Tjaco wrote:
I have been here almost a year. Retired, sold everything in USA. I did keep a condo, car, etc. back in the states for a while, but started doing the calculations, costing way too much. My biggest adjustment was getting used to the huge bureaucracy here in CR. You must be patient. This place is not the USA and never will be, do not compare USA system to here. Dealing with banks, cable companies, water, etc. just give yourself plenty of time for your appointments. Good luck, I am staying and learning to adjust.
For me, keeping property in the US was too much of a pain in the ass. Sure, my financial/real estate "experts" told me too keep it as a rental property... it will help you come tax time. They may have a minor point there, but I am retired now, living on a fixed income, and don't need write offs like when I was working. Also, I was a landlord twice...been there... done that...and don't want to do it again (especially from 3000 miles away) With the plummeting real estate market, (values decreasing in South Jersey at the rate of 8% per year), I realized it was time to cut my losses. Throughout South Jersey, there are hundreds of homes that are abandoned or foreclosed. Without jobs and income, the owners had no choice, but to walk away. I sold my house in 2011 for $50K less than for what it would have sold in 2008. But, even so, I felt so much relief at closing. My neighbor here in Colombia still has a house in Ft Lauderdale. He paid $200K for it, and can't sell it for $90K. He still keeps the utilities connected, and keeps the AC running (even while in Colombia) to keep heat, humidity and mildew down (the house remains fully furnished and outfitted). The house is siphoning off money that he could be using to enjoy his life here in Colombia. If it were me, I probably would just walk away.
Good advice. Take the bureaucracy in stride, be patient and remember that you are retired... and have nothing better to do.
It's no different here in Colombia... and I imagine other Latin American countries are the same way. The banks go to great lengths here to minimize risk and costs... so customer service suffers. The same can be said about about government agencies and healthcare organizations. There is a lot of form filling, walking between offices, waiting in lines and rubber stamping. Before I bitch too loudly, though, I have to remember that I am only paying $37 /month and $1.00 co-pays for quality healthcare. Not bad... even with a little bit of bureaucracy. Latin American life takes a little bit of getting used to for Americans. Some do just fine and adapt... while others, not so well. American ex-pats must remember that if they are not happy where they are, they always have the option of buying a one-way ticket back to the "Land of the Brave... and the Home of the Free"... and don't let the door hit you on the way out.
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) is that about 90% of it depends on you 
