How I live in First World
Comfort...
Without paying for it
I don't worry about the cost of health care... about sky-high taxes... about crime... or about doing 'without.'
And now, you don't have to either...
Dear International Living Reader,
 |
|
Lee Harrison |
I love adventure... excitement. There's nothing more thrilling than going places the average person wouldn't dream of... braving the local conditions... living on the edge.
Roughing it now and then can be enchanting... backward conditions can be charming.
But I don't want to live this type of adventure at my overseas home all of the time. And unfortunately, 'roughing it' is often what's required when living on a budget in Latin America.
Instead, when I'm at home, I want peace... relaxation. I want to travel on modern highways, enjoy reliable and available phone service, access high-speed Internet, and swim on clean, well-maintained beaches.
I don't want to worry about volcanoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes, and don't plan to drive on snow... or own an ice scraper. What's more, I will not hide behind a wall or barbed wire because of local crime.
Excellent local health care is a must, with inexpensive health insurance.
Most importantly, I have to get by with a modest pension... and need a very affordable property.
I know... this probably sounds completely unreasonable
It seems I want all the First World comforts without paying for them... and without accepting any of the trade-offs that normally come with living in a Third World country.
But that's why I live in Uruguay.
It's Latin America without the compromises.
At last: a Latin American country that's rich in natural beauty... with inexpensive properties... without the Third World trade-offs
Surrounding me are hundreds of miles of wide sandy beaches lining warm, South Atlantic waters. Beaches dotted with cities and towns where you can still find a waterfront home for under $40,000, or a super-luxury penthouse priced in the millions.
At the same time, I appreciate the vast stretches of rolling ranchland, faithfully preserved colonial cities, and small, wholesome interior towns reminiscent of the American Midwest... not to mention the exciting big-city living and Uruguay's profitable investment markets.
There are no walls or fences enclosing my home... there are no bars over the picture windows. The neighborhood doesn't need a security guard. Uruguay has one of the lowest crime rates in Latin America, due to the nonviolent nature of the people, high standard of living, and low poverty level.
I enjoy traveling along well-maintained highways at 70 mph, without needing to watch for potholes, washouts, or unexpected obstacles.
My health insurance premium as a resident is just $49 per month.
Uruguay offers a lot... and if you're like me, you'll probably feel that you deserve to enjoy it.
There is one way to know if Uruguay is really right for you
It's almost impossible to get good, up-to-date information on Uruguay. The country doesn't even have its own travel guidebook in English. And the web is loaded with unreliable or dated information about living here.
But that's why I wrote Uruguay The Owner's Manual to deliver exactly what the potential expat or second home-owner needs ... information that can't even be obtained using the government's own public resources.
Frankly, there's no better way perhaps no other way to know if Uruguay is right for you.
Your superior quality of life in Uruguay will begin with what's behind the scenes
When most people think of Uruguay, the country's beach scene comes to mind. Or perhaps the European-style city life ... or ranching ... or maybe even the great wineries.
And granted, these things are certainly worth coming for.
But what really sets Uruguay apart from the rest, is what's behind the scenes... those things that separate the First World environments from everywhere else. Here are just a few examples:
- You'll be secure, in one of the safest Latin American
countries
Violent crime is very rare in Uruguay, as are crimes against women. And even petty crime is not much of a concern in most areas. My own neighborhood could very well be in Middle America, if it weren't for the beaches. Uruguay has some of the lowest levels of crime and poverty in Latin America... plus one of the highest standards of living. - Enjoy the security of a stable democratic government and a
solid banking system
Uruguay's stable government and banking system bring offshore investors from the world over. And its banking secrecy laws are world-renowned. In fact, the Uruguayan banks are not even allowed to share your personal information with other Uruguayan government agencies. - Live in comfort, with a well-maintained, 21st century
infrastructure
The highway system is modern, well-kept and well-marked. You can travel rapidly and safely around the country, and the water runs clean and pure from every tap in Uruguay. The electricity system is reliable, and phone lines are plentiful, inexpensive, and dependable. High-speed Internet access is available and inexpensive throughout the country, offering everything from ADSL to dedicated fiber-optic lines. - Avoid the hassles of a complicated or strict residency
process
Residency is simple, and the income requirement is only $500 per month. And what's more, new residents are entitled to bring their entire household along, duty-free... and you don't even need to wait for residency to receive your goods. - Enjoy the freedom of dual citizenship and a second
passport
Uruguayan law allows for multiple-country citizenship. So residents can obtain a Uruguayan passport while keeping citizenship in your home country. - Pay no tax on income earned outside Uruguay
Everyone can use this benefit, since none of us like paying tax. In Uruguay you don't pay tax on or even report income from outside Uruguay .
True, you won't notice these benefits when you step off the plane. But they form the foundation that will make your experience in Uruguay a real, First World experience.
I challenge you to find a system that will beat Uruguay's national health plan... anywhere in the world
As a resident of Uruguay, you'll be eligible for health care benefits that are the best I've found. In fact, the cost of medical insurance was my most pleasant surprise when moving to Uruguay.
The quality of the medical care has been great... and we don't ever have to wait for appointments.
My coverage is only $49 per month. But if you want, you can eliminate the $5 co-payments at the doctor and have outpatient drugs included for just $66 per month.
And there's the easily affordable luxury plan, which includes a private hospital room, VIP service, exclusive VIP waiting area and first-priority appointments, for just $126 per month.
Of course, these are the highest rates; for those over 55 years old. If you're younger, you'll pay progressively less.
This plan is for an upscale private hospital system in Punta del Este. As a resident, you'll also be eligible to use the public health system... which is free.
Uruguay The Owner's Manual contains an entire chapter on health care... so you can easily take advantage of this most-important benefit as a resident.
Uruguay The Owner's Manual will reveal a First World country with a variety of lifestyles... for all budgets
No matter how much money you have to spend or what lifestyle you are looking for Uruguay will have something to offer.
From the small beach towns to Latin America's premier seaside resort... from a 17th century Portuguese colonial city to an Art Deco downtown that will take you back to the 1920s... from small gentleman farms to huge estancias sprawling throughout the interior... Uruguay is sure to have a lifestyle that appeals to you.
When most people think of Uruguay, they think "beaches"... and rightfully so
During my travels to research Uruguay The Owner's Manual, I was amazed by what I found as I scoured the coast.
The nation's capital city of Montevideo is known for its European-style city life and cultural ambiance. Yet the sandy beaches of Uruguay start right in downtown Montevideo... and these beaches and boardwalks are clean, well-kept, and bustling with activity all year.
Continuing up the coast, I discovered small, pleasant beach towns that were an easy "public transit" commute to both Montevideo and the international airport... old fashioned resorts that were reminiscent of many American seashore towns of the 1950s... and a costal section that's been left back in time, harboring Uruguay's best property buys.
But the crown jewel of the coast is Punta del Este... the most famous of Uruguay's resorts, and in fact, the leading resort in South America. Its brilliant beaches and sparkling waters draw visitors from the world over, as Punta del Este's tiny population swells to over a half-million... people who come to enjoy Uruguay's highest concentration of fine dining, shows, casinos, cafés, and boutiques.
But there's more...
Within two miles of Punta del Este's busy downtown, you'll discover quiet, residential neighborhoods and uncrowded beaches hidden behind the dunes... just a few minutes away on the shuttle. Living in this area will make you feel like you've got the best of both worlds; a quiet setting, but with all the resort-style amenities nearby.
Beyond Punta del Este, you'll come to Uruguay's most pristine beach settings. Long stretches of deserted white-sand beaches bordering deep-blue Atlantic waters... and old fishing villages that have now developed their own vacation-home trade and property market.
Stretching all the way from Montevideo to Brazil, you'll find a magnificent coastal diversity... something for everyone.
But the most pleasant beachfront surprise I found between Montevideo and Brazil was Uruguay's coastal property market
Just look at some of these property deals that I'll show you in Uruguay The Owner's Manual:
- On Uruguay's "Gold Coast," I found a duplex on the water for just $32,000... a small single home for $45,000... a super-quality waterfront condo for $42,500.
- In Atlantida, you'll discover a beachfront home that is the former residence of Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda, one of the 20th century's greatest poets. Built in 1910, the asking price for this 4,100-square-foot home is only $140,000.
- In Punta del Este we found an amazing 336 oceanview properties on the market for less than $200,000.
- La Paloma's signature property, with a head-on, unobstructed view of its famous lighthouse and the ocean, is on offer for just $190,000.
|
"Punta del Este is a little like a Caribbean island,
a little like Italy, a lot like small-town
U.S.A." |
In Uruguay The Owner's Manual, you'll get all the details on everything I found on the property market... often, right down to the owner's private cell phone number.
Discover another world when you venture away from the shoreline... with Uruguay's best property deals and lowest cost of living
In Uruguay The Owner's Manual you'll get to know what it's like to live in places that most guidebooks don't even cover. Places like these:
One of the world's most faithfully restored Portuguese colonial cities, where North Americans are moving in for the first time... a place that is now booming like nowhere else in Uruguay.
A small,
friendly city on banks of the wide Rio Negro, where you'll find a
sheltered marina, a lush city park, and safe streets... where bicycles sit
unattended and children play safely in the square.
The town at the heart of Uruguay's ranching region, surrounded by huge tracts of rolling ranchland, eucalyptus forests, and farms... a town with the hardworking, wholesome feel of the American Midwest.
The unique culture and fantastic property deals found along the Uruguay River, with cities like Paysandú, Salto, and Carmelo... places you'd never find in a guidebook.
As Uruguay The Owner's Manual ventures away from the coast and the capital city, you'll see some of the country's most lucrative property deals... like these:
Uruguay The Owner's Manual will introduce you to the Uruguayan interior like no other source available. I can guarantee you won't find this information in any book... not even on the Internet
Explore the capital city of Montevideo: an old-world city that feels like Europe... without the price tag
I looked around the magnificently restored national theater Teatro Solís from our box seats in this theater from a bygone era. As the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the crowd, world-famous conductor Zubin Mehta entered the stage and prepared to conduct the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in its kickoff performance of their Latin American concert tour.
But just a half block down the street, another crowd is gearing up for the evening's festivities at a tiny tango club that looks more like an abandoned building by the light of day. The singing and dancing will go on here until well after Teatro Solas has closed for the night...
The elderly couples who came to our neighborhood park to dance tango however, will be home well before midnight.
|
"In relaxed Montevideo, the past lives on in style"
|
Some of the city's best fine-dining establishments are within walking distance, and dozens of bars are getting set to open their doors to a crowd that won't go home until 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. Wood smoke rises into the air as the country's finest steaks hit the grill, as the city's many parrillas prepare for the arrival of Montevideo's meat-lovers.
This is
life in the big city... a world capital.
In fact, Montevideo city life is what drew me to Uruguay in the first place.
And just this year, a firestorm of activity is brewing in Montevideo's original historic center, where colonial restorations are the name of the game. Many IL readers have been here for a while, but now people are coming from all over the world to renovate boutique hotels and high-end office suites, or to find a second home in a great city... the perfect place to hide from the North American winters.
In the Uruguay Owner's Manual, here are just a few of the properties you'll discover in Montevideo:
Discover Uruguay in a way that has
never been
possible until now
Uruguay The Owner's Manual is 100% new... and 100% current... from cover to cover
Even though we've published a version of Uruguay The Owner's Manual before, this 2008 edition is not just an update. Not even close. In fact, I wrote this new edition, from start to finish, entirely from scratch.
Why?
Because from the beginning, the 2008 Uruguay The Owner's Manual was planned and funded by International Living to be the best ever.
It started out with a complete countrywide trip to scour Uruguay from top to bottom and from coast-to-coast... from the resorts, to the coastal villages, to the colonial cities, to the remote regions of the interior. I set out to find not only the best places for expat living, but also to find the best property deals the country had to offer.
And my trip was a success.
I've been traveling Uruguay for more than four years now, and have lived here for two years as a resident. Yet I still managed to discover a number of exciting locations that I hadn't investigated before... with over 150 properties that are on the market today, at press time.
Once you've got your copy of Uruguay The Owner's Manual in hand, get ready to...
Uruguay: The Owner's Manual has up-to-the-minute information for a potential resident that you simply cannot find anywhere else
Uruguay The Owner's Manual's comprehensive guide to business and taxes was prepared with one of Uruguay's top tax attorneys... and it's up-to-the-minute with the new changes in the tax law for individuals and corporations.
Feel like an insider ... like you're at home ... by getting the "insider's version" of life in Uruguay, as seen by a resident
Uruguay The Owner's Manual will bring you the cost of living in real terms... starting at just $1,075 per month!
What does it really cost to live in Uruguay? The answer varies from $1,075 per month to over $2,500 per month, depending on whether you own your home, where you live, and whether you own a car.
In Uruguay The Owner's Manual you'll not only learn what things cost, but you'll get real budgets. And these aren't guesswork... the budgets are put together from actual utility bills, tax receipts and expenses paid this year.
You'll know what to expect... with no surprises.
Uruguay is the country where you can lead a First World lifestyle, without paying the price...
Uruguayan properties are still priced in
dollars |
It's a country without the trade-offs that many people are forced to make when living on a budget.
And Uruguay The Owner's Manual is absolutely the only resource available that will deliver everything you need as a potential expat. It's your complete, authoritative guide... packed with information that is simply not available anywhere else.
With Uruguay The Owner's Manual as a guide, you'll know for sure if Uruguay is for you... and if it is, you'll have all the information in hand to retire, buy a second home, invest, or simply start over in Uruguay.
Just think of the value you'll realize from owning this manual:
When you consider the importance of choosing a new country, the information you'll get in Uruguay The Owner's Manual is priceless.
But here's yet another reason to buy Uruguay The Owner's Manual now... one that can save you thousands of dollars
Last year I saw an apartment in Montevideo sell for just $2,676... a larger apartment go for $5,000... a three-bedroom, 1,144-square-foot condo go for $23,000... all at the local property auction.
And I'm going to show you how you can get in on auction opportunities like these; fully prepared, and equipped with all the information you'll need.
When I saw how much these properties sold for at auction, I was surprised. Actually, shocked was more like it.
So I investigated further, and wrote a complete guide to Uruguay's property auction process. It's a full, 36-page report including up-to-date legal requirements, a step-by-step process guide, and property examples... as well as all the information you'll need to get started on your own, including local resources to help you on your way.
The report is named Let the Bidding Begin Uruguay's Best Kept Real Estate Secret Revealed.
This report alone currently sells for $49! But you'll get it FREE with your purchase of the Uruguay Owner's Manual. That's adding over 70% to the value of the Manual.
And if you put the report to use, you can save tens of thousands of dollars by using this process to snag your own second home or investment property.
A copy of Let the Bidding Begin will be yours absolutely free just for trying the all-new Uruguay The Owner's Manual
But this high-value opportunity is only available to the first 1,000 buyers, so please place your order today to be sure you don't miss out.
At last: Latin America without the trade-offs ... a First World lifestyle without the price tag
Discover Uruguay through the eyes of an expat. Backed by first-hand experience, it's the best way to find out if Uruguay is for you. With it, you'll know the lay of the land, the culture, and the property market with over 150 current property examples.
The cost of Uruguay The Owner's Manual is just $69, which includes your own copy of Let the Bidding Begin Uruguay's Best Kept Real Estate Secret Revealed.
The information in the manual can easily save you thousands of dollars in legal fees and costly mistakes... not to mention countless hours of time and effort spent trying to get accurate, unbiased information on your own.
With your copy of Uruguay The Owner's Manual in hand, you will...
Frankly, there is no other way to get this first-hand intelligence.
And remember you can try Uruguay The Owner's Manual completely risk-free
That's becauseUruguay The Owner's Manual comes with International Living's ironclad money-back guarantee.
If the manual does not meet your expectations for any reason at all just send it back for a complete refund, at any time, no questions asked.
And the best part is that we publish this manual electronicallyso you can download it within 48 hours of your order being processed.
But you'll get to keep your copy of my special report, Let the Bidding Begin, with our compliments.
Remember the special report on Uruguay's property auctions Let the Bidding Begin is available only to the first 1,000 buyers. So get your copy now.
It's the only way to get this wealth of information.
If you're even considering Uruguay as a potential destination, you should regard this manual as indispensable. Please order your copy today.
Sincerely,
Lee Harrison
Latin America Roving Editor
P.S. This all-new Uruguay The Owner's Manual contains all the hard-won information I've collected here over the past four years. Order here to get the most complete picture of Uruguay available... plus your FREE copy of Let the Bidding Begin Uruguay's Best Kept Real Estate Secret Revealed, your guide to Uruguay's property auction process, while the offer lasts.
Details
