Moving to Nicaragua...maybe

I think it's my retirement plan

 

I know you're not looking for parenting advice, but it sounds like you're letting the media and pop culture limit which of your kid's ambitions you'd encourage. Wall St. allocates money to build things people want or need. That attracts some soul-sellers, but there's also plenty of altruistic people working there. Same as there are some d*ck firemen who will sit on a call if it's somebody they don't like, and let their stuff burn.

You can really do your kids a favor by maintaining a connection with your relatives and taking/sending them to live and work in the States when they are coming of age. I'd budget for a lot of trips back-and-forth. A local reference from Bob's landscaping in the next state over means more than one from Escobar's Monkey Exterminators with a foreign extension.

So are you planning to build your own A/C fortress down some dirt road with local servants and guards, like (Asian) Indians do?
Are you gonna go feral and keep it low-key with a little corrugated buggy sweatbox like the locals?
or Are you gonna do the Expat thing and buy into a gated development with a bunch of other Europeans and Americans?

 

A long time, maybe never HAHAHA Nah, I'll figure it out. We're relocating in a couple months to Melbourne, so i'm gonna live out that dream for a while and see where it takes us. I keep telling my wife we need to do it though, she sees the opportunity as well, but we aren't sure if we want to make PR a full-time thing or just keep it a vacation spot.

 

The 'listed for sale' prices for VRD are higher now than when I was there. But, advertised prices in Nica don't mean much. Many of those places advertised for sale are wishing well selling numbers.

Important to note that the market there isn't the same as in the USA, meaning when you sell a house here it's market-priced to sell. Some of those Nica places have been 'for sale' for a long time because those prices are fantasy numbers. Everything is for sale in Nica but the prices are often unrealistic in terms of market reality.

You need to check the comps to get a realistic fix on what's selling & for how much.

 

The utility fees & 'special fees' can eat your budget alive. Make sure you have a real good handle on that scene before you plunk your money down.

And find out when the last several units / houses sold, and how long they were on the market if you can.

 

Smitty is right, be ultra careful about the landowners/associations, etc as they all have different bylaws and or restrictions and associated costs. The bottom line are you willing to gamble? I moved because I wanted to live "ocean view" and anything in my native NJ or on cliff in California was several million while here in Nica I'm all in for 200k. Why? Because it can all go to shyte if things get ugly...its a gamble, that's why it's cheaper. Just make sure you and the wife understand it's not a cheaper version of America and you will be the minority. If you are ok with that and really want to do this, then make it happen. It's not for everyone, that's why there are so many dissenting opinions on this tread

 

its amazing how expensive Hawaii is.theres a show called "buying Hawaii" on some channel where foreigners come and buy houses.a bungalow in the middle of the lava fields with no electricity will run u $350k.i don't think I actually seen someone purchase beachfront property there,thats beyond wealthy.30 yrs ago those same houses can be purchased for 65k.

 

Full disclosure, my goal is to live down here 7-8 months a year and go home to the states to work and visit family. I can make a decent buck doing seasonal work while visiting family each summer. I would caution about living in remote areas with a young family as your access to medical care of any kind will be limited. We live in San Juan del sur and its a pretty developed area but the local clinic is 1st aid at best with quality care 2 hours away in Managua. We originally thought beachfront, walk out the door to surf was the way to go but after touring the country most places with true beachfront were pretty remote. We opted for the "safe" route and live overlooking the ocean just outside of sjds, a 3 minute car ride away. Yankee was correct in that real estate prices are more of a suggestion than an asking price, plenty of negotiation to be done. It all comes down to personal preference so not me or anyone else can help other than to share our story. Good luck with the search, do your research 2x over and don't give anyone any money until all of the i' s are dotted and T'S crossed..one other thing, power was out today for 12 hours so that becomes part of "normal" life on occasion

 

Hey me too

I would like to get in touch with you especially since I have not been there yet but Im interested in trying to purchase property

 

^ Yet another one, sitting in Darwin's waiting room...

 

Sounds as if the first thing you will lose when you do move to Nica, will be your wife, for better of or for worse. You decide, not me.