A Resort Town Home for $186,000
By Jen Phillips April

"We get more for our retirement dollar here," says Lynn Behrendt Luchs of her sun-soaked, adopted homeland. Those savings allow Lynn and her husband, Steve, to indulge their passion for travel. "We take two major trips a year and two or three smaller ones," says Lynn. "Whether it's to visit the kids in Greensboro, North Carolina, or go to the Greek Islands, which is on this year's agenda.

"When I met Steve, he was already a subscriber to International Living magazine. (Get your own subscription for just $17, here). When it came to our overseas retirement plan, we had Central America and Mexico in our sights. Steve was attracted to Panama. We attended an International Living conference there to check it out. It was our first trip where we really explored the idea of becoming expats and retiring outside of the U.S. That conference was great because it connected us with people all over and we got to see a lot of different areas."

Ultimately Lynn and Steve chose to move to a beach town popular with expats and vacationers, in large part for the culture and range of activities on offer. "We also chose it because of the close location of an international airport," says Lynn. "We are able to fly direct to so many locations in Europe, along with taking easy trips home. We also enjoy the fact there's an international melting pot of expats here."

Located just an hour from an international airport, this expat haven is a fast-growing city. It offers a sizeable international community, good infrastructure, and convenient access to the U.S. and Canada.

"When we first arrived, we stayed at a hotel downtown and, with a real estate agent, looked at houses," says Lynn. "We wanted a one-floor home but weren't looking to buy. Then we toured a development on the outskirts of the town and fell in love."

The object of the couple's affection was a 1,500 square feet, two bedroom, two-and-a-half bath condo, which they bought for $186,000. It has a shared pool, with a thatched palapa for shade, and a gym. It's a 10-minute walk to the beach. The HOA fees run to around $180 a month which includes pool, gym, and building maintenance, plus a full-time gardener.

"Electricity tends to be expensive," says Lynn. "So we had solar panels installed for about $6,000. Now I run the air-conditioning whenever I want and our electric bill is about $100 a month in the hottest months of the year. During the winter, when the windows are open day and night, we pay much less."

Having purchased their home, Lynn and Steve returned to Greensboro to downsize in preparation for their move. "We sold three houses, two cars, and a boat," says Lynn. "We digitized our CDs and photos. What we didn't sell, we gave away. We researched the best state for us to establish residency for tax purposes, six months before the move (for us, it was Florida)."

Lynn retired from her paralegal career and Steve retired as a Director of Finance but was asked to be an auditor. It meant he could cut back his hours but still work remotely a couple days a week. They moved overseas full-time in 2018.

Lynn and Steve are enjoying beach town life.

The couple enjoy an active social life. "The calendar is always busy. On Tuesdays, we have Rotary," says Lynn, who's the incoming President of the Seaside Rotary. "Our chapter is English-speaking and was established about eight years ago."

Rotary International is a 110-year-old service organization dedicated to helping others. The Playa del Carmen chapter works with a local community helping children. "It's nice to be able to give back," says Lynn.  

"We're also pleased with the healthcare here," adds Lynn. "Steve's had a kidney stone procedure here. The professionalism is as good as or better than care received in the U.S."

For those considering a move abroad, Lynn has this advice: "Be aware of and take the time to sort out your financials. For example, how will you receive your pension or Social Security? Do you have a credit card that doesn't have foreign fees? Does it make sense to establish residency in a non-income tax state? You need to work all that out to execute your move."