Expat Files – 06.10.16

#1- When Gringos apply for residency and/or citizenship/passport in their new Latin country- do they really need to be fluent in Spanish? Well the forms are all in Spanish, as well the questions immigration authorities will ask. To get through it ok, at what level of Spanish might you reasonably get by? Remember, there‘s no such thing as press #1 for “Ingles”, in Latin America!

#2– Here’s a question: how would your morale stand up if you were a public school teacher/professor and your government’s dept. of education was 6 months in arrears on your paycheck? Nope, nothing new down here. Par for the course for all things public in Latin America

#3- Even the most “average” stateside gringo knows there’s something bad coming in the USA. Though right now its like the calm before the storm. Meanwhile 95% of Americans keep their heads down and continue to spin endlessly on the treadmills. Oh, but when asked what they’ll do when TSHTF most say they’ll have a plan by then. For now they’re mostly thinking about planning to get a plan. But you’re not one of those types, right? Your plan “B” is well under way, correct?

#4- You can buy the latest computers and smart gadgets in Latin America, especially if you live near a decent sized city. When you purchase electronics you’ll get the ususal guarantees/warranties too. However, except for US store branches like Sears, Office Depot and Costco, etc., Latin warranty service is only fair to dismal. Bottom line, don’t assume your flat-screen TV warranty is as advertised. So then, should you buy big ticket items at Sears or Costco so just for the sake of the solid warranties? Today we tackle that theme and more..

#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 – 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 – 03.27.16

BUILD YOUR LATIN AMERICAN DREAMHOUSE IN THE BEST OF NEIGHBORHOODS FOR $25 TO $50 A SQUARE FOOT:

Long time listeners know it’s my firm belief that there’s a huge real estate bubble in most all of Latin America. Anyone who’s had substantial boots on the ground will confirm that. So don’t be a clueless gringo and buy at the top!! However, if you can find a nice piece of land at the right price, you can build the house of your dreams for $25 to $50 a square foot, complete. Today we have a strategy and some tips to help you find the perfect neighborhood…

IT’S DEFINITELY A RENTER’S MARKET: WITH THE REAL ESTATE BUBBLE CRACKING AS WE SPEAK: That said, when “off the tourist trail” you’ll simply be amazed at what you can rent for a mere $300 to $700 a month. Today we have some real life examples…

DON’T GET SUCKED IN BY FRIENDLY GRINGOS AND THEIR SO-CALLED “GROUND FLOOR” REAL ESTATE DEALS: So when “on the gringo tourist trail” beware of slick gringo real estate agents/salesmen trying to get you into the bubble. Yes, they’re experts at sizing up clueless gringos and spotting suckers. They’ll take advantage of your crappy Spanish, short time down, and obvious lack of boots on the ground… as well as the brain-fogging Zoloft effect the soothing tropical climate has on fresh, green gringos (especially true if a gringo’s 1st world life consists of 6 months of snow and cold).

Note: when “off the tourist trail” there will be no such Gringo real estate guys pressing you, but there’s still a huge bubble, so don’t get sucked in by clueless local Latin agents either…

NOPE, THERE ARE NO CHEAP “GROUND FLOOR” REAL ESTATE DEALS LEFT IN LATIN AMERICA: certainly not “on the tourist trail” in places like Panama, CR, Mexico, Belize, and now Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay. And here’s why…

MIGHT YOUR SECRET DREAM BE A BEACH HOUSE RIGHT ON THE OCEAN? Well guess what? When the bubble cracks, beach houses are often the first properties desperate sellers put on the market. How does a 3 bedroom beach house, with pool, right on the ocean for $100k or less sound to you? Right now, desperate sellers are starting to come out of the woodwork and today we have examples of some fabulous deals that have hit the market. For this you’ll need boots on the ground. You won’t find this stuff on the internet… not in English anyway.

Expat Files – 03.25.16

-Business Banking in Latin America-and how to protect your assets once you get started:
However bad your Spanish is, once in Latin America you will soon start seeing all kinds of business opportunities. Once you’ve found your business “niche” (to me that means no GRINGO competition) you’ll need to have an internet presence and a bank account. That said, how do you select a solid offshore bank for your business accounts(s) that won’t be sucking up to the US govt. and the 1st world legal system?

-Chinese food lovers? You’ve got a big problem if you live in Latin America:

-What will happen to small businesses in Latin America after the US and the rest of the 1st world outlaw the use of CASH?

-The trouble with Pay Pal In Latin America:
Yes they have PP in Latin American, but it’s not such a great deal for businesses and retail providers. Sure, consumers like it but sellers hate it and here’s why…

-Text message overload (in Spanish): If you’ve got a cheap cellphone, get ready for some constant text message aggravation- in Spanish. What’s that all about?

– Naked Sim Cards: Millions of Latins use them… and so do smart Expat Gringos

-The proliferating Latin American cell phone extortion racket: Though this stuff rarely happens to gringos(except in Mexico) here’s a dirty little secret you’ve just got to hear…

– Latin TV, in a word, simply SUCKS!!!:
Yes, Latins love everything gringo and 1st world, even if it’s useless over-hyped Ron Popeil junk like Ginzu Knives, Ab Crunchers, Chia-pets and Buns of Steel. That said, slick Latin TV ad people have discovered the “Gringo Advantage”. As long as anything is promoted on TV as a genuine US product, it undoubtedly becomes a hit. So what’s the latest “As Seen on TV” mega-fad gimmick? …..well, it’s a thick Velcro corset that promises to suck in tummy flab and promote an instant hourglass shape. They’re so popular they can’t keep those stupid things in stock! What’s that say about the overweight and obesity problem in Latin America? (sound familiar?)