Moving to Mexico

"Contact me or someone here about what to bring or not. Choosing a neighborhood and finding a home I would suggest a qualified real estate professional. We have an MLS group in the city. Preferably chose one of those realtors," explained one expat living in Manzanillo, Mexico.

"Use spanish in your seaches. Casa y depas en PV, departamentos para rentar, etc. It is still better if you rent an airbnb and walk around the area that you are interested in just looking for places that are available. The ones that are real cheap tend not to be listed on the web. NEVER send money as a deposit. Don't hand over any money until you are actually inside of the apartment with the owner or an agent that you are 100% sure is authorized to be acting for the owner," explained one expat living in Merida, Mexico.

"When we started looking at the money we would have to live on after retirement, I realized that I would never be able to quit work and live comfortably. We started looking at places we could live. We wanted to be close enough to hop up to the states to see family but be able to afford to retire. Mexico was the obvious answer. After much internet research, I stumbled on Lake Chapala. My husband and I knew nothing about Mexico. His vision was from the old westerns. There is a group that provides a week long seminar that will answer all of your questions and also show you the fun side of the area. We booked a trip 3 months away. I used the time to look at real estate offerings. I had limited funds. This is a cash economy so it had to be a house I could afford. They have an MLS listings here so I could check out everything. I contacted a realtor and he helped weed out houses that had issues or less than savory neighborhoods. I wanted city water, a pressurized/filtration water system and city sewer. Many houses are on septic so I knew that I might have to make a compromise there. We had 14 houses on the final list. We bought the second one we had looked at and we paid cash. And it is on city sewer," said one expat in Lake Chapala.

"Merida is made up of the Centro area (downtown) and then many different neighborhoods which are called colonies and Fracc's. We were told by a realtor that many expats move to the North Merida area, which is nice and very safe with many stores and restaurants. He said anything above Calle 59 is good. We ended up finding a place in a small neighborhood called San Pedro Uxmal. I don't think there are many expats there, but the home had everything we wanted and the price was good. We are very happy there," said one expat who made the move to Merida.

"I live in a large furnished studio with good sized kitchen with pantry (full size appliances), true dining area (room for 6-8) living area with sofa, coffee table and 2 chairs and nice sized bedroom area. It has a yard with parking and outside dining and is fully air conditioned. It's actually the ground floor of a 2 story house so it's larger than most studios IME. Including my power, water, garbage, gas and WIFI, it's under $400 USD per month. Outside my front door is a park and 2 more parks are within 3 blocks in opposite directions. It's a great neighborhood away from downtown but still has every kind of business within a 5 minute walk. A really nice mall is 2.4 miles away and it's dog-friendly! I've lived in 3 different neighborhoods in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico including Centro and this is by far my favorite! FYI, my AC runs 24/7/365. It's clean, quite, walkable and has green spaces," explained one expat living in Merida, Mexico.

"Versalles, Aralias & Fluvial just to name a few. Rentals are found easy with boots on ground. You need to view in person and no deposits until you arrive. Otherwise, most likely, you will have a problem with your deposit and may never see it. In Zona Romantica (my opinion is that it’s for visitors/tourist) you will have fireworks almost every night, many tourist, road blocks for celebrations/water repairs, spring/winter breaks, flooding during the rainy season, and parties non-stop," said one in Puerto Vallarta.

"We live in a large home one town over from where my husband works. I think the type of housing one chooses depends on the expat. Some are single and would rather live modestly and pocket the excess money from the monthly stipend they are given towards housing. Others have families and need/want more elaborate housing. I don't know any expats living here who aren't working for a U.S. company. This isn't the type of area people move to on a whim. They are sent here for work," said one expat in Comalcalco.

"Expat homes and apartments in Mexico are typically spacious, with large outdoor patios or terraces. Many expat homes are located in gated communities, offering amenities like swimming pools, tennis courts and security guards. Most apartments in Mexico come unfurnished, but they do usually have basic appliances like gas stoves, ovens, and fridges. Many apartments also feature balconies with views of the surrounding neighborhood or city. Mexico also offers plenty of options for expats who prefer luxury living, including beachfront condos, high-end apartment complexes and private villas," said one expat who made the move to Mexico.

"What is the average price in the country you’re from? In the US it varies greatly! Mexico is a big country and prices will vary depending on where you are, the size of the house and property, and amenities (pool, gated, security, golf course, etc), as well as being higher in the beach and heavy tourist areas. Due a google search on cities you’re interested in and check out COL (including housing costs) on numbeo.com," explained one expat living in Mexico.

"We rented a 3 BR/3 Bath home. It is very modern and has a small front yard and a beautiful back yard with a pool. It is 2 stories. We also have a terrace overlooking the back yard and a sunny roof top overlooking the front of the house. The house has a large wall around it and an electric gate in the front which is very nice for our 2 dogs and 2 cats. They can go in and out as they please," said one in Merida.

"We live in a house on the beach. Ex-pats live in condos, houses, on the beach, in the hills, we are spread out depending on our tastes," explained one expat who made the move to Manzanillo.

"Much lower. We pay our property taxes and water yearly. Our taxes are $699 MX and water is $1000 MX per year. Electricity is expensive in Mexico but still less than the US and is paid every other month. We have our propane tank filled on the off month and runs about $1600 MX for 2 months. Phone and internet is $600 MX per month and that is with unlimited long distanse. We have satelite which comes out of Canada. They have grocery stores that carry US products but it is imported and therefore expensive. Produce, eggs, meat, chicken and fish is amazing and reasonable. You can pay as much as you want or as little as you have for a house and find something to fit your needs," remarked one expat in Lake Chapala, Mexico.

"Much lower than in Washington state. Taxes are minimal but utilities (electricity) is rather expensive... Based on the former occupant's usage, we opted to install solar. This was a significant amount but with a 3-4 year pay back...We are able to have a maid, gardener and pool guy which we certainly couldn't afford up north... Eating out is inexpensive and about 1/2 of what it would cost NOB. The average cost of housing depends a lot on the area one chooses. The closer to Ajijic center the more expensive. Houses with views (which we have) command a higher price tag... We were looking in the $3-400,000 range and there is a good supply at these prices," said one expat in Ajijic .

"We purchased a home... Buying is easy but selling is a challenge so they say... Ours went well and we have moved over 20 times in our marriage so buying and selling homes is not new to us... One serious recommendation is to get an attorney to look over the papers and assist in closing. Realtors here run from great to not so and having a knowledgeable third set of eyes makes the process painless," said one expat who made the move to Ajijic.

"We bought a condo that we lived in for 9 years, then sold it and built our house. I is a very easy process, as long as you have a good realtor," explained one expat living in Manzanillo, Mexico.

"Two things that I didn't bring and eventually did buy in the states was a vacuum and a sponge mop. We brought down large area rugs to put on the floors in the bedrooms that need to have a vacuum run over them. Everything here were shop vacs although now you can find vacuum cleaners. Sponge mops are still not found. I brought down a counter top dishwasher since our home did not have one. I also purchased a rice cooker and proper food processor on a trip to the states. I didn't need to bring my straw broom. The dust does not sweep up as well as it does with the plastic bristled brooms that they sell here," explained one expat living in Lake Chapala, Mexico.

"Because we are on the beach, things of silver or other metals rust. Also art work, if you want to have it for other generations, is difficult to preserve. There are not many things that are not available here, but electronics are expensive, so I would bring computers.(Also they are in the language of your choice)," said one expat in Manzanillo.

"We brought a lot. 9000 lbs. I would bring the things that make me feel good about my home. (personal things, art) In Manzanillo the sea air is hard on good art and metals. So I would think twice about bringing things of huge value that you want to leave in your family. If you love them and just want to enjoy them, bring them. Electronics, like computers, that you want in English you should bring. If you are a gourmet, bring your pots and pans, bring what it is that you love. Everything else leave," said one expat who made the move to Manzanillo.

"I wish I had brought my cat. He is living with my father at the moment. But I do miss him. We aren't sure how long we'll be here, though, and we do know a woman who had a hard time getting her dog in and out so we are holding off bringing him down for now. I also wish I had brought more specialized food items. Spices, tahini, couscous, kalamata olives, marsala wine (just to name a few). I love to cook and haven't been able to find some items down here. And, last, I wish I had brought more guide books in English. We have been traveling everywhere down here and they would have come in handy! We use everything we brought down with us. Including all of our furniture and our two cars so there isn't anything I regret bringing," explained one expat living in Comalcalco, Mexico.

"I wish I had brought modern a/c units with dehumidifiers built in, but electricity is outrageously priced and on a tier system," said one in Puerto Vallarta.

"Yes. I was speaking with a bi-lingual Mexican man and I told him that I was very happy because people here must think I am Mexican. He asked me why I felt that way. I said "Well..everyone freely and openly just start speaking to me in Spanish, so they must think I'm Mexican". He looked at me with a smile and said "That's because they don't know how to speak English" Oh boy, did I feel silly....we had a really good laugh at that one," said one expat in Tequisquiapan.

"Not that we have noticed yet, but I'm sure that will be happening in the future :-)," said one expat who made the move to Merida.

"I was told by a good friend to just throw the words out there. They noticed that I had a tendency to be a lot quieter than usual during table discussions where everyone is engaged and fluent in Spanish. He said "Just like a baby babbles and throws a word incorrectly just do it anyway. We will correct you!". That was a relief! He knew that I was afraid of making mistakes so he told me to do the opposite of what my mind was telling to do. Don't stay silent, just jump in there and graciously accept the friendly help! They love it! And it breaks the ice! It makes sense. As a teacher that's exactly what I encourage.my students to do -- I tell them to just jump into the discussion and I'm there to help as needed," explained one expat living in Comitan, CHIAPAS, Mexico.

"A fellow once told me that if a guy addresses a man's wife as "tú" rather than "usted," it could start a fight. He told me that no matter how long and how well you know a couple, the wife is "usted" to you," said one in Mexico.

"When you meet someone for the first time, you usually say the formal address of you, which is "usted". Once you know them, saying "usted" is almost an insult! I've done that a few times. Now I call everyone "tu", which is the informal "you", and everyone welcomes it," explained one expat who made the move to Mexico City.

"There are so many exciting reasons outside of the affordable prices on just about everything. Playa, as it is affectionately called has an international flare and feeling. People from all over the globe share the many adventures and activities on land and sea. The beaches are beautiful. There are numerous items and plentiful stores that are just like the ones in the States," said one expat.

"Although I have met people having care for serious conditions, my experience has only been dental. People I know who had the same procedure done just across the border in San Diego had side effects I did not experience with my Mexican dentist," wrote one expat living in Tijuana.

" It depends on finances and age. If you're a professional moving to Mexico for business reasons, then you'll no doubt be given a private insurance plan. For those still young, private insurance is cheaper than in the USA but still ultimately unaffordable. Those working for public or private sector employers should automatically be enlisted in the IMSS which is our national system free to the user. Roughy equivalent to the UK's NHS, if you need something major it is excellent. For minor problems you may care to go private. Besides the IMSS, if you're not working you can enroll in the govenment's Seguro Popular system which is probably a bit inferior to the IMSS but again will protect you against major events. Next, I recommend paying monthly to subscribe to a private ambulance/outpatient service such as EMME. The price is reasonable and they come quickly with a fully equipped ambulance and medical team. They also have an outpatient walk-in centre open until late. Most pharmacies have an attached doctor available during work hours (sometimes morning only) and you can get a quick consultation either free or at insignificant cost - very useful if you need an antibiotic because these need a prescription now. ," commented one expat who moved to Monterrey.

"Medical services in Mexico vary depending on the region. Generally, the country has a wide range of medical facilities, including public and private hospitals, clinics, and medical centers. Many of these facilities offer quality care and modern medical technology. In addition, Mexico has a number of specialized medical centers that provide specialized care for specific conditions. Mexico also has a number of medical tourism destinations, where people from other countries can receive medical care at a lower cost than in their home countries," offered one expat living in Mexico.

"I avoid cut-and-drug as much as possible and take responsibility for the key aspects of health: eating wisely and exercising. If I don't do those things, what can anyone do for me? What I do no t like about the government health program that I joined is that doctors have the same reliance on drugs as in the US. I have not had hospital care, but friends who have report excellent care. I would like to start a movement to ban Coca Cola and other diabetes-inducing "foods." And I would like to see more attention paid to use of traditional medicinal plants, which are widely available in Mexico," wrote one expat living in Coatepec.