Customer Reviews

Living and Investing in the New Nicaragua

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After spending three weeks in Nicaragua I heard much hype (mainly from those selling real estate there) about the "coming boom". It was when the saleman was telling me to "get in now, or regret it" I recalled the words in the Bhagavadgita, "Delusion is the child of ignorance."

This book can help, BUT, most of the time, it reads more like a Nicaraguan chamber of commerce advertisement; using lines like: "land of opportunity", "ripe for investment", etc.

Reality check: Nicaragua is not a San Miguel del Allende (Rated by "Money Magazine" as one of the top ten retirement locations) nor will it be the next Costa Rica. I don't want to bash the country, but those considering Nicaragua need to know that it has very poor superstructure, and it is one of the poorest nations in Latin America, and this year it was eliminated from receiving US aid because of massive corruption. Finally, if that isn't enough, Nicaragua is constantly ravaged by earthquakes and hurricanes.

Yes, Nicaragua is a cheap destination. And yes, there are opportunities to be found. But, before you pack your bags, take time to investigate and do your homework.

Christopher Howard does not seriously address the downside of this country and he also uses statements, from unknown sources, failing to qualify their competence as authorities. Thus, comments from sources which state: "Nicaragua has a thriving economy" are not only ludicrous, but this type of statements compromises the integrity of the author.

Howard makes statements like "The country is ripe for foreign investments because it is so underdeveloped." Wow, Howard! What a great reason for investing in Nicaragua. It, and 60% of the world, are "ripe for foreign investments", eh?.

Finally, in the book you will find pages of advertisements for real estate companies, relocation consultants, and even a plug for tours that are lead by??? you guessed it, the author himself.

On the upside, there is a section called "minor obstacles to doing business". Actually, these obstacles can be major. This section is informative and needs to be heeded. Also, Howard's "Red Tape" section is a must read for those who have made up their mind to come, live and invest in Nicaragua. And, his 'Health Care' Section, his `Cost of Living' Section, and his `Hired Help' Sections are all provide you with valuable, useful information.

His most informative, and provocative section is titled "Love and Permanent Companionship". This is a must read for all American men that think that they will find a sweet, young Nica. Howard points out that "young, attractive, unscrupulous Nicas target Americans/Canadians". Howard states candidly, "marriage means you support her and her whole family" and that "quality Latin women are difficult to meet." Howard's realistic picture here is applaudable.

Is the book self-serving and lacking the critical comparision to other Central America countries? YES. Can this book help you if you are thinking of living in Nicaragua? YES. Overall, there is useful information packed in these 200 pages that warrants a purchase. Recommended.

the book is useful if one is seriously thinking of actually buying real estate in Nica. If you want just a good book on the country with an eye towards traveling there, get the Moon Publications book. It's by far the best of the lot.
While this is not the most professionally written or edited publication, it does have the crucial information you need to know about before buying in Nica. Essentially, there are three types of documents you need to get a hold of and to verify before purchasing a property. A good, clean title is essential, especially since some of the lands were expropriated from large landowners during the Sandinista years and given to local groups. Some of the groups are now selling parts of their ranches and these lands may have clouded titles. Get a local lawyer not associated with the real estate agent would be my recommendation. Overall, good book, but don't expect a great read or an in-depth review of the country itself.

". . . quality Latin women are difficult to meet."

Unklike other reviewers on this page, I do not find this statement from Mr. Howard's book "applaudable," rather, it is offensive, racist, and totally indicative of the sleazy, sloppy undercurrent running through this book that caters to tax-evading ugly Americans looking for "companionship" with a girl a third their age. Fortunately, not all gringos moving down are like this; many good-hearted folks are coming down too, people that are sensitive to the grinding poverty of their new adopted country and are doing something to try to improve the situation instead of just buying it all up at rockbottom prices.

Folks,

Book is very good in providing you with a roadmap towards acquiring realty estate in Nicaragua. However, it fails to address what I perceived, in my 14-days stay(2002), to be an 'uneasiness' about its economical/political climate.

I visited Nicaragua to research the investment climate and found it to be very attractive due to the low prices and 'potential' growth. I placed _potential_ in quotation marks to convey what relatives and friends kept telling me about the economical and political climate in the country. Yes, it's cheap to live in Nicaragua--my uncle felt that $1500/month provides someone with a very high standard of living(by Nicaraguan standards!)

In the end, I decided against investing on a single factor: STABILITY. How stable is the country's economical climate? What about its political climate? The later is stable enough but the former is not. I can summarize my decision like this: Would I buy a house (land) in this neighborhood (country)? I would have to say "NO" until the neighborhood is more stable.

. There are parasites all over (at least) southern
Nicaragua.These leeches (no, leeches suck blood only
to survive; these exploiters do it to get filthy
rich--with the emphasis on filthy).

There's a book you may have seen--it's "Living and
Investing in the New Nicaragua", by Christopher
Howard, another gringo living in luxury in Costa Rica.
Someone gave me a copy of the book, and, boy howdy,
it's awful.

Howard claims to be an expert on Nicaragua (and Costa Rica) but shows his disconnect with the country by making several obvious, stupid, factual errors in the first 3 pages--
errors almost anyone should spot right away. And the mistakes continue throughout the book. He goes
on to thank the U$ Embassy for its "useful
information" (lots of anti-Sandinista/pro-neocolonialist historical revisionism , of course).

He says that "learning a little Spanish" would be
helpful, but is not necessary, as one can just hang
out, getting drunk and obnoxious with other ex-pats and leave the work to the servants (for a dollar a day).

Howard counts among his friends some the Yankee and
Canadian crowd that have pretty much raped San Juan
del Sur. They bought beautiful acreage for pennies and
are selling "lots" for $70,000 and up; they've set
up/taken over restaurants and bars that compete with
long-time local businesses--and get the bulk of the
gringos' cash. There are Centruy 21, ReMax and other U$ realestate company signs all over. As always, the locals
are marginalized, and pushed aside, more every day.

So far, he seems to have forayed only as far north as
Granada, thank goodness.

Yes it's scary, sad and disgusting, but it ain't gonna
stop. It's following the time-honored tradition of
capitalist empire: kill tens of thousands of people, wreck the economy, destroy much of the infrastructure, get the country on its knees, thentake it over for virtually nothing, all "legally".

If one wants to know Nicaragua from a human and humane perspective, and wants to get the reality of this wonderful country--and give it the profound respect it deserves--then read the other book displayed on the same page as Howard's atrocity: the excellent Moon Publication Nicaragua guidebook, written by Joshua Berman and Randy Wood. THEY know what they're talking about.

By the way, I have been traveling to and through Nicaragua for the past 20 years, coordinating a solidarity/sister-city project with a beautiful town in the northern part of the country. I have many wonderful friends--the real people of Nicaragua--who lead honest lives, and deserve a better future than the one the vampires have in mind for them.

Howard doesn't have a clue. DON'T buy this book. DON'T support the rape and pillage of Nicaragua.

....

Timoteo

About six months ago I visited Nicaragua with the idea of purchasing some land as an investment. I travelled all over the country and looked at property at the beach and inland. The practical advise in this guide helped me find the piece of property I wanted. It was extremely useful in dealing with the legal problems one faces when buying land here. All of the suggestions in this guide made my work easier. I even found an honest and reliable real estate agent through this book. Without this guide I could have never bought my property. I recommend it to anyone who wants to live or invest in Nicaragua. It is a MUST read.

Nicaraguans have long fought the exploitation of the U.S. government. Now they face the exploitation of U.S. citizens looking for a cheaper version of paradise. Nicaragua doesn't need more foreigners buying up its beaches, colonial homes and tourist facilities. You are not helping Nicaragua by using it as your own personal playground or investment.

I just retired as a school teacher. My wife is Nicaraguan and we plan to live at least six months a year in her country. I have visited Nicaragua many times to visit my wife's relatives. Aside from the help her family there has given us this book has been really helpful in planning every step of the move. Thank god someone finally wrote something on this subject. I've read four guidebooks about living in Costa Rica and often wondered when someone would do one for Nicaragua. We'll I no longer have to wait.

I went to Nicaragua with my church group, then tried on my own. Banks, the post office, lawyers and even day to day relationships DON'T work the same as in the USA. This book has been invaluable to me as I've tried to figure things out. Lots of practical advice, phone numbers, etc. I lost my copy, and now I'm buying another one.

Books like these are largely responsible for many of the negative stereotypes many Latin Americans have of U.S. Citizens. Nicaragua is the 2nd poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Anyone who can retire there in luxury amid such horrible poverty should do The U.S. a favor and stay home. Nicaragua and it's people deserve better. I may also add there are many Americans living in Nicaragua and are good citizens who are trying to help the country. You are not going to be helping this unfortunate country by moving there and becoming a land speculator. All this does is drive property prices up and beyond the means of Nicaraguan nationals.