Hello all,
I currently live in the US, Seattle area. My husband and I were about to buy an apartment and live on Lake Como in Northern Italy - just for the hell of it - when the dollar took another abrupt tumble. Since we got back from our househunting trip a month ago, the property has gone up another $25K due to the exchange rate. Making the mortgage payment was already a bit tight, this latest increase has put it over the top of feasibility.

We have decided now isn't the time to try to retire there and are now going to try to come up with a plan to work there - eventually, as I know that isn't the easiest thing to do.

I welcome any comments from anyone who found a job in Italy. Or another way to support yourself in a foreign country. I'd love to hear your story.

Cheers. Nancy

Welcome to the forum! The crash of the dollar has put a crimp in a lot of Americans' retirement plans, mine included. Add some price inflation in the country of your choice, and suddenly it's time to evaluate everything all over again.

I'm curious about what the visa arrangements were going to be for you to live in Italy full time.

We had a plan to go over on a regular tourist visa to finalize the purchase, get our codice fiscale, etc.. Then we planned to rent out our apartment from May thru Sept to capture high season rental funds. We had a property mgmt firm all ready to roll. Then in Sept, we were going to go back over on a elective residence visa (via the Italian consulate in San Francisco) when we actually moved over. Then get the permisso sojourno, register at the commune, etc.) (Lots of steps here but we were assured it was all doable if you were patient.)

Since we weren't planning on working, it made things simpler. :-(

Where were you planning to retire?