Expat Files – 06.19.16

Descriptions for The ExPat Files Show #571

#1- Details on Panama’s new “Friendly Nations” residency program: Since 2014 Panama has designated fifty so-called “friendly” nations whose citizens now get a preferential fast-track to permanent residency. Sounds great but there are still many unforeseen hoops to jump through and a lot of red tape. BTW: what idiot still believes the US is a “friendly” nation?

#2–Tips on contracting maids and cleaning ladies:

Number one- you just don’t hire one, give her a mop and a bucket and let her get cracking. That can be a recipe for disaster.

#3-Tips on Gold/Silver purchases and metal shipping in Latin America:

Some Gringos and Expats think it’s difficult and nearly impossible to have a backup stash of precious metals in Latin America. Many also think the logistics of moving their metals from the states to the 3rd world insurmountable. Its simply not true…

#4-Metals storage vaults outside US are all the rage with people who consider themselves alternative thinkers. Today we have first hand stories regarding foreign country vault and safety deposit storage. Tales that just might scare you into burying your goods in your own back yard(still a good idea)

#5-Consult with Johnny- Schedule a cell or Skype call: Set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American “PLAN- B”. Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#6- Visit me Johnny(and expat super blogger John Galt) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

SIGNUP FOR JOHNNY’S JULY 2016 – LATIN AMERICAN “INSIDER” SEMINAR

Held in and around Guatemala, Central America- “off the Gringo tourist trail”, Saturday July 9th thru Thursday July 14th. Click the link on top of the www.TheNewExpat.com main-page or email: theexpatfiles@gmail.com or, or click on the link below (or paste it in your browser)

http://thenewexpat.com/johnnys-july-2016-latin-american-insider-seminar/

Expat Files – 06.03.16

#1- Lost in translation- some common and peculiar problems all Expats have when trying to communicate with Spanish speakers

#2– Latin America is now starting to experience that same familiar first- world problem: electronic device mania and social media overload.

#3- Regarding the battle of the sexes in Latin America: the women are closing the gap but still far behind.

#4- In Latin America its easy to maintain a low profile and shrink your social media footprint, but you must start planning for that eventuality as soon as you arrive.

#5-A seasonal head’s up on those creepy things that crawl, wriggle and fly in the night (and day).

#6-Consult with Johnny- Schedule a cell or Skype call: Set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American “PLAN- B”. Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#7- Visit me Johnny(and expat super blogger John Galt) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

SIGNUP FOR JOHNNY’S JULY 2016 LATIN AMERICAN “INSIDER” SEMINAR
Held in and around Guatemala, Central America- “off the Gringo tourist trail”, Saturday July 9th thru Thursday July 14th. Click the link on top of the www.TheNewExpat.com main-page or email: theexpatfiles@gmail.com or, or click on the link below (or paste it in your browser)
http://thenewexpat.com/johnnys-july-2016-latin-american-insider-seminar/

Expat Files – 05.08.16

#1 – What you need to know about water and your own personal water supply in Latin America

#2 – Decades ago, many young gringos came down to Latin America for a month or two, determined to save the world. Now Flash forward to 216: They’re older and wiser but still have traces of that “Do gooder instinct.” After years stress and slogging away on the US treadmill, They’ve had it and want to retire back in Latin America – Hoping to recapture the simple, rustic life they recall from so long ago. But 30 years is a long time… It’s not colds showers, coconuts, campfires and coleman lanterns anymore

#3 – Language dunces unite!! Some lucky Expats (Maybe 10%) pick up foreign languages with ridiculous ease… Damn, don’t you just hate people like that? Unfortunately most gringos, like yours truly, are born language dunces. So until someone invents a language pill, we continue to struggle on. However, the good news is that I’ve personally stumbled on some great, simple, unorthodox tips for language blockheads like me. So today you’ll be hearing about some big time and aggravation savers that I wish I had discovered decades ago.

#4 – Be sure to check out my “ExPat Files” You Tube Channel: become a subscriber (it’s free!)

#5 – Consult with Johnny – Schedule a cell or skype call: Would you like to set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans? Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#6 – Visit me, Johnny and (ExPat super blogger John Galt) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

SIGNUP FOR JOHNNY’S JULY 2016 LATIN AMERICAN “INSIDER” SEMINAR
Held in and around Guatemala, Central America- “off the Gringo tourist trail”, Saturday July 9th thru Thursday July 14th. Click the link on top of the www.TheNewExpat.com main-page or email: theexpatfiles@gmail.com or, or click on the link below (or paste it in your browser)
http://thenewexpat.com/johnnys-july-2016-latin-american-insider-seminar/

Expat Files – 05.06.16

#1–SOME EXPAT GONNABEES ARE CONSIDERING URUGUAY AS THEIR “PLAN B” EXIT STRATEGY. TODAY WE’VE GOT THE DOPE ON WHAT IT TAKES TO GET URUGUAYAN RESIDENCY. YES, IT USED TO BE FAST, CHEAP AND EASY BUT AFTER LISTENING TO TODAY’S SHOW YOU MAY CHANGE YOUR MIND

#2- BY NOW YOU PROBABLY KNOW GRINGOS AND EXPATS NEED A CLEAN POLICE/SHERIFF/OR FBI REPORT TO APPLY FOR RESIDENCY IN ANY LATIN COUNTRY. WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS AFTER THAT TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT RESIDENCY PERIOD RUNS ITS COURSE YOU’LL NEED ANOTHER POLICE REPORT TO MOVE ON TO THE PASSPORT AND NATIONALIZATION STEP. YOU’LL NEED TO GET ONE FROM YOUR CHOSEN LATIN COUNTRY. NORMALLY NOT A PROBLEM. BUT WHAT IF SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE YOU END UP WITH A STAIN ON THAT POLICE RECORD(LIKE A DUI)? WHAT THEN?

#3 – GRINGOS AND EXPATS DO GET BORED WITH LOCAL LATIN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTED SOLELY IN SPANISH. AFTER A WHILE MOST OF US DO GET CRAVINGS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TALENT, FOR EXAMPLE: FIRST RATE STAGE PLAYS IN ENGLISH AND GOOD OLD-FASHIONED “ROCK CONCERTS” IN ENGLISH. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THESE DAYS, ORIGINAL ARTIST ENGLISH SPEAKING GROUPS DO TOUR LATIN AMERICA RATHER FREQUENTLY. THAT SAID, TODAY WE HAVE THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY IN THE ENGLISH LIVE MUSIC CONCERT CRAVINGS DEPARTMENT…

#4- BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY “EXPAT FILES” YOU TUBE CHANNEL: become a subscriber (it’s free!)

#5- CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like to set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans? Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#6- VISIT ME JOHNNY(AND EXPAT SUPER BLOGGER JOHN GALT) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

SIGNUP FOR JOHNNY’S JULY 2016 LATIN AMERICAN “INSIDER” SEMINAR:
It will be held in and around Guatemala, Central America “off the Gringo tourist trail”, from Saturday July 9th thru Thursday July 14th. Click the link on top of the www.TheNewExpat.com main-page or email: theexpatfiles@gmail.com or, or click on the link below (or paste it in your browser)
http://thenewexpat.com/johnnys-july-2016-latin-american-insider-seminar/

Expat Files – 05.01.16

Descriptions for The ExPat Files #557:

#1 -LITTLE KNOWN DETAILS YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF REGARDING LATIN BUSINESS STARTUPS

#2- TODAY WE DISCUSS MISTAKES AND ERRORS NEW EXPATS OFTEN MAKE WHEN CONTRACTING BILINGUAL BUSINESS PARTNERS OR ASSISTANTS WHO’S JOB DESCRIPTION MIGHT LIKELY BE MARKETING, PROMOTION AND CULTIVATION OF LOCAL LATIN CLIENTS.

#3 – DON’T BE A CLUELESS GRINGO-FOLLOW THESE BUSINESS TIPS AND YOU’LL SAVE TIME, FRUSTRATION AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS

#4- WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CATCH AN EMPLOYEE STEALING FROM YOU? WHAT DO LATIN EMPLOYERS DO IN THAT CASE?

#5-IF YOU ARE CONTRACTING EMPLOYEES FOR YOUR A LATIN BUSINESS, HERE’S A FRANK DISCUSSION OF WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR JOB APPLICATION FORMS(THOUGH IT’S LEGAL HERE YOU COULD NEVER GET AWAY WITH IT IN THE STATES!)

#6-REGARDING YOUR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES: TO POLYGRAPH OR NOT TO POLYGRAPH? THAT IS THE QUESTION.

#7-SOME EXPATS REALLY LIKE ACAPULCO MEXICO: TODAY WE HAVE A RATHER ALARMING REPORT ON THE VIOLENCE CREEPING INTO FORMERLY SAFE TOURIST AREAS THERE

#8- BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY “EXPAT FILES” YOU TUBE CHANNEL: become a subscriber (it’s free!)

#9- CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like to set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans? Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#10- VISIT ME JOHNNY(AND EXPAT SUPER BLOGGER JOHN GALT) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

ANNOUNCING JOHNNY’S JULY 2016 LATIN AMERICAN “INSIDER” SEMINAR
It will be held in and around Guatemala, Central America “off the Gringo tourist trail”, from Saturday July 9th thru Thursday July 14th. Click the link on top of the www.TheNewExpat.com main-page or email: theexpatfiles@gmail.com or, or click on the link below (or paste it in your browser)
http://thenewexpat.com/johnnys-july-2016-latin-american-insider-seminar/

Expat Files – 04.29.16

#1 –TIPS FOR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE SYSTEM IN THE STATES (O’VOMITCARE?) AND WHO WISH TO VOTE WITH THEIR FEET AND RELOCATE TO LATIN AMERICA

#2-HAVE A LATIN BUSINESS STARTUP IN MIND? YOU”LL WANT TO HEAR THESE QUICK, EASY AND VERY CHEAP WAYS TO PROMOTE AND MARKET IT

#3 – “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT…THIS COULD NEVER HAPPEN IN THE STATES”… I HEAR SIMILAR EXCLAMATIONS FROM NEW EXPATS AND GRINGOS ALL OF THE TIME

#4- “SEX SELLS”.. YOU’LL BE SURPRISED AT THE TRUE EXTENT OF THE LATIN MACHO SOCIETY AND WHAT ADVERTISERS CAN GET AWAY WITH

#5- “SICARIO” IS THE NAME OF A MUST SEE MOVIE FOR ALL WHO STILL THINK MOVING TO MEXICO IS A GOOD PLAN “B”

#6-DID YOU KNOW THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE LATIN MEDIA BUSINESS STILL LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS? HERE’S WHY…

#7-BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE “EXPAT FILES” YOU TUBE CHANNEL: become a subscriber (it’s free!)

#8- CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like to set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans? Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#9- VISIT ME JOHNNY(AND EXPAT SUPER BLOGGER JOHN GALT) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

Expat Files – 04.24.16

#1 –TIPS ON HOW TO FIND THE ABSOLUTE BEST REAL ESTATE DEALS IN LATIN AMERICA

#2 – HOW TO SPOT DESPERATE SELLERS AND HOW TO DO A REAL ESTATE DEAL WITHOUT GETTING HIT UP FOR GRINGO PRICES

#3 – A PROOF OF CONCEPT: HEAR AN EXPAT IN COLOMBIA TELL HOW HE BOUGHT AN UNFINISHED “OBRA EN GRIS” FROM A DESPERATE SELLER, FINISHING THE 2100 SQUARE FOOT HOUSE OF HIS DREAMS FOR $30 A SQ-FT (INCLUDING THE LAND WITH A $21/SQ-FT CONSTRUCTION COST)

#4-HERE’S WHY ITS ALMOST NEVER A GOOD IDEA TO SIGN A BUSINESS CONTRACT WITH A LATIN GOVERNMENT

#5-EVER WONDER HOW THE US GOVT CONTINUES TO PISS AWAY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR IN THE “FAILED” DRUG WAR?

#6-BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE “EXPAT FILES” YOU TUBE CHANNEL: become a subscriber (it’s free!)

#7- CONSULT WITH JOHNNY- SCHEDULE A CELL OR SKYPE CALL: Would you like to set up a time to talk and sort out your own specific Latin American plans? Just write “CONSULT” in the subject line with a short list of questions/talking points to: theexpatfiles@gmail.com

#8- VISIT ME JOHNNY(AND EXPAT SUPER BLOGGER JOHN GALT) at www.TheNewExpat.com where you get real “boots on the ground” info, experienced expat blogs and terrific one-of-kind reports.

Expat Files – 04.10.16

CAUTION!! EXPATS ARE BUYING INTO A REAL ESTATE BUBBLE AT IT’S PEAK- MOST WILL LOSE AND NEVER CASH OUT:

Unfortunately, a good percentage of Gringos and Expats in Latin America have bought (or are buying) into the peak of the Latin Real estate bubble. How would they even know? Yes, everyone wants their little piece of paradise and as long as Latin vacation properties are remain cheaper than US vacation properties (not necessarily so) they think they’d better buy in now. A few short years ago buying Latin real estate seemed like such a no brainer but all things must end.., and this one will end badly. Bubbles that over-expand will deflate, bottom out and burn the last suckers in. Sure, some Gringo buyers who got in early found they could flip properties over and over at nice profits… and those stories help drive the bubble as greater fools rush in. Few if any recognize the ominous signs even now (bubble sign in itself). Even this late in the game fools still trickle in but NOT rushing in like they used to. Meanwhile, many fools are find they’re stuck, cash poor, in too deep, with too many properties and too few new suckers…

-INTERVIEW WITH AN EXPAT TAX PREPARER- PART TWO:

Today we have Part TWO of an interview with a profession Expat tax preparer who has over 600 Expat clients. He lives in Medellin, Colombia and knows the peculiarities of Expats and US taxes. We’ll ask him the tax questions that most concern Expats.

When it comes to Expats and US taxes, the most knowledgeable and best equipped tax preparers are generally long term Expats who advertise in the local Latin country they live in and thus provide face to face service. Caution! Your neighborhood tax guy in Cleveland probably hasn’t a single Expat client (except you maybe?). You don’t want to be his guinea pig.

Expat Files – 04.01.16

-CANADIANS WHO LOVE LIVING IN LATIN AMERICA ARE BEING PUNISHED BY THE CANADAN GOVT FOR DOING SO:
For many Canadians their legendary National Healthcare system is sacrosanct, but for snowbirds to take advantage of it they must live in Canada for at least 5 months a year. As you’ll see on today’s show, many Canadians would rather suffer the wrath and consequences of socialism, extreme Big Brother and killer taxes other than give up their so-called “free” Canadian medicine. It’s not hard to see why so many Canadians are making a big mistake by trying to hang on to this benefit, thus missing the chance to get out of Dodge while they still can…

-MORE THAN A MILLION AND HALF GRINGOS AND EXPATS NOW LIVE IN MEXICO. COULD THAT BE A GOOD THING?:
Though it might sound good at first, in the long run it’s not. Bottom line: when gringos come in hoards (like they’ve done in Costa Rica) it’s only a matter of time before the locals come to resent it. Though we bring details and order, we also bring high expectations, punctuality and an ever higher cost of living. So, if you live in Mexico, little by little you’ll be waving goodbye to that famous “Gringo Advantage”…

-TODAY WE TALK ABOUT A BRAND NEW LATIN AMERICAN “CONCIERGE SERVICE” FOR GRINGOS AND EXPATS. DESIGNED TO HELP NEW ARRIVALS, AND THOSE PLANNING THEIR EVENTUAL RELOCATION TO LATIN AMERICA, THE CONCIERGE LADIES WILL HANDHOLD YOU THROUGH MOST ANYTHING TO BE DONE ON YOUR “TO DO” LIST….