Every plan-to-be expat has a different idea about their overseas retirement paradise. For you, it might be a high-rise condo in a bustling metropolis with world-class shopping and nightlife. For someone else it might be a country ranch, or a beachside retreat.
Finding the country to live in that will tick most of your boxes (no country’s perfect) is a complex process. Once you’ve eliminated the obvious won’t-work-for-you choices and narrowed down your list to two or three overseas retirement possibilities, it’s time to go visiting.
In an ideal world, you’d be able to spend at least a month exploring each of the countries on your short list, visiting two-four regions of each country.
Then, when you think you have your country picked out, go for an extended stay of two or three months.
This isn’t an ideal world, but do the best you can. We moved to Panama after only one brief visit — I don’t recommend doing it this way, but our circumstances were very difficult.
You’re ready to hop on a plane — but where do you stay when you get there? Hotels are fine for brief visits, but they don’t give you much sense of what it’s like to actually live there.
For that you need to stay in a home. It can be an apartment, a condo, or a traditional single-family detached house. And those aren’t quite so easy to set up in advance.
Fortunately, short-term, fully furnished vacation homes or holiday rentals are available in many parts of the world.
Introducing Paradise Hunter
Recently I spoke with Dennis Kambeitz from Paradise Hunter. His company helps to ease your path as you search out your ideal overseas destination. They can help you with vacation rentals as well as property purchases when you decide you’re ready to settle down.
This was the third in a series of articles about finding your best retire overseas country.
I feel like we’re getting closer and closer to making the move. I’m going to be posting an article on my website on the programs different countries offer on for retirees. Panama’s is the best so far, but Nicaragua has some great benefits too.
Malaysia’s My Second Home program is also good, if you like Asia and have a bit more income.
Swapping Homes for a holiday has become more and more popular but we also find that a few of our members use Home Exchange as a way of getting to know an area prior to moving there on a permanent basis. Spending a few weeks etc in a chosen area does let you get a feel for it and can confirm or otherwise if you want to live there long term.
Any questions about Home Exchange please visit our website and have a look at our Q & As or email us.
Brian Luckhurst
I think you made a great choice in Panama!