Living In Other Countries After The U.S. Collapses

shelby
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Texas, Washington State, Philippines, ... ?
Posts: 10,882
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Live in Bulgaria?

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I wish I had $1.2 million to buy this 1.2 ha land with 600 meters beach line in "California" climate on the Black Sea near Turkey (3 acres with 2000 ft of beach line). Bulgaria recently admitted to the European Union (after 5 years of chaos following fall of communism in the country), so real estate is still cheap but skyrocketing:



http://properties.discover-bulgaria....sp?OfferID=638
http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/Di...655&Units=both
http://en.allmetsat.com/climate/turkey.php?code=15655
http://www.propertyworld.com/sub_pag...elp/editID/723
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgas

I can rent a nice 3 bedroom, 2000 sq.ft. apt there for $150 per month:

http://properties.discover-bulgaria....p?OfferID=4039

Also for a single 42 old man like me, it has beautiful race (I am not commenting about their attitudes, attire, poses, and deception of makeup & Photoshop edting, just the physical race of what I can see, since I have never been there):

http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/p...D=28987&more=7
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/p...=48924&more=10
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/p...D=46310&more=5
http://www.sladurana.com/free_dating/23078.html
http://www.sladurana.com/free_dating/49047.html
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/p...D=51586&more=4
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/pic3.php?ID=24830
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/pic3.php?ID=51237
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/p...D=50543&more=2
http://www.sladurana.com/tools/cgi/pic3.php?ID=22153
http://www.sladurana.com/www/Detailed/463.html


I was shocked to learn about this place yesterday a european friend ("Weslaw") came by my house to get me to search Bulgaria for him. He explained to me about the country as what I wrote above. I am just passing it along for those of you considering a plan B location.

Has any one been there? And comments? Christian values?

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Last edited by shelby : 11-03-2007 at 09:00 AM

http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/lifestyle/most-drugged-out-countries?cm_ven=outbrain&psv=outbrainselectedarticle&obref=obnetwork

And that doesn't even include legal medications, where I read that 30% of the elementary school kids from kids monitored by child services agencies are on some form of psychotic meds.

5 Places to Retire for Under $500 Per Month
by Kathleen Peddicord
Friday, April 15, 2011
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Housing is likely to be one of your biggest retirement expenses. One way to approach your search for the ideal overseas retirement haven is to focus on retire-overseas choices where housing is cheap.

It's important to note that, for these bargain rents, you won't be getting a palatial or luxurious abode. I'm limiting my picks to places where you could rent something modest and cozy but reasonably outfitted from a North American's perspective. Here are five places where you could rent for as little as $500 per month.

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• How to Save for Retirement on a Low Income

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Leon, Nicaragua. Nicaragua has suffered serious bad press as a result of its troubled past and current president. Those unfortunate realities aside, this beautiful land of lakes and volcanoes has a great deal to offer the would-be retiree, including a new program of special benefits for resident retirees. There is also a growing and welcoming community of expats from around the world, top-notch health care in Managua thanks to the international-standard Vivan Pellas Hospital Metropolitano, and bargain-priced rentals.

Leon is the second of this country's two colonial cities, and generally less developed and recognized than its sister city, Granada. In many ways, Leon is preferable. It's a university town with museums and theater that sits less than a half-hour from the coast. Because it's been largely ignored until recently, it's also a more affordable place to rent than higher-profile Granada. You could rent a two- or three-bedroom colonial house here for as little as $500 or $600 per month.

Medellin, Colombia. The downside to Leon is the climate. Mornings and evenings can be pleasant, but midday temperatures are often brutal. If that bothers you, consider the mountain city of Medellin instead. This pretty city built almost entirely of red brick boasts a spring-like climate year-round. Like Leon, Medellin is an emerging retirement haven, meaning the existing expat community is small but growing and the costs of living and of renting are temptingly low. One friend is renting a small studio in a non-central neighborhood for the equivalent of $210 per month. You can rent a two-bedroom apartment in a new building at a central address for $700 or $800 per month.

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Las Tablas, Panama. My top recommendation for a beachfront retirement where the cost of renting is low enough to accommodate almost anyone's budget is Las Tablas, a city on the Pacific coast of Panama's Azuero Peninsula. Panama has first-class and affordable medical care and facilities, a pensionado program of special benefits for foreign retirees, and well-established expat communities. The city also has a developed infrastructure, many user-friendly options for establishing foreign residency, and can be a tax-haven for those wishing to minimize their taxes.

Not all of Panama qualifies as bargain-priced. As this country has become increasingly favored by retirees and investors, the costs of both living and of real estate have been rising, particularly in discovered areas such as Panama City. But Panama offers a number of appealing lifestyle possibilities beyond its capital city, including Las Tablas. The downside to Las Tablas is its distance from Panama City. It's about a four-hour drive away. However, the cost of living can be half that of Panama City and you can rent a small house within walking distance of the beach for $300 or $400 per month.

Chiang Mai, Thailand. I know of a single American man who lives in Chiang Mai on $200 a month, with half that going for rent. He gets around on a bicycle and eats at low-cost noodle stalls or for free when a temple offers lunch. He makes a sport of spending as little as possible. I also know a Thai American woman who bought an apartment in a small town 15 kilometers from Chiang Mai. She manages on $600 a month from Social Security and, as she is Thai and over 60, she enjoys free government health care. It wouldn't cost you very much more to live and rent in Chiang Mai. House and apartment rentals in Chiang Mai can vary dramatically, from perhaps $150 per month for a small home and garden in the country to $400 or $500 monthly for a larger, newer place in town.

[5 Ways to Torpedo Your Retirement]

Languedoc-Roussillon, France. If you're willing to look beyond Paris, the southwest of this country can be highly affordable. Cessenon-sur-Orb, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of southwestern France, is colorful, eclectic, and very open to retirees. The village dates from prehistoric times, but the feel is medieval, with the church dominating the center and the tower of Le Donjon looking down from above.

Here in this quintessentially French country corner, you'll find many expats of several nationalities. They've sought out this unsung region because it offers everything you need for a comfortable life, yet boasts a small, charming, typically French village atmosphere, with centuries of history and lots to do and see. As a result, this town is growing and attracting both more French people and expats. Perhaps the most appealing part is that the cost of renting in this picture-postcard corner of France can be modest, certainly relative to Continental Europe in general. A monthly rental of 400 to 600 euro is realistic.

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group. With more than 25 years experience covering this beat, Kathleen reports daily on current opportunities for living, retiring, and investing overseas in her free e-letter. Her book, "How to Retire Overseas -- Everything You Need to Know to Live Well Abroad for Less," was recently released by Penguin Books.

___

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May 19, 2011

TGR: You operate out of Chile. Please tell us about that country and the investment climate for mined commodities there.

CM: Chile is generally a pleasant place to live. Politically, it is stable and liberal. Housing and land is cheap compared to countries like Canada and the U.S. The income tax rate is low, though taxes are collected in other ways like a high vehicle road tax and high taxes on gasoline and other purchase taxes. The food is abundant and cheap, especially in the south of the country, and wine also is cheap and excellent. There are limitless beaches and mountains because, of course, the country is sandwiched between the mountains and the sea. There are good air and bus services up and down the country but hardly any railroads. Internet coverage is good now, too.

TGR: What about the Chilean economy, especially as it pertains to mining?

CM: Chile is actually a far more fiscally prudent country than the U.S. It does not have careening deficits, and the workforce is obliged to contribute to a private pension scheme that has in fact grown in value far more than government schemes in countries like the U.S. That means the Chilean government is not on the hook for massive pension obligations, as many other governments around the world are. Those governments will probably renege on these obligations, at least in part, by a combination of inflation and fiddling the inflation statistics.

Chile is very mining friendly and has a sophisticated infrastructure to support mining companies conducting operations. In addition, environmental factors are not such a concern here as most of the mining operations and prospects are located in northern Chile. The north is a rather sparsely populated desert but with towns dotted around to provide amenities, logistical support and a skilled workforce. It is still not widely appreciated that there is a line of hills or low mountains between the Andes and the coast that harbor massive as-yet-undiscovered copper-gold deposits that will be relatively easy to mine.

TGR: Thank you for talking with us today, Clive. This has been very informative.

Clive Maund has been president of http://www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003 early in the sector bull market. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London and holds a diploma in technical analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts. Clive now lives in southern Chile.

Bubble poll at expat forum, 53% expect burst by end of 2012 (22% undecided):

http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread189001.html

$1000+ just to rent a tiny apartment in a high-rise in Hong Kong:

http://www.atriastudios.hk/
http://www.horizonhotels.com.hk/index_en.html

Actually the true prices of what is available and decent are closer to $1500:

http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread187685-2.html

Compare to costs in China (see first link in post):

http://jasonhommelforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=61834#post61834

Just a $150 flight away in Davao, I can rent a 600 sq.ft. house (60 sq.m) for $100 per month.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=452954

May 30th 2007, 10:32 am

Re: Where to live in Hong Kong
It seems that Soho in Sheung Wan will be ideal for you.This a great place with lots of chic bars,restaurants and art galleries,very popular with expats.
Get ready to be shocked by the pollution in Hong Kong though.It is a complete disgrace and given Soho is close to Central,you will be wrapped in smog for 10 months of the year.I worked in London before I moved to Hong Kong and nothing can prepare you for the pollution when you live here.
Living accomodation also depends on what rental allowance you are given,but if you want to live in a large 1000 sq foot (net)apartment in an expat style building,be prepared to pay at least 1200 - 1500 pounds a month (which I guess is consistent with London rents these days).
Of course you can double that rent,if you wish to live on the south side of the island where there isn't the pollution issue.
I feel sorry for the locals in Hong Kong,not only are their health being ruined by a toothless Hong Kong administration but the majority live in tiny apartments due to lack of public housing and the city being controlled by a small number of super rich businessmen.
Where else in the world,outside of third world banana republics,could father and son be able to own the city/country's number 1 and number 2 telecom companies without being referred and blocked by independent regulatory commissions?
Still,it is a fantastic city to work in,pay 15% tax and go to Thailand for weekends aways!

More discussion:

http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/

Apparently can get a 310 sq.ft apartment on Lantau island for $750 (where Disneyland is):

http://www.gohome.com.hk/residential/property/Lantau-Island/en/?district=77&date=0&lang=en&type=2&sortby=3

About the islands:



http://www.hong-kong-hotels.ws/attractions/islands.htm
http://www.batgung.com/where-in-Hong-Kong-should-I-live
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islands_District
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hong_Kong
http://www.islands.com/article/Live-the-Life-Big-City-Meets-Beach-Living

I am not sure if I believe this, but apparently very tiny apartments 60 - 100 sq.ft (size of a closet) are available off the beaten path of main Hong Kong island for $300+:

http://www.gohome.com.hk/residential/property/Sheung-Shui/Sheung-Shui-Tenements/ad-477957/photos/en/
http://www.gohome.com.hk/residential/property/en/?type=2&district=0&property=0&date=0&channel=0&lang=en&sortby=3&Page=9

There are even remote beaches on the main Hong Kong island:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Water_Bay



Living on Lamma Island, looks like about $750 to $1000 for a whole floor of a village house (e.g. 2 - 3 bedroom), although that might have increased since:

http://www.lamma.com.hk/
http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/26/thread14650.html
http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread67149.html
http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/61/thread50649.html