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Cost of real estate for expats & questions about retiring

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JodiandFinn
  3/6/2014 21:46 EST

Hi, I am looking for information about buying a small house or apartment in Sri Lanka. I am writing on behalf of my Mum who is of retirement age and loves Sri Lanka having been there a few time in the past. She is looking for somewhere to settle, with the possibility of a small income, from teaching English as a Second Language or Music. (She is an energetic and qualified ESL and Music teacher and has recently lived overseas in Malaysia for 5 years).
She doesn't have much saved, but it will go further in Sri Lanka than Australia where she is at the moment.
Can anyone give me any information about trustworthy real-estate agents or contacts for expats there? I heard you need a Sri Lankan on the title deed and can not have full ownership, is that true? Also, if you have any suggestions for visas for Australians and locations where the cost of living is low, there is an expat community, good standard of living and safe for a single older lady, that would be great.
Many thanks in advance!

Christoferus
  3/7/2014 12:25 EST

I have had a house in Dalupotha, a little village near Negombo Sri Lanka for 15 years, which I used as a holiday home.

Last year I retired from the UK and came to live full time in Sri Lanka

Negombo is a large thriving costal town with a very large and busy fishing fleet, and various local industries, and also a thriving tourist resort. It is within a very convenient distance of the airport.

English mother tongue teachers are very much in demand in the local state schools, because there are so few English mother tongue teachers in Sri Lanka. The pay is not high, but the kids are a joy to teach, very polite and appreciative.

I work in a private English language school which kids attend in the afternoon after their day school.

I managed to buy my house in my own name during a brief change of government which changed the law. The current government has made it very difficult now for foreigners to buy property freehold but I understand that foreigners can still buy on long leasehold. Where I am, my little village, which is just a short tuktuk ride away from Negombo and the neighbouring town of Kochikade,where my school is, property is very cheap to rent. A friend of mine recently rented a nice little two bedroom house on a two year contract for Rs12000 a month, which is about £60. I don't know how much that is in Australian, dollars, but I am sure that you can work it out.

There is not a large expat community where I am., not that I have sought for it, as I have Sri Lankan friends. English is very widely spoken. But Negombo is a busy tourist centre and there are always expats to chat with in the bars and cafés on the beachside. Members of the small resident expat community, particularly leisured wives of working expats, seem to patronise a very nice Italian cafe called Lanka Dolce Vita. Negombo is very popular with resident expat airline pilots on contract with Sri Lankan airlines because it is very close to the airport.

It is very pleasant to live in Sri Lanka. The climate is pleasant and the people are very nice, and friendly and helpful. And the cost of living is low, as your mother will know if she has visited several times. Crime is very low in Negombo and in my area. In fact I have never heard of any crime. I have never felt threatened or unsafe, quite to the contrary I have always felt rather cherished and appreciated.

The town is big enough to offer just about all the facilities that you need, including an HSBC bank with a 24 hours ATM. But it's not so big as to overpowering, like Colombo. But if your mother wanted an expat community I imagine that Colombo would be the best bet. Good alternative places would be Galle in the South of the island, or perhaps the old summer capital of Kandy up in the hills, where they have a lovely year round climate.

Tell your mother that she has made a good choice in Sri Lanka. You and she are very welcome to email or call me if you need any more information. [email protected]. +94 779622413

Warm regards


Christopher Hart

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JodiandFinn
  3/8/2014 01:31 EST

Thank you so much for the beautifully considered response Christopher, it has given us food for thought! Mum has had trouble being considered for any more teaching positions, even though she has years of experience, both in Australia and Malaysia because of her age (67). I am guessing this might not be as much of an issue in smaller privately run ESL schools in Sri Lanka...? She wouldn't need much, just enough to live comfortably and simply. Thanks again, I think either myself or Mum will take you up on your kind offer to contact you via your private email.
Cheers,
Jodi (and Bridget).

Christoferus
  3/8/2014 08:21 EST

Thanks for your email. You would be welcome to contact me on my private email.

I noticed that there was a typo In the address.

It should be [email protected]

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