Living Abroad

San Miguel de Allende…Artist colony, to retirement mecca, to resort?

I remember hearing about San Miguel de Allende in Central Mexico as one of those best-kept-secret cool ex-pat places that very popular with artists and the tourists that like them.  A big part of its popularity is because it is off the beaten path of resort development so common in other areas of Mexico.

Here is a NYTimes article about it’s increasing popularity, and price, due to its new designation as a Unesco World Heratige site. Celebrities are showing up, and the paparizzi have not arrived yet, but may not be far away!

Mexico, with a personal touch

Mexico is a big place, with many opportunities for owning a home or condo for vacations, or part-time or full-time retirement living. Dollars go much, much farther there for everything to everyday goods and services to health care, and real estate too. The best part is it’s a big place, with many opportunities for every budget and lifestyle. The challenge has been finding the best place for you. Until now.

DownsizeNW has recently teamed up with some Re/Max agents who know Mexico…all of it. From the different areas to consider..from beach resort cities to small colonial towns to university towns centers of art and knowledge. They also know the ins and outs of the real estate industry there, from buying new homes or condos from developers, or restored older homes, or building your own, not to mention the legalities of making sure you have good title, and wading through the bureacuracy of buying. They even know how to connect you with buyer’s agents to make sure you are getting the best deal and paying the lowest closing costs.

For more information, or to sign up for one of their local seminars or trips to Mexico, let us know!

International Living’s World’s Top Retirement Havens

Ever been on vacation somewhere, and thought “I would love to live here when I retire!” If so, you should visit International Living.com . It is a very exciting magazine, with a fantastic website all about living abroad. It has tons of info and great advice about living in locations all around the world, for the future ex-pat! I could spend hours on this website! It has blogs, discussion forums, data about all kinds of locations where Americans are retiring, as well as a feature they call “Post Cards” wherein those living abroad describe life in detail in the places they have chosen.

Their Top-rated Retirement Havens for 2007 include Mexico, Ecuador, and Italy.