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I♥UY: The PR Gods Are Smiling on Uruguay

On July 27, 2010, In real estate, tourism, uruguay, by InvestBA
I Love Uruguay

So far, 2010 has been a media lovefest for Uruguay. (Pictured: Oceanfront developments in Punta del Este)

If we could dole out awards for the best and worst PR campaigns in the Americas for 2010, the loser by an oily nautical mile would be BP. On the other hand (and hemisphere), the winner would be the Republic of Uruguay. When InvestBA originally launched, we coined the phrase The Tango Coast to encompass opportunities on both sides of the Río de la Plata. For every four stories about Argentina, we would unearth a gem about our Mercosur neighbor; however, pro-Uruguay, pro-investment content has been so fast and frequent this year, we had to finally create our own Uruguay channel. 2010 got off to a good start with a Top 20 ranking in the International Living Quality of Life Index, then Spear’s Wealth Management Survey sized up the tax advantages and dubbed Uruguay, A good place to visit your money. The I♥UY parade continued this spring with two new airline deals (Buquebus and Jazz/Pluna) further linking Uruguay with the world, while The New York Times touted the country as an attractive retirement destination for Americans and other foreign buyers. Then the World Cup kicked into high gear where Diego Forlán & Co. put together an odds-defying performance and silenced the skeptics, including a Miami Herald reporter. Now it seems we’ve come full circle with another glowing International Living piece naming Uruguay, “The New Tourism Leader in Latin America.” Bottom line: If the last six months of 2010 are anything like the first six, Uruguay can look forward to more positive press and an influx of foreign buyers.

For more information about Uruguay investment opportunities and premier luxury properties, download the July edition of InvestBA Privada.

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South America’s Most Liveable: BA & MVD

On May 31, 2010, In competitiveness, foreign investment, lifestyle, us companies, by InvestBA
Mercer 2010 Quality of Living Survey

No Surprises: Buenos Aires and Montevideo were the highest ranked cities in South America.

While global mergers and acquisitions are based largely on perceived synergies and potential bottom line impact, a very human-oriented discussion typically emerges once the deal is done. Who do we send from the Home Office to manage the new foreign subsidiary?  How is the quality of life there vis-à-vis the U.S.? And, of course, what is an appropriate compensation package for our soon-to-be expats? Fortunately Mercer, a global leader in HR consulting, has the answers in their just-released 2010 Quality of Living Survey. Unlike the International Living index which focuses on variables important to retirees, the Mercer survey is designed to help multinationals fairly compensate their employees working abroad, and New York—with a score of 100—is used as the base city. The La Nación headline came as no surprise to InvestBA readers: Buenos Aires, the best city to live in South America. In fact, out of 221 cities, Buenos Aires and our other local favorite, Montevideo, were ranked back-to-back at #78 and #79, the two highest ranking metros in South America, followed by Santiago (#90), Brasilia (#104), Rio (#116), and São Paulo (#117). Mercer used 39 variables in compiling the ranking including political, social and economic environments; health care; education; public services and transportation. To learn more about Mercer and the 2010 Quality of Living Survey click here.

For more information about relocation opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download our premium newsletter Privada, or e-mail your inquiry to retire@investba.com.

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More Americans Retire in Argentina, Uruguay

On May 20, 2010, In foreign investment, lifestyle, tourism, uruguay, by InvestBA
Punta del Este Beachside Home

An American recently bought this beachside home in idyllic Punta del Este, Uruguay for US$160,000.

It’s another triple-digit loss day on the Dow so—depending on your degree of diversification—your retirement savings may be taking a similar hit. Appropriate then that we turn to an article on net worth and how to stretch your hard-earned savings post-retirement. The New York Times says Latin American destinations like Buenos Aires, Punta del Este and even Medellín are starting to factor into the equation for Americans seeking an affordable retirement destination with a high standard of living and affordable health care. “Now that air travel and communications have grown easier, adventurous seniors are retiring to more far-flung destinations, lured by lower costs, better climates and growing colonies of like-minded retirees,” writes Shelley Emling. Argentina and Uruguay are both mentioned in the article which features one American who bought a Montevideo condo for $58,000 and a beachside Punta del Este home for $160,000. Two homes in Uruguay for the price of a two-room co-op in New York? No wonder the Times is looking to the Southern Hemisphere with a sense of longing. It’s good to see more mainstream news sources picking up on what InvestBA and other specialty publications like International Living and Shelter Offshore have known for some time. As one of the Americans interviewed sums it up, “I don’t know of anyone who has decided to move back full-time after having had a taste of living abroad.”

For more information on retirement opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, download our premium newsletter, Privada, or send an e-mail to retire@investba.com.

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“There Are Better Places to Live”

On April 19, 2010, In culture, foreign investment, lifestyle, uruguay, by InvestBA

Rethinking country risk can change the way you view investing and living abroad.

With volcanic ash cascading earthward, half of all flights grounded in Europe and U.S. housing prices nursing an “epic hangover,” it’s a good morning to reflect on quality of life and other advantages of living here in Argentina and Uruguay. Granted, both countries rank consistently as the #1 and #2 destinations in Latin America for Quality of Life, but sometimes anecdotal evidence speaks louder than quantitative rankings. In an analysis of country risk, investor and best-selling author Bill Bonner shares a lunch conversation with a friend who moved to Argentina “because (he) felt (his) children would have a better future here than in Britain.” After ticking off a litany of BA advantages (e.g., lower population density, more affordable housing, shorter commute times), the friend dug deeper: “If you want to give your children the best combination of lifestyle and economic opportunity, there are better places to live.” Does that mean you should renounce your citizenship and hop the next flight to BA, Montevideo or São Paulo? Of course not. Like Bonner’s article, it’s simply an open invitation for us to rethink country risk, growth opportunities and lifestyle advantages of living abroad. Whether you’re bothered by the status quo or anticipating greater changes on the horizon, use online tools to start planning an exit strategy now. Not familiar with the local terrain? Open a Google map. Still struggling with the language? Join LiveMocha. Wondering what your net worth is in pesos? Go to XE.com. With an open mind and enough due diligence, you just might find a better place to live.

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Carpe Pasaporte: Living the Dream in BA

On March 26, 2010, In lifestyle, tourism, wine & vineyards, by InvestBA
"Just livin' the dream": When the economy has everyone down, sometimes living abroad makes sense.

"Just livin' the dream": When the economy has everyone around you down, BA might make sense.

While some of our home countries are drowning in debt, others lack optimism regarding job prospects and the economic outlook. It’s times like this when many begin to re-prioritize and ponder quality of life, a common narrative thread here on InvestBA. Whether it’s the annual International Living ranking or a wine expert lauding the “wonderfulness” of BA, or a foreign investor branding Argentina “the best place in the world,” these sources bring added credibility considering they have all scoured the planet looking for the best of whatever it is they are searching for: places to retire, food & wine, or prime real estate. For the uninitiated, these articles fuel the imagination but don’t necessarily show you how to connect the dots and make the leap. Shelter Offshore to the rescue. The expat resource which touts Wealthier Living Abroad, fills in the dream-to-reality canvas for readers with some back-of-the-envelope calculations and a carpe pasaporte-inducing headline, “Live Your Dream Life Abroad for Less than £1,000 a Month.” ($1,300 USD). Argentina is one of four Latin American countries mentioned in the article and Buenos Aires neighborhoods like Palermo SoHo are singled out for their abundance of dining, educational and cultural offerings. Once you’ve made the leap, Shelter Offshore recommends a minimum six-month commitment at whatever “wealthier” destination readers may choose. (Full article)

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