income.
There are lots of variables, including the going rate for full apartments where you live.
A room or suite of rooms is obviously worth more in an attractive section of a big city than it would be in a rural farm community.
If you do plan to do this, talk to an accountant first to see if you get any tax breaks for actively managing a rental property.
Move to a Cheaper Part of the County
If you live in a high cost area like New York City or most of California, you can relocate to cheaper parts of the country.
The southwest and Florida are booming because of lower taxes and subsequently a lower cost of living.
Many people are reluctant to move away from their lifelong neighborhood. They are afraid of the unknown. But if it means the difference between working at minimum wage or enjoying your retirement years, this is an option to consider.
Money Magazine routinely runs articles about the best places to live in the US. They take into account housing prices, taxes, climate, availability of medical care, the crime rate and more. You might actually find a better place than you current locale.
Move to a Less Expensive Country
This is obviously not for everyone. It takes a certain sense of adventure and requires a large dose of acceptance and patience. You also have to be willing to part with your extended family – which becomes quite hard for some people.
Places like Mexico, Costa Rica and Honduras have become a magnet for ex-patriot retirees. These countries offer tax benefits to attract foreign retirees.
The cost of living is lower – but don’t believe the articles that say you can live on $800 a month, with a maid and gardener thrown in.
I am most familiar with Mexico where I now own a home and Honduras, where I once owned property.
I live part time in the west-central highlands of Mexico, outside of Guadalajara. This is the home to a large community of American and Canadian retirees.
It is the land of eternal spring, with pleasant temperatures just about year round. Housing is much less expensive than in most of the US, but one of the reasons is that they are neither heated nor air conditioned.
Taxes are low. Municipal services are sketchy at best and the Mexican government offers few benefits. Health care is fine and affordable – people come from the states just for plastic surgery or dental work, but there are no malpractice lawsuits.
It is easy to make friends. The weather is great and if you can find the patience the adapt the slower Mexican pace of life, it’s a great place to live.
It is hard to get financing for a house, although that is now becoming available in spots.
Rentals are quite cheap and houses can cost as little as $75,000 and run into the millions.
You have Sam’s, Walmart and Costco in addition to other supermarket chains, fancy malls, good restaurants and inexpensive entertainment.
You can get satellite TV, high speed internet connections, fairly good electric and phone service and the US is not that far away.
Not counting housing costs, you can live very comfortably for about $18,000 US a year.
Time Magazine has included this area as one of the ten best retirement communities in the world.
Continue Working
If you don’t have a home with equity, if you have more debt than equity or if you still have young children to support, you will have to continue working.
Depending on your job and your company’s retirement policy, you present employer might keep you on. You chances are better if you have a needed skill.
Offer to work part time, or as a consultant. This saves your employer money on benefits and might clinch the deal.
Or you might be forced to look for new employment. Right now, the labor market is tight and it might not be too difficult for a healthy boomer to get a job. Whether that will be the case five to seven years from now is anyone’s guess.
If you see that you will need to keep working, this might be the time to start up a business. You can develop it in your part time and hopefully, when forced to retire, you will have a going concern on your hands.
Otherwise, plan for the worst. Assume the job market will not be good. Consider your present skills and determine what you can do about improving them.
See if your employer will pay for training. Otherwise check out what training is available through your community college or job bank.
You will need to have something to offer if you hope to get a job when you’re over 60.
One good thing is that if you continue to work, your social security benefits will continue to grow. But there are mandatory withdrawal rules for conventional IRA’s that must be considered.
The oldest boomers have about 5 years until they reach 65. If they haven’t started working on a retirement plan yet, there no time like now to start.

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If you are one of the many investors saving for retirement and wondering how you will maintain your standard of living as your investments are not performing and the Sate looks to provide less and less this article is for you.
Quite simply, most of the baby boomer generation (that’s about 70 million) people face a retirement where they wont maintain the standard of living their used to.
They need high growth and low risk but what are the best investments?
Getting low risk and high rewards
Saving for retirement means getting low risk and high reward but mutual funds and equity managers generally perform poorly and double digit gains are considered good but with inflation eating in. that’s not much!
Its time to look at other ways to save for retirement and there is one method that is becoming more attractive to Americans and other foreigners than ever.
Its investing in Costa Rican land and property.
If you have never considered this as part of your savings for retirement plan then you should consider this
1. Costa Rican land & property prices are booming
Over the last 5 years prime property prices are up by as much as 300% and year on year since 1997 when the boom began and downside has been almost non existent.
Does this sound a better return than your mutual fund with less risk?
2. The boom will continue
It is exactly the problems in the US with regard to getting better performance that will drive these prices higher.
Many Americans are not only thinking of buying land and property for investment purposes but they are moving to Costa Rica in ever increasing numbers
Why? Because they can get property at 70% cheaper, living costs are 70% cheaper and they can live in a stable country with all the comforts of home just 3 hours from the US!
3. Investing the easy way
The government makes buying land and property easy, you get the same rights as residents and its very tax efficient.
4. Risk / reward
Saving for retirement is all about risk / reward.
You want the high growth rates without huge downside swings, Costa Rican property and land investments provide you with this.
Keep in mind
If you buy a property as an investment you don’t have to wait to sell it to make money -rent it out in the booming rental market.
As more and more people move to Costa Rica from the US and more big companies such as Intel and proctor and Gamble re locate parts of their operation, the rental market will continue to be buoyant.
Finally, you may end up doing what many Americans already have. .
Simply, don’t sell your investment property move to Costa Rica and live in it.
Many investors started saving for retirement by buying a second property in Costa Rica, then when they saw the standard of living they moved! Consider this:
You can live on $2,000 a month, there is no tax on social security checks, the country is safe, stable, has good infrastructure, all the comforts of home, a large American population (so you feel at home) and all this is just a 3 hour direct flight from the US.
Of course, when saving for retirement wouldn’t it be nice to own or live in a paradise? With everything from pristine beaches to rainforest and one of the best climates on earth Costa Rica has this and much more.
If you have never considered Costa Rica in your saving for retirement plans or re-locating, then you should it makes perfect sense.

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If you are investing for retirement and like many have not invested enough to live comfortably your not alone.
It’s a major worry, with less government support, inflation and soaring health insurance, millions of people will NOT be able to maintain their standard of living when they retire. Here we will show you how you can take action to make sure you do!
If you are investing for retirement it’s a fact that mutual funds and discretionary funds perform poorly and with the economic situation getting worse things look bleak.
Do is their a low risk investment to give good gains? The answer is yes.
More Americans than ever are investing for retirement in Costa Rica by buying investment property and second homes and their making huge gains. Consider this
Fantastic growth and low risk
An investment property bought in the popular resort of Jaco on the pacific coast for $30,000 just 15 years ago is worth up to 800,000 today and these gains are not un common.
Not only do you have an appreciating asset you will have access to lucrative rental income and somewhere to visit and live in if you wish.
A close stable beautiful country
Costa Rica is just 3 hours from the US and property is up to 70% cheaper and the you can comfortably live on 2,000 a month.
It’s a fact here your social security checks go further.
People get a higher standard of living for a lower cost.
In addition, medical facilities are world class cheap, the pace of life is slower, there is no serious crime and the country is stable and beautiful.
A host of options
You can buy property here that can give you far better growth potential with lower risk than traditional assets such as mutual funds, get valuable rental income and even live in it if you want and slash your living costs instantly
investing for retirement a great option
Many Americans who saw Costa Rica as just an investment for retirement opportunity, ended up living in Costa Rica as well.
They got a standard of living way ahead of the one that they had at home and their just three hours away from their loved ones.
If you are looking for an investment or maybe even re locating to Costa Rica eventually, then check out this investing for retirement opportunity and your worries about having enough money to live your “golden years” the way you want maybe over.

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