11 Years Later, I’m No Longer The Crazy One…
The first place I ever recommended Americans think about retiring overseas was Costa Rica. That was 35 years ago. A few years later I organized and promoted the first conference of my career, in San José.
Thinking back, I have to give it to the 40-odd souls who joined me in Costa Rica that year. What interrogations they must have endured from their family and friends. I mean, who retired overseas 35 years ago?
I continued to recommend Costa Rica as an appealing and affordable place to retire outside the box for maybe two decades. In that time, I also went on to recommend Ambergris Caye, Belize… Roatán, Honduras… Cuenca, Ecuador… and Boquete, Panama, among other places that, likewise, nobody at the time was talking about in this way.
I’m not overstating things. When I began making these kinds of suggestions, I was ignored, questioned suspiciously, and sometimes attacked as part of the lunatic fringe.
So, by 2008, when I first began writing about Colombia—and particularly the city of Medellín—as an attractive place to spend time, I’d grown a thick skin.
And boy did I need it…
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Do you want to be murdered?”
And… though he’d been shot down 15 years earlier…
“What about Pablo Escobar?”
I prepared for the onslaught every time I mentioned Colombia.
Luckily, though, not everybody thought I was out of my mind.
Gradually more readers traveled down to once-shady Medellín and beyond. Many of them put down roots. And, they shared their own real-life stories from the ground… spreading the word about this undervalued haven.
Since the signing of the FARC peace deal in 2016, I’m no longer alone in touting Colombia’s merits. In the past few years, the likes of The New York Times and USA Today have offered up tips on how to make the best of your stay in Medellín, Bogotá, Cartagena, and beyond…
“Colombia, once the site of a vicious drug war, is now at peace and open to travelers; even solo travelers can have a safe and enjoyable visit,” wrote USA Today.
And The New York Times recently said of Medellín…
“Colombia’s second city is fast shedding its controversial reputation. With infrastructure projects that are bringing architecturally exciting libraries and parks to impoverished neighborhoods, and creative methods of transportation, Medellín is one of the most progressive cities in Latin America.”
Medellín’s progress has also been recognized on the global stage. In 2013, it was named both City Of The Year and World’s Most Innovative City.
I predict that, five to seven years from now, when you say “Medellín” to the average American, he’ll think: Retirement. Because that’s what this City of Eternal Springtime is on track to offer—a very appealing and competitive retirement option.
But coming in today, you still have a chance to be ahead of the game… thanks to the incredible value for North American buyers.
As I see it, four types of people should be paying attention to Colombia right now:
The investor: Prices are an absolute, global bargain. This was true in the days before the coronavirus crisis… now, due to a wider gap between dollar and peso, you have 90% more buying power than just a few years ago. Plus, rental yields are running from 8% to 10% on good properties…
The retiree: Medellín—the City of Flowers and Eternal Spring—is going to become a top destination among North American retirees… mark my words… The city is already part of my own retirement plan.
The second homebuyer: More and more, I’m seeing people who are spending their summers in the United States or Europe but skipping out on the ice and snow by wintering in places where they can leave their windows open day and night, all year. These folks are bypassing the old-school snowbird haunts like Arizona and Florida and opting instead for the romance, the excitement, the adventure, and the affordable high-end lifestyle on offer in cities like Medellín and Cartagena.
The entrepreneur: The expat wave in Medellín started with retirees and investors. But over the past years, scores of entrepreneurs have come on the scene. Many have opened brick-and-mortar businesses… but just as many have brought portable careers—writers, web designers, internet-based businesses, etc.—to take advantage of Medellín’s low property cost, low cost of living, and amazing weather.
It’s with all four of these agendas in mind that we’ll come together for our 2020 Live and Invest in Colombia Virtual Conference…
This June 10–12, join us from the comfort of your own home for all the inside information and on-the-ground support you need to be able to make your plans and invest wisely. In the company of our Colombia experts, you’ll…
- Explore with us to see the best of what the country has to offer, region by region. We’ll not only have expats to give their point of view, but also Colombians who can showcase their country…
- Get the facts on being a part-time resident in exciting locations like Cartagena, Santa Marta, and Medellín…
- Take a virtual tour of the most expat-friendly neighborhoods with the people who are living the good life here now…
- Discover how to find an affordable rental—starting at US$500 per month—and where you should be looking…
- Get the facts on safety and security in today’s Colombia…
- Discover Colombia’s medical care… what many believe is Latin America’s best, most modern, and most affordable…
- Find out the best way to brush up on Spanish. We’ll showcase the best of Colombia’s many fine language schools for your convenience…
- Get a grasp on the cost of living. We’ll show you actual budgets from people who live here…
- Discover the best investment opportunities on the market by virtual tour… and be in line for exclusive discounts available to conference attendees only…
- And lots more…
In the 11 years that Lief and I have been spending time in charming, Euro-chic Medellín, we’ve made many friends, both local paisas and resident expats… as well as many professional contacts we’ve grown to trust and to rely on for advice and counsel when investing and doing business here…
Now, we look forward to introducing them all to you––so they can help you toward your own dream…
This virtual event will give you all the information you need to decide whether Colombia makes sense for you. You’ll get to tap into all the insider knowledge of our team without leaving home…
Not only that, but, right now, you have the chance to join us at a special low price…
Normally, we’d charge a registration fee of US$1,095 for this Colombia event. And it’s worth every penny (and more) for the level of information you’ll be privy to…
But, for the next 72 hours only, you can lock in your virtual seat for just US$279…
Go here now to get all the details. Or call the Events Team toll-free from North America, at 1-888-627-8834… or, internationally, at 1-443-599-1221.
Believe me, if your friends think you’re crazy to be considering a move to Colombia, you’ll be able to put them straight after this event…
Kathleen Peddicord
