What are the construction standards in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Thomas Hellyer - Chapala Home Sales
I just had some projects done in our house-- we built a guest house, a pool, and a large outdoor terrace, so I can speak about the construction standards here in Chapala and Ajijic based on personal experience as well as from experience from my real estate business, which often is part of the construction business if my clients are looking to build a new house.
The construction here in Chapala and Ajijic is very rarely wood, but rather, cement, bricks, and blocks, which are...
I just had some projects done in our house-- we built a guest house, a pool, and a large outdoor terrace, so I can speak about the construction standards here in Chapala and Ajijic based on personal experience as well as from experience from my real estate business, which often is part of the construction business if my clients are looking to build a new house.
The construction here in Chapala and Ajijic is very rarely wood, but rather, cement, bricks, and blocks, which are readily available materials here for construction. They are less expensive and they do best in our climate here because they help keep homes cool on the warm days and keep the homes warm on the cooler days.
In order to build a house, a contractor or an architect must prepare architectural drawings that have to be approved by the municipality. Part of this process is to have a soil study done to determine what depth and type of foundation must be used for the construction. Independent engineers corroborate the information from the type of house, how big the house is going to be, etc., with the soil studies in order to determine how much rebar should be put in, and other considerations. There also has to be proper plumbing put into the design, which goes with making sure that all the sewage and plumbing is done correctly. We do not have the same electrical requirements as you would find in North America, but mostly the houses do not have as big a draw on electricity here. The stoves, ovens, water heaters, and dryers that use electric in the US, usually use gas here in Mexico. When you’re building a house, you still need to go through the permitting process for the electric system. Once that is all approved then you can begin the process.
The standards are there but there are certainly some builders who would offer to build without permits and just do it their way to save you some money, perhaps. Buyer beware. Homes that are built with formal construction companies will be built with the process that I described above and it will have regular visits from the municipality’s urbanization officers to make sure that the process is going the right way. Then they can do a final sign off that the property is habitable and that the builders have used all the proper techniques before people can actually move into them.
It is possible for a house to be built without getting permits. You are supposed to get permits but if you do all your construction behind a 10-feet high wall, maybe no one knows about it. They will find out someday when you sell the house and they come to take the tax appraisal for it. They will realize that there was an extra 2,000 square feet of construction and then they will fine you. It is very similar to the process in the US.
Portugal has fantastic Internet service. There are two major internet providers that operate here in Portugal and they are very good. They also provide the cable TV channels, which is part of the package along with landline phone.
The monthly subscription to all three services: cable, phone, and Internet costs only €48 (US $52 or £35). This is high-speed Internet. We get free local calls on the landline and cable TV with over 200 channels.
The...
Portugal has fantastic Internet service. There are two major internet providers that operate here in Portugal and they are very good. They also provide the cable TV channels, which is part of the package along with landline phone.
The monthly subscription to all three services: cable, phone, and Internet costs only €48 (US $52 or £35). This is high-speed Internet. We get free local calls on the landline and cable TV with over 200 channels.
The Internet service doesn’t normally go down unless there is a terrible storm. It could also depend on where you live. If you live in the center of the city, you don’t get power outages. Where I live, which is away from the center and by the coast of Sintra, if there is a heavy storm, the power goes down and hence you won’t have Internet, either.
Are there taxes other than Nicaraguan income taxes I have to be aware of?
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
In Nicaragua, we have low property taxes. You will not believe that a 5,000 square foot home costs only US $200 a year in property taxes. You can have a 1,500 square foot house built for $85,000. A house like that in Granada will cost probably $50 or $70 a year in taxes. The same rate applies for the entire country.
Other taxes you need to be aware of are the annual taxes that go to the municipality or to the city hall. Garbage collection fee is probably $1 a month. That is...
In Nicaragua, we have low property taxes. You will not believe that a 5,000 square foot home costs only US $200 a year in property taxes. You can have a 1,500 square foot house built for $85,000. A house like that in Granada will cost probably $50 or $70 a year in taxes. The same rate applies for the entire country.
Other taxes you need to be aware of are the annual taxes that go to the municipality or to the city hall. Garbage collection fee is probably $1 a month. That is all that you pay in taxes.
How's the kayaking in and around Placencia, Belize and the rafting in and around Placencia, Belize?
Larry France - Chabil Mar
There isn't any rafting nearby Placencia. In order to go rafting, you would have to travel a little way to get to the rivers. But the kayaking and canoeing is excellent because if you're an avid kayaker, there are islands just offshore in the Caribbean. I would say “avid” because it's breezy, although there are no major waves. Windblown waves are there every day and so you have to be a pretty good paddler.
The interesting thing about Placencia is...
There isn't any rafting nearby Placencia. In order to go rafting, you would have to travel a little way to get to the rivers. But the kayaking and canoeing is excellent because if you're an avid kayaker, there are islands just offshore in the Caribbean. I would say “avid” because it's breezy, although there are no major waves. Windblown waves are there every day and so you have to be a pretty good paddler.
The interesting thing about Placencia is that it has a lagoon on the other side of the sea, which is protected water---at least protected from the winds to the extent that the Caribbean might be open to it. You can go kayaking and canoeing both ways: you can be out on the Caribbean and going out to islands that are maybe 3 or 4 miles offshore, or you could just go in the lagoon and you're surrounded by mangroves after mangroves. You'd also see all kinds of different interesting wildlife in the lagoon, which stretches for about 16 miles that you can explore, all with the view of the Maya mountains to the west in the distance.
We tried to make kayaking in the lagoon a popular thing for tourists to do, but it didn’t catch on that much. What we end up doing is having people do go out at night sitting in the lagoon out in their pontoon boats or something similar and watching the sunset and just anchor in the lagoon. It's incredible setting to be sitting out there peacefully.
(Sailing around the lagoon and mangroves of Placencia, Belize, pictured.)
What's the overall cost of living in Coronado, Panama?
Frank Kehanu
Dear Isthmian's and Newcomers,
The Coronado suburb cost of living varies like anywhere else; it depends on the exchange currency (USD) and commodity values.
As defined in the Webster Dictionary, cost of living: the cost of purchasing those goods and services, which are included in an accepted standard level of consumption.
Per the above definition, the cost of living in Coronado, Distrito de Chame, Corregimiento de las Lajas, to any...
Dear Isthmian's and Newcomers,
The Coronado suburb cost of living varies like anywhere else; it depends on the exchange currency (USD) and commodity values.
As defined in the Webster Dictionary, cost of living: the cost of purchasing those goods and services, which are included in an accepted standard level of consumption.
Per the above definition, the cost of living in Coronado, Distrito de Chame, Corregimiento de las Lajas, to any given individual may vary depending on his desired lifestyle, just like everything else. With that said, in general, what a Coronado local resident will get for his money is the following:
Coronado Its a very popular destination for the Panamanian upper middle class and non-Contadora weekend warriors; the elite.
Coronado provides the town and country atmosphere to those seeking it, without compromising basic modern amenities, at a short drive from Panama City (PTY).
If you like to avoid congested freeways (which is the drawback), leave Coronado not later than 5:45 am or 8:00 to 9:00 pm going towards the city and avoid the afternoon clock out crowd leaving Panama City.
Keep in mind Coronado is in the Corregimiento de las Lajas; there is something within anyone's budget.
(The Panamanian Highway through the town of Las Lajas in Panama, pictured.)
BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO RETIRE...PANAMA IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST!
Panama is not a place to come to die - Panama is a place to come and start living and enjoying life. You work all your life, and now you deserve to start living it. Panama offers an environment that stimulates you in so many ways, not only financially but also spiritually!
The high quality of living for a modest price available in Panama City was the subject...
BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO RETIRE...PANAMA IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST!
Panama is not a place to come to die - Panama is a place to come and start living and enjoying life. You work all your life, and now you deserve to start living it. Panama offers an environment that stimulates you in so many ways, not only financially but also spiritually!
The high quality of living for a modest price available in Panama City was the subject of a news report on CNN a couple of weeks ago. Using the Economist Intelligence Unit's report, Panama was the "shining star". Panama City is listed as the most affordable capital city in the Americas, with a "plethora of top-quality, luxury experiences for cut prices". In the report, Panama`s "fastest growing economy in Latin America", and free 30-day travel insurance for tourists arriving at Tocumen International Airport were the main subjects.
Panama is fast becoming one of the world´s top retirement destinations and also a world class tourist location. With a US-style infrastructure, Panama offers an easy transition particularly for US retirees.
So why is Panama gaining in popularity among retirees, investors, and part-time expatriates? Not only because of increased publicity. Panama has more amenities, lower costs and lower crime rates than many other traditional retirement locations. In fact Panama´s advantages are unrivaled. Apart from tax advantages and privacy advantages, consider the following:
Panama has a stable government and a growing economy
The US dollar is the legal tender. Panama has a stable economy that has been based upon the US dollar since 1904
Residents pay no tax on foreign earned income.
Foreigners can buy and own property in Panama with the same rights and protections as Panamanian citizens.
PENSIONADO PROGRAM (retiree incentive program), the best in the world, is not necessarily age-related and the benefits are considerable. It is considered to be the best retirement program in the world.
English is widely spoken
The US presence in the country for many years has lead to a US style infrastructure with a number of familiar names and businesses.
Panama has a number of US-standard health care facilities and services with many US-trained English-speaking doctors available. Very good hospitals, including a John Hopkins Hospital.
Panama has a reliable communications system with fiber optic telephone lines and much of the country has ADSL internet
Panama is one of the best offshore havens in the world
The cost of living in Panama is lower than the US and much lower than Western Europe.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PANAMA IS BEAUTIFUL!
Come to Panama to visit and you can see for yourself! You will love it!
I hate to be a copy-cat but I have a bird story too. My wife (Eneida) has a small house she rents and one day she returned to our condo, after working in the garden of her house, with a small cardboard box. “Guess what this is”, she said. She opened the lid and there, nestled in some paper towel was a tiny, almost necked baby bird. Its eyes weren’t even open yet and she explained it fell out of a nest in a bush she was trimming and she didn’t know what else to do with it,...
The most worrisome part of our move to Panama was not selling all of our possessions, not financial, not assimilating to our new environment. The most stressful part of our relocation was moving our two cats, Alexander and Henry.
Like many people, our pets are like family. Alex was 14+ years old and Henry is afraid of everything. The paperwork process was less hassle than it sounds on the various websites. Within 30 days of departure, the animals must have all...
In 2006, on an early trip to Panama, I encountered Santa, Frosty the Snowman, and some other seasonal icons in front of an apartment building in Panama City. I stopped to say hello to them and to record with photographs my good fortune at having the pleasure of making their acquaintance. While engaged in the process, I noticed a Panamanian frantically waving his arms at me from the other end of the property. We walked towards each other, I very curious to see why he was so...
Portugal has fantastic Internet service. There are two major internet providers that operate here in Portugal and they are very good. They also provide the cable TV channels, which is part of the package along with landline phone. 
In Nicaragua, we have low property taxes. You will not believe that a 5,000 square foot home costs only US $200 a year in property taxes. You can have a 1,500 square foot house built for $85,000. A house like that in Granada will cost probably $50 or $70 a year in taxes. The same rate applies for the entire country. 
There isn't any rafting nearby Placencia. In order to go rafting, you would have to travel a little way to get to the rivers. But the kayaking and canoeing is excellent because if you're an avid kayaker, there are islands just offshore in the Caribbean. I would say “avid” because it's breezy, although there are no major waves. Windblown waves are there every day and so you have to be a pretty good paddler. 
Dear Isthmian's and Newcomers, 
PANAMA IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST! 