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Comment by slashdev | Hacker News Reader

It's not for everybody, but if you can find a way to not play the rigged game, you can get ahead.

I moved from a high cost of living city in North America to Latin America. I bought a two floor penthouse overlooking the ocean for less than the price of a two bedroom apartment back where I came from. My mortgage is -$2000 / month. That's right, negative $2000 because I save the full mortgage payment plus an extra $2000 on taxes each month, completely legally and above board.

Now not everything is sunshine and roses (well there is a lot of both, but you know what I mean). The price is I have to work remotely, I had to learn a new language, and Amazon delivery is more like two weeks than 2 days and the shipping is not free. There are definitely things that I miss, but nothing compared to what I gain.

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Your solution is to be the top 5% in some other cheaper economy while continuing to get paid a US comp package. Not sure how that's better. In fact, this is exactly the thing that's going to drive down all of our comp over time. If you can work effectively in Costa Rica, why won't I just hire good English-speaking talent in Costa Rica (more likely Brazil) at a tenth of your expected comp?

> Not sure how that's better.

It's a lot better for me personally!

"Fuck you, got mine!"

It's a tongue in cheek reply to a silly objection.

> why won't I just hire good English-speaking talent in Costa Rica (more likely Brazil) at a tenth of your expected comp?

you can try! but you'll find that this is basically impossible -- the folks that are good enough aren't going to take 1/10th of the comp they could be making.

Yeah, that’s basically the case.

Sure, and now you’re inflicting the same problems on the local population who don’t have the option of geographic arbitrage.

That's a glass half full way to look at it. I'm creating jobs here and helping the local economy. I think it's a win-win.

That's what the people say who tear down 3 4-plexes to build a triple-lot mansion in Chicago say.

If you have the option, more power to you - literally.

That's a funny example; Chicago has the most stable housing prices of any major US city, from everything I've seen.

That's also what people say when they really create jobs too.

Your point reduces to the idea that nothing can be true, because people can lie.

The bad guys usually think they're the good guy, is my point.

Fair enough, but that doesn't mean good guys don't exist too.

Can you explain more about what you're doing with the mortgage payment and taxes?

> My mortgage is -$2000 / month. That's right, negative $2000 because I save the full mortgage payment plus an extra $2000 on taxes each month, completely legally and above board.

Can you elaborate?

There's no income tax on foreign source income here.

Can you deduct foreign mortgage interest on your US taxes?

Yes. US and foreign mortgages are treated the same for tax purposes.

Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil ?

Where at? Are you Hispanic or white?

You may be surprised to discover that coming from a Spanish-speaking culture is orthogonal with the color of your skin.

Which would a Spanish person be?

> Are you Hispanic or white?

Yes.

(That question makes no sense.)

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