Moving Overseas? 5 Things NOT to Do

If moving overseas is your dream, you’re likely (and rightly) focused on the motivations for your move… a lower cost of living, a higher quality of life, or perhaps immersion in a new language and culture.

And if you’ve been researching for your move, you’ve likely added quite a few items to your ever-increasing to-do list, from paperwork and visas to logistics and finding housing.

But what about what not to do?

I’ve been living overseas for the better part of 20 years. Throughout that time, I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’ve been robbed because I left valuables on display in my house, burned myself out because I traveled too fast, and gone places without doing enough research—once almost getting denied entry into Australia for missing paperwork. The tricky thing about moving abroad is that much of the learning comes through hard-earned experience…

But you can skip that step (some of it anyway) with these top five tips.

Let’s dive in and ensure your overseas move is everything you’ve envisioned… and more.

Mistake No. 1: Listening to Too Many Opinions

In the age of social media, there’s an unprecedented opportunity to experience life in a foreign country through the eyes of everyday people. However, online algorithms often show us what they think we want to see, which can lead to tunnel vision for a specific destination. Reality may differ from the glossy images you see online, and you won’t know until you’re there.

Likewise, for every positive portrayal of a destination, you can find evidence to the contrary.

Thousands of foreigners have been attracted to the lifestyle, weather, culture, and people of Portugal in recent years. But you can easily find videos about why people left Portugal. The reality is often somewhere in the middle. Like people, all countries have positive and negative traits. It’s more important to go where you want and ensure that the place you have in mind aligns with your budget, lifestyle, and personal goals. Only you can know your exact needs.

I once helped a man named Jan relocate from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to Costa Rica. During our first consultation, Jan told me he wanted to move to Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean coast. He had read hundreds of blog articles and watched countless videos portraying the tropical surroundings and laidback lifestyle.

Puerto Viejo is beautiful. The issue was that he worked full-time online and needed reliable internet. I warned him about the instability of the infrastructure in that region, but he wanted to move there anyway. Once he arrived, he experienced internet and power outages multiple times per day, making it impossible to work… even with backup batteries and SIM cards. He ended up moving to San Pedro in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, where he’s happier and more comfortable. He lives in the city during the week and travels to the beach or mountains on weekends.

Mistake No. 2: Moving Without an Exploratory Trip

One way Jan could have prevented his relocation debacle was by booking an exploratory trip to his destination before committing to a property. A few days or a week in an Airbnb would have allowed him to test the proverbial waters (or internet speeds).

In 2013, I decided to go to Malta for three months without ever having been there. I prepaid for a luxury penthouse with a view of Spinola Bay, which was beautiful. But I struggled to adapt to the culture and make friends. I didn’t like the food, the winter was cold and dreary, and I felt homesick. I left after a month, leaving my landlord a €6,000 tip.

Before moving overseas or committing to a long-term rental, visit first. Book a hotel or vacation home in the areas you’re considering living in. Spend anything from two weeks to two months in a place to really get to know it.

While you’re there, meet with professionals who can help with your move, such as residency attorneys, movers, real estate agents, or relocation consultants. Also, visit local healthcare facilities and attend events in your area to talk with people who have lived there for a long time.

An exploratory trip is especially helpful if you’re trying to decide between two or three places to live. Sometimes you know intuitively that a place is for you before the wheels of your plane touch down. But often, it takes time on the ground to make the final call on whether it’s a good fit.

Mistake No. 3: Mistiming Real Estate Purchases

Choosing a place to live abroad is exciting, but it’s a decision to consider carefully. As a real estate agent in Costa Rica in the early 2000s, I often worked with clients who made buying decisions before arriving in the country.

This practice works if the purpose of your purchase is investment. But if you’re searching for a primary or secondary residence, then spending some time in your destination before closing a deal is essential.

I noticed all too often that people would buy something sight-unseen, then move down and change their minds about where they wanted to live.

After seeing that pattern unfold, I started helping people rent first to ensure they bought somewhere they could see themselves living long-term.

This mistake also works the other way around—when people miss opportunities or fall victim to analysis paralysis. I once made this blunder myself, giving up a chance to buy a pre-construction home in Playa Guiones, Costa Rica, for $98,000 back in 2007. The house (and land) is likely worth between $500,000 and $1 million today.

One couple I worked with from the U.S., Dean and Emily, spent three years looking at properties in Nosara with various real estate agencies. We lost contact when I moved away, but I ran into them 10 years later. After more than a decade of traveling back and forth, paying for hotels and vacation rentals, they finally bought a property.

While they were happy in their new home, I couldn’t help but think that if they’d bought sooner, they could have enjoyed 10 years of the pura vida lifestyle. In that time, their property would have appreciated in value.

If they’d found something they liked better during that time, they could have moved again. After all, once you’re settled in a new town, you can be among the first to know about fresh opportunities in the market.

Mistake No. 4: Overlooking Culture Shock

Moving to a foreign country requires adapting to a new culture, customs, and way of life, which can lead to an emotional rollercoaster.

To better understand and anticipate possible challenges, familiarize yourself with cultural differences before you move. You can compare your home and destination countries with the Hofstede Insights Country Comparison Tool.

For example, if you’re moving from the United States to Ecuador, it’s helpful to know that the U.S. scores a 91 on individualism while Ecuador is an 8.

Individualism is related to whether people see themselves as “I” or “we.” Ecuador is a collectivist society where maintaining group harmony is more important than individual interests. This difference contrasts with the U.S. values of freedom, individualism, and self-sufficiency.

You’re in a better position to adapt if you understand the reasoning behind cultural differences… before you experience them in real life.

Once you arrive at your destination, do your best to respect and appreciate local traditions and social norms. Take cultural awareness and language classes, participate in local events, and get involved with your community.

Remain patient while keeping an open mind, and you’ll overcome the occasional feelings of isolation or frustration. Also, remember that nowhere is “perfect.”

There are pros and cons to living in any destination. Embracing cultural differences is frequently a matter of shifting your perspective. Rather than letting “mañana time” annoy you, use it as an opportunity to enjoy another coffee or a walk on the beach.

Mistake No. 5: Waiting Too Long to Move

It can be hard to know when it’s the right time for you to move overseas. But in my 15 years of helping people move abroad, I’ve seen that most err on the side of waiting too long.

I first noticed this at the age of 21, during my first months working in real estate in Costa Rica. One of my clients, a 65-year-old businessman from the Northeast, made an offhand comment that stuck with me. We were in the car on our way to look at a property, and he said wistfully, “I wish I did this when I was your age.”

You don’t have to wait until you retire to move abroad. You could be a 20-something-year-old living on $2,000 per month.

Life may always feel busy, with different responsibilities vying for your attention. But don’t put off your dreams of living overseas for too long. Life is short, and nothing is guaranteed.

While I’ve never met anyone who regretted traveling or living abroad, I’ve known plenty of people who waited too long to go.

Life is a Learning Experience

Some things aren’t mistakes at all. They’re just the daily ups and downs of life.

Whether it’s waiting in line at the Nicaraguan border in the sweltering heat, your power going out, or your car breaking down halfway up a muddy hill, things happen when you travel… and more so in a foreign country.

But despite all the times I’ve felt frustrated, confused, or just fed up, I continue to live abroad today. I wouldn’t trade the flexibility or freedom I feel in an overseas lifestyle for anything.

Although it pays to be aware of the common mistakes new expats make, don’t worry if you make some of them too (or invent new ones).

Starting a new life overseas is a continuation of your current path. Life is full of mistakes because life is a learning experience—a continuous chain of moments, experiences, and decisions. Some will go your way, while others won’t. How you choose to react (or not) in each situation is what’s most important. Just remember: even when it comes to living abroad, it’s not about the destination, but the journey.

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