Expats in Hong Kong find it cost prohibitive to buy property there unless they are permanent residents. Why? Come on! Do I even have to type it? T-A-X-E-S:

The article points out a host of other restrictions in place, and who is able to navigate them and who has difficulty doing so. It’s an interesting article from the perspective of anyone interested in the impact of regulation on markets. Somehow you just know that expats aren’t an important consideration in these types of conditions.

A recent article about expats in the Economist describes how Mexico is home to a larger number of American expats. Here are some key points:

And what exactly is the draw for expats in Mexico, and what is their impact?

What about all the drug violence in Mexico?

Short-stay tourists have been surprisingly gung-ho in the face of Mexico’s well-publicised violence. Last year a record 23.4m of them visited the country. Deep discounting has kept them coming; lower prices mean that income from tourism this year is about 6% down on 2008, the all-time high.

We all read and hear so much about Mexicans and citizens of other countries that head north into the United States. It’s interesting, and perhaps important, to read about American expats that head south into Mexico and other countries! Good article by the Economist.

Also, here is a great Q&A about American expats living in Mexico on Expat Exchange!

So what does it cost to live as an expat in London vs. living in Seattle, Washington? One expat responded to this thread on our UK forum for expats, in part, with the following advice:

In general you’ll find that salaries in London will be lower than comparable positions in the US (although London salaries are slightly higher than the country average) and the cost of living in London will be higher. The average salary in the UK is about £26,000/year.

And another response from a second Expat Exchange member:

I was surprised at how much higher salaries are in Seattle compared to London, especially since the cost of living is much higher – at least in rent and transportation. Expat packages are also not what they once were, but if you don’t ask for things like a housing allowance, return trips home, private medical insurance, relocation expenses, etc., you won’t get them. Rents here are often 1/3 higher than at home, and places are generally smaller.

This is a great thread for anyone who wants to be an expat in London. Also, read about Expat Package Negotiation for London.

Expat Guide for Moving to London.

An expat report about Moving to Bocas del Toro, Panama was submitted by ExpatExchange member Panamagal:

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Rent first before you buy. Your paradise today may not be what you will think in 6 months. Brings essentials and sell everything else, you can get it cheaper here.

What type of housing do you live in? Is this typical for most expats in your area?

We live in a spacious one bedroom apartment across from the ocean for $400 a month. There are people who live in smaller cheaper places more inland and folks who live out on the water in larger homes for more money. Typical is what fits you.

How did you choose your neighborhood and find your home or apartment?

We wanted to live in a safe local neighborhood near the ocean. I listened to my friends who were already here and looked in those areas.

And WSJ.com recently had an article about whether or not to expatriate to Panama.

Here is some of the advice offered:

Renting also will give you a chance to check out the lifestyle and neighborhoods to see if you fit and where. As in any new place, there are safe and not so safe places to live and visit, and you need to scout them out. Older foreigners are often the target of crime. You’ll also get a chance to visit different properties to see if they meet your standards, as not all have modern conveniences such as air conditioning and high-speed Internet access.

While it is certainly fun and adventurous to live abroad—and Panama makes it even easier for retirees with its pensionado, which gives hefty discounts to seniors on entertainment, professional services and hospitals, travel and more—I recommend that you limit your initial visit to a year before making any permanent plans. If you get homesick, you won’t be deeply rooted.

Some other things to consider:

Do you want to import your furniture? You won’t get any break on furniture prices in Panama, which are roughly equivalent to the U.S. When you compare costs, it will probably make more sense for you to rent a furnished unit and leave most of your stuff in the U.S. in a self-storage unit until you are ready to make a long-term commitment.

Click into the full text of each article to read the full text, and connect with expats in Panama on our expats in Panama network.

Have you ever thought of being an expat in France? Here is an excerpt from a wonderful article by Kathleen Peddicord that gives you a view of the other side of the South of France via U.S. News and World Report on Yahoo News:

Carcassonne could be called a two-part town. Within La Cité are the medieval chateau and rampart, the St. Nazarius Basilica, and the world-famous summer festival, as well as beautiful boutiques, artists’ workshops, and Michelin-starred restaurants. The Bastide dates from the 13th century, but has everything you need for day-to-day life. This lower town is centered on the Place Carnot (where a market is held three times a week), with its pretty fountain, street-side cafes, and restaurants.

And what could one expect to pay to live in such a beautiful, out-of-the-way yet entertaining place?

Given the attraction of the Cité, the Bastide, and the surrounding area, property prices are reasonable. Fully renovated apartments range from about 50,000 euro for a studio to 200,000 euro for a six-bedroom property. Rentals start at about 400 euro per month for an apartment and 600 euro for a house.

On a monthly basis, you could expect to pay 50 euro for electricity (including electric heat), 15 euro for cooking gas, 40 euro for phone calls (local and international), Internet, and cable, and 16 euro for water. Not many people have home help, but it is available for about 15 euro per hour.

After you read the article, come on back to our Expat France Network!

Many people want to spend a significant time abroad, but they don’t want to be expats in any one specific location for an extended period of time. As highlighted in a recent article on WSJ.com, Home exchanges are a great option for people that are interested in this type of lifestyle.

Here are a few excerpts from the article, in which a California couple’s home exchanges are highlighted:

Exchanging homes involves some negotiating. Your leverage depends on the desirability of the home you have to exchange. In the U.S., New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., are favorites of international exchangers. After that, there is a second tier of cities, which includes San Diego.

Before you can embark upon a home exchange, it’s important to think about the conditions you are willing to agree to with those that will be coming to your home to stay:

Exchangers specify their conditions. For example, we won’t accept pets, children, smokers or more than two people in our home. About 80% of exchangers have children, which limits our universe of exchangers. That said, if we want an exchange to a specific home strongly enough, we try to be flexible.

Please share any experiences you have had with home exchanges, or even any third-party stories that have heard!

Expats might have a harder time making a new life in Singapore. While some research shows that Singapore is a great place for expats to live, recent changes by the government stand to have a considerable impact on whether or not that remains the case:

Singapore’s reputation as a destination of choice for expats in Asia has been hit by a triple whammy this month

Two measures by the government last week have made the city less attractive to non-Singaporeans the biggest being a 10 per cent hike in stamp duty for any foreigner wanting to buy property in the city.

Stamp duty was only three per cent at its highest rate, so this move is seen as a strong curb to discourage foreigners from buying homes in Singapore.

Foreign purchases made up 19 per cent of all private property transactions in the second half of 2011. This compares to just seven per cent for the first half of 2009. Low interest rates, political stability and a strong economy have all led to a surge in property investment from wealthy foreigners.

Ku Swee Yong, chief executive at Singapore-based estate agency International Property Advisor, worries that “we leave foreign investors with a bad taste in their mouths.” He said: “Many foreigners are here to work and settle their families down and they need to own one home for shelter over their heads.”

Also, the government recently did away regulations that allow graduates of foreign universities to stay there for up to a year while they conduct a job search.

If you are a British expat interested in buying property in back in Britain, it could be a difficult task. Beyond the financial crisis that continues to persist, the impact that it has already had on financial institutions is a huge driver of the market.

Simon Conn, an overseas property and finance specialist, said: “Raising finance in the UK for British expats purchasing or re-mortgaging either a residential, buy-to-let or commercial property, has become more difficult, as lenders are more interested in the personal financial status of clients and how they intend the loan to be repaid, rather than looking at the asset.”

He added: “This is partly because of the economic climate, but also as they have a number of defaulted properties on their books already, they need to be re-assured that any new client they take on will not leave them with additional problems.”

Over the last few years, the amount of reporting about what British expats are doing with their money and property has been all over the map. More are coming home, now they aren’t. Some are selling property abroad, some can’t buy it at home.

Very difficult to get an accurate picture as to what is going on out there with British expats!

Here is a recent Expat Report on Moving to Olten, Switzerland from Expat Exchange member zwitserlaan.

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Keep in mind:

There is no free choice of school for your children, unless you are willing and able to pay for (expensive) private schools. Your children will usually go to school in the quarter you live. If you have specific school preferences for your kids, take this into consideration in the neighborhood choice.

Not only property prices vary highly between city and countryside, and between the various cantons. Also taxes and costs for (mandatory!) health insurance may vary a lot. Example: the canton of Zug may sound very attractive at first sight, because of the extremely low taxes. You’ll quickly find out that this is (more than) compensated by prices for housing.

zwitserlaan also completed a Working Abroad in Olten, Switzerland Expat Report:

How did you obtain your work permit? What advice would you have for others about work permits?

For your work/stay permit, you need:

Passport

Proof of work / income

Proof of (mandatory) Swiss health insurance (you need to provide this within 3 months of your registration)

Proof of stay (contract in which it is clear that you rent/bought a place to live)

For most EU-citizens, this will do. Bring the documents to the “Einwohnerkontrolle” of the place where you (are going to) live and they will register you. Depending of the town, they may organise your work/stay permit, or provide you with the documents that enable to apply for your work/stay permit yourself. You should obtain the permit without too many problems.

If you are not an EU-citizen, keep in mind that quotas apply for work/stay permits. There is a maximum to the number of work permits per year that are issued to non-EU-citizens. Moreover, your Swiss employee has to prove that he has made ample effort to find someone from Switzerland or the EU for the job, before he can hire you.

There is SO much more great info provided by zwitserlaan in these two reports. If you are even considering taking a job in Switzerland, you should definitely read both!

House Hunters International has frequently stopped by Expat Exchange to provide an opportunity for our members to share their international real estate experiences with their audience. Over the last few years, that has become a reality for a few of our members. You’ll find a post from a producer affiliated with the show via the link above, or you can also apply directly if you are interested in being on HGTV’s House Hunters International.

And here’s a recent Culture Shock Report from Granada, Nicaragua:

Were you worried or concerned about culture shock before you moved abroad?

Yes, since we did not want to find out we needed to return to the USA.

How significant was the culture shock you experienced when you moved abroad?

Actually we did not experience much culture shock or at least less than we expected. Even back in the USA we moved around a lot so having the wanderlust probably helps you adapt.

Sure, there are mornings when you wake up and say “Where am I and why am I here?”. But just as many times you look at a neighboring volcano and think “How can so many people just stay in their home country?”.

Expats often talk about going through the “stages of culture shock.” Do you feel like you went through these or any other stages as you settled into the new culture?

Even my wife and I get the “ugly American” syndrome once in a while where you criticize the locals for some way they do things. I can’t say we went through the stated stages. It is more like some days you are just in a bad mood and don’t want to put up with the differences. My cure is usually to just walk away until the mood passes.

Not knowing the language certainly does not help your adaptation. If I were to do it over, I would have done a family stay Spanish immersion for the first six months to ensure we were more fluent. You learn more in the immersion process in a week than a year of regular Spanish classes.

Please take the time to share your expat culture shock experiences, and expats (and soon-to-be expats) all over the world will read your thoughts. Many will follow in your footsteps and need all the feedback they can get!