Does anyone have any information about homesteading in foreign countries (laws & regulations, land prices, peoples attitudes, political stability). I have a little over a year to prepare for the move, but still haven't found that "perfect" location. So I've started thinking about places outside the U.S. I'm willing to consider any country, but need to narrow the choices down. I'd apprecitate any info or personal expericeces that you'd care to share. thanks.

-- Aaron Tomlin (atomicmass79@aol.com), April 20, 2001

Answers

Response to homesteading overseas

As usual I vote for Italy - I've been living here for 8 yrs. now and really love it. but the world is big so what areas are you thinking about and what kind of "homesteading" are you interested in?

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), April 20, 2001.

Response to homesteading overseas

Hi Aaron, countries like Australis and NZ still have a large number of small family farms, 100 acres or less. Maybe the current owners don't really consider themselves to be 'homesteaders' but they would be with just a change of mind. Neither country has a really open door policy towards immigrants but if you have enough money to buy the land I think there would be a good chance of obtaining approval. At least in the case of New Zealand, money is about all you could bring as it would be a nightmare and quite likely impossible to bring any livestock. No problems with language, laws (leave your hand guns behind though) and land prices are probably reasonable. I should warn you though that the current Governor General (soverign's representative), Prime Minister, leader of the only significant opposition party, Chief Justice and the Chief Executive or our biggest corporation are all women! Hehehehe

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 20, 2001.

You may wish to check into Belize, Central America. I have visited there several times and do plan on (when money allows) purchasing property there. The country is small, just south of Mexico on the east coast. It is english speaking and uses both there own and the US dollars. PLUS you can drive through Mexico to get there and its only a 2 hour flight to Florida and and 7 hour drive from Cancun. Lots of Americans are there. Yes its a 3rd world country but a stable one. Land, outside the resort area's is cheap and so is labor. Here's a link to the country's web site: http://www.belizenet.com/

-- Stacia in OK (oneclassycowgirl@aol.com), April 22, 2001.

Belize is cool. Actually, not cool, hot and muggy. It's funny, but I can understand the Spanish spoken there (about as common in Belize as English, in my experience) better than the "English". ! The Belizans have a kind of accent which is beautiful to listen to (very melodic), but a bit hard to understand. Sort of sounds like Jamaican. Among the young male husslers in Belize City every sentence starts with "Fock mahn". What a riot. \ When I was there, it was certainly not what I'd consider "stable". In fact, it was in dispute whether or not it was part of Guatemala, as the Guatemalans claim, or an independent country.

Costa Rica is the most likely place I'd settle, except it's been getting so expensive lately. (compared to other latin american countries, any way.

If it weren't so far away from my kids and grandbabies, I'd probably choose Bolivia. I really loved it there. Year round spring, if you live in the right location. Plus the highest navigable lake in the world. Beautiful lake Titicaca. Hundred some odd miles long, thirty or forty wide, crystal clear. Lots of lake trout (trucha). Definitely VERY third world, though. Lots different than what most of us are used to. In fact, it was impossible to even call out of country without taking a bus trip to the capital. Very inexpensive to live, though. We were mostly in Copacabana (not the one in Brazil), and had a VERY nice hotel (third world, very basic, but very clean. Hot showers, etc. Awesome owners. Cost $2.70 per night for two, breakfast in our room for a buck apiece. Pleasant surroundings. I'm homesick for it now!

be very careful buying property in any foreign country. Make SURE you understand the laws, customs, etc. or you can get royally screwed over.

JOJ

-- jumpoff joe (jumpoff@ecoweb.net), April 23, 2001.

land is not so cheap in new zealand but their economy is in the toilet so you can now get over 2 NZ dollars for 1 US so buying power is much greater it used to be 1-1 almost many farms and good climate their but politics is a mess imagine the green party gone wild here with the socialist a strong 2nd but they have many unpolluted places jkg

-- jason k godsey (jasonkgodsey@hotmail.com), April 25, 2001.

Hi jason, yes the political situation in NZ is not quite the way I would like it but to say it is a mess with the 'greens' gone wild and the socialists 2nd is a bit of an exageration. The 'socialists' (who are really just a bit left of the rightists) have the most in the parliament with the 'greens' (who are really a shade of bright yellow) in coalition with them. Incidently the NZ$ is rated by The Economist (according to their Big Mac Index) to be 40% undervalued, so you can imagine I will not be investing in green backs any time soon. Like the thread asked, if anyone in North America is considering a rural lifestyle in another country I suggest they take a close look at both NZ and the land of OZ. I checked this morning and the corner bowser station is selling petrol at the equivalent of US$1.99 per US gallon, obviously the Big Mac Index does not apply to international commodities!

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 26, 2001.

I lived in the netherlands for two years my husband is a true full blooded dutch man.It was a wonderful place,exspecially if you want a good family life.There are a lot of property for sale through out eruope.But scotland and Ireland would be your best bet. Because of the computer age most of the young people are moving to the cities,so they are needing land workers and homesteaders through out Europe. Life there is most certantly worth the move it is so much more than just living to work it is working only to have a happy life with family and to actually enjoy what you do.I wish you good luck

-- katrina (falkkayte@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

Europe is nice but my ancestors left there for what they thought were pretty good reasons, some of which are still very valid.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), April 27, 2001.

I'm presently living in Southern Brazil and it's definitely rural, farms everywhere. The farms are mostly reliant on themselves. My area (the state of Santa Catarina) is mountanious and has cold winters. Sheep and cattle are the main agriculture. You'll love the Brazilians also, their tough and extremely helpfull.

Todd Sessions (t7sessions@yahoo.com)

-- Todd Sessions (t7sessions@yahoo.com), May 21, 2001.