I'm back. Formerly cigarlover.

[expat4ever]

Since all my cigars were stolen I guess this name is fitting as I prepare on lifes next journey. I'll be heading very far south for the winter to South America. My journey will take me through Columbia, Peru and Ecuador. Possibly will add Bolivia to the list but I doubt it. If it looks promising then I will be back in the spring to sell the homestead and be gone. If not then the search will continue. Anyway, thats the reason for the name. Life has thrown a few curve balls or I would have been out by now. Things are falling back into place now though.

[Libertytree]

Good luck to you on your quest, may your travels be smooth and the bullshit be minimal.

I don't know if this is a cool question or not but what's your age? I tried the south America route awhile back in Costa Rica but found myself back here but I'm still fascinated in being an expat.

[osoab]

welcome back cigar lover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZzEzDkeHzI

[Glass]

yes greetings and salutations. Sorry to hear about the loss of your stogies. I have a bit of a collection but never enough time to sit back and enjoy. Maybe I should have gotten a pipe instead.

[Ponce]

Stop by Cuba and ask Castro for some more cigars, pretty sure that he will give you some........let me make a call.

V

[expat4ever]

Good luck to you on your quest, may your travels be smooth and the bullshit be minimal.

I don't know if this is a cool question or not but what's your age? I tried the south America route awhile back in Costa Rica but found myself back here but I'm still fascinated in being an expat.

Thank you.. Im 50. I had looked at CR as well but its gotten a bit pricey there. Out of my simple budget range anyway.
I dont need anything fancy. A simple homestead with a little land, clean water, and a decent climate so I can still live self sufficient and I am happy.


Stop by Cuba and ask Castro for some more cigars, pretty sure that he will give you some........let me make a call. Worst part about the loss is some of those were custom rolled down there. Many trips to that little paradise :). An autographed box by Alejandro Robaina that I will never be able to replace.

[Horn]

Who could forget cigarlover.

They're saying Panama is a good bet nowadays (efficient .gov), only a few places I know of there. I also know a contractor guy that is exploring Ecuador for work currently. Yes, CR has kind of eclipsed into an over modest pricing since I've arrived, from bloated .gov waste, imo.

Keep us posted of your travels from the internet cafe if you can. Glad to see you posting again.

[Neuro]

That's about time! Welcome back. Where were your cigars stolen?

[expat4ever]

Hey Horn, I will definitely start a travel thread when I leave. Wont be until Jan or Feb. The plan is to find a place I like and rent for a year and see how that goes. I have a couple of friends here that want to rent my place so I'll do that while I'm gone. If all goes well I can come back and sell, if not then I still have my homestead here.

Neuro, Thank you, I am in So Ohio. I know who it was but what do I do about it? Called the cops which I hate to do. They come out and I tell them who it was. They ask me for proof? I give them all the circumstantial evidence I have and they say that isnt enough proof. I said well take some fingerprints and they said they arent CSI.. WTF? I guess no time to solve a case, they need to get back to the side of the road to catch speeders and peeps not wearing seat belts.

[brosil]

My BIL says Panama is filling up with expats from everywhere. He doesn't think it will be worthwhile in 5-6 years. Do give me a report on the islands on the south coast of Chile. They've always fascinated me.

[expat4ever]

My BIL says Panama is filling up with expats from everywhere. He doesn't think it will be worthwhile in 5-6 years. Do give me a report on the islands on the south coast of Chile. They've always fascinated me.

I had looked at those islands a few years back. I decided it was to far south. I really want a tropical climate that I can grow in year round. Medellin Colombia and Peru, Ecuador seem to fit the bill. Ecuador you can still rent an apartment for 300 a month. A house on some land with established fruit trees for 400-500 a month. The average salary is about 1000 a month there so houses are still reasonable as well. 50k or less. Of course you can also find the gringo houses for 200k but thats not realistic for the locals. Theres one lady there that bought her land for 2 or 4k and is building her house for 4-6k. I think its 2-3 bedrooms. Its a simple place and small but I dont need much.

[Horn]

Good plan is to stay awhile in an area that appears doable, there are always two prices. One is the advertised johnny come lately/gringo price, the other is the "bleed me friggin dry" native price. There are places north of San Jose in grecia/naranjo that you can get a 3 bedroom for $700 a month. That price is probably guaranteed to stay that way or only lower for the foreseeable future, because the original owner bought the land and built the house for a dime. Land is due to crash here at anytime, imo. And there's always the cheap mangos picked from the trees.

[Neuro]

I had looked at those islands a few years back. I decided it was to far south. I really want a tropical climate that I can grow in year round. Medellin Colombia and Peru, Ecuador seem to fit the bill. Ecuador you can still rent an apartment for 300 a month. A house on some land with established fruit trees for 400-500 a month. The average salary is about 1000 a month there so houses are still reasonable as well. 50k or less. Of course you can also find the gringo houses for 200k but thats not realistic for the locals. Theres one lady there that bought her land for 2 or 4k and is building her house for 4-6k. I think its 2-3 bedrooms. Its a simple place and small but I dont need much.
For a budget of less or around $50,000. I would rent a rural house with fruit trees for $400 (a year for $5,000), get a motorbike (to go around scouting for property, $1,000), buy the cheapest remotest arable property you could find ($5-10,000). Ask around for a reliable hard working carpenter/mason/handyman, who actually can build a house. Spend another $4,000 on living expenses first year. You now have $30-35,000 left to spend on a house. Build a house with a $10-20,000 budget. Keep money for unexpected costs (bribes etc), fencing, sewage, water well, tank, solar electric, plants, animals. You can have your dream property for less than what you would pay for a half decent house in a half-shitty area, but it would probably take you at least a year to realize it, time worth spending, IMO...

[Libertytree]

One other thing to consider, at least in CR and maybe other places as well? Theft is a major problem, a house left alone is a huge target. So, having someone to watch your place while you're away is a must.

[Horn]

For a budget of less or around $50,000. I would rent a rural house with fruit trees for $400 (a year for $5,000), get a motorbike (to go around scouting for property, $1,000), buy the cheapest remotest arable property you could find ($5-10,000). Ask around for a reliable hard working carpenter/mason/handyman, who actually can build a house. Spend another $4,000 on living expenses first year. You now have $30-35,000 left to spend on a house. Build a house with a $10-20,000 budget. Keep money for unexpected costs (bribes etc), fencing, sewage, water well, tank, solar electric, plants, animals. You can have your dream property for less than what you would pay for a half decent house in a half-shitty area, but it would probably take you at least a year to realize it, time worth spending, IMO...

Dollar values dependent on location, (you get what you pay for) gringo vs. local price. The only thing I would skip is the motorbike and personal visits. You can get a local to do that for you by foot, taxi, or bus for half the price. Preferably a younger chica who is trusting and willing to go the extra mile. Hard to find, but also very doable.

[Neuro]

One other thing to consider, at least in CR and maybe other places as well? Theft is a major problem, a house left alone is a huge target. So, having someone to watch your place while you're away is a must.
Nowadays, I don't think you can trust everyone in any given area... Anyway in my case I have Mehmet the handyman/stone mason, who I keep busy with all kinds of projects at the property, and he caught the burglars...Now he will put wood shields in front of the windows, and an iron bar door in front of the door