How to Retire Overseas: Everything You Need to Know to Live Well (For Less) Abroad »

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of liveandinvestoverseas.com, a subscription site offering its members advice on retiring abroad. A full-time expat herself, Peddicord lived in Ireland with her family for several years before relocating to Paris and, most recently, Panama.

It's not just Florida anymore! This definitive step-by-step guide helps anyone to find, relocate, and save on a home away from home

The effects of the economic downturn on IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement savings plans have forced thousands of people to rethink their plans for retirement. But Kathleen Peddicord offers a cheaper option with all the benefits of a stateside retirement: liv­ing overseas.

Retiring abroad has never been more accessible or appealing. In addition to a sense of adventure, the allure of an idyllic locale, and the excitement of learning a new culture, Peddicord shows readers how living in an unconventional retirement destination can cost less than a traditional home in Arizona. This prescriptive guide answers every essential question potential ex-pats have, from instructions on setting up bank accounts to tips on locating great restaurants.

Peddicord has more than twenty-five years of experience helping thousands of people successfully and happily relocate to the retirement of their dreams. From remote and relatively unknown havens like Nicaragua to well-traveled areas in Italy, How to Retire Overseas is the ultimate guide to retiring abroad.

Introduction xi

Section I Ten Steps You Can Take Now at Home 1

Step 1 Know Yourself 1

Step 2 Budget Your New Life Overseas 10

Step 3 Take Out a Map 19

Step 4 Research Residency Options 23

Step 5 Get Good Tax Advice 27

Step 6 Shop for Health Insurance 33

Step 7 Learn the Local Real Estate Market (for Both Sales and Rentals) 41

Step 8 Figure Out What to Do with All Your Stuff 50

Step 9 Set Up a Virtual Home Office 56

Step 10 Consider Part-Time Retirement Overseas 61

Section II Looking for Something Specific 63

Cheap Living 63

Luxury Living on a Budget 73

Retire to the Beach 77

Escape to the Mountains 79

Top Choices with School-Aged Children 82

Entrepreneurs Welcome 87

Best Health Care 92

Great Weather 95

No Language Barrier 97

Part-Time Retirement Overseas 99

Easy Access to Home 99

Tax-Friendly Jurisdiction 101

Established Expat Community 104

Fully Wired Location 107

Special Benefits for Foreign Retirees 109

Section III The World's Fourteen Top Retirement Havens

Argentina 118

Belize 125

Croatia 130

Dominican Republic 136

Ecuador 140

France 146

Ireland 153

Italy 157

Malaysia 161

Mexico 168

Nicaragua 173

Panama 181

Thailand 188

Uruguay 194

Section IV Settling In 201

Renting, Renovating, or Building Your New Home 201

Setting Up: Furnishing Your Home and Finding Household Help 213

Establishing an Administrative Infrastructure: Opening Bank Accounts, Arranging Utilities, Paying Bills, and Filing Tax Returns 218

Getting Around: Owning a Vehicle and Obtaining a Driver's License 224

Becoming Part of Your New Community: Learning the Language and Making Friends 229

How to Make the Most of Your New Life 236

Section V Overcoming Challenges and Cultural Differences 239

Margarita Madness 239

The Language Barrier 243

The Hassle Factor 245

Managing Your Expectations 248

The Mañana Factor 251

Handling Panic 253

Frequently Asked (and Not So Crazy) Questions 258

Conclusion: The Two Most Valuable Things I've Learned as an American Abroad 265

Appendix: Estimated Monthly Costs of Living by Country (U.S. Dollars) 271

Index 277