| Ever dreamed of owning a foreign vacation
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| | article).PANAMA: THE NEW
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| home, living or retiring in an exotic
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| | FLORIDA?Inexpensive real estate, a low
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| land? You're not alone. An ever
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| | cost of living, breathtaking scenery and
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| increasing number of Americans and
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| | First-world perks should put Panama at
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| Europeans are being lured abroad by a
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| | the top of your list if you're
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| lower cost of living and higher quality
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| | considering living or retiring
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| of life. Some are returning to their
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| | abroad.Home to Central America's most
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| ancestral countries or to places where
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| | vibrant and attractive capital (Panama
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| they once vacationed, worked or studied.
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| | City), Panama is slightly larger than the
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| Others are being enticed by generous
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| | state of Florida. Bordered by the
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| retiree perks and attractive tax
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| | Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it
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| incentives. Outside of reading about it,
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| | is one of those places that can seduce
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| you probably have never given the notion
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| | you through its sheer natural beauty. The
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| any serious thought. These three
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| | seemingly endless stretches of
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| beautiful and affordable slices of
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| | picturesque coastline, lush green
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| paradise could change your mind.NOVA
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| | valleys, near-perfect weather and
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| SCOTIA: THE HIDDEN GEMNot all expatriate
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| | friendly people make it one of the most
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| destinations are created equal. If you're
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| | livable places in the world. If you like
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| on a budget, tired of crowded beaches and
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| | Florida and the Caribbean, you'll love
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| packed supermarkets, love seafood, and
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| | Panama.Outside of its scenic charms,
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| have a 19th-century mindset, you may want
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| | Panama is one of the best places anywhere
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| to consider Nova Scotia, the Canadian
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| | for expatriate and retirees today,
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| province which is becoming one of the
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| | offering one of the world's best discount
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| most sought after vacation home and
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| | programs for retirees. AARP rated Panama
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| retirement havens in North America.Nova
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| | "the fourth best retirement place in the
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| Scotia is beautiful. With some of the
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| | world." When stacked up against
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| world's most beautiful scenery, it boasts
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| | traditional Latin American retirement
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| something for every taste: historic small
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| | havens such as Mexico, Costa Rica and the
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| towns, picture-perfect countryside, and a
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| | Dominican Republic, Panama has more
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| bustling capital with attractive suburbs,
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| | amenities, lower costs, and less crime,
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| not to mention 3,600 miles of enchanting
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| | red tape and government interference.In
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| coastline dotted with charming fishing
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| | addition, Panama has put together an
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| villages, inexpensive lots to build on,
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| | impressive list of incentives to attract
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| and opportunities for outdoor recreation
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| | newcomers, including:Expatriates who buy
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| of virtually every type. Deeply steeped
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| | or build a new home pay no property taxes
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| in Scottish, Irish and Acadian (creole)
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| | for 20 years.No taxes on foreign-earned
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| heritage, the province feels like New
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| | income (Social Security, pensions or
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| England 100 years ago, and the entire
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| | business profits).Investments in the
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| province's population is less than one
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| | tourism industry are exempt from import
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| million so the place is anything but
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| | duties, construction materials and
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| crowded.But that's not all. With
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| | equipment costs, and income, real estate
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| government-funded healthcare, comfortable
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| | and other taxes for a period of 20
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| spring and summer temperatures (with
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| | years.The pensionado (retiree) programYou
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| milder and less snowy winters than many
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| | don't need to be retired to qualify for
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| northern U.S. states) and real estate
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| | the program (anyone over 18 may apply for
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| prices considerably lower than anything
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| | benefits). The only requirement is a
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| on the coast in the United States, Nova
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| | guaranteed income of $500 per month ($600
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| Scotia is well worth considering. The
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| | for a couple). It must be a pension from
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| growing American and European expat
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| | a company or government agency (e.g.
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| population obviously agrees.For Sale:
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| | Social Security, disability, military
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| Your own slice of the breathtaking
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| | pay, etc.). After becoming a Panamanian
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| coastline and tens of thousands of acres
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| | resident "pensioner," you are immediately
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| of quaint countryside at unbelievably low
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| | eligible for the most comprehensive
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| prices. Live like a prince in a peaceful
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| | program of expatriate benefits in the
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| and private haven. Enjoy universal
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| | world, including discounts on everything
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| healthcare, friendly people and Cuban
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| | from doctor's visits and mortgage closing
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| cigars (they're legal here). All this in
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| | costs to restaurant meals and
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| a pristine, under-developed storybook
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| | entertainment (movies, theaters,
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| setting. But hurry...the word is out now
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| | concerts, sporting events, etc.).
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| (you're not the only one reading this
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