The good news is something the US overseas investor may not know and that is that the IRS has no interest in foreign real estate holdings. Overseas properties often do not even have to be reported to the IRS. Unlike other worldwide income or assets, US owners of second homes for either personal use or investment purposes are not subject to US taxes on the property itself; in most cases they don’t even have to be declared to the authorities such as with the recently introduced IRS Form 8938.

Something else the US tax payer or investor may not know: It is legal and possible to move IRA funds offshore and use them to buy foreign real estate – in spite of what a tax or IRA adviser might say.

Learn more about this and investing money abroad.

Since 2010, members and stakeholders have been sporadically updated with ‘progress’ by founder and spokesman, Irishman Christian Fortune, with explanations for changes of tack and delays in launches of various new services, with several network name changes along the way. Many like myself, although frustrated, took a ‘wait-and-see’ stance while others have tried to cash in on the original scheme by steering Sqip and GreenWin members into others.

Although I have almost certainly lost some money, compared to other schemes I’ve been involved in or tempted by, I don’t think of this one as a scam; more a failed business model. I believed in its founder and his plans; his vision of the future of social networking and personal communications has in fact proved correct. However, it seems he either missed the boat, chose the wrong partners or simply lost out to bigger players.

I don’t hold any grudge as there is still the vague possibility that my equity known as PEPs, which has seen a series of moves, over several years now, from SQIP to GreenWin Network/MyCrowd and apparently converted to a Swedish company stock, might one day actually be worth something in monetary terms. But I’m not holding my breath!

This was an investment and all investment has risk. It is up to the individual to decide how much of a ‘fortune’ they can afford to lose. In my case it’s a only couple of hundred euros, but the last valuation of my stake was around a thousand dollars.

I am not at all confident of a positive outcome as ‘our’ Christian Fortune (not the movie star or tagline for a Nigerian reverend’s millions-of-dollars scam) disappeared from the radar early in 2012. Currently, none of the links for the site or member ‘back office’ work – not a good sign.

See previous related posts:

February 2010

March 2010

May 2010

Traders who are au fait with binary options trading will be interested in an opportunity to profit (they also know the risks) from buying options on the Facebook IPO – the initial public offering of Facebook shares which is expected to take place within the next few weeks. The opening share price has not been decided yet, but the value of the offering is expected to be above $100 billion.

Facebook One Touch options is inviting traders to predict the stock’s IPO valuation by buying options at a chosen price. There is a range of “put” and “call” options for predicting the valuation from as high as $140 billion down to $53 billion. Something for everyone!

All of the options offer high returns of up to 300%. For example, a trader can receive a return of $400 by placing a $100 position on Facebook 140. The outcome is determined by the market value of Facebook being above $140 billion at the end of the first day of trading in Facebook shares.

Learn more about this unique opportunity (possibly the only one available for non-US investors) from anyOption.

Anyone who has been to Bali appreciates its unique charm and attractions, and many return on vacation or to invest in a villa property development as a holiday home, rental or a place for their future retirement.

Investing in property overseas can be risky without proper research and due diligence, and Indonesia is no exception. Knowing all the ins and outs of local regulations, taxes, residence status, legal rights and potential costs involved in a property purchase are essential for a successful and potentially lucrative investment. The key is to deal only with an established and reputable developer. For those that may be concerned, this has nothing to do with vacation timeshare.

There are many real estate developments going on in Bali, a place where property prices are rising rapidly as the infrastructure improves. The recently-completed eastern coastal highway links the north of the island all the way to the capital and airport at Denpasar to the southern tip. This has made new and relatively undeveloped areas far more accessible from popular places like Sanur, Kuta and Ubud.

One of these new locations is Ketewel (a well-known surfing spot, with views of Mt Agung volcano to the north) and this is where Prof. Michael Doliveck and wife Marayam of Balifornian Tours and Villas have chosen to build the Purnama Residence, an exclusive compound of five luxurious villas, ideal for retirement living or as a part or full time vacation rental – at surprisingly reasonable prices.

Importantly, they do provide full details of the development, building and site plan of the property and ALL the ancillary costs, plus investment return projections, and are more than willing to answer any questions a potential investor might have before they visit Bali – or from those who would just like to vacation in luxury.

Visit the Balifornian Villas website or if you are already in Bali, call manager Yani on 0818 0540 6768 and arrange a meeting with her.  For a personal response from Michael Doliveck, please submit the form.

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“How to Retire in Bali – and Live in Paradise” is Mike Henry’s second Bali guide for expats. A fairly longtime Bali resident himself, the latest book, published in late 2011, is aimed at anyone thinking of spending extended time or retiring in Bali.

How to Retire in Bali contains much more useful information than its title indicates. It is packed with the same no-nonsense comprehensive research and attention to detail as his previously reviewed “How to Start a Business in Bali“.

Planning and preparing for your move, banking, financial and property rental and ownership issues, cost of living, medical facilities, bureaucracy (immigration, taxes, licensing), the social life and entertainment are all covered.

This guide is relevant not only for potential Bali residents; there are comparisons to expat life in other Southeast Asian or Central American countries. There’s relevant information and aspects of foreign country living that should be digested by anyone thinking of moving overseas for retirement.

While Bali is not exactly the “tropical island paradise” it’s often described as, for some it comes pretty close. Whichever country you live in, you need to take the good with the bad and Bali is no exception. Having spent a couple of years there myself about six years ago now, I read that some of the less attractive aspects remain, but others have improved and the island has not lost its unique appeal. It suits a lot of expats and tourists very well.

Whether you have been to Bali before or not, after finishing the 110 easy-to-read pages of How to Retire in Bali, with its many invaluable references, recommendations and tips, you will have a better idea of whether this might the next place for you. An excellent read, highly recommended for anyone thinking of  retiring in Asia.

There are several books in print on teaching English in different countries where you don’t speak a word of the main local language, but the recently updated edition of “How to Teach English Overseas” by Matthew Kepnes is one that’s definitely worth downloading and reading on your mobile phone, tablet or laptop.

Expanded to nearly 200 pages, it explains everything you could possibly need to know about this popular activity for early retirees as well as the ‘travel brigade’. It’s also worth a lot more than the paltry $9.99 price.

This is a comprehensive guide that eases the way from knowing what preparation is needed, to actually finding a suitable teaching job in another country. It teaches you what to expect before you start.

The pages include not only the author’s considerable personal teaching experience, but also that of others. Chapters include  an introduction to teaching English, TEFL Certificates, Teacher Requirements and Suitability, Different Types of Teaching Jobs, Benefits and Salaries, Country-specific facts (and local contact links) for Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Central & South America, Western & Eastern Europe, Russia, the Gulf States – even Ghana in Africa. Most importantly there are in-depth Q&A interviews with 14 teachers who have taught English in those countries. Nothing matches real life experiences.

I would have appreciated being able to get my hands on this book before venturing into unknown territory myself some years ago. Buying “How to Teach English Overseas” would have been an instant decision – and at $9.99, a ‘no-brainer’ – but Matt kindly sent me a review copy!

More on on the R-A Teaching English pages.

The only problem is, a lot of them can’t afford to retire fully yet as they still need to earn money. Many will think they can simply move and open or buy some sort of business: a shop, restaurant, bar, guest house, even hotel. However, there’s quite a bit more to it than that. I know from my own experience!

“How to Start a Business in Bali” is a well- researched and written business guide by Bali entrepreneur Mike Henry. It’s 100 pages of fact without any attempt to disguise the truth. The reality is not all ‘doom and gloom’, however, as Mike has included in-depth interviews with several other successful Bali expat business owners, each from a different field of endeavour. This gives added invaluable insight into the topic. He also provides a list of resources essential for anyone planning on living and working in Bali.

Having lived on the exotic Indonesian island myself, about five years ago now, and trying to do just this, I also know the potential pitfalls. I wish I had had a  guide to work from at the time, as not a lot has changed regarding bureaucracy – something SE Asia has a wealth of, especially when foreigners try to start a business in Bali or, for that matter, somewhere else.

Quite simply, you need to know the local rules and follow them. It’s not only about starting and running a business, it’s interacting with the resident population, even if your customers are likely to be other expats and tourists.

And speaking of other expats in Bali, this is quite a strange community. Other foreigners living in the same place as you are not necessarily going to become friends. In fact it can be the opposite. There’s a lot of competition in some types of business, and you need to be careful not to tread on the wrong toes.

I would say this is the de facto (if not the only!) guide to opening a foreign-owned business in Bali or other location in Indonesia. This inexpensive pdf ebook is a ‘no-brainer’ for anyone thinking of going into business anywhere in Southeast Asia.

Learn more about “How to Start a Business in Bali“. Buy and download it for just US$25.00 by PayPal or credit card. Well worth it in my opinion, as it could help save you from financial ruin!

You can find all the information you need about Asia, part or full time retirement and how to earn extra income on the many pages of Retire-Asia.com.

We also have a compact R-A Mobile version as well as the associated RetireAsia App for Android which were launched in late December. There is limited content at the moment, but new pages are being added regularly and the App shows new topics immediately they are published on the website.

May we wish all our Retire Asia visitors and followers – young, mature, old or new – a happy and successful 2012!

Watch a video and learn more about Thor Forex here.

Here is a screen shot I took of trading results:

Those are just a few of the advantages of working for yourself at home – or away on vacation armed with just your laptop or smartphone – even retired in Asia!

While there are plenty of internet marketing training programs on offer, unfortunately the majority are a complete rip-off or scam. Many companies make sales due to smooth promotion tactics and sly marketing; the ‘product’ itself, service and customer support are poor or non-existent.

Not so with the Wealthy Affiliate University students or graduates, well on their way to becoming wealthy affiliates themselves. Look at what you can expect to achieve by the end of your first month at WAU:

More information, free ebook download.