About briloop

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Germany

Some Forum Posts:

Colombia: Why some are coming, while others are going:

My wife and I lived in Medellin from June 2014 until February 2015. Medellin has beautiful views, friendly people, and lovely weather most of the time. I would never live there permanently, let alone buy property there. Main reasons why we left: 1. IMO, the properties for sale in the area are over-priced. 2. It's safe to live there, provided you live in a safe area and take a lot of precautions. There is a lot of crime in Medellin, ranging from petty theft to extortion to everything in-between. 3. Weather is nice most of the time. Medellin has two rainy seasons. During a rainy season, it rains a lot and almost every day. Thunderstorms are more frequent and more severe than what I am accustomed to in the U.S. 4. Streets can be clogged with traffic. Buses are cheap, but the seats seemed to be designed for people with average height of 5' tall and slim build. The majority of the taxis are sub-compact cars. 5. The city lacks a soul, and it can be boring to live there after a while, after you've seen and done all the things there are to see and do.

Colombia: Mover recommendation:

We are moving from Medellin to the U.S. Could someone recommend a mover? Thanks

Colombia: Moving sale:

My wife and I are moving back to the U.S. We have the following for sale (in Colombian pesos): 16 piece beverage set, eight 12 ounce glasses and eight 16 ounce glasses, $20,000 Hamilton Beach 16 cup pressure cooker $60,000 Sony Blu-ray DVD player $100,000 Dell 19" computer monitor $100,000 HP 22" wide screen computer monitor $120,000 Vizio 60" HD LED TV set, 1080p, new in box, Smart TV with apps, Wifi 60" (152 cms), alta definicion, 1080p, LED Smart TV $3,000,000 We live in Medellin, the Poblado area. PM me for email and/or phone number.

Colombia: Renouncing citizenship article:

I am not an expert, but from what I read on the IRS website, there is no distinction for retirees. Refer to http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Corporations/FATCA-Information-for-Individuals and Do I need to file Form 8938, “Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets”? http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Corporations/Do-I-need-to-file-Form-8938,-%E2%80%9CStatement-of-Specified-Foreign-Financial-Assets%E2%80%9D%3F

Mexico: Safety in Mexico:

I know this topic has been covered before, but I would like to find out about safety in Mexico in terms of using expensive electronic items in public. I am contemplating a move from Medellin, Colombia to Mexico, specifically the Guadalajara/Lake Chapala or Puerto Vallarta areas. Photography is my hobby. If I were to relocate to Mexico, I would like to enjoy my hobby without being afraid of becoming a victim of theft. Is it safe to take an expensive camera (i.e. $3,000 and up) out in public in the Guadalajara/Lake Chapala area, or Puerto Vallarta areas? Also, is it safe to use a smartphone in public in Mexico?

Colombia: Questions for Bogota expats:

My wife and I moved from the U.S. to Medellin two months ago. We are currently renting. We just returned from a two-day trip to Bogota to get my spousal visa. We did a little house-hunting in the Chico area and found it a bit too expensive for our tastes. We were told Suba is a good area to buy an apartment. Questions for expats in Bogota: (1) what have your experiences been like living in Bogota, (2) where do you recommend buying an apartment in Bogota, (3) do you think living in Bogota is better than living in Medellin? Thanks

Colombia: Taxes:

Rafapark, Can you furnish links to the Colombian wealth tax and the "new agreement that the Colombian government has with the US on financial information"? ________________________________________ I recently retired and moved to Colombia from the U.S. Last week, I went to a Colombian accountant to find out what, if any, tax liability I would have. Here's a summary of the information provided to me. 1. The number of days requirement to be a resident for tax purposes. If I am not mistaken, you are in Colombia for 183 days in a 365 day period. 2. No tax on income generated outside Colombia nor tax on any assets outside Colombia for your first five years as a resident in Colombia. 3. There can be a tax liability for income generated in Colombia or assets possessed in Colombia as a foreign resident if you live in Colombia for 183 days in a 365 day period. You must meet all of the following conditions to avoid paying tax based on income generated in Colombia or assets possessed in Colombia: a. Gross patrimonio does not exceed 120,785,000 COP. b. Gross income does not exceed 37,577,000 COP. c. Credit card purchases do not exceed 75,155,000 COP. d. Total value of purchases and consumption does not exceed 75,155,000 COP. e. Total value of bank deposits and financial investments do not exceed $120,785,000. Remember, theses rules and amounts apply to tax year 2013. The accountant told me that they expect the rules to be the same in 2014. The accountant did not mention anything about Colombia taxing wealth outside of Colombia. On another board (http://www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-colombia-taxation), someone commented that the "five year exemption" has been eliminated. The accountant did not mention anything about elimination of the "five year exemption" . The accountant gave me a print out of the information summarized above. I have a scanned copy of the print out. If anyone wants a copy, please send me a private message. The print out is in Spanish. If it's true that Colombia is going to tax wealth outside of the country, or if the "five year exemption" has been eliminated, I would very much like to know.

Colombia: Aeropost mail delivery time:

I'm expecting mail (not a package) from the U.S. to be delivered by Aeropost. It's been three weeks since the sender sent it to me, and I still don't have it. Is this length of time normal for Aeropost to deliver mail?

Colombia: Population of Medellin:

Medellin population: 2.3M in the city, 3.5M metro area, according to Wikipedia. English speakers: It is difficult to find native Colombians who speak English, even in the largest cities like Bogota and Medellin. It's been my experience that the Colombians who speak English are found in touristy areas and areas frequented by ex-pats. You are more likely to find an English speaking Colombian if he or she is well-educated and in a professional occupation.

Colombia: Aeropost:

Has anyone used Aeropost? If so, what have your experiences been like, and do you recommend them? Do they deliver? Thanks

Date Joined:

8/31/2012

Total Posts:

108

Posts/Day:

0.06