Best Places In The World To Retire

You can definitely buy furniture in Puerto Vallarta. So many things are changing globally, and the whole online retail world is making it so much easier for people to shop. The challenge to buying furniture is knowing what to buy, and what not to buy. 

 

Most expats in Puerto Vallarta come from a different climate. Even here in Mexico, we have microclimates. It is incredibly humid here in the Bay of Banderas in the summertime, and you do not want to be bringing...

You can definitely buy furniture in Puerto Vallarta. So many things are changing globally, and the whole online retail world is making it so much easier for people to shop. The challenge to buying furniture is knowing what to buy, and what not to buy. 

 

Most expats in Puerto Vallarta come from a different climate. Even here in Mexico, we have microclimates. It is incredibly humid here in the Bay of Banderas in the summertime, and you do not want to be bringing something from home and taking it all the way here, and then find out that in the first week, it falls apart because the glue will not last in this temperature. You won’t know unless you get here and somebody else can tell you. 

 

The biggest thing about buying furniture is really understanding what’s going to work and what isn’t going to work. Another thing that’s happening here in Puerto Vallarta that people aren’t realizing is that there are a lot of products that are brought in to big-box stores from offshore- China and Taiwan, and people think, for instance, “Oh, that’s synthetic rattan, that’ll last forever.” I thought that, too. What I didn’t know until I started this business and started learning more about these materials is that there are different grades of synthetic rattan. It can be cheap plastic, or it can be really well-made expensive plastic. 

 

When I first moved here, I purchased the cheap stuff not knowing any different, and within one season, all of that weave in that synthetic rattan snapped. I had to replace it, and I had to pay twice of what I should have paid. It’s very important with furniture to talk to somebody who knows what’s going to last. 

 

For instance, I would recommend powder-coated aluminum because it doesn’t rust and it’s nice and light. I would also recommend Textilene (the fabric that they use on yachts) to make sure that it lasts in the salt air and in the sun. You just spray and hose Textilene off to clean it. Another material that I would recommend is Poly-Wood, which is the new plastic wood that will outlast all of us- so you’re going to pay a little bit more upfront, but you’re never going to have to replace it, and it’s always going to look great. 

 

Finding out from people who have been here and from people who are experts on furniture what lasts and what doesn’t, what type of wood to buy and not to buy, can save you hassle, frustration, and a lot of money. 

 

A lot of people tell me that furniture in Mexico is horribly uncomfortable, but there is a difference. Having a furniture business for over 6 years here in Puerto Vallarta, I can speak more knowledgeably about the different comfort levels and the different styles of furniture that different groups of people like. For instance, there is a definite style that the Canadians like, which is different than what Americans like, and is different than what the locals here like. These styles differ in colors, fabrics, shapes, and in comfort level. 

 

I have found it was difficult to find a really comfortable sofa here in Puerto Vallarta, and when you think about it, many of the traditional homes in Mexico have beds with a concrete base and a cushion on top. That means their degree of comfort is different than what we look for in comfort.

 

I love the fact that North America has different brands that are manufactured right here in Mexico because of the low cost of materials here. For instance, one of my suppliers is Palliser. Palliser Furniture is number one in upholstered leather in all of North America, and because Canadians in particular are really familiar with the Palliser brand name, they love to know that they can order a very comfortable sofa that’s exactly what they could get at home in Canada through us. I order the sofa from the plant in Saltillo, Mexico, ship it to them, and they can have that kind of comfort that they are used to at home while still supporting Mexico and its workers, including their families. 

 

It is a win-win to me when we can find a brand that is well-known, and that provides really well-made, well-constructed, comfortable, and well-priced furniture that is made here in Mexico, because to me it just wraps it all up in a ball.

 

In most cases, furniture costs a little less here in the Bay of Banderas than what they would cost in Canada, and the quality is exactly the same as what one would get in Canada. 

 

The key for people in the US and Canada is to find which brands are manufactured in Mexico, but there also has to be somebody you can speak to. Usually, you can’t purchase direct from the manufacturer. You have to be able to go through somebody because manufacturers don’t sell direct.  

 

(Murphy bed wall unit, available at Solutions Mexico, Puerto Vallarta , Mexico, pictured.)

The gun laws in Panama are tough in some ways.

In order to qualify for a gun permit in Panama you have to be, relative to the general population, somewhat prominent.  The reason is that the people granting the license have to think or know that you have money, which would give you a legitimate reason to have a gun, as opposed to having a gun for political or nefarious reasons.  In Panama, pretty much all gringos are considered “rich”, so almost all gringos...

The gun laws in Panama are tough in some ways.

In order to qualify for a gun permit in Panama you have to be, relative to the general population, somewhat prominent.  The reason is that the people granting the license have to think or know that you have money, which would give you a legitimate reason to have a gun, as opposed to having a gun for political or nefarious reasons.  In Panama, pretty much all gringos are considered “rich”, so almost all gringos qualify on this count.

In addition, in order to qualify for a gun permit in Panama you need to have a bank account here and have lawful status in Panama.  You also need to have a psychological evaluation where they will ask you questions such as “Have you ever committed a murder?” or “Do you and your wife fight a lot?”  They will also do a ballistic check on your existing gun, which is kept on record in Panama. 

Because of all these things, you won’t find your gardener or the average guy on the street carrying a gun in Panama.  You will find your business friends, politicians and powerful people carrying them, though.

Under the previous president, certain guns were being restricted.  I don’t believe that you’re allowed to have an uzi.  Most of the guns that people have here in Panama have the capacity up through a Glock and that sort of thing, but not fully automatic.

I have purchased guns, sold guns and received guns legally here, so all can be done.  It just takes time.  It will take about six months to get your permit.

You can have quite a few guns, if you like.  I personally have 12 gauges, 22s, rifles, etc.  (By the way, there’s no reason to bring your big hunting guns to Panama because there’s nothing big to hunt here.)

You can carry a gun here in Panama as long as it’s concealed.  You’re not allowed to take a gun into certain locations such as banks, bars, nightclubs, and certain other financial or government buildings.

You can take a gun to the airport here in Panama, which I have done.  I had to declare to the security guards that I have a gun and have a copy ready of my permit to carry that particular gun.  The security guard took the firearm to the proper airline for the firearm to be shipped separately and when I got to my destination, I could pick it up.

It is VERY dangerous to bring a gun to Panama undeclared, or to smuggle a gun into Panama.  Do NOT ever be tempted to have an unregistered, unlicensed gun in your possession.  The jail time in Panama to have an unregistered gun in your possession is big and it is automatic.  No “if’s, and’s or but’s.” 

You do not have to renounce your US Citizenship to live any where in the world.  Most countries will allow you to become a permanent resident without becoming a citizen of that country.  

 

However, if you do renounce your US Citizenship, you will never have to pay US taxes or file a US tax return again.  While you remain a US citizen you must file a tax return each year if your income exceeds a certain minimum amount, and often pay US taxes, in...

You do not have to renounce your US Citizenship to live any where in the world.  Most countries will allow you to become a permanent resident without becoming a citizen of that country.  

 

However, if you do renounce your US Citizenship, you will never have to pay US taxes or file a US tax return again.  While you remain a US citizen you must file a tax return each year if your income exceeds a certain minimum amount, and often pay US taxes, in addition to those in the foreign country you have chosen to live.  Surrendering your US citizenship may be good tax planning if you are moving to a low tax or no tax country.

 

If you need assistance with the legal or tax aspects of surrendering your US citizenship our firm can assist you. We have represented or advised over a hundred clients with this process who are now no longer having to file a US tax return.

• The weather is superb. The Algarve has than 3,000 hours and 300 days of sunlight. The Algarve has more sunlight and more sunny days than California. The weather is very similar to Southern California—San Diego, Santa...

• The weather is superb. The Algarve has than 3,000 hours and 300 days of sunlight. The Algarve has more sunlight and more sunny days than California. The weather is very similar to Southern California—San Diego, Santa Barbara—that kind of area. The Algarve also receives very little rainfall. It doesn’t get very hot, and it doesn’t get very cold. Whatever heat we get in the summer is moderated by the Atlantic, which keeps things moderate.

• The cost of living is very reasonable, if not low—certainly low in European standards.

• The healthcare is good. We have a great public healthcare system, and one in which, under certain circumstances, expats can participate.

• The Algarve is very safe.

• Most people in the Algarve speak English.

• There’s a huge range of activities to do in the Algarve even in the winter, whether it be sporting, wellness, or cultural.

• There is an existing expat population in the Algarve so it’s quite easy to integrate and you’ll probably easily find someone of your nationality. And if you don’t like your own nationality you’ll find someone with somebody else’s nationality. So there are plenty of options there.

• Generally speaking, people just like living here. They like the Portuguese people and the way that they are; the friendly nature of the local folk. 

• Portugal is probably the most tax efficient country in Europe at the moment. It has no income tax on pensions for most pensioners. It has no inheritance tax. It has no wealth tax. So there are a number of advantages from a taxation perspective that draws many people to Portugal and to the Algarve in specific.

• Portugal is a fairly bureaucratic country, so as a retiree even though the system is being simplified, initially come prepared for a little bit of bureaucracy. It will take a little bit of time to get things organized.  Dealing with public bodies is not easy at all. I’m someone who lives most of my time outside Portugal and therefore when I’m here I always feel a little bit frustrated by having to deal with public sector bodies that take too long and many times they don’t give you the right answer at the first go, so you have to be very careful about the advice that you take from them and double check it. It helps to have someone on the ground to help you along if you’re moving to the country just to make sure you avoid any mistakes and make sure that the transition goes smoothly.

• Getting Internet connectivity may be a bit of an issue. Once it’s working, it’s great. But it just takes a little bit of time to get things set up and organized.

• If you are thinking of building, planning, or constructing something, there may be challenges. If you have a passion to buy a piece of land and build a house, take great care because it’s a fairly long process and you need to make sure that planning is in place that you are authorized and build and develop what you want. And it’s something to be handled very, very carefully.

• Another challenge here in the Algarve for some people is that there are certain items that are not competitively priced, for example, electronics, motor vehicles, and fuel. So shop around. This is not necessary a negative point. In every country there are expensive or less expensive things. When you move and retire to the Algarve, make sure that you shop around because by doing so you can cut your cost of living tremendously.