Americans emigrating to other countries (2015, movies, property taxes)

[Woof]

Tiger Beer, I've read that it's very difficult to find housing in Japan, or perhaps that was mainly Tokyo. That you need to come up with a hefty deposit, sign long leases, have references out the wazoo ..... basically that you have to be almost rich unless there's a company getting the housing for you. Is that true?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Woof

Tiger Beer, I've read that it's very difficult to find housing in Japan, or perhaps that was mainly Tokyo. That you need to come up with a hefty deposit, sign long leases, have references out the wazoo ..... basically that you have to be almost rich unless there's a company getting the housing for you. Is that true?

SAKURA HOUSE - Tokyo Share House, Apartment & Dormitory for Rent has a ton of options.

Yeah, 'key money' is what you're talking about. That's the traditional way of renting. That still exists.

But, there are a ton of 'work arounds'.

[Woof]

Well, it looks like Sakura House has some studios for a bit over $1000 / month, no key money or guarantor.

[ErikJohnsson]

Originally Posted by Woof

Well, it looks like Sakura House has some studios for a bit over $1000 / month, no key money or guarantor.

Sakura House isn't a good long term solution. It's aimed at people staying short term. Many of the houses are dirty. Housemates constantly changing, some good, some bad (partiers, messy/lazy). The more expensive ones are overpriced in the long run when compared to what you'll pay for your own place over the same amount of time (past a year). You can find "gaijin" (foreigner) friendly renters with time as well. However, many rental agencies will not do business with foreigners, even if you have all the ridiculous money they want. Systemic racism you'll find quite common unfortunately.

[ErikJohnsson]

Originally Posted by Ulysses61

I'm an American professor and twice in my career have used sabbaticals, which is one year off from teaching every 7 years. The year is used ostensibly to study, but is generally used merely to relax somewhere else. I have tremendously negative feelings about American government and am the antithesis of a jingo. I've always preferred the European way of life and approach to many issues.

Both years of my sabbatical I chose to spend in Germany. I speak fluent German and my husband was born and raised there. We rented a house right outside Munich and spent 10 months there each time. The cost of living was outrageous compared to southern California, where I live. Gas was $12 a gallon, food was three times what it cost in California and the culture was sometimes grating. But I still loved it and really didn't want to return back to the U.S.

The moment I came back to America, I had to deal with the politics, the religious nuts which permeate American culture and many other things I didn't have to deal with in Germany.

I'm envious. You get to experience both the beautiful climate of California and the beautiful classic architecture and scenery of Bavaria and Germany.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by ErikJohnsson

Sakura House isn't a good long term solution. It's aimed at people staying short term. Many of the houses are dirty. Housemates constantly changing, some good, some bad (partiers, messy/lazy). The more expensive ones are overpriced in the long run when compared to what you'll pay for your own place over the same amount of time (past a year). You can find "gaijin" (foreigner) friendly renters with time as well. However, many rental agencies will not do business with foreigners, even if you have all the ridiculous money they want. Systemic racism you'll find quite common unfortunately.

On the same coin toss...I know a ton of foreigners who also buy and sell real estate in Japan, buy their own homes, get permanent residency, etc.

I think Sakura House (and others like it) are setup for the 'arriving foreigner' overwhelmed with looking for a place to live in the big city of Tokyo.

Once a person gets their feet on the ground here, there is a plethora of options all over the place.

[AntonioR]

I found this PDF file (Americans Buying Homes Abroad - click here to read the document)that might be of interest to many here.

Some of the findings:

• There were possibly as many as 500,000 to 600,000 foreign properties owned by Americans living abroad.

• Roughly 54,000 to 63,000 properties are owned by retired American workers.

• Americans working abroad owned between 80,000 and 100,000 foreign properties.

In addition to all of that, there's an American demand of vacation and short-stay foreign properties in the range of 370,000 to 440,000 units.

Keep in mind that this study takes into account ownership, but completely ignores rentals, possibly due to the difficulty of getting this type of information. It would be safe to assume that more Americans rent abroad than actually own, so accept the figures presented here as conservative at best.


Americans Living Abroad: By Major Region: 1999

1. Americas 2,113,295
2. Europe 1,169,438
3. Asia/Pacific 517,800*
4. Middle East 295,645
5. Africa 67,632

Total 4,163,810

*Includes Australia and Oceania.


Americans Living Abroad: Top 10 Countries: 1999

1. Mexico 1,036,300
2. Canada 687,700
3. United Kingdom 224,000
4. Germany 210,880
5. Israel 184,195
6. Italy 168,967
7. Philippines 105,000
8. Australia 102,800
9. France 101,750
10. Spain 94,513

Total 2,916,105


Americans Living Abroad: Latin America & the Caribbean As Percentage of Total Americans Living Abroad: 1999

1. Mexico 24.9%
2. Dominican Republic 2%
3. Brazil 1%
4. Colombia 0.7%
5. Argentina 0.7%
6. Venezuela 0.6%
7. Costa Rica 0.5%
8. Panama 0.5%
9. Peru 0.3%

Concise Conclusions about Americans Living Abroad:

Americans abroad tend to be located close to America. Both Canada and Mexico are familiar and close to home. The Caribbean islands have become popular vacation areas for Americans as well as the home of many offshore corporations. The Dominican Republic, with 82,000 Americans abroad, exceeded all of the individual countries in Central and South America. Only Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Panama are likely to have property ownership potential for many Americans. While the current political situation in Venezuela is negative regarding the US, Costa Rica and Panama have been pushing vacation condo development to North Americans since the late 1990s.

[Ol' Wanderer]

Originally Posted by Antonio84

Concise Conclusions about Americans Living Abroad:
Only Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Panama are likely to have property ownership potential for many Americans.

If the last line means only those countries allow Americans to own property then it is incorrect. Middle class American own homes all over Europe. We did, in Italy.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Antonio84

I found this PDF file (Americans Buying Homes Abroad - click here to read the document)that might be of interest to many here.

Some of the findings:

• There were possibly as many as 500,000 to 600,000 foreign properties owned by Americans living abroad.

• Roughly 54,000 to 63,000 properties are owned by retired American workers.

• Americans working abroad owned between 80,000 and 100,000 foreign properties.

In addition to all of that, there's an American demand of vacation and short-stay foreign properties in the range of 370,000 to 440,000 units.

Keep in mind that this study takes into account ownership, but completely ignores rentals, possibly due to the difficulty of getting this type of information. It would be safe to assume that more Americans rent abroad than actually own, so accept the figures presented here as conservative at best.


Americans Living Abroad: By Major Region: 1999

1. Americas 2,113,295
2. Europe 1,169,438
3. Asia/Pacific 517,800*
4. Middle East 295,645
5. Africa 67,632

Total 4,163,810

*Includes Australia and Oceania.


Americans Living Abroad: Top 10 Countries: 1999

1. Mexico 1,036,300
2. Canada 687,700
3. United Kingdom 224,000
4. Germany 210,880
5. Israel 184,195
6. Italy 168,967
7. Philippines 105,000
8. Australia 102,800
9. France 101,750
10. Spain 94,513

Total 2,916,105

Americans Living Abroad: Latin America & the Caribbean As Percentage of Total Americans Living Abroad: 1999

1. Mexico 24.9%
2. Dominican Republic 2%
3. Brazil 1%
4. Colombia 0.7%
5. Argentina 0.7%
6. Venezuela 0.6%
7. Costa Rica 0.5%
8. Panama 0.5%
9. Peru 0.3%

Concise Conclusions about Americans Living Abroad:

I'm surprised Philippines is higher on the list than Thailand.

[nesne]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I'm surprised Philippines is higher on the list than Thailand.

I think it has to do with the fact that there are a lot more filipino-Americans than Thai-Americans. Same thing with Mexico. Although there are a lot of Anglos who choose to live in Mexico I would imagine a large percentage of the Americans living in Mexico are Mexican-Americans who have ties to both countries and choose to live in Mexico for a number of reasons.