Could you retire overseas?

Robert were to stay for a resonable price for 3-4 month in Ambergris Caye . thanks sigi

Daniel,I'd like to know as well where you are talking about. I've been to South America and found some wow places. I like Ecuador. Anyone moved there from Canada. Like to here your story.

We also have a place in the Philippines, right on the beach. It's quite a beautiful place and is very cheap to maintain. We have a full time caretaker and one or two maids when we are there. We live like royalty!

This can all be had for the average middle class Canadian because it's very cheap to live there.

I'd still rather spend my summers in Canada though.

I am planning on buying a property for my parents to live in the Philippines when they retire. When we lived there, we had a helper who did all of our chores. We never washed dishes, cooked, or cleaned. I think they will be happier there because life there especially in the rural areas there are simple and worry free. The people are very humble and friendly. Plus everything there is much cheaper when you have Dollars.

St. Lucia, the paradise of the Caribbean is God's country. Laid back, easy going. The Canadian $ goes a long way. The natives are friendly, the waters are warm, you an pick your daily fruits right off the trees. Nobody digging anything.

It was a good to visit to site...last month.here we gets lotss of information about online courses...
Worh From Home

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Mexico. It used to be the place to retire back in the 70s, very popular with ex-bankers.
I've traveled around the world and love everywhere I go for one reason or another, but home is Canada. We are truly blessed to be spared the annual fear of hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, etc. Yes we have a few ice storms occasionally (in some provinces) and flooding, but nothing to compare with the forest fires and other natural disasters that plague all the nice, warm places.
If it gets too cold we can always head south and then come home and find our houses still standing.
The 4 seasons in Canada are something to look forward to every year, otherwise it would be boring.

If you want spend the rest of your life in paradise with beautiful golden sandy beaches sunny most of the time you have to go the the so called the california of europe in the southern of Portugal so called the ALGARVE you can go on google earth and see it for yourself.

I and my significant other have purchased a retirement home in Merida, capital of the Yucatan in Mexico, 1/2 hr. from the Gulf of Mexico. Real estate is still very reasonable; we found an English speaking contractor on the Yucatan Living website to renovate for us. Spanish is not necessary as most places have at least one staff member who speaks English and sign language goes a long way, but it's a lot like French so not that hard to grasp. They have all the major stores like Sam's Club, Walmart, Costco, Home Depot so you can find most of the products and food you want. Cost of living if you live simply can be very low, and you can live very well on a modest pension. The climate is very warm in the winter which is the dry season so not much rain, and hot in April, but by then we're heading back to Canada. It is the safest city in Mexico - you can walk down any street at midnight and not feel threatened. Tons of free musical and other cultural events including a symphony orchestra (ticket costs $10), a genuinely native population (it's not a tourist trap) but with an English library. Fabulous bus service at very little cost, and reasonable taxi rates so we find we don't need a car down here. Health care cost is very reasonable we're told, although I'm still covered by OHIP so I haven't needed it. This City of over a million people has stunning architecture and many, many interesting archaeological sites within a day's drive, including Chichen Itza. But above all it is the Mayan people that sold us....a very family-centred society that we in North America can learn from. And there's a growing expat community that allows us to maintain a social life. The Yucatan State government is investing big time in Merida and the Yucatan as a retirement destination, and expats are treated with respect. The Yucatan does not consider itself "Mexican" and is the most progressive of all the states in the country. We keep travel costs down by flying into Cancun and taking a 4 hr. bus ride from there, but several airlines fly into Merida. We're very happy with the choice we've made, although we still maintain our primary home in Canada.

Canada is God"s country.

Reading the above positive comments raises the central issue when you retire (I have been living overseas now for some 15 years). MEDICAL CARE. You either have enough cash (got $50,000 handy for a sudden operartion?) or you buy private medical insurance (how about $15,000 a year for a couple in gtheir early 70s?). Canada may be cold and miserable for 8 months - but believe me, it has one thing - state medical insurance for all. And don't think yo can just hop back and forth. Think this one through - thoroughly.

I have to been to many countries. The only one I would seriously consider is New Zealand.

I would like to now move to warmer climate during our Winter, at least 5 months. However the major stumbling block is Health Care coverage. When you get older you have health issues and insurance coverage is very costly (usually policies cover 31 days and then need to pay extra) to prop up the OHIP etc.

Too Bad We Do Not have a sunbelt and then no Country could touch as a place to live. However, recently with Gov. on such things as HST (areas of additional impact - ie heating costs etc.) it may become a real struggle to live for most retired and all low income families. It will now be Heat or Eat for many. What a shame we will begin to Pray for increased Global Warming.

If you want to know where to move and how to do it, check out Kathleen Peddicord's new book "How to Retire Overseas". She covers 14 countries in the book along with the nuts and bolts of what to consider.

BELIZE, BELIZE, BELIZE !!! That's the place to go! What more could you ask for? ...Low to no taxes, great weather most of the year, English is the primary language with Spanish as second! The health care is okay and right next door in Guatamala are some of the best US trained surgeons around. There is even a RETIREMENT PROGRAM that makes becomming a Belizian Snow Bird a great deal. It is like Canada was 20 years ago, before Canada went down the tubes. Belize people are friendly and the crime level is pretty low. Even for just a vacation it is much SAFER than Mexico, Dominican, or even Canada. Food can be found FRESH with no chemicals/hormones/low pestisides. The banking system is safe (Bank of Nova Scotia is even there) and standard deposits in a regular saavings account will net you 10%!!!! It is more developed than people think. There is every type of cuisine immaginable, shopping, golf, diving, eco-tourism, etc. There is high speed internet, tv, and cell service readily available almost everywhere. The towns/cities all have running water, sewage, hydro, paved roads,some large buildings, etc, but just a few minutes drive... and you are at a Mayan Temple or a waterfall in the jungle! The wildlife is amazing. Housing is a fraction of the cost in Canada/the US, property taxes are LOW. The whole country has only just over 300,00 people! Lots of room and lots of forest and jungle still in its natural state. Beware the 'big brand-name' realtors; the big familiar names are no more reputable in Belize than smaller, local offices. Don't trust any company just due to the name attached - real estate laws in Belize are fairly lax. Make sure to thouroughly investigate any real estate office. You can mortagage your house in Canada and buy a dream rertirement property in Belize with ease! Ask me how! I live in Canada half the year, and in Belize the other half! Check out www.arabellachambers.org or www.belizepremierrealty.com to see some great properties available. Be sure to tell them Paul sent you! Then if you have any questions you can speak directly with me in Canada, and if you need to re-finance you Canadian home to purchase your dream retirement home in Belize... contact me at palland@northwoodmortgage.com Thanks, Paul the Belize Real Estate Agent and Canadian Licenced mortgage broker!

I have done some travelling, in us and europe. I enjoyed the latin american trip where I visited 9 countries in 14 days. I am planning to buy some property in either Mexico, or Costa Rica, or somewhere else in that general visinity. I enjoy the people, love the climate, and the ocean. Looking for comments on other Latin american countries. Tks Gerard

If you are thinking about retiring overseas, you need to buy Kathleen Peddicord's new book - How to Retire Overseas. And consider signing up for her free e-letter at www.liveandinvestoverseas.com

Hey bunty,

I was thinking of living in Bangalore. My total pensions come to CAD 3000.00 What I would like to know is will I be able draw them there ? Does one need to take prior permission to move ? would be grateful if you e-mail. Thanks

Peter

I have read that the Dominican Republic is a place to go and live now a days. Apparently as a Canadian you can have a dual citizenship there.

After a month i'm so homesick for Canada....i would miss being with other Canadians...We went to florida for a month and after 3 weeks i was counting the days until i could come home....Oh well.....