More Retirees Seek The Good Life Outside The U.s.
By Phillip Townsend, Thu Dec 8th

With the first wave of 78 million American baby boomers reachingretirement, many will be lured abroad by a lower cost of livingand higher quality of life. Some will want to return to theirancestral countries or to places where they once vacationed,worked or studied. Others will be enticed by retiree perks andtax incentives.

With literally dozens of appealing countries to choose from,narrowing the possibilities can be a daunting task. Here arethree alternative destinations to consider.

If you hadn't yet placed formerly unstable Panama on your shortlist, you might want to. "The Caribbean and Pacific coast ofPanama is like Florida," but less crowded with property pricesabout a tenth of the cost in many cases, says Chuck Bedsole, aLatin America real estate specialist withPricewaterhouseCoopers. Panama offers affordable real estate, awarm climate and great beaches. The Panamanian government hasput together an impressive list of benefits, including 20-yeartax-free status and discounts on everything from publictransportation to restaurants to doctor's visits.

If you don't mind a little cold, Nova Scotia, Canada can be anattractive place to retire. "In addition to universal healthcare, inexpensive prescription drugs, and the last stretch ofaffordable oceanfront

real estate in North America, Nova Scotiahas the picturesque charm of historic New England," says JoDavenport, an American who immigrated to Nova Scotia two yearsago. "The weather is surprisingly milder than in most northenstates", she adds.

Ever dreamed of owning a villa in the European countryside? SkipItaly and France. Both are overpriced. Instead, Jan Blazej, ajournalist with eTurboNews in Zagre, Croatia, is keen on EasternEurope for its low cost of living. Croatia, she predicts, willbecome a "new retirement haven". "More than eight millionforeign tourists visited Croatia last year and the Croatiangovernment is expecting more than 10 million in the next years."Indeed, its "Black Sea Riviera" is already attracting Hollywoodtypes and other A-list celebrities.

No matter where you consider settling, do your homework. Make anexploratory visit and stay for a few months before purchasing anproperty. Be sure to talk with locals and expatriates livingthere. Most importantly, consult competent real estate and legalprofessionals before signing on the dotted line.

RESOURCES

The Global Life A newsletter covering international living,retirement and travel www.thegloballife.net

Passport to Canada: The Complete Guide to living and Retiring inNova Scotia www.nsliving.net

About the author:Phillip Towsend is an international relocation consultant andauthor.