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15 Places to Retire in Europe

By U.S. News & World Report

Diversifying your portfolio into European real estate is a better idea now than it has been in more than a decade. The dollar is close to par with the euro, providing U.S. dollar holders with more purchasing power than they’ve had in Europe since 2003.

Currency fluctuations and negative economic factors are also creating opportunities for foreign investors. Spain’s housing bubble and Greece’s debt crisis, for example, have resulted in drops in real estate prices. Elsewhere in this region, positive developments are favorably impacting investment potential. For example, Ireland’s property market is surging.

There are a couple of specific regions of Europe where retiree property buyers might want to focus their attention. The Abruzzo Province in Italy is among the most affordable spots in Europe, and also one of this region’s best places to think about retiring. This sparsely populated region where central Italy merges into this country’s more languid south is as picturesque as Tuscany or Umbria, but less discovered. You could buy an apartment in a good location in this beautiful province that boasts both coastal and mountain lifestyle options for as little as $1,015 per square meter. Small but habitable village houses can be purchased for as little as $50,000.

Another super affordable corner of southern Europe is Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula, where you could buy an apartment in Pula for $1,313 per square meter. Croatia borders the Adriatic Sea and offers two appealing retirement lifestyle options: coastal and inland. Istria is a region of meadows, vineyards and olive groves. Istria is a fairy-tale land of fortresses and bell towers that so attracted and impressed the Romans that they invested in some of their best building here, including a large and largely intact coliseum at Pula where lions and Christians once entertained. Later, this region was ruled by the Venetians, who also left an architectural legacy. In Istria, both nature and man have worked together over many centuries to create something very special, almost magical. In fact, the ancient Romans referred to Istria as Tierra Magica.

Only slightly more costly is Valletta, Malta. The three-island nation of Malta is a shining first world jewel in the middle of the Mediterranean. An European Union member where English is almost universally spoken by the multilingual population, Malta is close to a complete package. Health care is superb, and all Europe is a quick plane hop away. The Maltese people are warm and welcoming with a culture all their own. Right now, you could own in one of the world’s most historic cities, Valletta, built during the rule of the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta in the 16 th century, for an average of $1,320 per square meter. But note that Malta imposes restrictions on foreigners buying property in this country. You must spend at least 104,737 euros when buying an apartment and at least 174,514 euros when buying a house.

Only slightly more costly than Valletta is Algarve, Portugal. This Old World region has been attracting foreign retirees for decades and is home to more than 100,000 resident expat retirees. Thanks to its 3,300 hours of sunshine per year, more sunny days than almost anywhere else in Europe, the Algarve has a longstanding reputation as a top summer destination among European sun-seekers and a top winter retreat for those looking to escape Northern Europe’s coldest months.

The Algarve’s 100 miles of Atlantic coastline are punctuated by jagged rock formations, lagoons and extensive sandy beaches, many awarded coveted blue flags from the European Blue Flag Association. The water off these shores is azure, and the cliff-top vistas are spectacular. In other words, you could fill your days here at the beach swimming, sunning and boating. In addition, the region boasts 42 golf courses in less than 100 miles and is generally recognized as a top golfing destination in continental Europe. You could purchase a place of your own in Portugal’s Algarve for $1,345 per square meter on average.

Bucharest, Romania, is another affordable euro property market. Bucharest’s old town is the only part of this city to have escaped Nicolae Ceausescu’s bulldozers. More recently, this historic area has undergone some restoration. Bucharest’s Old town offers walking streets, sidewalk cafes, churches, museums and restaurants. And the city in general shares Europe’s urban history, culture and fondness for the arts, architecture and education. The average cost of owning in Bucharest at the current rate of exchange between the dollar and the euro is $1,432.

Note that while Romania and Croatia are members of the European Union, each of these countries has its own currency. Romania uses the leu and Croatia the kuna. However, real estate in both Romania and Croatia is priced in euro, meaning you get the dollar-holder benefits from today’s strong dollar.

You could own a home of your own in seaside Budva, Montenegro, for as little as $1,839 per square meter. Budva is a 2,500-year-old city on the Adriatic with a well-preserved medieval walled center. The coast around Budva offers beautiful sandy beaches and a Mediterranean climate.

Economic crisis continues in Greece, and property values reflect this. The average cost of owning in Athens is $2,116. But Ireland’s recovering economy is helping to push property prices up. The average per-square-meter cost to buy in Dublin district two (a top choice for rental investment and expat lifestyle) is $3,975. Prices in Ireland in general were up 17.6 percent between the first quarter 2014 to first quarter 2015. This is the biggest 12-month increase in almost 15 years. Another top lifestyle choice in Europe, Barcelona, Spain, is considerably more expensive. The per-square-meter cost of buying in this harbor town is $5,213. At the other end of the spectrum is Paris and Monaco, two of the most expensive euro-property destinations.

Here are the per-square-meter costs of owning real estate in 15 European destinations. These prices are based on the average costs of 50- to 100-square-meter two-bedroom apartments in move-in condition for sale in each market.

— Abruzzo Province, Italy $1,015

— Pula, Croatia $1,313

— Valletta, Malta $1,320

— Algarve, Portugal $1,345

— Bucharest, Romania $1,432

— Budva, Montenegro $1,839

— Athens, Greece $2,116

— Krakow, Poland $2,404

— Amsterdam, Netherlands $3,894

— Dublin, District 2, Ireland $3,975

— Salzburg, Austria $4,279

— Munich, Germany $4,875

— Barcelona, Spain $5,213

— Paris, France $14,724

— Monaco $38,369

Source: Live and Invest Overseas calculations

Kathleen Peddicord is the founder of the Live and Invest Overseas publishing group .

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15 Places to Retire in Europe originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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