I’m considering retiring to Mexico.

[raccoon]

Anyone here who has relocated to Mexico or a Central American country please respond. I am considering retiring to Mexico. My retirement won’t be like those ads you see of people buying big houses with pools; it will be a modest one. I have a good speaking knowledge of Spanish and plan to live among and hang around with the natives.

Please share your experiences. PM me if you prefer.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

1. From what I've heard, Costa Rica would be better

I think your money will go further, and Costa Rica is supposed to have excellent universal health care.

[Virginia Dare]

5. I just talked to somebody who vacations down in C.R...

and she raved about it. They supposedly have a very large American ex-patriot population along the coast, mostly surfers. She plans on retiring down there as well. She said everything there is great but the food.

[Sequoia]

2. Margarita's, fish tacos, fireworks on the beach, sand, surf....!

Spanish tiled floors, dark eyes senoritas, music, church bells, salsa, peppers, sunshine, rainbows.

[LSK]

3. maybe post here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=194

:hi:

[raccoon]

6. Thank you! I didn't know that forum existed. nt

[villager]

4. Joe Bageant's been writing about his escape to Belize:

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2007/02/escape_from_ame.html

[LSK]

10. thanks for the link

:hi:

[villager]

12. you are welcome! I discovered Bageant here on DU

...because someone else linked to him in another thread!

[mnhtnbb]

15. Before we bought in Panama, we looked seriously at Belize.

We went on a relocation tour, headed by American ex-pats who've been in Belize for 20 years, in 2005. There were about 20 of us in the group, and one couple we've kept in touch with bought a lot in Hopkins.

We also met Joe Bageant at friend's house in Hillsborough, NC a couple of years ago. I can definitely see him being quite at home in Belize.

[Maat]

7. Two of my friends ..

a same-sex couple, retired in Costa Rica. They love it. J was a local GLBT-rights activist, and a proud veteran (I believe he was in Vietnam).

We talked about various things before he left; he said that no one was harassed down there. I jokingly asked, "Where's our CIA? They meddle everywhere." He grinned and said that they allegedly owned a big ranch "down the street."

I haven't heard from them since they retired down there. They are building a home, and said that it would be awhile before they had any kind of an internet connection.

[bigscott]

9. Costa Rica is the way to go

I actually had the privilege of dining at the home of CR's first democratically elected president (as the guest of his son, a prominent physician). It is a beautiful country, stable, relatively prosperous and very welcoming to Americans. I love it there and would consider retiring there in a heartbeat - no more of this snow/ice/sleet BS! Best of luck to you!

[sinkingfeeling]

23. Too many snakes in Coasta Rica for me!

[Maat]

27. Ewwww ... snakes ..

yuck!!!!

Although, out here in SoCal, we have plenty of rattle snakes. One always has to be on the lookout for them (and the coyotes).

[wakeme2008]

8. Try Costa Rica and try

emailing Lisa at http://www.allhatnocattle.net/

She spends part of the year down there and has a house...

I was looking into CR around 4 years ago. The Spanish issue stopped me. But Medical Insurance was cheap and you had two life styles. If you moved into an "American Condo Complex" prices are high. but if you live on the economy as they used to say, prices are low.

[murray hill farm]

11. I lived in Mexico for 5 years.

and loved it..I returned to the USA when I turned 65 because of medicare (you cannot use it outside of the country) and because I am alone and always knew that one day I would return to the USA because of age...and the expected health issues that age promises. But the health care in Mexico is great and very low cost. When I was down there during hurricaine Wilma, I was given the same medical attention and treatment that a natural citizen was given..no one even asked..just gave hepatitus shots, etc and came house to house daily with food, water treatment and to be sure you were OK. I bought a little house on the island of Isla Mujeres in 2000 and I bought it for $35000 and it was paradise there. The island is only 5 miles long and one half mile wide at the widest point. So, whereever your house is...it is basically on the beach...and with a view almost wherever you live. People are friendly and helpful, labor is cheap if you hire locals...it is only a short boat or ferry ride to the mainland, Cancun,wher there is all the shopping one would need, sams club, jcpenny,home depot, walmart ...ha! All those stores and lots and lots and lots of wonderful local shopping. The weather is amazingly nice all year. If you are looking at Mexico, I would very much recommend that area for retirement. If you drive across the border, you can get a six month visa to stay and that is what a lot of retired americans do, but if you want to stay by the year you can get an fm3..basically a green card that is renewed yearly.

[mnhtnbb]

14. Isla Mujeres is in risk of hurricanes.

[murray hill farm]

19. Yep...there is that problem.

Earthquakes inland, etc. Sometimes I think that wherever we all decide to retire for the long run, we should look first for land that is over 30ft above sea level...and that has a good water table underside. Hurricaine Wilma was the reason I left Mexico earlier than I had planned to leave, but aside from that I was concerned about waiting too long to sell. As it happened though, hurricaine wilma brought so much attention to Isla, that property values went up, not down..hahahaha! Good luck in finding just the right place.

[mnhtnbb]

13. Panama here. We're building a house in the Bocas del Toro

area of Panama, which is on the Caribbean side, near the border with Costa Rica. It's part of a development by a US developer. We won't be mingling with natives so much as with other expats from US and Canada, primarily.

Ownership of land in Panama is not restricted--unlike in Mexico. Panama also has very good incentives program for retirees. We have applied for and been approved for a permanent resident visa, which gives all kinds of discounts
on everything from airfare to hotels to restaurant meals and movies.

Panama is also booming--and likely to continue since the referendum passed
to expand the Canal. You will also get more for your money than in Costa Rica.

Good place to start for info: www.panamainfo.com

We never considered Mexico, although I know of someone who does have a retirement home there. They are from NE and come back for summer at their lakehouse in NE to see kids/grandkids.

[longship]

16. Belize is another.

They have rain forests, and they speak English (former British Honduras).
I've heard it's pretty nice there.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

17. Can you buy land now in Mexico?

My understanding was that only Mexican nationals could own property down there and be able to will it to their children.

[pitohui]

18. that is land on the sea front

you can buy land inland in mexico, this misunderstanding arises because there are laws protecting the coasts from being bought up by foreigners -- many americans live on a famous lake in mexico as a result, it's slipping my mind what it is called, but you can easily find out about it, it is well known

frankly the usa could do w. the same law but i guess it's too late this time of century

[murray hill farm]

21. If it is sea side land in Mexico..

they sell it as a land lease..usually 100 yrs and renewable for another 100, but it is just a way for them to get around the law..and it is the same as owning the land..you can sell it, leave it in your will etc. and it is done all the time. The disadvantage is that you have ato pay the lease each year. Mine was about $350 a year.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

25. If that's true - that it's good for up to 200 years - it's like de facto ownership

In 200 years there might not even be a Mexico or a United States, or human civilization for that matter.

[mnhtnbb]

20. I think there are some very specific conditions under which foreigners

can own real property--but not many. Also, crime is a HUGE problem in Mexico.

[demobabe]

22. Great website and book - The People's Guide to Mexico

http://www.peoplesguide.com/

Living modestly in Mexico is exactly what these people did (and are still doing). They have a fantastic website with lots of good information and stories. The book is fun to read even if you don't have any plans of going to Mexico.

[mnhtnbb]

24. The latest Panama promotion in my e-mail box

http://www.il-ireland.com/il/promos/panamare07/alert.html

[The Anti-Neo Con]

26. You could also check out Venezuela.

Nice climate, socialist government, etc. It's the place I'd like to be right now.

[IDemo]

28. I would be a bit cautious about Mexico now

They are likely facing a pretty steep economic decline over the next few years, largely due to the collapse of their largest oil field, Cantarell, the primary source of income for the state run oil company. DU'er GliderGuider has a summation of the situation here.

I am seriously considering Panama, but it looks like they really prefer that newcomers have retirement income or be independently wealthy. The job situation doesn't look too promising for foreigners.