Your Money: Retirement


Your Money: Retirement

Photographs by Michael Robinson Chavez, Los Angeles Times

Livin' la buena vida: Latin America is attracting unprecedented numbers of American retirees in search of the good life.

Find out what they think about the weather, the healthcare, the taxes, their new neighbors and more. What they say may convince you to stay home -- or inspire you to pack your bags.

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What can you get in Latin America for $250,000?
Escazu, Costa Rica: Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2-car garage, 2,900-square feet on one story. Patio and yard. $240,000.

Lake Chapala, Mexico: Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths, two stories. Three years old. Walking distance to shopping. $245,000.

Mazatlan, Mexico: Three bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Under construction. Single story, gated community. Computer room and laundry. $275,000.

Boquete, Panama: Three bedrooms, two baths on 0.4 of an acre. Single Story, 2,500 square feet. View of Baru volcano. $250,000.

Merida, Mexico: Three bedroom, four baths, 2,421 square feet. Includes a pool. Near "historic heart" of city. $249,900.


Paradise for remodelers:
A few thousand gringos, as these expatriates refer to themselves, are believed to make Merida, the capital of Yucatan state, their home at least part of the year. Apart from English, their common language appears to be real estate.
Moving to a Mexican paradise isn't for everyone:
Those considering it should be sure of their reasons and expectations, expats who love the area say.
Cheap beach, real city:
Mazatlan is starting to turn the heads of American retirees and vacation-home buyers. They’re finding they can get more for their money than in better-known resort areas. And they’re getting a chance to live in an "authentic" Mexican city, rather than purely a tourist hub.
From ox carts to Office Depot: Thousands of Americans who have settled in Escazu, a suburb of the capital that has become so popular with expats it bears the nickname “Gringolandia.”
A friendly town among the hills:
For expatriate retirees, Boquete, Panama offers big discounts on plane fares and hotels, good healthcare and shopping. All foreign income — such as U.S. pension benefits or Social Security — is exempt from tax.

Taking Baja South:
Americans who want coastal Mexico to become a SoCal satellite, packed with strip-mall mini-marts, glib housing projects and yacht-crammed marinas, are facing off with Americans who understand that they still are guests of another country with its own rich culture, where few qualities are more highly prized than good manners and humility. Full Story