What’s the hippest place in the Caribbean? Right now, it’s hard to argue with Tulum, the bohemian beach town on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. It’s chic, it’s cool and it’s got a remarkable supply of real estate. So if you’re thinking of fulfilling your Caribbean beach fantasy, Tulum is a very good bet. To learn more about what it’s like to buy a home and How to Move to Tulum, Caribbean Journal talked to Raminta Lilaite , partner at one of Mexico’s top real estate companies, Riviera Maya Property Consultants.

Why should I move to Tulum? 

Tulum offers a relaxed, more balanced, stress-free lifestyle with a great weather year round. It has become a major draw for retirees, expats and those looking for a second home in a laid-back, tropical place that also offers great return on investment. Some of the major draws of Tulum are:

– Tulum is a calm town, great for your peace of mind. Major activities include going to the beach, shopping a fresh food markets, water sports, swimming in cenotes…

– At this time, Internet is great, so you can easily work online or keep in touch with people back home.

– Very affordable services, such as maid or gardener, save you lots of time that you can use for beach or other activities.

– Tulum offers a wonderful opportunity to invest in real estate, therefore it’s a great idea to buy or build your own house instead of renting one, because real estate values continue to rise, with this being a boom period.

And can I live there? What are the residency laws, etc.? 

You can live here if you have Mexican residency, or own property or business. However, tourist visa is issued for 180 days, and that is more than enough to live in Tulum part-time. If you invest more than $60,000 USD in Mexico you can require investor’s visa and stay in the country as long as you want. A Temporary resident visa is issued for up to 4 years, and is meant for those who wish to spend more than 180 days in Mexico per year – it’s perfect if you own a second home in Mexico. You would need to show monthly income of at least $1,553 per person and at least $520 per month per dependent. You can also get temporary resident’s visa by showing a bank statement with a balance of about $25,880. There is also a way to get your temporary status by proving you own property in Mexico that has the value of $207,046 or more. When temporary residence card expires, you have to either leave the country or apply for permanent residency. If you decide you are moving to Mexico permanently, you can apply for permanent residency after 5 years. The process will be similar as applying for temporary status, and you will have to show that you can support yourself in Mexico.

What are the advantages of living permanently vs. part time?

If you live in Tulum permanently, you can have a bank account and credit, and when you accumulate 10 years, you can apply for Mexican passport that allows you to buy property and land as a local without restrictions issued to foreigners, such as Fideocomiso (bank trust), and to do business in Mexico. You will also have all the benefits that come with being a Mexican citizen.

How much does the average home cost? 

Condo apartments start from $100,000 and go up to $450,000. Houses start from $200,000 and go up to over a million dollars.

Oasis House, a home for sale in Tulum.

How much does a beachfront condo cost?

Tulum doesn’t have beachfront condos due to its unique nature and the protection of the beach and underground rivers. Mangrove that grows on the beach is like a natural filter and cannot be destroyed if we want to preserve the stunning beaches of Tulum. You can buy exclusive beach land to build your home, but there are only very few options available and that’s why it’s very special. Tulum offers beautiful jungle land with the roads that will be extended to the beach (the beach will be reached in a few minutes when these roads are finished), and land with natural sweet water pools or cenotes. Tulum has so much more to offer than just the beach: it’s surrounded by lagoons and beautiful nature it is always just five minutes away from beautiful sugary sand beach.

The soon-to-debut One Tulum condominium.

How much does it cost to build a home?

The cost of building a home depends on the project and desired finishes. It ranges approximately from $700 to $1,000 per 1 sqm with permissions and licenses included. It it is strongly advisable to invest in solar panels that will save you lots of money in the long run, and a very good quality sewage-water system is a must.

What are the real estate taxes like?

The real estate taxes depend on the value of the property, but they are very low compared to the United States or Canada. For a 2 bedroom apartment, the taxes would be around $200 USD per year depending on the value of the apartment.

What are income taxes like?

Income tax is around 30 percent.

Can I work in Tulum?

As a booming and growing town, Tulum offers various opportunities, especially in tourism industry. To work in Tulum you need to have your own company or you have to be able to do something that locals cannot do, meaning a Mexican corporation has to invite you to work.

What’s healthcare like?

If you work, you will have national insurance or you can have private care that depends on the plan, but can be as little as $700 USD per year. For small medical problems, you can just visit a local doctor for a few dollars. There is Tulum Hospiten, a local hospital, where a doctor’s visit would cost around 600 mxp (about $32 USD). Mexico offers really affordable and good quality medical care.

Can I bring my car? What’s the duty?   

Yes you can, and the price depends on your original country and the type of the car.

The post How to Move to Tulum appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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The Government of the Bahamas is poised to invest almost $200 million in the infrastructural expansion and improvement of the country’s hospitals beginning later this month.

The process is expected to take place over a two-year period and will include an $18 million investment in an Electronic Medical Records System, and a $17 million investment in upgrades and expansions to the maternity ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital that will nearly triple the space of the current ward.

Public Hospitals Authority Managing Director Herbert Brown said that the introduction of the Health Information System will allow public health officials to address one of the significant areas of transformation in the public healthcare system “with regards to the intermittently inadequate quantities of pharmaceuticals in our hospitals and clinics.”

The new system will provide the PHA with the ability to track every pharmaceutical item– from distribution from its new main warehouse to the hospitals or any other point of dispensation.

“This will allow us to top-up the minimum order level of drugs without having to wait for a request from the wards or clinics,” Brown said. “To carry out this agenda, a new pharmaceutical top-up Unit will be established at the Princess Margaret Hospital and subsequently at the Rand Memorial Hospital resulting in a more efficient method of maintaining the required inventory.”

Brown said the contract for upgrades and expansion to the maternity ward is expected to be executed within the next two weeks and that the project is expected to benefit conditions for both patients and staff.

“If you were to visit the Maternity Ward of the Princess Margaret Hospital today, you would notice that there are cramped conditions for patients, inadequate space, and that the working conditions for our staff is less than adequate.”

“Being able to expand the space to bring our maternity ward up to international standards – which requires that you have a certain amount of space between each bed — for the first time in the history of the Princess Margaret Hospital, is going to be a significant factor,” Brown said.

The renovation will also allow for the construction of two additional operating theaters.

“What this means is that we will be able to move from seven operating theaters to nine operating theaters at the Princess Margaret Hospital,” Brown said. “This will allow for services that might be required in the maternity ward — rather than having to go to the Main Operating Theatre — those procedures can be done on the maternity ward. This is also going to be very significant.

“Additionally, we would have almost tripled the space that the Maternity and Obstetrics and Gynaecology will have and so that too is going to be very significant.”

Expansions and upgrades to the Accident and Emergency Department at the Princess Margaret Hospital are also in the works, along with the implementation of a 24-hour patient advocacy service.

This part of the project will bring the department in line with the government’s vision for a modern day A&E Department.

“We have had many, many challenges, and the Accident and Emergency which today is certainly not designed for what is expected of healthcare in this modern Bahamas, will be significantly transformed,” Brown said. “In fact, the tender for A&E is out and we expect the analysis of the tender to be completed shortly. Once that is done we will move expeditiously to begin the construction after formal approval.”

The post Bahamas Planning $200 Million Investment in Hospitals appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Small-ship cruise line Seabourn has revealed its new itineraries for 2017 and 2018.

The company’s Odyssey ship will begin its fall 2017 season on Oct. 30 with the first of four 12-day Caribbean cruises heading round trip from Miami.

The ship will then run two 10-day holiday Caribbean cruises before launching into winter 2018 with a 16-day itinerary exploring the Western Caribbean departing Jan. 6.

Odyssey will go on to sail 10 seven-day voyages between Bridgetown, Barbados and Philipsburg, St Maarten.

On April 14, 2018, the ship will head to Europe for the season.

“Every destination that we visit and every port we explore is carefully selected for the opportunities and authentic experiences they provide our guests,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “The fall 2017 through winter 2018 season will be among our most exciting yet, with a newly expanded fleet enabling even more guests to discover the extraordinary worlds of Seabourn.”

The post Seabourn’s New Caribbean Itineraries appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Ocean by H10 Hotels is set to debut its new all-inclusive resort on the Riviera Maya in December.

The new Ocean Riviera Paradise on the beach in Playa del Carmen is slated to open Dec. 15 with 974 suites and junior suites, along with 10 restaurants, 12 bars, a coffee shop and an ice cream shop.

Other amenities will include a theater, a nightclub, a bowling alley and a casino, along with 13 meeting rooms.

The swim-up suites at Ocean Riviera Paradise

Ocean by H10 Hotels was founded in 2007 as a joint venture with Spain-based H10 Hotels and Canada’s Vacances Air Transat.

A room at the new Ocean Riviera Paradise

The company currently operates properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

— Caribbean Journal Staff

The post New All-Inclusive Coming to Playa del Carmen appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — World Computer Exchange-Puerto Rico and 4GCommunity.org, two not-for-profit corporations, have announced their alliance to improve public school and family access to technology where needed throughout Puerto Rico. Their work will bring…

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