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Even without the retroactive aspect, the impact can still affect those who may not have to comply with the new regulations. Anyone who owns property here or has any business here to do with other gringos will be affected. If the number of persons who can qualify to retire here is significantly reduced, you can bet this will have an impact on property values in the gringo areas (are there any other, nowadays, other than the slums?) That 200k house of yours could be well nigh impossible to sell if moderate income gringos are no longer able to live here. Real estate prices are much higher here than median income warrants, thanks to us gringos. Take away the gringos and it's not hard to imagine property values returning to more reasonable levels. I see a crash in real estate here even without excluding a large number of retirees and potential retirees. Reduce demand even more and watch the prices dive off a cliff.

Jaco is already horribly overbuilt. I suppose the high rollers will do okay and be able to meet the new requirements. They may even be able to find bargains in the aftermath of the crash. But I have already seen a couple of developers head back to Florida and abandon their projects. Perhaps it's a part of a great plan by Don Oscar to have the gringos come down and build some nice homes, squeeze them out, watch prices crash, and buy back at pennies on the dollar. I doubt he's that smart, though, from what I've seen.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis

Brother Bilko--Don Oscar may not be that smart but how about those around him, especially his moneymen? We may be cynical as hell but I don't think so.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED