Is Community Lifestyle in the Carolinas your Best Place?

I’m often asked which cities and towns in North Carolina and South Carolina are more affordable than others, and if North Carolina is more affordable than South Carolina, and vice versa.

First of all, look for communities that are less like a “resort” and more like a “community”. Remember, all those amenities cost money and someone has to pay for them making them less affordable in the long run.

Many communities in North Carolina and South Carolina have golf memberships, tennis memberships, social memberships, and even equestrian memberships. There are fees associated with all of them, and you don’t want to find out how much they are, after you settle into what you thought was your Best Place.

There can be fees for using the health club, pool, boat docks, and community room for social events. Recently, I was researching several communities in

North Carolina and I came across a golf community that had an initiation fee of $100,000! Plus yearly dues of $7,000, and a dining minimum of $1400 per year. I don’t know about you, but that’s one heck of a chunk of change

It doesn’t make much sense to choose a golf community, if you then can’t afford the membership and fees associated with it. Most communities have either a

Property Owners Association or a Homeowners Association, and each have fees associated with them.  If you own a townhouse or condominium, the fees are usually higher.

Many retirees today are seeking out retirement communities in North Carolina and South Carolina based on a choice of lifestyle and their interests, and they need to find out before hand if the fees associated with those activities will make it impossible to pursue them.

One way to find an affordable lifestyle in North Carolina and South Carolina is to look at some of the many small charming towns. They’re a good bet whether you’re retiring or relocating to the Carolinas.

I like to find small towns with active communities, just outside the larger metropolitan areas, or small towns within close proximity to other small towns,or small towns with colleges in them. These situations give you the advantage of small town living, but with big town services.

When I say small towns, I’m talking about towns of approximately 10-30,000 people.  Towns like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone in North Carolina are great examples of living in a “cluster” of smaller towns that have a lot to offer.

The western part of North Carolina also has some of the best places to live in the Carolina’s, like Cashiers, Fontana Village, Bryson City and Waynesville.

For coastal living, one of my very favorites is New Bern. It’s one of the best places I’ve been to in North Carolina. It’s a quaint small town with a historic housing stock and beautiful open spaces. The Neuse and Trent Rivers come together in the middle of Town. It’s gorgeous!

Although it’s still considered a small town, you won’t lack for shopping, culture and great restaurants. The ocean is only 40 minutes away and the Pamlico

Sound is right next door. And the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met!

In South Carolina, you’ll find beautiful, quaint, small town living in places like Anderson, Beaufort, Summerville, and Georgetown.

Today, there are an increasing number of people interested in living just outside small downtowns where they can walk to shopping, restaurants, and activities.  Especially with the price of gas! Small towns in North Carolina and South Carolina have become very popular for relocating empty-nesters, as well as boomer retirees.

When I say small towns, I’m talking about towns of approximately 10-30,000 people.  Towns like Banner Elk, Blowing Rock and Boone in North Carolina are great examples of living in a “cluster” of smaller towns that have a lot to offer. 

The western part of North Carolina also has some of the best places to live in the Carolina’s, like Cashiers, Fontana Village, Bryson City and Waynesville. 

For coastal living, one of my very favorites is New Bern. It’s one of the best places I’ve been to in North Carolina. It’s a quaint small town with a historic housing stock and beautiful open spaces. The Neuse and Trent Rivers come together in the middle of Town. It’s gorgeous!

 Although it’s still considered a small town, you won’t lack for shopping, culture and great restaurants. The ocean is only 40 minutes away and the Pamlico

Sound is right next door. And the people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met!

In South Carolina, you’ll find beautiful, quaint, small town living in places like Anderson, Beaufort, Summerville, and Georgetown. 

Today, there are an increasing number of people interested in living just outside small downtowns where they can walk to shopping, restaurants, and activities.  Especially with the price of gas! Small towns in North Carolina and South Carolina have become very popular for relocating empty-nesters, as well as boomer retirees

There’s usually a greater sense of “community” in these smaller towns, and opportunities to get involved as a volunteer or civic leader. 

Other advantages includeless traffic, more affordable housing and usually lower taxes. You might also find some great old houses just waiting for you to restore them. 

Whether you’re relocating to the Carolina’s or looking for an active adult retirement community, there’s a small town that could be just right for you. 

But wait, I must also tell you of a possible downside. In these small towns, you won’t find as much diversity in the people and you might be considered an “outsider” at first, and you may find that all the cultural events and services you want may not be readily available. 

Either way, if you pick a small town in North Carolina or South Carolina that’s a short ride from one of its urban areas, you’ll be assured of a variety of services, good medical care and plenty of activities to keep you busy. 

There is also the added benefit if you find a community with a college or branch of a major university, where you can experience plently of intellectual stimulation and diversity.

All and all, if you use my “cluster” concept of relocating or retiring around other small towns, the drawbacks will be far outweighed by the slower pace, quality of lifestyle and lower cost of living.

Two of my favorite small Best Places in the Carolinas are Lenoir, North Carolina which was rencently voted a “Hot Bargain” in National Geographic Adventure Magazine, and Aiken, South Carolina, which is located in the middle of beautiful horse country just northeast of Augusta, GA.

 

 

 

Mexican Retirement Communities – New Direction in Lifestyle

While Mexico offers many excellent locations with properties and services ideal for retirement, a new trend is growing that will make Mexican retirement communities even more appealing for Americans and Canadians looking for a community-focused lifestyle.

 

And the new trend is just that – developments that offer a strong focus on community; plenty of green space, central club houses to enjoy playing cards and pool, swimming pools and lounge areas and a complete set of maintenance and convenience services allow retirees to focus on relaxation and time with their neighbors from back home.

 

One new Playa del Carmen development, La Escondida, demonstrates this new trend very well. With a variety of property choices, including villas, homes, penthouses and garden apartments, all including a large amount of balcony and patio space, private space and time to yourself is definitely easy to be found.

 

But La Escondida has integrated these excellent properties into a community-focused design. Only 26% of the total space will be used for construction; the other 74% is pools connected by canals, walking trails, yards and garden areas. There is even a mini-putt for residents, and a children’s playground for when the grand-kids visit.

 

A central club house includes card and pool tables, as well as a gym, meaning that retirement will be relaxing, but also active and healthy. Within walking distance is a new mall with a large-screen English movie theater. There are plans for a golf course nearby, and 8 more already exist in the surrounding area.

 

La Escondida offers full condo-hotel style services, including baggage delivery directly to your home, transportation to and from areas within Playa del Carmen (car ownership is unnecessary, and the community is car-free, but parking spaces are provided inside the gated entrance), a concierge and a tour company to help plan outings to the area’s many attractions. These attractions include Mayan ruins, eco-parks (theme parks with a focus on the area’s nature and culture), protected wildlife parks, colonial cities, large shopping centers and much more.

 

This Mexican retirement community is only a 10 minute drive from the beach, and the transportation services make this easy and hassle free. Low condo fees cover maintenance, and allow retirees to stretch their savings as far as possible. A rental service also allows retirees who use their property only in the winter to rent out to vacationers and enjoy an extra income.

 

One of the most important points is that those who choose retirement in La Escondida will be enjoying much more than just a warm weather retirement at an accessible price – they will enjoy being part of a real community, where they know their neighbors and enjoy many relaxing hours and great experiences together.

 

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Top Mexican Retirement Community – Retirement Lifestyle for All

While gated communities with complete services tend to be geared towards retirees, here’s a little tip; you don’t have to be retired to enjoy this kind of relaxing and active lifestyle! One Mexican retirement community, a boutique resort in Playa del Carmen called La Escondida, demonstrates this point well.

 

This community offers close and easy access to many of the benefits of the Playa del Carmen area, including the beautiful wide beaches, with soft white sand, the restaurants, shops and bars of the main tourist strips, the environment and culture-focused theme parks, numerous Mayan ruins, classic, old cities (about 2-3 hours away), golf courses, marinas, activities such as diving and deep sea fishing, and much more.

 

What sets La Escondida apart is the fact that it makes these conveniences much more accessible; with trip planning services, planned community outings, and luggage deliver to and from you house, these services are not only ideal for retirees who wish to enjoy life’s pleasures without the hassles involved, but for anyone looking for that same relaxation; vacationing families and young couples could enjoy a taste of retirement years before they get there.

 

This Mexican retirement community is complete; besides easy access to surrounding conveniences, La Escondida also provides a full set of activity options within the gates of the neighborhood. With large amounts of green space (72% of the development), pools connected by canals, and swim up bars, a club house with spaces for games and socializing, and a gym, most people – retired or not – won’t need to spend time or money leaving when they don’t want to. There are also planned events.

 

Within walking distance is a mall with an English movie theater, large stores for shopping, and cafes and small speciality shops.

 

Would you like to enjoy a retirement lifestyle before you actually retire? Consider a property in a community like La Escondida.

 

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Private Communities – Offer A Great Lifestyle

Private Communities enable residents to live exclusively in environments that are located around, if not on championship type golf courses. Naturally, not only can these people enjoy great living amenities, but they can also enjoy the game of golf that they love so much. Even if you are someone who is not quite crazy about golf, you will surely like the rolling greens. No wonder, Private Communities have become so hugely popular in recent times.

Here at these private gated communities, not only can you enjoy the manicured lawns and the undulating plains, but you have can enjoy so many other activities that include playing pool and tennis, working out at the gym, or having a great time at the bar and the restaurant. Plus, there are many more activities you could select from in these amazing Private Communities such as horseback riding, fishing, boating, swimming and more.

The minimum that you could expect to find here is an ambience of extravagance and lavishness. Above everything however in these Private Communities, the stress is always on safety and security.

There are armed guards and electronic security gadgets at these Private Communities to ensure that the residents can live in peace at their private community homes. This is one reason why more than 8 million US citizens have chosen to live in Private Communities since the beginning of the current millennium.

It is a given fact that the cost of living at these Private Communities is often on the higher side, but in spite of this, there are scores of people who want to stay in these Private Communities.

Then with the passage of time, and with the realization of all the plus factors, they have turned those into their permanent places of residence. If you visit these communities, you will also come across a high number of retired individuals, who get attracted because of the serenity and the peaceful ambience that these places offer. Many of these people do not want to get involved with all the activities, and just prefer to relax in the calm and peaceful ambience.

For others, these communities are nothing, but just opportunities to invest in real estate.

It is increasingly seems that staying at these Private Communities may be the thing of the future, as cities become more congested and risky. It is believed that the popularity of these communities will sky-rocket in the near future. Interestingly, these communities are placed almost always close to golf courses and since more and more people are getting involved with the game now, it is expected that the popularity of Private Communities will also continue to rise.

Retiring Overseas – a Better Lifestyle Close to Home

More people than ever are retiring overseas, as they cannot maintain the same lifestyle at home as medical costs soar, inflation depletes their savings and state support declines.

For most people they want a quality lifestyle at a cheaper cost, but they don’t want a culture shock. They still want to be close to home with all the comforts and there is one country that offers this:

Costa Rica

Record numbers of Americans are moving here, as it’s an affordable quality lifestyle and the culture shock is minimal for the following reasons:

Wealth

Costa Rica is one of the richest countries in Central America and infrastructure such as roads, airports internet access, property, shops and entertainment are all of a high quality.

Large Community of retirees

Retiring overseas to Costa Rica has been the choice destination of Americans for the last decade and the large community that has built up here, has bought with it a culture to make new arrivals feel that they have the comforts of home around them.

Another important point to keep in mind is Costa Rica is just a 3 hour direct flight from the southern US states, so it really no different to moving states in the US.

The main reason people are retiring overseas though is to get a better quality of life at an affordable cost.

Costa Rica is popular and will continue to be so, due to the following reasons:

Price

Beachfront property at up to 70% less than in the US and a country where you can live on $2,000 a month comfortably, means that those social security checks simply go much further.

Quality of life

Low crime, friendly locals and people who have time for each other (just like they did years ago), in one of the most beautiful countries on earth, add up to a stunning lifestyle.

When you’re in your “golden years” you want to enjoy them!

Costa Rica allows you to do just that, in one of the most beautiful countries on earth.

Pristine beaches, volcanoes, rainforest and an abundance of wildlife, make this a country of diversity and beauty.

You can relax and enjoy a wide variety of leisure including:

World class fishing, treks in the rainforest, sailing or maybe just a round of golf – The list is endless and you will nver be bored.

Baby boomers will continue to retire overseas and Costa Rica will remain a destination that attracts more and more people.

Retirees get an affordable lifestyle and a quality of life that is simply not available in the US and Costa Rica is just 3 hours from the US.

If retiring overseas has not been something you have considered before because you don’t want to be in a totally different culture, Costa Rica offers you the best of both worlds:

An affordable slice of paradise and all the comforts of home.

If you have never considered retiring overseas, then consider Costa Rica and you may be glad you did.

Change in Lifestyle and Environment- the Secret to a Happy Retired Life

Change is inevitable. That is the law of nature. The natural process of aging is gradual and those who are near and dear to you seldom notice the changes.

The fact remains that you are growing old. With advancing years your lifestyle too should be re-oriented in such a manner that you do not put unnecessary strain on the diminishing reserves of your body.

Moderation in everything that you do is the key-word. You may continue with your activities but do it in moderation. Health plays a major part in the lives of the elderly but unfortunately another aspect that is often overlooked is the “Environment”. If due importance is given to this aspect then, many other problems such as Accidents, Loneliness, Health etc. could be easily managed.

Some major environmental problems that should be high priority when you retire are:

1. Finding a suitable place to live after retirement should be priority No.1 Larger cities are good for the younger people but the Retirees should consider moving out to a pollution free town or village in the outskirts of the city.

2. Choose a place not too far from your friends and relatives so that they could be of assistance whenever needed.

3. Ground floor is the best for the elderly. Split level houses should be avoided. If there are steps, good hand rails should be provided.

4. The house should be well ventilated and provide plenty of sunlight.

5. The floors should be well carpeted. Worn out carpets are dangerous since you could trip and fall.

6. Electric wiring should be permanent and all electrical gadgets should be in good working order.

7. Avoid loose and long clothing. Many accidents are caused by tripping and falling. Fractures and injuries during old age could take a longer time to heal and be a source of worry and agony.

8. Clothing should always be appropriate to the season. Inappropriate clothing can lead to health conditions such as, body pain,arthritis, chest cold etc.

9. Entertaining of guests and socializing should also be done in moderation. The consequences of exertion and heavy drinking can be detrimental to your health.

10. Keep your mental faculties active.

One of the best ways to keep yourself well informed, mentally active and to have fun is to spend time on the Internet. The whole wide world is at your finger tips if you can operate the computer. If you are unable to use a computer, it is advisable to take a few lessons that will make you quite proficient in using the computer and the Internet. Sending e-mails to friends, reading the latest international news and visiting interesting websites can be fun. In fact you can even earn an Additional Income. Full details are given in the article, Practical Internet Home Based Business Ideas, for the Young and 50 Plus Entrepreneurs : http://www.business-fromhome.com/article671.html

Old age should not in any way mean that you must give up participating in community activities. It has to be in moderation, that is all. Your lifestyle might have changed but your experience, knowledge and expertise will be needed and much appreciated by your community. Share it with them, enjoy yourself and make life happy and pleasant for the others too.

Change in lifestyle and environment during retirement does have certain emotional under currents such as missing your long time neighbors, some of your old friends and of course some of your favorite haunts. Unfortunately certain changes have to be made in a changing world and changing circumstances.

Make these changes in the right spirit and enjoy your retired life.

Playa del Carmen Condos – Quality Lifestyle for Retirement Budget

2010 has seen some positive economic signs for Americans thinking of buying beachfront property; American currency has been growing as a secure option for investors, pushing the value of the dollar up compared to many other world currencies. While this doesn’t make much of difference back home, it is significant for those planning to move to Mexico retirement community, such as as Playa del Carmen.

 

Compared to the Mexican currency, the U.S. dollar has been hovering at about 13 pesos. Playa del Carmen condos themselves, a favorite for retirement because close access to one of the most acclaimed beaches in the world, year-round warm weather a high level of all services from shopping to healthcare available and the convenience of on-site maintenance, are sold U.S. dollars, but the high value of the dollar makes a significant difference in day to day expenses, large purchases and other major expenses.

 

Consumer prices in Mexico are already significant lower in Mexico than in the U.S., and to make this even better, official reports have indicated that in 2010 they are going even lower. While official reports don’t help your budget a whole lot, grocery stores have also been reflecting this fact with many prices dropping – a refreshing change from a world where prices only seem to go up. And to top it all off, the dollar is at its second highest value against the peso – in late 2009 it was hovering around 12 pesos, and the highest ever was around 14.

 

Playa del Carmen’s top-notch private hospitals, which already offer world-class medical service at least as good as what you’ll find in most parts of the U.S., but at about 50%-70% cheaper, enjoys the same benefit of the high-valued dollar.

 

This means that retirement savings and other incomes will go even that much further in Playa del Carmen. When considering their Playa del Carmen beachfront condo, those planning for retirement can rest assured that their living expenses here will be substantially lower. What’s more, a condo of this sort is a prime location for a vacation rental, meaning that those who have not yet retired can take advantage of the time between to generate some income from their condo – rentals of this sort are also charged in dollars, meaning that you’ll enjoy the benefits of this income to it’s fullest.

 

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Lake Chapala Real Estate – Ajijic’s Rich Culture and Ideal Retirement Lifestyle

Those considering buying Lake Chapala Real Estate for their retirement are probably already familiar with the area’s beautiful natural scenery, cobblestone roads, with traditional Mexican homes that give us the feeling that we are stepping back in time.  You may also wonder what there is to do in these beautiful little towns.  The town of Ajijic, which, together with Chapala, is one of the main towns in the Lake Chapala Real Estate market -  provides excellent examples of places to visit, events and activities ideal for an active retirement lifestyle.

In Ajijic, in addition to rest and get locations to visit, such as various art galleries, the House of Culture, the parish of St. Andrew, built in 1901 in Renaissance style, the Chapel of the Rosary, built in the eighteenth century, the Jalisco Craft House, the Natural Waterfall “El Tepalo,” which is formed at the top of the mountain in the rainy season, the boardwalk, Chupinaya and the Chapel of the Cross, which are the ideal places for an afternoon walk, the “Park of Friendship,” which is a perfect place for enjoying the afternoon, and a water park which is always available to to spend the day with family.

If your choice of retirement lifestyle includes shopping, you can find authentic Mexican handcrafts, including weaving, clay pottery, handmade jewelry; or, if you like art, there are paintings by local, national and international artists, of various styles available to buy, or just to browse and enjoy seeing.

Ajijic includes many annual festivals, offering Mexico’s rich cultural traditions, like the Passion of Christ at Easter, the Virgin of the Rosary in August, St. Andrew the Apostle in November, the Virgin of Guadalupe in December.  There are also some film festivals, and many other similar events.

Ajijic’s cooking traditions include the annual event of the Chili Cook Off, of American origin, that offers the opportunity for its winners to represent Mexico at the World Championships in Reno, Nevada.  There is also fish frying events.  Ajijic has a particular range of restaurants and places where traditional Mexican dishes are a delight, such as “carne al pastor” – meat roasted on a rotating skewer, similar to the Mideastern kebab, charbroiled meat in mango leaves, a fruit-based sauce called “pico de gallo,” seafood and international cuisine.  Or if you are in the mood for a snack or light dinner, Mexican “antojitos” – quesadillas, etc. –  can be found here at their best.

It is no wonder that many Canadians, Americans and Europeans have already chosen Lake Chapala Real Estate as their retirement destination.  In Mexico, Ajijic has a reputation for its pleasant foreign community; you can be a part of this wonderful retirement community.  Visit TOPMexicoRealEstate.com,  ”Your Expert Property-Finders,” take a look at the real estate in the Lake Chapala area offers, and learn more about living in Ajijic.

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Mexico Real Estate – Top Retirement Lifestyle Choice for Canadians

A Mexico Retirement for Canadians includes one of the most important factors to consider in your retirement; lifestyle. While budget and cost of day to day life are also a very important factor, the strong Canadian dollar, and continued price reductions in Mexico Real Estate make Mexico Retirement the perfect choice for the budget side of things. Yet, just as much as money, when you choose your retirement location, lifestyle and level of comfort and convenience must be considered, and when you’re living in Mexico these items go happily hand in hand with the excellent budget choice it presents.

First of all, let’s quickly review why Mexico is an excellent option in terms of budget for Canadians who will soon be retiring. Anyone watching the Canadian dollar will know that it recently gained considerable strength on the U.S. dollar, hovering between 94 and 96 cents US. Since real estate for the international market is sold in U.S. dollars, this means Canadians currently have a lot more buying power than a year ago when the dollar was sitting around 80 cents U.S. This new buying power will mean either you can step up your luxury and comfort level one notch, or it means you can save a 10s of thousands dollars (or even 100s of thousands, depending on your budget) in your Mexico Real Estate purchase. Furthermore, as the recession is drawing to its end, Mexico properties are still being offered at reduced prices – but these might not last long. Someone who buys soon can also count on some savings on this side of things.

These funds you save in your property purchase will go a long way in your Mexico Retirement; the new strength of the Canadian dollar also means that your dollar is worth about 12 pesos – up significantly from the 8 pesos of only a few years back. Day to day products and life’s little luxuries tend to be noticeably cheaper here in Mexico already, and now with the strength of the Canadian dollar, and the extra savings from buying your property in Mexico, this means budget can be stroked off the list of your worries for retirement.

One Canadian retirement planning expert mentioned that budget is usually not a the most significant item people are troubled by during their retirement; people who plan well will be able to live on a budget correlating to their pre-retirement lifestyle. With a broad range of property prices, and a very affordable cost of life, the option of Mexico real estate makes this even more true. So what is the most significant factor? Lifestyle. The same expert said that most people dissatisfied about their retirement feel they are not “engaged,” or they don’t have the structure or social life they’re used to.

Retiring in Mexico not only means a more affordable life, but means a lifestyle that leaves many options open, including quiet relaxation, socializing, events, activities and travel. Mexico’s key retirement destinations, such as Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, to name only a few, have a wide range of restaurants and shopping centres, as well as tennis courts and golf courses. There are also many community events such as Jazz Festivals and art shows – Mexican and international, traditional and modern. These are only a small sample of events, and each community has its own style, offering many more options for many tastes.

Also, the top real estate destinations in Mexico are home to thousands of North Americans, often with a large portion of Canadians; of these many are retirees. While it is definitely interesting and very possible to get to know the locals, sometimes it’s nice to be around people from back home. Both sides of this coin are easily found in these communities, where you´ll have neighbours from Dallas, Texas, Mexico City, Calgary, Guadalajara, New York, Vancouver, and many other places. The expat communities tend to be very active with social clubs, and many times opening branches of clubs from back home. They also plan many activities for day to day entertainment, such as getting together for cards, or bigger events such as Thanks Giving.

Part of the reason for these large Canadian and American retirement communities is the fact that you are never far from home. International airports are almost always less than an hour away, and offer regular flights to all major Canadian cities, usually direct flights. The cost of these flights are not significantly more than a flight across Canada, making visits back home easy, or friends and family can come and enjoy your beachfront lifestyle with you on vacations. While there be plenty of new friends to be made, retiring in Mexico doesn’t eliminate your contact with friends and family back home. In fact, when people see how you’re living in Mexico, you might get more visitors than you want!

Air and highway travel have greatly improved in Mexico in recent decades, and in addition to easy access to Canada, it also easy and enjoyable to visit other locations in Mexico, getting to know Mexico’s rich history and culture.

Of course, in terms of lifestyle, you can’t overlook the fact that retirement is more pleasant with warm weather all year round – you’ve already put up with too many Canadian winters! Health care has also seen significant advances in Mexico, and is now at an international level of professionalism with excellent, state of the art equipment. Many health care institutions have doctors and nurses who speak English. While you do have to pay for health care here, it is considerably cheaper than the warm destinations some Canadian retirees consider in the U.S., and it doesn’t have Canadian waiting lines. It’s fast, modern, professional and, although not free, very affordable.

While a Mexico retirement takes care of our budget needs, it also provides a top-notch retirement lifestyle, both in terms of events and activities, and being around other retired Canadians and Americans, and in close contact friends and family. If lifestyle is the most important factor, as experts suggest, Mexico real estate becomes even a better option.

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Retiring Abroad – a Destination With Low Costs & Great Lifestyle

When retiring abroad you can get lower living costs, but you also want the best in quality lifestyle and not be to far from your loved ones.

Here is a destination that offers the above and much more so you can enjoy your golden years – You have earned your retirement so enjoy it!

The destination is Costa Rica and Americans are moving here in record numbers and it offers the best living in Central America just a 3 hour flight from the southern US states.

Compare what Costa Rica has to offer and you will not only live in one of the most beautiful countries on earth but enjoy all the following as well:

1. Affordable cost of living

Retiring abroad in Costa Rica offers substantially lower costs of food, utilities, hired help and entertainment and allows a person to live comfortably on around than $1500 per month.

Therefore, Social Security checks go a lot further when you retire abroad in Costa Rica.

2. Ocean view property costs less

You can gain savings of as much as 70% over property in Florida making it affordable for all.

Costa Rica offers people retiring abroad the same rights as residents so your home is safe and secure.

3. Modern amenities

From doing business to keeping in touch with family and friends, Costa Rica offers the best in up-to-date means of communication so you never feel far away.

Costa Rica also offers an excellent and inexpensive public transportation, a country free of violent crime as well as a variety of leisure facilities from, top notch casinos, and restaurants to great golfing, world class fishing all set in a relaxed atmosphere and stunning scenery

4. Healthcare

Costa Rica’s healthcare service comprises a network of hospitals, clinics, and complete medical services in all major cities.

Costa Rica healthcare is considered to be to be among the best low-cost medical systems in the world.

Medical insurance is cheap but there is no compromise in quality and services are considered world class.

5. Tax advantages

U.S. law permits permanent residents in Costa Rica to earn up to a certain dollar amount that is tax free.

In addition, Costa Rica’s business taxes and property taxes are comparatively much lower than North America and Europe.

Finally, high interest bank accounts are also tax-free.

6. The size of the foreign community means you feel at home

The huge numbers of American and European’s who retire to Costa Rica means that you will never feel lonely, you will also find the Costa Rican’s a welcoming and friendly people.

Costa Rica is the most established retirement community in Central America and offers the best in terms of scenery and amenities and should be considered as a first choice when retiring overseas.

Add it all up

Inexpensive living, close to home, great scenery and amenities, tax incentives all set in a beautiful stable country where you can relax and enjoy the lifestyle you have always dreamed about.

Take a look at what Costa Rica has to offer and you may be glad you did.

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