If you’ve ever visited Latin America on holiday, then you’re probably very familiar with the tactics used by many of the marketing professionals, working at resorts, and in the business of selling time-share packages.

You may also be aware of the phenomenon where expats, like yourself, are receiving kickbacks from each ‘client’ they refer to their favorite attorney, real estate broker, lender, etc. As you know, people are always looking for ways to make an extra dollar or two and it’s our understanding that many expats are getting quite good at this.

This is just one reason why we strongly suggest you educate yourself in all aspects of life and liberty as you make your transition to Central America, Mexico or elsewhere. Know that there is a tremendous learning curve the first year or two and make sure you work with experts that can efficiently guide you through the process. Either way, you’ll most likely be paying for this information, overtly or not, but your best bet is to work with legitimate professionals who have nothing to hide.

Integrity, Service & Trust.

I remember it clearly, as if it was yesterday… I bought my first home eleven years ago, with a rookie real estate agent. (mistake #1 - trusting the real estate professional) I recall discussing the high prices at that time and how the market had been going strong the past few years. I’ll never forget how excited and overwhelmed I was and how one of the other real estate professionals in her office told me what a great investment I was making. I don’t recall any of the “professionals” explaining to me the challenges that may come with owning a home or how it could take 4-6 years to earn any kind of profit… none-the-less be able to sell the home without actually losing money. We soon had the home inspected and I wasn’t there to actually witness the inspection. (mistake #2 - trusting the inspector)

After moving in I found out there were carpenter ants eating away at the home and large deck and many of the windows had broken seals, so they would fog up when there was humidity in the air, making them virtually impossible to see through. This one you’ll get a kick out of… I also trusted the seller. (mistake #3)

It wasn’t long when I found myself spending my entire savings on getting rid of the large wood eating carpenter ants and calling a local window company to replace the windows. Just my luck… I had called the same company the sellers of the home had ordered new windows from; however, the sellers had cancelled the order (after the windows had arrived) because the home passed the “inspection.” Keep in mind, I was a first time… fresh out of college home-buyer and the windows needed had been a special order. The owner of the window business was so elated that was finally going to be able to sell these ’special order’ windows that he was kind enough to give me a 20% discount. I’m still grateful for his generosity as it seems he was the only one who was actually helpful!

OK, maybe I’m being a little hard on the “professionals” and the sellers… but would you know, it happened again when I bought my second house only this time I was slightly more prepared.

After buying the first home and having completed four years of college (in business administration) I soon found that I was unprepared for the real estate world, so I took the necessary classes, offered by a local real estate professional, which prepared me for the State and National exams. Passing these exams was only the beginning of my real estate and banking career, but I was then off to a good start. I eventually went into the field of mortgage lending (because I enjoyed finance) by working with a small, local mortgage company. This is where I learned that being honest, doing the right thing and truly wanting to help others, doesn’t always pay as well as… well, let’s just say… being able to talk fast, make people laugh and hmmm… take’m to the cleaners!!! These guys always amazed me with their ability to create what I call ‘hot air’ and take people to the cleaners… but they’re all over the place and you really have to watch out for them. They’re out there just waiting and looking for clients who don’t really know what they’re doing and willing to listen to a smooth talking ‘gentleman or gentlewoman’ who may or may not know their field that well and don’t really care about doing what’s right. Folks, I can’t stress this part enough… it’s very important that you find someone highly competent, dedicated to his/her clients, always ready to do the right thing, and truly there to work for you!

Back to house #2. By this time I had let my real estate license lapse (because it wasn’t required while working in the home mortgage industry) so I found a friend of a friend, well-educated and he owned several homes himself (of which he kept as rentals – so he must be a smart guy!) I couldn’t believe my eyes when I had to help him write the offer letter and complete the purchase contract! Good thing I had paid attention to all those bank underwriters dos and don’ts! They should have offered a college course on the best way to purchase a home (unfortunately they didn’t offer this class) but I was well versed and had paid close attention during my years in the mortgage business. Needless to say, when the first rain came, the roof leaked. Although I knew the roof was old, I didn’t expect it to leak during the first rain! Again, I learned never to trust a seller to do the right thing. I also learned that never again would I work with anyone less than the best in his/her field, especially when it came to real estate transactions!

I’ll save the house #3 story for another time. Most importantly, what we want you to walk away with is that when buying a home, especially in Latin America, it’s critical you work with professionals that have the right experience, who know how to get things done for you, professionals you can trust AND professionals that are passionate about their career and looking out for your best interests, NOT just another ‘sale.’

When working with anyone within the MovetoLatinAmerica, Corp. ‘Circle of Business,’ you will know that we are not only true professionals, you will know that you are the #1 reason we’re here and ready to serve you! We care about you, your family and the effect that buying a new home in Latin America will have on each of you for many years to come. We care that you find exactly what you’re looking for, at a fair price, and that it’s in good condition when you take ownership.

Don’t ever worry about asking too many questions or continuing that search for the home, whether it be for your family or investment purpostes, that you will have made the right choice and will be able to look back many years later and be happy with your decision! Remember, buying real estate can be very challenging, especially in Latin America and you can count on us, The MovetoLatinAmerica Team. We can be reached by phone (via a US phone #) at 305-984-1868. Best wishes to you, your family and happy house hunting!

The simple answer is… it appears this 40 year old battle may soon come to an end. With the valiant rescue of three US citizens and Ms. Ingrid Betancourt (a well known French-Colombian politician) yesterday and with three of the most senior FARC leaders now gone, the numbers of FARC rebels are dwindling at a more rapid pace than ever before. The fact that the rewards for leaving the rebel groups are attractive and continue to provide more and more reasons for many of the former farmers to return to civilian life and/or move to the city where they have offers outstanding of an education to become retrained with skills needed to provide for a healthy lifestyle.

As the Colombian and US Governments work together, continually placing increased pressure on the rebels and with an aid package of over $4 billion (US), it appears the last remaining rebels are very hungry, tired and are now finally ready to build peace and unity amongst the Colombian people and the rest of the Latin American Community.

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the silent heroes who recently risked their lives to help those who’ve been held captive these past several years (most recently rescued - Keith Stansell, Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes & Ingrid Betancourt) and our thoughts and prayers go out to each hostage rescued this week and those held by the rebels now and during the last 40 years of civil war.

If you take a pet to any tropical region (especially dogs) it’s very important to know more about little critters such as the Bufo toad. The Bufo marinus (aka Bufo Toad, Cane Toad, Bufo, Marine or sometimes Giant Toad) can be deadly if bitten or even licked by a pet, especially by smaller pets. These large toads, found in tropical regions (including Florida), secrete a poisonous liquid when in fear of a predator such as a small dog. If your curious pet licks or bites this toad, be sure to rinse its mouth out immediately with running water, then drive directly to your Veternarian! Remember… it’s can be a jungle out there!!!

For more information, try this Wikipedia site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cane_Toad

If you’re planning to take your dog or cat to a new home in Latin America, the process can be relatively simple. However, this can only be said if you plan ahead and follow the correct procedure. The size of your pet(s) also play a major role in the process of moving.

Generally, if your pet can fit in the cabin of an airplane then your travel should be rather simple, just be sure to have all necessary shots up-to-date, retain the paperwork to prove this, call your airline to make sure they will allow pets on the plane and check with the local pet bureau or call a professional in the destination of your choice to be sure the rules have not recently changed.

If your pet will not fit in the cabin and needs to travel in the cargo-hold, then there are going to be weather restrictions. Also note, MANY AIRLINES DO NOT TRANSPORT pets in cargo-holds, so be sure to call the airline before purchasing your tickets. For example, American Airlines has historically been pet friendly airline, but has temperature restrictions. If the weather is considered too warm or too cold for a large pet, they will not allow your pet to travel that day.

We recommend you contact a professional, such as our friends at World Pet Travel. You can speak with Angela Passman by calling her toll-free at 877-889-1131 or visit her website at www.world-pet-travel.com. Don’t forget to tell Angela that her friends at MovetoLatinAmerica say hello!

Sometimes we ask ourselves… What’s really driving this international real estate boom? The low home prices are now relatively missing from Costa Rica, Panama and Mexico, so why do new homes and condos continue to sell at such a rapid pace?

If you speak with some of the top anti-money laundering bankers (and we have), many will agree that there appears to be a substantial amount of money laundering occurring in places like Panama City and Cancun. Just last week, police in Panama seized an estimated US$135,000,000 in drugs on route to the United States. Keep in mind that only a fraction of the drugs sent each year are seized and that the cash gained from the sale of these commodities must be laundered somewhere.

So, the next time you pay a little extra for that dream home in paradise, keep in mind that prices may be inflated a little more than they should be and you might want to re-think the correct value of that beautiful home. Think about the road conditions, water and power supply, think about how convenient shopping is (relative to your hometown or city) and what the resale value will be in twelve or twenty-four months. Make sure you have an educated and honest Real Estate Broker working on your side and that you negotiate a fair price.

Of course we at MovetoLatinAmerica, Corp. love all aspects of Latin America and know that if you enjoy the charm and ambiance of Central America and Mexico as much as we do, then there is always a beautiful home to be found in “Paradise.”

It is our understanding that the U.S. Congress is considering creating a new law in order to tax Expats and keep more U.S. dollars within the U.S. borders, although few details have been shared at this time.

With the U.S. economy slowing down and with millions or tens of millions of U.S. dollars now being spent in Latin America for the purchase of land, homes, medical & dental tourism, traditional tourism and much more, one might argue that it should be no surprise that the government to may taxing Expats for spending these dollars outside the U.S. economy. Either way, this issue is certainly being discussed as one way to help stimulate the U.S. economy.

We’ll keep you posted as more information is shared on this topic.

Best Regards,
The MovetoLatinAmerica Team

With every major change in life, the first six to twelve months are often the most challenging. Once the excitement of the move begins to wear off, many Expats find their new surroundings very difficult to adapt to. It’s for this reason that planning ahead can make all the difference in the world! First, remember why you’ve chosen a new home in a Spanish speaking country, then make sure you write down your short-term (less than 24 month) goals and your long-term (more than 24 month) goals. Be creative and use several different resources while creating your Top 10 list. Use maps, history books, guide books and more! After you’ve created your Top 10 list of things you’d like to accomplish in and near your new home… be sure to put your plan into action!! Maybe you want to learn a new language, visit the magnificent churches built in Costa Rica or the Bahá’í House of Worship in Central America (near Panama City), a Mayan Pyramid in Southern Mexico or volunteer at a school teaching English. With a well thought out and implemented plan, you’ll have plenty of work and adventure ahead of you! Best wishes and remember to have fun!

This is another great real estate question that many continue to ask! Although we’ve all heard about those dream prices of $75 - $99K, the more realistic price range begins at $150K for a modest two-bedroom Condominium with most home buyers landing in the price range of $175-$349K for a truly beautiful home or condominium! Of course there are many options in the $350K-$500K range and $750K+ categories but it’s safe to say that most buyers will continue to look for that incredible home at a good, lower price. We also note that one can easily find a home with similar value in places (within the U.S.) like Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama, etc… but they just won’t have the same charm and ambiance of your new home in towns like Jaco, Costa Rica or the rapidly developing Panama City, Panama!!

If you’re more interested in finding a beautiful new home valued in the $89K-$149K range, and you enjoy an adventure, then you should also consider certain areas within Nicaragua. This up-n-coming country within Central America offers much more at an even lower price. But we’ll chat more about that soon…

For more information about real estate in Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun, don’t hesitate to email us at info@movetolatinamerica.com or call us now at 305-984-1868! We’re here to serve you!

Warmest regards,
The Move to Latin America Team!

There are potential benefits to titling your new home in a Foundation; note however, there are potential benefits and it’s important to remember that when you sell your home, the new buyer may not be interested in purchasing your Foundation (for various reasons.) If this is the case, then you are most likely not going to see the tax benefits you’ve been expecting and your Foundation could then be worthless. Unfortunately, this happens, so make sure the way in which your Foundation is set-up is beneficial to both you and any future home buyer(s).