nrpm
8/17/2015 11:57 EST
Hi,
My husband and I are investigating the idea of moving with our four children to San Juan del Sur. My brother-in-law already lives there and owns a Canadian bar, so we have someone on the ground to help us out.
One thing that he doesn't really know much about is how we can apply our own areas of expertise into a business/job. My husband is a software consultant who helps car dealerships grow their business, and he has been a GM of high-end restaurants before that. I am an author who has written several books on homesteading and sustainable agriculture.
We want to own some acreage and do organic farming, and we are thinking that we would offer accommodations and food. However, we don't have TON of money to invest - we do have a lot of kids and live in the most expensive part of Canada so savings builds slowly. It would be nice to have a secondary income safety net there as well. Is there a need for organic agriculture/permaculture consulting or teaching? Or business consulting?
I've looked into teaching English and it doesn't look like something that can reliably support a family. Is that correct?
Thanks very much!
Cheers,
Nicole
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atz111
8/17/2015 13:01 EST
Pretty much…NO
You might get onto something once down here and get to know some people and do some networking…but that is a shot in the dark.
If you are going to depend on it in any way, you'll have to bring the business with you.
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Salsera
8/17/2015 13:07 EST
There is indeed a growing request for ecological food, because most fruit and vegies contain far too many pesticides. But it is SLOWLY growing! People eat tons of meat here..
A German friend of mine purchased 7 manzanas very cheap and built several bungalows for tourists (near Diriomo/Granada). BUT: He has been here since 5 years and now has the first guests - far from nourishing him!
The advantage would be that you live cheap, if you have no rent to pay, it can be fully ecologic and sustainable with solar system and pump and maybe offer some tourism, in SDJS off the surf and party scene (I do not know the city).
If you declare it a tourism project - and invest, you have several advantages (see the website of ProNicaragua).
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10abuse
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elduendegrande
8/18/2015 11:37 EST
Sorry to be blunt, but you kinda remind me of the Russian foreign aid project that sent snow plows to Africa.
Organic farming is common in Nic., the definition being the farmer is too poor to afford the chems that would make his farm profitable. There is no large market for organic products at premium prices. You also don't mention your fluency in Spanish, a key to getting anything done, nor your plan to get a work visa, which is practically impossible to get.
You might start a business to teach permaculture or whatever to foreigners, but don't plan of making quick money. There are only so many foreigners who have the money to indulge such hobbies.
Most expats I know work online, or go abroad to work after they find how slim the pickings are here. The long term survivors are the missionaries, they have motivation to put up with the inconveniences for a perceived higher good. Others open little restaurants or B and Bs and muddle through. One foreigner recently told me he doesn't leave because he has lost too much money to go home.
On a larger scale, It amazes me how unproductive the current crop of Americans And Canadians are. In the past, one would think these people would come to open great plantations, new factories, banks, railroads, etc. Now they do little hobby projects with little impact on the overall economy. Long live the Chinaman!
Come visit your brother in law and check it out. If you can start a business and make the cash register sing, you have a future here. If not, its just an extended vacation.
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nrpm
8/18/2015 11:52 EST
Well this is why we asked. It's pretty much what we figured was happening, except that two of the answers contradict each other on organic food. Are there tons of pesticides or not?
Just to clarify further, we do have some income coming from back home, enough to live on and which doesn't take much of our time. We plan to invest heavily in real estate with our savings, and the organic farm is just a side project to that. We were curious if the possibility exists to work there offering a service, which I guess isn't the case.
Tourism seems to be the only business opportunity possible. And yes we both speak a little Spanish and plan to get quite a bit better before we go. Thanks for the replies!
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KeyWestPirate
8/18/2015 13:21 EST
Some Canadians have done very well with real estate in Nicaragua:
Google Kevin Fleming Isla Mariana.
Kevin Fleming is reputed to have made in excess of 7 million selling the same lots over and over again.
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00abuse
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iguanalover
8/18/2015 13:54 EST
Our Canadian friends are really loosing money on the exchange rate right now. Nicaland is a USD economy.
The use of pesticides is very heavy. There is a growing market for organic. Lots of restaurants are moving that way and so are consumers. There are expats who will pay.
Do not underestimate the use of pesticides.
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naturechild
8/19/2015 10:27 EST
You need to check out what will happen, if you declare you are a 'non-resident of Canada for tax purposes.'
To be a ' non resident', you are not permitted to own real estate, vehicles boats or even furniture...
Neither will you get child tax benefits.
In a nutshell they will withhold 25% of funds from cashing in RRSP's, and from any govt. pensions you hope to get in the future.
Raising a family is expensive and getting good schooling will not be cheap...and unless in an accredited school, their education will not be accepted back 'home' if they want to continue with further education.
'Investing heavily into real estate' is not something to do, until you have lived there a while and decide if the country is for you.
Then you may also see why pesticides are used when trying to keep insects off of your organic garden.
Living near the ocean does not offer the best location for growing a garden, in the tropics.
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00abuse
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