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Relocating to Paradise

Buyer be prepared.

By Suki TranqillePublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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Relocating to another country to live in paradise is a reality for many people. Some leave behind the snow storms that paralyze the North Eastern United States while others are looking for a leisurely lifestyle at a much lesser price. However, paradise does not come without effort. As with my post about some of the challenges specific to traveling, this post is about some of the pitfalls you want to avoid if you are thinking about relocating. Generally speaking, this is not for someone whose job relocates them and offers full relocation services that include assistance with finding a home.

What a View

The first topic I’d like to tackle is real estate. Most people would agree that purchasing land or a home based on pictures in a brochure is a foolhardy idea. I second that sentiment. Imagine this for a moment, assume the information in the booklet or online advertisement is accurate, and there is, in fact, a beautiful property that meets or even exceeds your wildest dreams—you see a stone fireplace, a labyrinth in the backyard, surrounded by fruit-bearing trees and flowers that you imagine give off a beautiful scent as they bloom. In the pictures, someone has generously captured the sunrise and a rainbow peeking out from behind clouds. There is no question in your mind that you will live out your days in this dream home that costs a fourth of what you would expect to pay in your city. You’ve done some research, and according to the various blogs and your realtor, the cost of living is less too. When the time comes, you fly out to the closing, giddy with happiness because your dream of a peaceful life has finally come true. At the closing, you get the keys to the new home and the realtor drives you from the central city to your property an hour and a half away. This is your first surprise. While it is true that your property is only 15 km from town, it is also true that the road to your property is unpaved and rather rocky. You’ve always had a sore back, and you’re now coming to the realization that just traveling from your home to town will be a backbreaking experience. Now you’re thinking maybe this isn’t paradise after all.

Buying Sight Unseen Has Become the Norm

This scenario was avoidable. Any and every relocation plan that includes a real estate purchase must include you traveling to the location to view the property before agreeing to buy. To someone who would never purchase anything sight unseen, this is a given. There are a growing number of people, however, who are comfortable making a real estate purchase without visiting the property. In this day and age of Internet purchases with HD quality pictures and video, we are accustomed to making purchasing decisions without any interaction with the product. When it comes to real estate, many of us are motivated by cost and convince ourselves that we will deal with any challenges that arise. I would like to save you from a potentially costly mistake – don’t buy property without seeing it first.

Commit to Living Before Buying

I will take this a step further; when relocating, commit to living in your intended town for at least one year before purchasing real estate. Even if you have visited the town frequently before deciding to buy, you should still live in the city first. Being a guest in someone’s home is a lot different than living with them. You might not know they leave the toilet seat up during a visit, but you will find out the hard way during an extended stay. The same can be said for any area. You may realize during your first three months that you want to live within 15 minutes of the hospital. You may find out in your 6th month that the rainy season means the sun stops shining every day at 2 pm and torrential rains follow – for three months straight. That coupled with dirt roads or mountain side roads (without rail guards) means you won’t be leaving your home after 2 pm on most days depending on your area. Your original idea of living on the mountain will meet the reality of life on the mountain. Are you considering living on the ocean with thoughts of daily morning strolls on the shore and daily ocean swims? After living on the coast for a year, you will know that is unlikely – high tide will make that walk impossible at times and depending on your area, there are any number of sea animals like jellyfish who take over the waters.

Relocation Checklist

Before making the decision to purchase a property you want to make a checklist of must-haves for both the property and the area. Plan to live in the area for at least a year and revise that list every three months as you gain knowledge of the area. Below I have my checklist that has been revised several times. I have about two more revisions before I would feel comfortable making a purchasing decision. You will notice that your list change from property features to area logistics. When your list gets to that point, you are ready to make a smart buying decision.

Suki's Checklist

  1. Safe neighborhood with many homes in the area. (Living in isolation is peaceful until you have an emergency.)
  2. No high-rises. (In an area where I have experienced electricity outages for 15 minutes to a full day, I can’t live with the thought that any day I could get stuck in the elevator.)
  3. Paved roads from property to hospital with the hospital being no more than 20 minutes away. (Every minute of an emergency counts in my mind.)
  4. No snow. (Coming from the Pocono mountains, I’ve shoveled enough to last me several lifetimes.)
  5. No history of extreme weather or earthquakes devastating the area. (Things happen of course, but if the town has to rebuild completely every time there is a hurricane, I don’t want to be there.)
  6. Movie theatre within 30-minute drive. (I understand this one may be more me than you.)
  7. Frequent flights of four hours or less to get back to your original homeland in the event of an emergency.
  8. Excellent Internet service. (Netflix matters.)
  9. Excellent phone service. (Between Skype, What’s App and Magic Jack, I have no trouble talking to anyone and have gotten used to the video calls with my family.)
  10. Several parks to choose from. (My young son is “muy activo” as they say in Spanish – very active, I need to dissipate some of that energy in the most cost-effective and constructive way.)
  11. Supermarket (or small market) within 10-minute drive. (I make my dinner decisions in the afternoon and need to be able to get the ingredients I need quickly.)
  12. Walkable road for morning or evening walks. (I walk… a lot.)

Get Ready to Make the Best Decision of Your Life

Relocating to another country is a big decision that requires consideration and preparation, but purchasing property in another country is an even bigger decision that can change your life dramatically. Tap into the collective wisdom of those who have done it before you, and you’ll be more prepared to make the best decision of your life.

family travellisttravel advicetravel tipsactivities
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About the Creator

Suki Tranqille

An expat currently living and working in the town of Boquete, Panama. Business consultant to travelers and business owners looking to explore their options for earning overseas.

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