Possibilities

[Pete E]

First let me say Bruce raised some good points down below,probably what some others were thinking and didn't say.I will try to answer as good as I can.I did not lie,but I can sure she where guys could get a wrong impression.
I need to take my time with that,not come off scattered like I have a litle lately.I need to get in the right mindframe.Thats not right now.I'm not sure when,but I definetly want to answer,i does require an explanation I think.I think I can explain why I said what I said.Even I don't know some of why I did what I did.But yeah,if you were not here a long time or reading between the lines real well,you could have been surprised at the truth when the gag rule got blown off.

Second,
There is a conference in Panama City this week.I need some more
imformation,but I will probably go.Its about the advantages of banking,investing and living in Panama,aounds like aloy of emphasis on tax advantages and privacy on transaction.Plus picthing Panama I am sure.But just one little piece of imformation about parking my money could make the $$ worthwhile.
The site address is:

 http://www.ildiscoverytours.com/show_tour.cfm?id=2745

Last night a couple of my Colombian connection friends came over.
Cali James and John,a guy I met at latin love on my first trip to Cali whom live 30 miles away.
Both guys are extremely happy with their wives.They took time in their search.Problem is most guys here can do what they did.John went about once  a month basically,for a week or 10 days,for about three years.
James stayed there several months twice.He had an apartment in Cali and his job let  him ,telecommute,work,from Cali.
But we had a fun discussion and I got really excited with the possibilities.I may go to Cali first just to estasblish a home base and also because I have so many people connections there.Also,of course,thats where the women are.Much more AVAILABLE I think that say Cartegena,where I could wind up living later.Plus I don't want to be somewhere with no people connections and I don't know anybody.I could be initially issolated and thats the last thing I need right now.Like I told Dallas Steve,and he did,there is nothing like a new woman to get you over the old one.And living in Cali I don't have to marry them or try to figure out how I will get them here.
We started talking about rent prices and I got really excited,I started visualising my bachelor pad.I know you can rent a house or an appartment cheap.I want to be in a real nice high rise type condo,that is gated,with guards,secure,with a nice pool and outdoor area.
We were talking prices.I know you can get places,houses and lessor apartments,from $100 a month up.Seems the really nice bigger condos start at about $500.If you want to pay about $800 you can get a penthouse or something real nice.I 'm thinking about that.Several guys already said you get a nice place I will stay with you when I go to Cali.Not renting rooms exactly,It wouldn't be  anybody I didn't consider a friend.That could even pay for the place,or offset the cost down to like a $300 place.And a REAL nice place to live,My buddies who want to stay I would want them to stay with me anyway,because I would like to see them,but said they would pay something since they would be renting a hotel or staying at Ma Ma's house otherwise.No rent rate,contribute if you think proper.
I am picturing this great Condo,like 3 bedrooms,mayde a den or computer area,3 baths,maybe 2000 sq.Ft.Howard had something like this in Ciudad Jardine, I was there several times, for about $600 I think.
I am getting excited.But the downside,don't look too rich.You might draw the wrong kind of women.We are joking,why not,if you don't marry them.The other disadvantage is you get known as having money,people become aware of you.Some danger but perhaps also insincere people after your money.
So a week ago I was trying to patch up a failed marriage and now I am mentally out of here.I feel great but I am running on adrenalin and a little hyper and scatter brained.I need to be carefull posting,some of it doesn't tie together too well.
You will get progress reports.

Pete

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Possibilities, posted by Pete E on Oct 5, 2003

A grown man who marries under whatever circumstances has no business suggesting he wouldn't have done what he did if he had known some other marriage was having problems.  Particularly if that man is a successful, intelligent, experienced, older executive-type who know doubt knows a little about people and has been down the aisle at least once before.  At least that's my opinion.

You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Steve

[Cali vet]

... in response to Possibilities, posted by Pete E on Oct 5, 2003

Pete there's a wealthy couple I know who rent some furnished condos they have in barrio Granada a block off Avenida Sexta (many great restaurants within a couple of blocks). I really don't know what they are asking for them but you can write to Piedad and Jose at pisarom@telesat.com.co (or maybe not the .co at the end.) It's the same couple I've mentioned before who have much cheaper one's two blocks north of Chipchapi.

[Michael B]

... in response to Possibilities, posted by Pete E on Oct 5, 2003

Or valuable information? I don't know, man, their site reads a little too much like one of those 3:00AM 'get rich NOW' infomercials...if they were ONLY selling the seminar I might bite.....but I got turned off when they started pitching their over priced tour and real estate. So, you gonna attend? It starts in two days.

[Pete E]

... in response to Hucksters?, posted by Michael B on Oct 5, 2003

Michael,
I will decide tommorow.I will probably go.I need to call and find out the exact schedule of when I need to be there.They say Oct 8-12,thats five days.Then they say something about it being a 3 day seminar.I suspect it starts for real 10/9 and ends 10/11,Thursday,friday,Saturday.It also effect the room coat aqt 4125 a night and I need to know when I need to travel to get the air fare.Originaly I was thinking it might be $1500 total but the seminar itself is $995,so maybe $2000-$2200 plus spending money.
I need a Panamanian Bank account,or 2.I might be able to set that up without going.But on the banking/tax angle just one piece of imformation could pay the cost.
They will of course pitch Panama to live and buy real estate.I wanted to check that out anyway but so far its more likely I will be in Colombia,probably Cali initially.

Pete

[H2Oh]

... in response to Re: Hucksters?, posted by Pete E on Oct 5, 2003

Petey give me a call on my cell.

H2-Oh

[Ralph]

... in response to Re: Hucksters?, posted by Pete E on Oct 5, 2003

When it is time to invest, make sure it is with legitimate and insured banks. i had a buddy I knew in the DR. Older guy in his 602 retired to the DR but kept some money in an investment firm in Costa Rica. He got 36% interest per year. So 3% per month.

I think he had 100k invested and got a check every month for 3k. He was able to live pretty darn well on that in the DR. He had to go to CR once a year to sign some paperwork. Once he told me there was a picture on the wall with the managers of this investment "firm" standing with Ollie North. Rumors flew about how the place could pay such crazy rates. Money laundering, arms deals etc etc etc.

So.. . . .this week I was flying to Milwaukee and bought maxim to read on the plane. They had a story about a young surfer that put 15k in the what appears to be the same "firm". The "brothers" that ran the place dissapeared along with his 15k and this story was about his trying to find them etc.

I know it is a totally different situation in a different country, but be aware that any place with a decent ex pat population will have it's share of crazy schemes. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

My buddy from the DR had his cash invested for well over 6 years, so even if he lost it all he came out ahead. Not so, for the "newbies".

[cancunhound]

... in response to Be careful, posted by Ralph on Oct 6, 2003

We've got our scammers here too.  Those bastards sunk my Big 5 accounting firm to boot.

[Miguel]

... in response to Be careful, posted by Ralph on Oct 6, 2003

Good point, about illegitimate banks.  Just from walking & driving around Panama City, there were offices of Citibank, UBS (largest Swiss Bank), and others.  Your money would be safe there, as long as you're not doing anything illegal.  "Panama" might be an audit flag though, as you'll have to declare existence of the account to the U.S. Treasury if balance is over $10,000.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Be careful, posted by Miguel on Oct 6, 2003

$10,000 is the threshhold for transferring dinero in and out of the country.  A foreign bank account containing over $400 must be reported to the Treasury Department.  Additionally, as noted elsewhere, any interest on a foreign bank account must also be reported to the IRS.

[Miguel]

... in response to Slight Correction, posted by burbuja2 on Oct 6, 2003

Burbuja, I don't think you have to file the form unless total value of all foreign accounts is  $10,000. See

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f9022-1.pdf

$400 might be right for an individual account.

[burbuja2]

... in response to Re: Slight Correction, posted by Miguel on Oct 6, 2003

You're right.  If the account exceeds $10,000 at anytime during the previous tax year, then it must be reported to the Treasury Department by June 30 on TD F 90-22.1.  HOWEVER, all interest must be declared on Schedule B of your tax return, regrdless as to the amount of the principal.

[Miguel]

... in response to Hucksters?, posted by Michael B on Oct 5, 2003

Agreed, I'd be leery of the investment opportunities, also of any tax evasion schemes they're marketing.  If a person is looking into moving to Panama, though, maybe it's a worthwhile conference to attend, just for the information.  I did look at real estate prices in classified section in local newspapers when I was in Panama earlier this year, and they looked cheaper than what International Living is marketing on the web.  You can get a reasonably new 2 bedroom condo in a decent location for $60,000 to $90,000.  Prices on web site look to be $100,000 to $140,000. But I may be comparing apples to oranges.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Hucksters?, posted by Miguel on Oct 5, 2003

Comparing apples and oranges? No, I think more likely is that the seminar folks are volunteering to give themselves a hefty markup for the 'gringo tax'.

[Pete E]

... in response to Re: Re: Hucksters?, posted by Michael B on Oct 5, 2003

Don't worry guys,I am a realtor here.I'm not going to  the gringo with the big "s" for sucker on my forhead.I wouldn't buy right away.I want  deal property like they  are doing.Buy cheap,sell high.I don't want to be the guy they sell high to.I used to by distressed propetry here. I bet the is such a thing there.Tough for a gringo,you need a local partner you trust,or a paid professional(lawyer??)if thats even possible.Or if you can set it up to not be vulnerable.
This banking/tax part is the main thing for me know.I might be able to get it out of a book they sell.Also I'm going to charge the trip.I have alot more credit line than I can cash advance,since they now limit that part of it.Get the drift?The house deal here is going to take down my credit anyway,but its gold plated now,a big asset.

Pete