One more note! We learned the hard way- if you find a house you love- talk to all of the neighbors- NOT just the closest ones... they might know the "special reason" why they are "selling that particular house"- like in our case the well goes dry every year!! And they had paid a neighbor to fill it up the day we came to "inspect it"!! 2 years later we still don't have water! What you say is what I have read from others, a lot of others - buy from a local. I have also heard it is best to rent and let it be known at restaurants, other businesses that you are looking to buy and it is likely a bona-fide property owner will approach you along with numerous con-artists, supposed real estate agents, etc., and just go slowly and check everything first and get anything and everything in writing.

Can't wait - we arrive in Nicaragua on the 31st!! Some damn good waves in Poneloya and Las Penitas. LOL

I just imported a 1990 Ford F250 diesel. Import taxes were about $750, and the agent got $125 to fill out the paperwork. I brought it in through El Espino, and put it into my foreman's name. The process went pretty fast, two days, but we were also importing a lot of other stuff. SUV's are not considered trucks, nor are vans. The 7 year restriction applies to them. I believe that motorcycles fall into the 7 year rule, but I'm not sure. I've been told this . . .but haven't checked. I called the Nica consulate and they said there was no limit on the year of truck and taxes would be almost nothing , based on the value under $25K. Believe me, I'm open to anyone who has a great plan with less work and $$$. I'm open to everyone's previous knowledge and help.

A round trip ticket costs about the same as on- way with most airlines except Spirit. Buy an onward first-class ticket on another airline and once you are there you can cancel it and get a full refund unlike budget fares. You can come to Nicaragua without a round trip ticket. It just depends on which airline you fly on. While you are waiting for your residency to be approved, you will still need to renew your visa every 90 days. The first renewal can be done without leaving the country( just Pay at immigration for three more months About C$ 1700 cords. The second you will need to leave. Costa Rica is the place most go. Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala does not count as leaving because of the C-4.

I believe the US concern as to the environmental impact is that if there is a real disaster then more Nicaraguans will be impoverished and see their only hope is to head North. No doubt some State Department group already has funding to research just such a scenario. The current administration has declared the provisions of the "Monroe Doctrine" to be obsolete and dead. How a future administration will address this will be interesting. When the Chinese built the new stadium in San Jose, Costa Rica they wouldn't hire local workers.

I believe most Nica's are honest. What has to be understood is, most make such small salaries and believe that ALL Americans have tons of money, that there is a temptation to move that money from your pocket to theirs. Beyond this, the opportunities we find don't exist there. A sale of a piece of land, or a house, might be the only significant transaction a Nica enjoys in ten years. He wants to maximize his gain, and he is willing to wait you out. Finally, the Nica hears about someone paying $8K for a Mz of land somewhere, and thinks the 20 Mz you want to buy from him is worth the same. The $8K Mz might have been on a paved road, a short distance from the MGA city center, with water and electricity readily available. What I'm trying to say is, there is not a lot of sophistication in setting prices. A counter offer can be viewed as an insult, and worse, a threat to the seller's manhood, so you have to be relatively non-committal in your response. Nicaraguans are very proud,, you'll get some flexibility as a Gringo, but you don't want to push it. "That's three times what it's worth" .. may be a true statement, but you don't want to say it. Finally, the seller might have an unrealistic mortgage or other liens, and simply cannot sell it for less than what he owes. The guy next to me has 10 Mz that he would sorely love to sell me, talks about it all the time, but he has to sell it for $42K, more than twice what it's worth, because that's what he owes. He's a loyal Sandinista, his wife was vice mayor of Condega for a period, so that probably explains the loan. But, this should not discourage you. It;s still a great country to retire in, the Nicas are warm and friendly. It's a challenge, but it keeps your mind active. I return to the US regularly, and while here, can't wait to get back "home". Talking to the neighbors is always very helpful. If you have an agent, go back by yourself and chat up the people living around the property. Nicaraguans are very social, love to gossip . . bring along a bag of cookies for the kids. thank you magicjack and keywestpirate for honest description of what a third world country is like. it all makes sense and is obvious in theory but can be very deceiving once you are there and once you are a fresh gringo there. it is not easy to have no trust in nicaraguans that seem to be the sweetest people you met in your life. we are yet to make our permanent move there. as much as we love traveling there I do understand real life is different. we will have to learn how to say 'no' many times a day and how to double check every legal transaction.

Talk to Fran Butler on Facebook. They sound like they have found what they need, re. container shipping.

Check out the del sur news, an online newsletter from SJDS. It has classified ads including rentals. There have been some rentals advertised on the expats on SJDS facebook page. This is a good time of the year to look.