What's the price of a home, condo or apartment in Puerto Vallarta?
Armando Contreras - Galvan Real Estate and Services
The prices of real estate here in Puerto Vallarta differs depending on the house’s location, age of the property, and the utilities. A basic three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,500 square foot house, in a safe neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta proper away from the beach would start at around $250,000. The same house in Lo de Marcos (a small town on the beach about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta) would start at around $150,000.
As an example, one of the...
The prices of real estate here in Puerto Vallarta differs depending on the house’s location, age of the property, and the utilities. A basic three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,500 square foot house, in a safe neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta proper away from the beach would start at around $250,000. The same house in Lo de Marcos (a small town on the beach about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta) would start at around $150,000.
As an example, one of the houses that I just sold recently in Lo de Marcos has a lot area of about a third of an acre. The house is 2,600 square foot with three bedrooms, three bathrooms and it costs $179,000. It is located four blocks away from the beach in a safe area. If you buy the same house in Punta de Mita (a high end area between Puerto Vallarta and Lo de Marcos), it would cost around $300,000.
Generally, you can find anything that you want here in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas. There is a huge variety of real estate here from the basic houses in town all the way to the luxury $20-million villas.
(Offered at $105, 000, Casita Estrella is a two- bedroom home in the gated community of Lo de Marcos, near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Are there rivers, lakes and waterfalls in or around the Pedasi, Azuero, Panama area?
Jade Wills - Maya Moon Marketing
The actual town of Pedasi is not right on the ocean. You can, however, drive just a few minutes to get to the ocean. There are not many rivers in the actual town of Pedasi, but right down the road you can find beautiful rivers and waterfalls.
On the edge of town of Pedasi, we have a river. 15 minutes down the road to the south towards Venao and Cana, there are lots and lots of rivers and waterfalls. The further away you go, the larger the rivers and...
The actual town of Pedasi is not right on the ocean. You can, however, drive just a few minutes to get to the ocean. There are not many rivers in the actual town of Pedasi, but right down the road you can find beautiful rivers and waterfalls.
On the edge of town of Pedasi, we have a river. 15 minutes down the road to the south towards Venao and Cana, there are lots and lots of rivers and waterfalls. The further away you go, the larger the rivers and waterfalls. I’m not aware of any lakes in the area.
My birthday is on the 4th of April, and normally on the week of my birthday my present is to go fishing for a week. Last year, I caught a 200-kilo (441 pounds) tuna. In Portuguese we call the fish I caught the atum rabillo but in English I think it’s bluefin tuna. So an amateur like me caught a fish like that, which gives you an idea of how rich our waters are.
If you go fishing in the main cities—Lisbon or...
There is excellent fishing in Portugal.
My birthday is on the 4th of April, and normally on the week of my birthday my present is to go fishing for a week. Last year, I caught a 200-kilo (441 pounds) tuna. In Portuguese we call the fish I caught the atum rabillo but in English I think it’s bluefin tuna. So an amateur like me caught a fish like that, which gives you an idea of how rich our waters are.
If you go fishing in the main cities—Lisbon or Porto—you will see a lot of recreational fishing. There are a lot of little boats, which tend to scare the bigger fish but you always catch fish in Portugal.
Portugal is really well known for two things: soccer and fish. The fish we get is very, very good fish and very fresh fish. All the restaurants provide very, very fresh fish. Portugal is a really beautiful place to go fishing; very beautiful.
How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Belize?
Apolo Caliz
The cost for a housekeeper or a maid in Belize is between US $100 – $150 weekly.
Our minimum wage in Belize is about BZ $2.65 (US $1.33). Our workweeks are 45 hours long. If a housekeeper or a maid was paid minimum wage for a week, that would come to about US $60. However, in Placencia one would not be able to survive at that wage, because rent alone is about US $50 / week.
The cost for a housekeeper or a maid in Belize is between US $100 – $150 weekly.
Our minimum wage in Belize is about BZ $2.65 (US $1.33). Our workweeks are 45 hours long. If a housekeeper or a maid was paid minimum wage for a week, that would come to about US $60. However, in Placencia one would not be able to survive at that wage, because rent alone is about US $50 / week.
What is the typical Nicaragua church like? What is the religion of Nicaragua?
Maria Acosta
The majority of the locals here in Nicaragua are Catholic, so most of the churches are Catholic, but we do have a lot of Evangelical Christian or Protestant churches as well.
The architectural style of each church would depend on where you are in Nicaragua. In Leon or Granada, the typical Spanish churches were probably built in the 18th century. They are big and old with huge main doors. The facades are beautiful.
In...
The majority of the locals here in Nicaragua are Catholic, so most of the churches are Catholic, but we do have a lot of Evangelical Christian or Protestant churches as well.
The architectural style of each church would depend on where you are in Nicaragua. In Leon or Granada, the typical Spanish churches were probably built in the 18th century. They are big and old with huge main doors. The facades are beautiful.
In Managua the church we had that looked like the ones in Leon or Granada was destroyed by the earthquake in 1972. The ruins of the church are still standing. However, the church itself is very unstable so it’s not currently being used. The only churches we have here in Managua are new and modern-looking. They are not that fancy and the altars are very simple.
In my opinion, the Nicaraguan Spanish service is less formal than the European or English service. I used to go to a Catholic church in the US when we were still living there, and as for what I have observed, their services are much more structured compared to the ones here in Nicaragua. The Catholic church service has been “tropicalized” here in Nicaragua. The service here in Nicaragua still follows the same pattern but for some reason, I think that in the US, the service is more formal.
There have been Jews in Nicaragua for a long time. Many of the more prominent family names in Nicaragua are Jewish. In San Juan del Sur, there is a small Jewish community. I just read about it recently so I don’t know much about it. For instance, I don’t know if they have temples there. In Managua, there’s also a Jewish community that has been around for decades. There’s a rabbi who comes here every year from another country for some of their important celebrations. That’s what leads me to believe that the Jewish community in San Juan del Sur is maybe from the US or that they speak English. Unlike in Managua, the Jewish community there is made up of younger people.
Can I receive my Social Security checks or benefits abroad, as an expat, outside the US and if so, how?
Karyn Saunders
Yes you can get your Social Security Cheques deposited in Panama. There is a fee as they are being deposited into a foreign bank account. On another note you can Self Direct your IRA to an investment in Panama while you wait to retire. Banking in Panama was once a huge challenge but has become a lot easier in recent years. I have had two clients as of late that opened up a bank account in less than 24 hours. All you need are two bank reference letters and...
Yes you can get your Social Security Cheques deposited in Panama. There is a fee as they are being deposited into a foreign bank account. On another note you can Self Direct your IRA to an investment in Panama while you wait to retire. Banking in Panama was once a huge challenge but has become a lot easier in recent years. I have had two clients as of late that opened up a bank account in less than 24 hours. All you need are two bank reference letters and proof of income but is some cases proof of income was not necessary but a minimum balance of $1,000 is.
Yesterday was the monthly spay and neuter clinic in Boquete. Over 130 animals were sterilized, thanks to the work of Amigos de Animales, started several years ago.
Some of the workers were talking yesterday of the long term effects of this fantastic program. It's easy to see that this area of Panama has less homeless, starving animals. Stray animals are captured, neutered, nursed back to health and put up for adoption. More Panamanians are...
Here are two contrasting characters who have crossed our path in the neighborhood. One is well-known for being homeless and without possessions, the other well-known for being the first woman from Central America and from Guatemala to plant the country’s flag on top of Mount Everest. Andrea Cardona’s story is available for anyone to read on the internet, but our connection to her is told here. The only ones who know of Cave Man’s notoriety live around this area. He...
Good roads leave no traces in the memory – smooth, seamless, without jarring bumps or sudden twists, they are the silent asphalt arteries that carry us from one place to another as we go about our daily lives, never calling attention to themselves. Not so with bad roads. A bad road, like a bad marriage, feels endless, terminal, and impossible to escape, even years later.
I have seen many bad roads around the world. Some in Central America are...
The prices of real estate here in Puerto Vallarta differs depending on the house’s location, age of the property, and the utilities. A basic three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,500 square foot house, in a safe neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta proper away from the beach would start at around $250,000. The same house in Lo de Marcos (a small town on the beach about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta) would start at around $150,000. 
There is excellent fishing in Portugal.
The majority of the locals here in Nicaragua are Catholic, so most of the churches are Catholic, but we do have a lot of Evangelical Christian or Protestant churches as well. 
Here are two contrasting characters who have crossed our path in the neighborhood. One is well-known for being homeless and without possessions, the other well-known for being the first woman from Central America and from Guatemala to plant the country’s flag on top of Mount Everest. Andrea Cardona’s story is available for anyone to read on the internet, but our connection to her is told here. The only ones who know of Cave Man’s notoriety live around this area. He...
