Your Decision to Move to PR

Hi Judy,

We too are in our initial phase of someday having a home and moving to PR. My wife and I are originally from Chicago but have been living in south Florida for about 34 years. We recently retired and hope to kick off our plans to live in PR. We both have some family throughout the island. We originally had been looking at land and homes on the island's westside but decided to purchase a lot in Yabucoa. We are learning about the building process  as we go along. We are presently looking for an architect/engineer company to draw up some plans for our house. This has been an eye opener as we have gotten estimates between $17,000-$36,000. We are finding out that it is complicated and expenses to build due to the new building codes and requirements. Managing this from Florida makes it that much more difficult. We hope to get past these hurdles soon and onto the building phase. All the best with your plans and retirement.

@judyvillacis My husband and I plan to retire in PR in 3 years.  I have family in Bayamon, Carolina, Orocovis and San Juan.  My husband is Mexican and fell inlove with PR.  It was his idea to retire there.  We bought a lot in Aguada and hope to build our dream home.  We have not started the process of talking to architects/builders yet and from what I hear it sounds like it will be one expensive process. We live in NJ, don't like winters, or having to pay to go to a beach with cold and murky water.  Looking forward to enjoying la isla del encanto to the fullest.   

@judyvillacis Hello Judy, I started going to PR during the pandemic and fell in love. I have traveled everywhere but Vieques and hope to do that by year's end. I  am not retiring but can do my work from the island so once my youngest graduates High School I will be there full time. New York isn't much fun anymore. The easiest way to really explore the island is from Google Maps, it brings up all sorts of fun places to go and when we come we just wing it and have a blast. If you need a great agent there to purchase I know a wonderful agent.

@islandmetro so happy to hear you can’t get enough of PR. They’re is a lot explore and I’m in the beginning stages. I barely have time to enjoy as most of my time is stressing over the different documents needed for these municipalities in order for us to break ground.

I have plans to write all about my ordeal when it comes to preparing to build. It’s not as easy as I thought.

But at the end I’m sure it will be worth it. Thank you for your reply.

@rrosar36 your story is very similar to mine. I also live in South Florida for 34 years. All I say is having lotta patience. I’m so used to it the main lines that I find myself doing a lot of comparison, I need to learn we’re dealing with island time. I am about two weeks shy from breaking ground.  I am actually flying back home and spent the whole week trying to finalize everything. It has not been easy. I will be more than happy to share all the details and their requirements. Remember, I am building a prefab, I thought it would be easy but it’s not,  I am sure it’ll be well worth it at the end. Good luck with your journey and wish you all the best.

HI I recently moved to PR as well.  Parents are here.  Happy to be here too. 

@sanchbm glad you are enjoying the island. I plan to move to out within the next 3 years after our house is built. It finally broke ground yesterday. In the meantime we will have it as our vacation home.

it will be a change from living in the states but I hope I can adjust. Take care.