According to the American Association of Retired Persons, one-third of Americans age 55 or more have less than $25,000 saved for retirement. For someone who is prepared, retirement can be the opportunity of a lifetime to indulge in favorite pastimes, travel and leisure activities. To retire comfortably, however, you must be prepared.

Saving early and consistently is critical, but so is making the kind of retirement investments that will enable you to have the life you planned to enjoy. Whether you’re ready to retire now or have many more years ahead of you in the workforce, an investment in Puerto Vallarta property can allow you to retire comfortably.

The opportunity to invest in Puerto Vallarta real estate is here, and it won’t last very long. Property here is in great demand. Developers have purchased a great deal of land and are building retirement high-rise condominiums. Buying one of these will ensure that you have a place to live, but the investment value is suspect.

If you want to guarantee yourself an excellent return on investment, a better approach is to purchase premium property and build a luxury home. Once your Puerto Vallarta home is finished, you can enjoy it part-time or year-round as a retirement home, a vacation or second home, or you can sell it as a quick route to additional cash. Property appreciates here at a rate of about ten percent each year, so holding onto the property, even for a few years, will produce an excellent return.

Additionally, if you live in your Puerto Vallarta home for at least six months of the year for five consecutive years, you’ll receive preferential resident tax status. Unlike in the US, taxes here aren’t particularly burdensome, so even as a non-resident, your tax payments will be much lower than what you’re accustomed to paying in the US.

If you don’t plan to live in the home for a significant portion of the year, a Puerto Vallarta home can also be an income-generator. You’ll find a ready market for luxury home rentals for part-time residents and tourists who are looking for something different than the conventional hotel experience.

Whether retirement is imminent or several years away, building a Puerto Vallarta home can help you retire comfortably.

Photo Credit: Geoffrey Martell