The Experts Who Have Shown Hundreds of Thousands of Americans Where and How to Move Out of the US Now Reveal...
In These Calm, Overlooked, Undervalued Escapes, Excellent Healthcare Costs Less, the Sun Shines Year-Round, and as Little as $2,000 a Month Bankrolls a Big, Satisfying Life
Dear Reader,
When you stand at certain, special points on the globe, the stress of the world as we know it feels far away.
In these calm, stable, low-drama escapes, the cost of living is lower than what you pay now, you can buy and hold real estate for pennies on the dollar, you can actually afford to relax...
And relaxing is easier, it must be said, when you don’t have the news in your face 24 hours a day.
Whether you love the idea of a little part-time getaway you could decamp to if you needed and can lock and leave when you’re not there... or you’re in the market for a full-time escape... I can help.
I can help you find that safe, peaceful spot on the planet that speaks to you. As one happy expat puts it—from her perch on a palm-lined stretch of sand, “We now linger over our coffee while gazing out at the exquisite Caribbean sea, palm trees, and white-sand beaches—scenery so beautiful that we used to fawn over it in magazines and postcards. We still wonder if life this relaxing and enjoyable might be a dream from which we have yet to awaken. It’s like being on vacation all of the time.”
Safely away from the fray. With a smaller budget... but a bigger life.
And, arguably, a better life. A more enjoyable life. A life apart from the threat of crisis.
It’s something you can find in all sorts of overlooked, undervalued places the average person couldn’t pick out on a map... towns, cities, and villages across Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe... out-of-the-way escapes where the quality of life is high.
“The community has embraced me—Greeks and expats alike,” says Karen L., a single woman who found her spot on a small, less-touristed Greek island in the Cyclades. You’ve likely never heard of this island (though it’s a spot where wealthy Athenians maintain second homes and, unlike many islands in Greece, is a good choice for year-round living).
Karen continues, “My life is far from solitary... I participate in Greek dance lessons, volunteer teaching art classes to local kids, attend a weekly Sunday swim and potluck with a group of expats, and can be found at various cultural and social events around the island if the mood strikes. I have a full, enjoyable life here.”
John A., a retired physician, settled with his husband into a Costa Rican valley—in the area I predict will be the country’s next-great expat escape—and he says, “We live on much less than we did in Dallas.
“With my Social Security check of $2,500, we’re able to live comfortably, including paying for a full-time gardener, a full-time handyman, and a maid five days a week. We have two Airbnb units on the property, not because we need the income, but because it’s such fun meeting so many cool people from around the world. (Nevertheless, the ‘fun money’ we earn makes traveling even easier.)”
Julie C. was wrestling her way through long days as a senior manager at Ernst & Young—constant travel, sleepless nights spent up late on conference calls—when she asked herself: “Is this really all there is to life... what’s the point?”
She’d had it. So—in search of a better quality of life—she and her husband Erik decamped to a town on Portugal’s sunny Algarve where the old streets are cobbled, white-washed homes offer a bright backdrop to the lazy river that flows through town, and the café culture demands that everybody just slow down and relax.
“We love our lives here. The air is clean, the tap water is drinkable, we are relaxed because we work less, socialize more and are healthier because we walk everywhere and eat better.”
Greece... Costa Rica... Portugal... you may think you know them. Maybe you’ve read through the tourist brochures—or maybe you’ve even traveled there.
But to be clear: The places I’d like to introduce you to aren’t yet on the mainstream map. The towns, villages, and cities I want to point you to sit under the radar, hidden treasures in Greece, Costa Rica, and Portugal...and in Spain, Panama, France, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, Uruguay, Belize, and well beyond...
You can live better overseas (full-time or part-time)... and do it not only in wildly different cultures and surrounds... but in wildly different ways, too. And for less than it costs you to stay home. I’d like to show you how.
Whether you’re interested in a part-time getaway where you can recharge, a full-time escape, or simply a place to invest where you could move some funds beyond our borders and build a “life raft” for yourself and your family, in case things really go sideways at home...
I’d like to show you what you need to know, including the best places to go... gorgeous hideaways, custom made for troubled times...
“We’re living an adventurous life for less than half of what we’d spend in the US,” says expat Kirsten R., who lives with her husband an eight-minute walk to the beach.
“So many things we enjoy all the time would just be occasional, ‘holiday’ activities if we still lived in Chicago. Yet here… it feels like we’re living on permanent vacation.”
These under-the-radar escapes have a lot to recommend them. They are...
Places where the healthcare is excellent and costs a small fraction of what it does in the US.
“We pay just $780 a year for our private health insurance with Multicare, that's only $65 a month for the both of us.”
—Julie C., living better overseas
Places where you eat better and spend more time outdoors, so you feel younger, and you really are healthier.
“Within one year of [here], I lost 25 pounds without purposely trying. I felt better, too. I attribute that to daily walking and the fresher food options here.”
—Terry Y., living better overseas
Places where you could enjoy the weather you like best, all year long.
“There’s no need for a/c or heat. Every day is like spring in Texas—my home state—with temperatures in the mid-60s to low 80s F, 365 days of the year.”
—Terry Y., living better overseas
Places where you could slash your cost of living to half or even less what you spend today and improve your quality of life at the same time.
“This place ticks every box for me. I rent a cool studio with a sea view for $600 a month. I can walk to dozens of great restaurants, coffee shops, pubs, and music bars. I can hop on my motorbike and go shopping at a fantastic mall on the beach... or cruise down the coast to eat right-off-the-boat seafood.”
–Mike E., living better overseas
Places where you can settle into a quieter, slower, safer life where politics stays in the background, and you can finally relax and breath again.
“Each morning, I wake up and take a look at US news, and it confirms why I’m so much more at peace living [here], away from the politics, inflation, and outrageous housing prices and rental increases. It's still very livable here on less than $2000 a month.”
—Donna S., living better overseas
Places where you could quickly and easily get permanent residency and even put yourself on a path to a second passport—no “ancestry” connection needed.
In a quiet corner of the planet, which rarely makes the international news, you’ll find a bastion of political rights and civil liberties… with an educated populace and top-notch healthcare… rich in fresh water and farmland (affordable farmland that you can buy for as little as $2,000 an acre).
This country also happens to be one of the most immigrant-friendly in the world. Its constitution guarantees that anyone who qualifies can become a citizen.
That openness extends to residency. After arriving in the country, simply go to an immigration office and announce your intention to become a resident. Once you’ve filled out the paperwork, you can stay until it is processed.
To qualify, you need to show a monthly income of between $1,500 (individual) and $2,000 (couple). It can come from retirement or investment earnings or from remote work. You need to have a local address, either your own home or a rental. You also need the normal paperwork of passport, birth certificate, police report, and so on. This country has no immigration quotas, and it doesn’t reject applications unless the requirements aren’t met. The refusal rate is around 3%.
Once you have permanent residency, your status can be lost only if you stay outside the country for three or more consecutive years. If your goal is to become a citizen, you can do that quickly. In that case, plan to spend at least nine months out of 12 in the country. Do that, and after five years of continuous residency if you’re single, or just three years for a couple, you’ll be eligible for citizenship.
I’m talking about hidden places where you could create a life for yourself that you never need a vacation from...
Places where you can easily make friends, meet interesting people, have lots to do, and find real community.
“You can be as social or private as you like. We enjoy a balance between both worlds, immersing ourselves in the culture and social life... the American Chamber of Commerce and The American Club regularly host events, while various sports and hobby clubs cater to diverse interests.
—Roland D., living better overseas
Places where you’ll feel safe.
“My kids walk to school by themselves, and they don't do active shooter drills because it's an impossibility here. It took me six months to unclench, but now the insanity of America is so far in my rearview that it seems like a bad dream. You couldn't pay me to go back.”
—Brian S, living better overseas
These places are so ideally located, it’s an easy (and inexpensive) hop to explore all sorts of other spots nearby. You can enjoy a truly travel-filled life... and for much less than you probably imagine.
“Living in [Europe] has made our retirement dreams come true. Our Social Security income allows us to live comfortably, and we can travel as much as we like. In the past year, we spent eight weeks in Bulgaria and four weeks in the Baltics. In the coming year, we plan to explore Sicily, Northern Italy, and destinations like Casablanca, Corfu, and Nice. We are truly living the dream.”
—Kevin S, living better overseas
You pack a to-go bag when a hurricane threatens—because having a Plan B is prudent. Well, we are living in uncertain times, and you’d be wise to have a Plan B now, too. If you are beginning to feel like a stranger in your own homeland, you should know: In plenty of hidden places beyond our borders, you’ll find communities where the values better reflect your own. Places where you can be yourself. Places where you can safely and legally stash some cash, frankly.
You don’t have to go full-time overseas to recharge, reset... and invest wisely. Retreat for a few weeks or months a year... that could be just the medicine you need. Good weather and welcoming friends in a place where you can afford to really relax. We’ll help you put a Plan B in place—just in case. That way, should you decide to truly decamp in the months or years to come... you’ll know where to go and how to get there. We’ll show you what you need to know, starting with the guidance you’ll find in this new book.
Let’s linger here for a moment, in Europe... because lots of folks misunderstand the lifestyle opportunities available there (especially in the hidden communities I’d like to show you).
And, too, because there’s a critical window open in Europe right now that is poised to slide closed... so you’ll want to act quickly, while you can...
First, you should know that a genteel life can be a lot more affordable than you probably think.
In one 12th-century village on the outskirts of Paris, for instance, you can rent a nice one-bedroom apartment for less than $800 a month. And here you’re within easy access of Paris—it’s about 40 minutes on the train to the heart of the city.
As one happy transplant living there—a single woman in her 70s, a retired teacher—explains, “I can live comfortably on $2,000 a month... it’s not expensive to live here at all. You can spend a lot of money on clothes and shoes, sure. I know I do. But food and vegetables are way cheaper here than in the US.
“I pay $75 a month for a travel pass that takes me all around Paris as much as I like. And I feel safe doing so. That’s the big difference I feel living here, compared with the US. I don’t live in fear, I have no issue with being out at night.”
But there is some urgency: The visa rules for Europe are in flux—and 2025 may be the last year you can immediately grab a foothold.
Over the last two years, two EU countries have shut down their use of the most popular—and easiest—paths to residency and an EU passport.
And, frankly, the current US administration isn’t making many friends with EU leaders—which could lead to restrictions on the back of a tariff war or a political squabble... who knows how that will all play out.
Already a new EU travel rule affecting Americans is slated to take effect in mid-2025.
But don’t worry, our visa expert has a path mapped out. My point is: If it’s Europe that intrigues you, in particular, I urge you to stick with me right now so you get the full story and will know how to take action, while you still can...
In the under-the-radar escapes I’d like to show you, the world feels very far away. We’re talking about low-drama, off-the-beaten track getaways that seem custom made for troubled times... as one expat puts it: “For me, [this place] is like a medicine. It’s low-stress. It’s a great coming-down place. You can just kick back, relax, and enjoy the atmosphere.”
My name is Jennifer Stevens, I’m the Executive Editor of International Living. We’ve been America’s #1 resource on living, investing, and retiring overseas since 1979.
When publications like the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, AARP, and Forbes need an expert opinion about interesting and alternative solutions for stretching retirement dollars, investing overseas, and for living better for less overseas—they call us.
We’re the experts, and that’s why I’m excited about a new book my team and I have pulled together, which I’d like to share with you.
It’s called Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad.
In this new 352-page book, you’ll find practical guidance about where to go—including 51 overlooked, undervalued places most people have never heard of... and stories from folks like you already living in them, enjoying the good life abroad...
...plus, what you need to know about taxes... visas and second passports... buying international real estate... and more...
You’ll see exactly how possible it is to live better overseas... and how it can be done not only in wildly different cultures and surrounds—in towns and villages and big cities, at the beach, in the mountains, in fertile valleys—but in wildly different ways, too.
The expat stories inside reflect the broad array of experiences people are already enjoying overseas today—from Latin America to Europe to Southeast Asia.
All sorts of people are doing it... young... old... single... married... black... white... gay... straight... part-time... full-time... roving... you’ll hear stories from all corners inside this book.
And you’ll discover all sorts of hidden places you could retreat to that the average person has no idea exists, like—
And those are just 3 of the 51 safe, beautiful, great-value, great-weather options we point to in Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad.
Often, “crazy” is being right, just too early. If you mention you’re interested in a move abroad, and people tell you that you’re nuts, consider: You may just be ahead of your time. Most people have no idea how affordable it can be to live in a place that looks and feels like paradise.
Right now, with a special International Living membership offer we have on the table I’d like to send to your doorstep a free copy of Live Better Overseas ... and I’ll even offer to pay for shipping...
But before I get into those details, let me tell you a little more about what you’ll discover in the pages of this book, because I designed it to be the get-started tool you need to begin mapping out your own better life overseas.
We keep on our payroll at International Living a team of seasoned expats based in-country around the world—and I enlisted their help with this book.
In an era when there is no shortage of YouTubers and bloggers and Instagram influencers passing through countries giving you their “hot takes”—we at International Living take a more serious approach.
We spend, in fact, around $800,000 a year to keep our people in place overseas, reporting back with comprehensive, real-world, up-to-date recommendations and guidance.
In Live Better Overseas , you’ll find their expert insights, like...
“Leaving was the best decision of our lives. We have a better quality of life in Europe and are way happier... Once you start visiting other countries in the world, you soon realize that it’s called ‘The American Dream’ because you have to be asleep to believe it.” – V.W.
Back in 1979, when our experts at International Living started writing about how to create a more international life without breaking the bank, nobody else was doing what we do...
Today, you’ll find all sorts of go-overseas click-bait on the internet. The trouble is it tends to be incomplete guidance. Sometimes it’s downright incorrect. And when it comes to thoughts on where to go, it’s almost always recommendations for the same-old places...
These days, those places are getting more crowded and more expensive, too...
Which is why we’re on a mission to guide folks to those under-the-radar, underappreciated places nobody else is talking about yet. We may be living in unpredictable times, but in the hidden places we’d like to show you, you’re out of the fray, and time almost seems to stand still...
Like a small town well-located in Northern Italy, where you can live among Roman ruins, enjoy a twice-weekly market, relax in the hot springs, and take easy day trips to ski or to lounge on the beach... and where you can grab an apartment for less than $37,000.
Or a little island in the Straight of Malacca with talcum powder white beaches, deep green jungle filled with exotic animals like dusky leaf monkeys and ornate sunbirds, rushing waterfalls, great golf, a laidback pace of life... with duty-free shopping and (when you set yourself up right) no tax on foreign-earned income, inheritance, or capital gains...
We’re committed to getting you to places before the average Joe has even heard of them. We find the next opportunities before anybody else knows about them.
In 1983, we pointed readers to where in Costa Rica they could buy a small but comfortable 2- to 3-bedroom house for less than $20,000... today you’d be hard-pressed to find anything there for five times that!
(Though we did just identify (and write a detailed report about) an up-and-coming Costa Rica spot about to hit the prime time—I’ll give you the details on that in a minute.)
In 1990, we told readers where in France they could find a proper chateau on offer for just $200,000... well, you can just imagine what a French chateau goes for these days!
In 1995, we showed members how to buy Irish cottages at auction for pennies on the dollar... and where to find a restored, sea-view farmhouse on the English-speaking, Mediterranean island of Gozo for $141,000.
And, as I said, we’re still doing it.
Just a few months ago, we shared the “next Lake Como”... pointing readers to the bargains they’ll still find there today—before Starbucks and the crowd of tourists that will follow inevitably arrive and discover this gorgeous slice of the Adriatic...
Today, this place could be for you if you want to live in Europe affordably, or if you want to own property in Europe before mass travel sends the prices spiking higher.
Despite what you might read in the mainstream press—so often focused on the political meltdowns, the wars, the economic uncertainty—the world is, in fact, full of opportunity.
It’s just a matter of finding it.
And that takes real people wandering around in real time, figuring out what’s really going on.
That’s why my team and I have launched an endeavor we’re calling our Hidden Places Initiative.
And you’re invited to join us.
It starts with the new book I mentioned earlier... Live Better Overseas: Hidden Places and Surprising Ways You Can Spend Less, Live Richer, and Thrive Abroad.
As part of our Hidden Places Initiative, we’ll ship a copy of this book to your doorstep with the special offer we have on the table right now! Read on below for all the details.
It’s critical you read this book right away.
Inside we point you to 51 communities abroad—and tell you the stories of expats who are already living well in them.
You’ll learn about what life looks like day-to-day, the cost of living in these places, who might like it there (and who might not)...
And you’ll get a concrete sense for the many, many different lifestyles that are available to you abroad..
Maybe you want to be a beach bum... or maybe you dream of living where you can go to a different museum every day of the week...
Or maybe you’d love a highland cottage, where you can walk outside onto your flower-filled patio and see for miles down a green valley...
You’ll find in this book the stories of lots of different kinds of people—retired couples, 40-year-old singles, families with kids, and more—all people who have embraced a lower-cost, higher-satisfaction life, beyond our borders. Out of the way and out of the fray.
You’ll learn about how people arrange their lives to enjoy part-time getaways (a nice way to escape a cold winter or a hot summer and enjoy a more international life)...
And you’ll learn about different kinds of full-time adventures, too...
Including a roadmap for folks looking to create a truly travel-filled life and spend 6 months, 9 months, even a year or more wandering from place to place to check them out...
Plus, you’ll gain the practical guidance you need to get started—including details about visas so you can ensure you’ll land in the right spot, legally... taxes so you understand the rules and how you could arrange your affairs to pay less than you do today...
...real estate overseas—how to know what to look for and where to go... the best way to figure out what you’re really looking for in a community, and then match up that up with a real place on the ground... and more...
You can have this book delivered to your doorstep—I’ll even offer to pay for shipping—with the special deal we’ve got on the table right now.
This book, though, is just the first step. Next up is another useful resource we’re including...
With this Hidden Places Initiative, we’re drawing a live-abroad map nobody has seen before... to point you to the places right now—in 2025—that are most worth your attention.
I call it our Opportunity Map—because we’ve marked on it a collection of good-value villages, towns, and cities that the mainstream isn’t talking about yet.
And when you take part in our Hidden Places Initiative—our World of Opportunity Map is yours.
It’s a way to see at a glance the regions where we suggest you focus your energy if you’re looking for a good-value escape—and where we see the most potential for high-quality living, retirement, and real estate investment...
But there’s more...
To go along with our World of Opportunity Map, we’ve created a detailed guide for 2025...
Let me ask you a question: What is it you dream about when you think about having a more international life?
If you had your druthers—and money were no object—what kind of life would you escape to?
A little village home with blue shutters, down a cobbled alley from a bakery where the scent of baguettes wafts through the air at dawn?
An easy, lock-and-leave condo at the beach where you can slide open the terrace door and hear the sound of the waves?
A big-city pied-a-terre with high ceilings and hand-colored, hundred-year- old tiles worn to a vintage patina?
Whatever you see in your mind’s eye when you let yourself imagine that other, better life… keep that at hand.
Because with this guide, The World’s 20 Best Regions for Retirement Overseas in 2025 (Plus 6 Up-and-Coming Destinations) —delivered by email—we’re on a mission to show you precisely where you can find it.
In places like...
Portugal’s land of winter sun... where a glass of wine at an outdoor café goes for less than $4 and you can arrange for an endless summer lifestyle—sit on the beach, kayak through caves, explore palaces and castles year-round...
Or Italy’s corner of contrasts, where you’ll find sapphire waters that offset bright whitewashed towns... vast olive groves... flat wheat fields and rugged mountain peaks... something for everyone and with only 65 rainy days a year, a mild and sunny climate.
Or in English-speaking Belize... a curious little enclave that feels like it’s part island, part mainland where life revolves around the sea—fishing, diving, relaxing on the beach. Here a budget of around $2,500 a month is enough to bankroll a good life under the palm trees.
I think most people aren’t after yachts and mansions, they’re after leisure... they want to be able to afford to relax. When you go abroad—to one of the out-of-the-way, out-of-the-fray spots we’ll tell you about—that’s what you gain. The cost of living is so much lower than where you are now, you can afford to slow down and breathe.
We’ll tell you in The World’s 20 Best Regions for Retirement Overseas in 2025 (Plus 6 Up-and-Coming Destinations) about those places... and a whole bunch more...
With these three resources alone—the book, the map, and this special report—you’d be well on your way to narrowing down your choices of good-value escapes overseas so you could begin an efficient search for the place that’s right for you.
You’ll know the steps to take to get started so you have all your ducks in a row and can get yourself overseas with ease...
But I’m going to include some more resources, too. Because I want to be sure we’ve got every base covered so you feel not just inspired to create a more international life, but confident you have the tools to get started...
The next resource you’ll get as part of our Hidden Places Initiative is called The 5 Best Healthcare Systems for Expats: Quality, Access, Affordability
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that the cost of healthcare in the US is out of control.
Costs have generally risen faster than inflation, and the average American family spends at least $4,393 in out-of-pocket healthcare costs per year. That’s just the average. For some people—maybe you—the price tag is much higher.
More than half a million people each year file for bankruptcy caused by medical debt.
But in the right places overseas, things cost less, in large part, because housing costs and healthcare costs—usually our two biggest expenses—are so much lower.
And here’s the best part: You may pay less but, in many cases, you get more. Expats report the care is often much better than what they used to receive in the States—yet costs a small fraction of what they were paying back home...
In this report—delivered by email— The 5 Best Healthcare Systems for Expats: Quality, Access, Affordability , we’ll point you to the five countries where you can radically lower your costs while having access to excellent care.
And we’ll walk you through how the healthcare systems work in each country and what you can expect in terms of costs and experiences.
If worry about your healthcare is what’s holding you back from exploring life abroad, don’t let it.
Don’t let fear about what’s out there stop you from investigating your overseas living options. Let me assure you: You can find—and easily afford—superior care in any of the five countries we’ll detail in this report—and elsewhere, too!
Take healthcare in Italy, for instance. Our correspondent there, Chip Stites, raves about his and his wife’s experiences with the healthcare system.
He says, “After six months of residency, expats can enroll [in the system] by visiting their local health center. Once registered, you’ll be assigned a primary physician who acts as your gateway to the system, providing referrals and prescriptions.
“For around $900 annually, we’ve enjoyed extensive coverage. Over seven years, we estimate saving more than $250,000 in healthcare costs. This includes three major surgeries and long-term post-operative care.
“Despite these significant medical interventions, our out-of-pocket expenses have been minimal. For example, after one major surgery, our follow-up costs, including vitamins and self-administered shots, totaled less than $400.
“The cost-effectiveness extends beyond routine care. I’ll never forget receiving a full-body MRI for only $40 or paying just $5 after an ER visit that included IV fluids, medications, three X-rays, and consultations with multiple specialists.”
In this report, we’ll also tell you about the healthcare system in France—and how you don’t have to join any networks, and you can’t be denied coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions or age.
Doctor visits cost around $27, but once you’re a resident in France, you’ll pay about $9 out-of-pocket (after a standard 70% government reimbursement).
We’ll talk about why over 70,000 foreign medical tourists venture to Costa Rica annually for weight-loss procedures like lap bands, knee and hip replacements, angioplasty, heart valve replacements, cosmetic procedures like facelifts, and much more.
Plus we’ll detail what you can expect to find in Spain, where health-insurance plans start as low as $70 per month for excellent coverage.
We’ll focus on Portugal’s healthcare system, too, where our resident expat reports, “with our insurance, we pay just $17.50 per appointment. For my husband and me, our private insurance costs around $550 a month, which also includes coverage for up to 60 days of travel outside Portugal.”
And there’s more...
This Hidden Places Initiative is all about giving you the inside scoop on where to go—out of the way, out of the fray—the tools you need to make it happen (practically speaking), and the confidence you need to actually do it, so you can settle in comfortably and quickly.
That’s why we’ve built into this initiative an ongoing element... so you always know where the best opportunities are. The world isn’t static... and we’re living in uncertain times. Yet it’s always possible to find opportunity when you know where to look for it...
Ronan McMahon, International Living’s Real Estate Expert
To make money, first you need to ensure you don’t lose any. Let’s talk about your retirement portfolio. Your retirement account is likely to be almost 100% allocated to US and dollar-denominated assets. In doing so, you’re betting that the US will continue unchallenged for our lifetime and beyond.
As all of us saw after the last global financial crisis, that’s not a smart bet to make. If there’s a big problem at home, your portfolio is going to take a pounding. Knowing this alone makes it prudent to look beyond your home borders.
Having a strong stable of foreign real estate in your portfolio can help insulate you against market changes—and reduce your exposure to your home market.
Real estate offers many different ways to maintain and grow wealth. You can rent short term or long term. Use it as leverage to secure a loan or refinance and free up money. Hold and watch it appreciate in value… or buy cheap and flip it for a profit. You might even decide to live in it yourself, or use it as your winter getaway.
This flexibility is one of the reasons real estate has created more millionaires than any other asset class. In fact, over the last two centuries, about 90% of the world’s millionaires have been made by investing in real estate.
It’s simply the most reliable asset there is for building long-term wealth. Even when the housing market takes a dip, history has shown that it always recovers and continues on its path of appreciation.
In 2017, when a team of expert economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco studied the return of four major investments from 1870 to 2015 (that’s 150 years of data crunching), they discovered that real estate came out on top.
They looked at treasury bills, bonds, equities, and real estate. Residential real estate, not equities, has been the best long-run investment over the course of modern history. And although returns on housing and equities over the long term are similar, the volatility of housing returns is substantially lower.
Plus when you own property in the right spots overseas—you’ll find amazing values. And the holding costs for real estate are typically so much less than you’re used to paying. As part of the Hidden Places Initiative—we’ll bring you property picks and intelligence about how and where to find good-value real estate overseas.
Most folks really don’t understand the values to be had in the right places around the world.
Consider these examples of properties for sale abroad... (word to the wise: they may not still be on the market when you read this, but I’m including them because they’re typical of what is available around the world)...
And keep in mind that the holding costs are usually much, much lower than you’d expect in the States.
Property taxes vary significantly from country to country and can depend on the type and the value of the real estate you purchase. However, broadly speaking, you will typically pay much less in property tax overseas, even in world-leading destinations that attract millions of tourists every year.
Take Italy, for instance. You’ll pay a tax of up to 9% when you buy... and then your annual tax owed ranges from .4% to .7% of the registered value. So, on a home valued at, say, $160,000, you’d pay between $640 and $1,120 a year.
That’s pennies when you consider that the average annual property tax bill in Texas, for instance, is $3,872. So you can see how the savings can add up.
For around $150,000... or less... you’ll have your choice of beautiful properties in all sorts of places overseas, like...
For $155,700 in Montroy, Valencia, Spain, you could have this country villa with three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, including an outdoor shower room near the pool. It’s 30 minutes from the Mediterranean coast.
https://overseasdreamhome.com/property/
For $118,600 just outside of Monflanquin in France’s southwest, you could own a cozy, renovated one-bedroom stone house with views to the medieval town, which is, officially, one of France’s “Most Beautiful Villages.”
https://overseasdreamhome.com/property/
Or how would you like a Greek island getaway—the land of olive oil and long, lazy lunches? For $125,500, you could have a two-bedroom village home on Crete, Greece’s largest island and one that’s easy for part-time or full-time living. Here you’re just about seven miles from the beach and five minutes from a nearby village.
https://overseasdreamhome.com/property/
“I sold my 70-year-old, 1,820-sq-ft home in Florida for $400,000 ... and with half the money bought a newly renovated, 35-year-old, 4,584-sq-ft home with an exquisite view of the lake and mountains. Instead of paying $4,874 annually for property taxes, I now pay $41 a year. My electric bill went from $480 per month to $50 every two months. The water and garbage pickup went from $175 down to $45 per month, and instead of $67 for internet, I now pay $23. Whew... what a financial relief!” – J.J.
Our Hidden Places Initiative is designed to help you find—far away from the threat of crisis—calm, safe, overlooked, undervalued escapes.
And it’s designed to hand you the tools you need to then get yourself there—to evaluate the viability of a place, based on what you’re looking for—and to understand the steps you’ll need to take to get from where you are to where you want to be.
When you embrace a more international life, it’s a chance to reinvent yourself. A chance—for maybe the first time in your life—to craft your own story, to do what you want to do.
Vanessa, an expat based in Europe, puts it well when she says:
“Retiring abroad... is truly living a second, more fulfilling life. It’s like your do-over.
“A lot of people are concerned that they’ll leave the country and miss out on life or relationships in the United States.
“And I don’t think people realize how much of a beacon you are for people to come visit and to come explore.”
And to be clear: Our Hidden Places Initiative is what I think of as a “living, breathing” project—which is to say, while we’ve already got great spots to introduce you to... and we’ll tell you all about them in my book and in the special reports... there are still more hidden places to come...
We’re busy dispatching our in-country experts based in places like France... Belize... Portugal... Thailand... Costa Rica... Panama... Mexico... Malaysia... and beyond... to parts unknown throughout the year... so they can put “boots on the ground” in the next-best places for you to consider in the countries where they’re based...
If you’re curious about how you could improve your life, enjoy an adventure, explore the world with an eye to reinventing yourself… if you want to put a just-in-case plan in place for yourself and your family…
...or if you simply want to embrace a world full of opportunity (to live, retire, invest, and travel better)… I hope you’ll join me and my team at International Living...
All year, we’ll be sharing monthly updates to our Hidden Places Initiative... in the pages of International Living, on our website, and in our eletters...
Already we’ve got initial reports back from...
The world is constantly changing. We keep our finger on the pulse so that you can always know where the “next” place is... and that’s why—as part of this special offer on the table today—we’re including a risk-free trial to International Living.
International Living points you to opportunity around the world—opportunity to live richer, retire soon, invest smarter, and travel better.
Members receive 6 monthly digital issues of International Living, where we bring you all the latest news and recommendations from our experts, including each month’s installment of our Hidden Places reporting...
We pride ourselves on bringing you the real story about opportunities you’ll want to know about.
There’s no shortage of half-baked info online about the ways and places to go overseas.
We take a serious and comprehensive look at what’s going on and bring you the full story—the pluses and the caveats—so you can make well-informed decisions.
And we cover all sorts of places and opportunities all around the world... from travel tips to live-abroad guidance to real estate recommendations, and more, like...
Plus, when you become a member, you’re instantly plugged in to our team of experts and expats based all around the world...
Ronan McMahon, Real Estate
Jeff Opdyke, Personal Finance
Ted Baumann, Global Diversification
Tuula Rampont, France
Chip Stites, Italy
Cepee Tabibian, Spain
Jessica Ramesch, Panama
Bekah Battone, Costa Rica
David Hammond, Uruguay
Keith Hockton, Malaysia
Barton Walters, Thailand
Bel Woodhouse, Mexico
Jim Santos, Roving
And more in places like Portugal, Belize, Roatan, Greece, and beyond...
They’re your eyes and ears... reporting on what’s really happening on the ground and at the ready to answer your questions and help you understand where you might find the opportunities best suited to what you’re hoping to do.
As a member, you can tap into all sorts of resources—
Even with so much to offer you—International Living is priced so people can afford it.
In fact, the regular rate for an annual membership is $129.
But through this Hidden Places Initiative, you can try it for 6 months, and I’m authorizing a big discount...
I’m going to make you an offer that is, I hope, too good to refuse... $129 $49
PLUS, I’m going to send you the entire Hidden Places Initiative Package, FREE. That includes—
I’m so proud when I hear how International Living has helped to change people’s lives...
Some have used our research and guidance to move overseas and live better for less, others have cashed in by buying property and enjoying the appreciation gains, others have found great places to set up a second home, still others have followed our travel advice and seen the world as an insider, the way few people ever do...
Join Now“I started [with] International Living in the late 80's as my husband and I started talking about moving to the Caribbean. I've been a faithful reader since that time and many of the articles had a direct impact on our thoughts and plans. We now live in Grenada, West Indies and I still rely on International Living to provide timely and informative articles that are important to me as an expat. I highly recommend International Living to anyone who travels, wants to live or is living overseas.” – C.L.
"International Living is the reason that I am on a wonderful journey overseas, living my best life. It all started when I was laid off at the age of 61 and couldn't find another job. I had no idea what to do, until I read about IL... I am so glad I made the move. The information from IL was invaluable in making this happen.” – D.L.
“I've been using International Living's services and publications for decades. The amount of information they provide is invaluable. I have recommended it to many friends that have become loyal International Living readers. The most diverse information available, and always honest and useful.” – R.D.
“International Living (IL) is a really helpful resource. ...For anybody who thinks that retiring abroad might be a good step, I highly recommend IL for their depth of experience, abundant information, and generosity of spirit.” – H.S.
“It was through this informative, fact-based publication that I found the perfect retirement spot. I would never have considered the country that I now call home until I began reading International Living. It provides detailed, fact-based information on both the pros and cons of living in thousands of potential destinations outside the US and was my primary guide for choosing the perfect location to spend my retirement years. Thank you... my husband and I are now building our perfect home in the perfect place! – M.A.
“I decided I wanted to create a global citizen life for my child and after searching the internet for info about living abroad I ran across International Living. It was the most life changing and exciting find... [now] we have been living happily in Penang, Malaysia. The courage to live this nomadic life, as a single woman with my son, is completely because of the information, contacts and ideas that I have gained by being a lifetime member of IL. If you want a life abroad, there is no organization that can bring you better, more timely support to build your plan for a life overseas!! Thank you IL for everything your organization does. It has been worth millions to me, but has cost only a few dollars per year, throughout the years.” – S.A.
You will not find a better way to explore the best overseas options today than with our experts here at International Living.
The world is in flux today—yet you still deserve the lifestyle you imagine in your mind’s eye—and we can help you get it.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re interested in a part-time getaway where you could escape the cold at home and winter over in the sun...
Or if what you’re after is a full-time move—a life adventure (even if it’s just for a year or two) that would allow you to save more, live better, and embrace a more enjoyable, more international life.
Perhaps what you’d really like to do is invest in a condo with a view of the surf in a spot poised to boom.
That’s a savvy way to protect yourself from whatever this uncertain economy may have in store. You could diversify your holdings outside the US, outside the dollar, outside stocks and bonds. And you’d have an investment you could enjoy, too... (can’t say that about a mutual fund)!
Or maybe you like the idea of picking up your laptop and taking a work-from-home job to a place overseas where the weather suits you, the internet is good, and you could slash your cost of living in half. That’s a good deal even if you do it for just a month or three.
As a member of International Living, you’ll see how to do all of that, and more...
I want you to be our next success story... so this is what I’m going to do.
When you accept this invitation to become an International Living member—I’ll send you the full Hidden Places Initiative Package, FREE.
And I’ll authorize a massive discount off your International Living membership and subscription that is so big, you’ll pay just pennies a day.
This special offer is yours today for just $129 $49 for six months plus shipping.
When you click through to the next page, you’ll find two options:
Option 1 Our “Basic” option comes with the Hidden Places Initiative Package, including your free copy of my book, Live Better Overseas , sent to your doorstep.
Option 2 Our “Premium” option includes—in addition—full access to our nearly 5-hour How to Move Out of the US Seminar as a bonus... with a collection of additional special reports... plus this also comes with free shipping on the book... all for just $89.
Plus, I want you to feel confident that this is money well-spent. So, I’m including a 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.
If you’re not completely satisfied within 30 days, just contact our customer service department, and we’ll refund every penny (less shipping and handling). The book we mail to your doorstep— Live Better Overseas —as well as the full collection of digital special resource reports included in our Hidden Places Initiative Package are all yours to keep, no matter what. My way of saying thank you for giving the ideas we talk about here at International Living a try.
We are living in uncertain times.
We’ve just opened the door to a new political era, and one in which our divisions—not only political, but social and economic, too—seem destined to grow.
Yet if you’re ready to explore your overseas options, you should know: Your timing is good.
“I have not tuned out the political noise,.. but I’ve turned down the volume in my head. “ – J.C.
It’s never been easier to get around this planet of ours. The physical infrastructure is more sophisticated than it has ever been. Airlines fly to more places, smooth roads take you today where no roads existed 20 years ago.
Heck you can call an Uber in all kinds of places—from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico to Prague in the Czech Republic—and a guy will roll up and take you exactly where you want to go.
Plus, the internet has changed everything—making a move so much less isolating than it once was.
I remember when I moved to Africa in the early 90s—there was one phone in my village. I’d pre-arrange for a call from the States (via mail)... then—at the designated time—I’d show up at the Post Office, where the clerk would get the call behind the desk, and she’d point me to the booth in the corner and patch the call through to me.
Today, you can plant yourself in some far-flung spot if you want to—like a surfing beach in Panama’s Chiriqui province... or a little town nobody’s heard of in the Dordogne in France’s Southwest... and dial up your grandkids on FaceTime so you can attend their piano recital via video in real time.
Online you can move money around in the blink of an eye.
You can decipher foreign words by simply pointing your phone at them.
It’s all rendered the world at once bigger and smaller—and altogether easier, really—when it comes to navigating new places.
It’s never been easier to be an expat.
If you feel the “pull” to try on a new place for size... even if only for a few months a year... do it! It’s easier than you think to get started—when you have the right tools. And with our Hidden Places Initiative Package, I can assure you: You will have those tools.
I’m Jennifer Stevens for International Living... and I look forward to having you in our “family” of thoughtful, opportunity-minded members.
If you’re at all concerned about how you’ll live comfortably at home in the years to come... or if you’re worried about what the future may hold for your kids or their kids if things really go sideways...
Or if you simply like the idea of maximizing your lifestyle, then you owe it to yourself to give International Living a try.
Consider the great options you have all around the world today. We’ll show you what they are. And I’m confident you’ll be excited by what you discover with our experts’ guidance.
Don’t wait. Click below now to take part in our Hidden Places Initiative and put your own, more international life in motion as a member of International Living.
Join NowWarmly,
Jennifer Stevens
Executive Editor, International Living
March 2025
P.S.
The Miami Herald called International Living “the authority on global retirement.”
They are right. And that works to your advantage.
You deserve to live a more interesting, more international life—with confidence, enjoying the peace of mind and comforts that can be hard to come by at home.
You deserve to join the ranks of our members who have taken advantage of great overseas opportunities. You deserve the lifestyle you imagine in your mind’s eye—and we here at International Living can show you the way.
We’ll show you—away from the threat of crisis—the hidden places abroad where a smaller budget buys a you better life in a place where you love the weather, the pace suits you, and the values line up with yours. Let’s get started now...
Join Now