Moving To Puerto Rico?

02/11/2023

Buyer beware:

“A day doesn’t go by that I don’t think about all I lost,” the customer said.

24/05/2023

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Puerto Ricans generate 6.5 lbs of trash every day. Compare that to the 4.4 lbs generated by the average US resident and you have to wonder why. There is no campaign educating the public about the effects of littering or the advantages of recycling. And proper trash disposal at transfer stations is as expensive as it is here in the US, making it hard for the majority of Puerto Ricans who live beliw the poverty line. To make matters worse, waste management companies routinely lag behind in trash collection. In some communities it is not uncommon to wait six weeks.

Only 9 -14% of trash is recycled, even though a 2006 law stipulates it should already be recycling 35% of its waste. So, prepare to be depressed as you drive through the countryside, which is home to 29 dumps, more than half of which violate EPA rules. Unfortunately, trash is a common sight.

24/05/2023

La policia. How much protection can you expect from one of the worst paid and trained forces in our nation? Indeed says their salary is 28% below national average and the benefits are bad. These salaries do not attract the best or the brightest applicants, and apparently PRPD is slow to pay them. This is the environment where bribe cultures flourish. There are 15.8 officers for every thousand residents. The best ones get easily poached by Texas, Florida and California police departments because they are bilingual. This leaves the corrupt and obtuse to protect the interests of the ruling class. In other words, if you are not rich and well-connected, expect little assistance with everyday problems like theft, threats, and violence. Forget about any investigations coming to a productive end. You are better off hiring your own detectives!

24/05/2023

Did we mention how when you move to Puerto Rico you will be paying for the mistakes of your predecessors? Yes, you'll need to think about how your actions appear before the eyes of those who were born on the island. Before you moved to the island, the previous Muricans made some mistakes, ruining it for the rest.

Here's someone who was caught dumping rubble illegally. Turn on the sound (NSFW). Because of people like him, Puerto Ricans are on the lookout for any suspicious vehicles backing up near the beach, ravines or the rain forest. If it even looks like you are doing something illegal, you can expect the full force of... citizen brigades.

Posted by u/JJAC725 - 211 votes and 124 comments

14/05/2023

Don't know how useful it will be to catch two gang members. But the reason this is important to remember is this: if you decline the additional insurance your rental car company offers, and your car's rims and tires get stolen, the company will point at the part of the contract that says you have to get it replaced at their shop, for outrageous prices.

La Policía Municipal de San Juan informó, hoy, jueves, el arresto de un dúo por el hurto de aros y gomas en la zona metropolitana, luego de que los agentes

13/05/2023

Voceteo. You've never heard anything like this, unless you come from a large coastal city. In PR, this goes on at all hours, day and night, because of ordinances that are not enforced by municipalities. What's worse, if your home is located near one of the gathering points for such equipment, you can hear the "music" for several consecutive nights. Earplugs won't help. Filing a grievance won't help. You've been warned!

“Es un deporte y un arte”. Fanático nos explica la práctica de modificar vehículos para que emitan altos sonidos.

11/05/2023

At an American drugstore in Puerto Rico, tourist needs are not the first priority. Mosquito bites and flying bugs are the least of their worries and products are stoked accordingly. So, if you need anti-itch cream you need to go to a whole other aisle and look very carefully. This might be because only tourists wear shorts to sit in the shady spots where mosquitoes love to hang out. If you are allergic to their bite, the tropics aren't for you!

21/04/2023

Don't drink the tap water.

The manufacturing industry in Puerto Rico is putting the island's finite water supply at risk, experts told ABC News.

20/12/2022

When the government can't fix all the damage caused by weeks of rain:

Gracias a Dios le pusieron una “verjita” de palitos para la seguridad de todos. En Sector Sapera Periódico La Cordillera

16/10/2022

A warning to those who think they can work remotely from PR without their employer finding out.

One remote worker who secretly moved from Miami to South America said the strategy had allowed him to pay off debt and improve his standard of living.

23/09/2022

Advice from a local business owner regarding travel to the island post-Fiona (posted on Reddit):

23/09/2022

If you haven't seen this, you should:

12/09/2022

Puerto Rico residents constantly complain of the higher prices in electricity and goods in the island. Most are familiar with the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, AKA The Jones Act. The Act stipulates that only US ships can transport goods from the mainland to Puerto Rico. This makes energy and goods up to 30% more expensive in Puerto Rico. Luis Ponce of Boricuas Unidos en La Diáspora, mentioned a study showing that each boricua family "pays up to $1050 more per year because of the Jones Act."

This law is supported by democrats and republicans because they say it provides jobs and supports national security. According to the Transportation Institute, the Jones Act is responsible for 2000 jobs in PR. Just 96 vessels support national security.

In a recent NYT article, Peter Coy argues that the Jones Act is not as good for the economy as US ship builders say. They are free to charge higher prices because they don't have to worry about competition. Because their ships are expensive to build and use, companies are pressured to rely on ground transportation. And because those companies do not make liquefied gas carriers, the island does not get any, making electricity more expensive.

States that been negatively affected by the Jones Act have asked for its temporary suspension. Even senator John McCain opposed it, calling it an " antiquated, protectionist law." And there you have it, the reason Puerto Rico residents are forced to pay what amounts to a domestic tax.

09/09/2022

This is a cistern. Is something you will come to rely upon, in particular if you choose to live outside of the metropolitan area. During power outages, the electric pumps that bring water to many towns elsewhere in the island cease to work. The entire communities may go without running water for several days. For a fee, private companies will periodically fill your 400-600 gallon cistern. But many people just contact their town's government to see if they will be sending a water truck to fill cisterns in your area. Ironically, it is during the "wet" season when this happens the most, due to damage to power lines caused by high winds. Such is the reliance for cisterns that you might have a hard time locating a plumber able to visit your home to install one.
Why would an island with so much precipitation need cisterns? It is part of the concerted effort to turn public utilities over to private companies. The aging infrastructure cannot be maintained by an understaffed and minimally funded public utility.

09/09/2022

Don't be one of these! If you are really moving, do your research and try to help the community where you live. Don't bring a "gr**go" attitude.

30/08/2022

Meet Ari Kresch. He is a lawyer and the founder of 1-800-LAW FIRM. He moved to San Juan five years ago. He is one of the many investors flocking to the island to make money on purchasing what they call "distressed properties" to turn into luxury hotels. They see this as revitalizing an "economically depressed" area, or as he says, finding properties that "need to be put in the hands of others." He has a Puerto Rican assistant, speaks Spanish, and by his own account does whatever he needs to to "establish trust" with the Puerto Rican sellers. He compares these sellers with the sellers in the US, which he says, "will never trust you." Human interaction, he instructs other potential investors, "is of paramount importance." Kresch knows this approach is necessary because the internet tools people use in the mainland do not work in PR. In other words, arrogant gr**gos are not picking up distressed properties at bargain basement prices. It is those who take the trouble to meet the sellers and listen to them are rewarded with the sale. "Most Puerto Ricans are not savvy enough to know how to market those properties," he explains, so his company makes it easy for those "honest, hardworking people" to sell.
He concludes by saying, "it's been a really fun game."

The inefficient real estate marketplace in Puerto Rico can create compelling opportunities for investors seeking value. Local tax incentives layered in with ...

11/08/2022

Let's talk about corruption. Whether you are from a large city or a small town, I'm sure you've seen your share of corrupt government officials. But Puerto Rican government officials are on a whole other level. This isn't a surprise if you follow the news, but did you ever stop to think why? One reason is that government corruption has been going on on such a vast scale that people are exhausted, and not even the island's Center for Investigative Journalism can keep up with it. You read about officials accused of corruption so often that you lose track of who did what.
Another is that corruption has been going on for so long that is has become part of our culture. It is not just the police officers accused of kidnapping. From the FEMA official involved in a huge bribery scheme to the Governor who was accused of mismanaging earthquake relief supplies, they all do it.
Then there is the fact that corruption has become so normalized that even people who should know better don't question it. How can we accuse the Secretary of Instruction of funneling millions of dollars to contractor friends, when if we need a tire rotation we can pay under the table and get it faster than the schmucks waiting in the lobby?
This is why the island is rife with "batatas," what we call corrupt government officials. They make it harder for you to pay your taxes and get your permits approved, because they hire their inept friends for coveted government jobs. They dole out gov contracts only to those who can pay. Because they are corrupt, batatas find it easy to look the other way while other batatas steal your tax dollars. Bridges don't get built, schools don't get books, and the elderly have nowhere to go. Worst of all, batatas give our island a terrible reputation, which makes it hard for others to invest in it.
Most working Puerto Ricans are furious batatas and vulture investors are looting the island while there is an austerity plan in place. The question is, can you live in such a place and for how long?

NPR's Adrian Florido talks with Benjamin Torres Gotay, a reporter and columnist for Puerto Rico's El Nuevo Dia, about recent arrests of elected officials related to corruption.

10/08/2022

The anxiety you feel when you realize you are living in an incredibly small country manifests in many ways. First comes the realization that you will no longer be able to "get in the car and drive." No more road trips to places that look/feel different. You can get in the car, only to hit traffic or a life-altering pothole somewhere down the line. When you get to your destination, it will look similar to the others. Same plazas, same fast food restaurants. Even people will look the same. And chances are they will know you, or someone you know. There are no degrees of separation on an island, and there is no privacy unless you are rich. Someone is always watching what you do and sharing it with others. It can be a suffocating feeling to know that even small acts are being observed by neighbors and coworkers. It is a part of island culture not often discussed in tourist websites. Fear of crime, real or imagined, will keep you at home when not "travelling," and this will make you feel more restricted. When you fly to go visit family, you will notice how you breathe easier, and will catch yourself missing the anonymity you left behind to live in Puerto Rico.

08/08/2022

Puerto Rico is a hard place for animal lovers. Everywhere you go, you will be subjected to the sight of emaciated, ill and suffering dogs and cats. Sometimes horses, goats and cows too. It is hard to deny food and water to these animals, and when you start feeding them you will notice the extent of this problem.
Indeed, PR has a huge population of feral cats and dogs that need rescuing. Non-profits do what they can to fix this problem, but they barely make a dent. In 2010 there were approximately one million feral cats on the island and 300,000 sato dogs. It is widely believed this number will continue to increase, since the average boricua does not have funds to spay or neuter, and cannot take the day off to wait at a very busy veterinary practice. Watch the Emmy-winning documentary "100,000" on You Tube to learn more.
Poverty is so rampant that many who own a purebred animal breeds it for profit while ignoring best practices. The families leaving the island cannot afford transporting the family pet.
If you care for stray animals, you won't be able to enjoy our towns, tropical forests or even the beach. As soon as you arrive, starving dogs and cats will beg you for food, and it will break your heart to leave them there.

100,000 is the first Emmy-winning documentary by Juan Agustín Márquez. The film explores the overpopulation of dogs in the streets of Puerto Rico.

04/08/2022

So many people move with the idea of renting part of their property as an Airbnb, but did you know the local government is tightening regulations to improve its ability to collect taxes from short term rentals? Another angle to consider: how does it sit with you to live in an area where most homes are Airbnbs? This is what's happening in popular neighborhoods located minutes away from the beach.

As demand has surged in Puerto Rico’s tourism sector, investors have been keen to increase supply, particularly among the island’s short-term rentals.

04/08/2022

This type of article is attracting scores of uninformed folks to the island. Notice it doesn't offer any concrete info. Do your research! You won't be able to avoid all taxes, and you'll pay through the nose in a myriad other ways.

Wherever markets are free, new wealth gets created. Then almost everyone wins.

03/08/2022

You are not a gentrifier. You don't have loads of cash to spend on a mansion inside a gated community. You are learning Spanish and hate those who don't want to make the effort. You want to eat local and hire local. You spent three hours picking up trash at the beach during your last visit. And you have endless patience with something less enlightened expats call "island time." All of this, you reason, qualifies you to live in the island, because you are "coming here to help."
But what is a gentrifier in the Puerto Rican context? It does not have much to do with social consciousness. It is more related to dollars and cents. It is someone who, by purchasing and renting properties the locals cannot afford, is actively contributing to their displacement. Even if they hire local workers. Even if they pay excessive taxes to the Puerto Rican government. Even if they donate a lot of money to local homeless shelters.
Under this definition, anyone, even a diasporican can be a gentrifier, because every time we pay those high prices, we actively contribute to the conditions that are pushing island-dwelling Puerto Ricans out of their own country.
So are you "good" if you show up penniless, full of social consciousness but with no hope of making bank? We will talk about missionaries in a future post.

Locals and climate activists battle against coastal development and privatization of public beaches as luxury condos proliferate

03/08/2022

"It is paradise," say many who want to move, but you may have to change that to the past tense as climate change makes permanent impact in the Caribbean. Most of us think of stronger and more frequent hurricanes, but have you considered:
* Saharan dust clouds the sky for weeks at a time. Bad for people with respiratory issues.
* Brown algae blooms cover the beaches at the tune of 24 million tons of sargassum each year.
* Excessive withdrawals from coastal aquifers due to drought means that sea water is penetrating drinking water reservoirs on the island.
* Sea water level has already washed away large parts of popular beaches, threatening many coastal properties.
So if you move, stay away from beaches and areas prone to flood or exposed to the fury of tropical storms. That leaves about 10% of the island!

Seaweed is smothering Caribbean coasts from Puerto Rico to Barbados as tons of brown algae kill wildlife, choke the tourism industry and release toxic gases.

23/07/2022

Potholes are the size of moon craters. And the amount of taxes you'll pay (thanks to the Jones Act) means you are better off paying the islands's exorbitant car prices.

21/07/2022

Don't even think of leaving your car parked on the street in front of your house and don't let anyone with a rental car park there either. "But everybody does it" "I don't have a marquesina" "Mine is not a gated community" On larger cities and low-income barrios, roving gangs will watch your schedule, then at 4:00 am strip your car of anything valuable. You can catch them on video if you want and write a police report. It won't make a difference. So frequent is the theft of tires and rims on rental cars that some companies exclude them from their insurance contracts.

21/07/2022

How long does it take to get a house ready for hurricane season in Puerto Rico? Say you were finally able to get the keys for the house you've been trying to buy for the last six months. How ready are you:

Have you hauled away any yard debris?
Have you purchased a generator?
Did the house come with a cistern?
Do you have a gas tank to cook with?
How will you seal your doors and windows?
If it is an apartment, did it come with storm shutters?
Do you have cages for pets that would have to be evacuated?
If it is in a flood prone area, do you have an emergency fund with enough money to move to a hotel?
Do you live near a large supermarket, one that wouldn't instantly run out of food the moment a hurricane is announced?

These are some basic considerations.

21/07/2022

Why is Puerto Rican Spanish so difficult to learn? Here is a respectful perspective from these folks who lived in the island 4 years and then moved to Mexico. It is not just that we speak fast. There are pronunciation differences as well as different words for objects. So, even if you took Spanish in high school or even if you have lived in a Spanish-speaking country, it will be a learning curve. Can you learn it fast enough to take care of all the practical adjustments you will have to make as a new arrival? Or will you have to spend additional $ on middlemen to help you out with tasks that need to be done in Spanish?

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09/07/2022

"I visited a year ago and I have met nothing but encouragement." "As a business owner, I am frequently asked if I would consider relocating to the island." "Puerto Ricans are very friendly and I have felt welcome everywhere I go."
Go to Puerto Rican FB groups and you'll see this sentiment echoed everywhere. Many Puerto Ricans, specially those who have had good experiences in the US, want Americans to settle in Puerto Rico. They want people of working age to populate the island, they want affluent Americans to spend their cash in PR, and they welcome businesses with open arms. Why?
Some think Americans will bring higher expectations with them, forcing corrupt governmental agencies to live up to their mandates. Others believe American expats can pressure Congress to turn the island into the 51st state. Finally, there are those that believe the economy will improve when work-from-home techies and influencers make the island their home base. They figure that as more people with higher income move in, local businesses will get a boost.
None of this is false and in fact it can all happen... eventually. Eventually is the key word. We are taking a number of years, assuming everything continues at the same pace. First, expats would need to reach critical mass in at least a few municipalities. Second, they would have to run for office or at least lobby the Resident Commissioner. Third, to truly improve the local economy, most wealthy expats would have to choose to become year-round residents. If you have time to wait untill this takes place, Puerto Rico would become even friendlier.

09/07/2022

Here's a Puerto Rican perspective on what you should keep in mind before moving to "The Island of Enchantment":

Why I left Puerto Rico and Why You Should Not Consider Living There to Lower Your Taxes 🇵🇷Need Help Lowering Your Taxes? ▶ https://calendly.com/wealthy-exp...

09/07/2022

Don't take our word for it, read what Youtuber Tim Fricker (who lived in PR for three years) has to say:

We've been living in Puerto Rico for over two years now. We decided to move to the island for the warm weather, culture, connection with the US, geographic convenience, and potential tax savings. We wanted to share some of the things we wish we had known about Puerto Rico before moving here, so cons