I would like to retire in Mexico,any suggestions???

Question

I hear so many stories. Some say it is good some say it isn't.When i look at homes and land they don't seem that much differance.

Answer 1

Depends on how and where you want to live.  If you have a limited budget, it is best to chose an area without a lot of gringos.  Gringo towns like tourist areas and  Lake Chapala, and San Miguel de Allende are very expensive and have a totally different atmosphere than other areas.  If you can afford them and want to live where there is a large gringo population...then those areas are for you.  If you want lower prices, a few grings, but not many, and the "real' Mexican culture..chose a smaller town, near a big city for conveniences, away from the tourist areas..there are many good places.  Rents and house prices are far less than in the U.S.  Utilities and services are far less. too. You need a min. income of about $1200 a month for a single person to get an FM3 visa to reside in Mexico..the visa is dependent on proof of steady income.  That is sufficient for a single person to live here and some do it on less.  If I can help you in any way, just email me. i just saw the rant against me for presuming you are American...well, i looked back at your previous questions...and made my "presumption" from that info.  However, the info applies equally to any person of any nationality who is considering moving to Mexico.

Answer 2

I and Charlie are both retired in Mexico. Me in Acapulco. It is a lifestyle that is not for everybody. What I mean by that is :

Poverty will hit you in the face. Acapulco is pretty dirty. Life here can be hard. Modern conv. that you are probably used to are not in real abundance here. If you like air conditioned shopping ( food or otherwise ) than you will pay a little more for the items. Some items you are used to are only really available at the high end stores. My coffee for instance. There is a huge difference beteewn the "haves" and "have not's". Im a " have " but live pretty simple and have found all the store and know what is cheap and what is expensive and that only took about 6 months, but thats part of the adventure that I love. Now I know where to go every day for beer , food , razor blades , shampoo ect. Before I found out I was paying alot for certain things but now I know............

Driving is way different and will take time to become accustom here.

All in all I couls not retire at 41 ( yes 41 ) years of age and stay in the US. Just too expensive. So I sacraficed a little and am SSSSOOOO glad ! I enjoy the different culture food , people and other things I hate the trash , the crime, the lack of education , the corrupt govt. , the somewhat rudeness of the people but all in all I cant complain. I'm 41 and kicking it on the beach and doing just fine. I do have some locals that I help out but thats what I like. My home was 90,000usd and is a castle compared with the "shacks" that are here. I recieve about $2500 a month ( average ) , home and motorscooter are paid, for and I cant spend it all , and its tax free. Then at 65 the govt wants to send me Social Security - yeah I love it.

Do research and most of all VISIT the place your intrested in for a good 2 to 3 weeks so you get a feel for it. I live in Acapulco but ALWAYS go to Pie de la Cuesta to be a beach bum everyday, Kickin myself that I didnt build or buy out there. Nobodies perfect soooo.

When you decide and arrive you need to get your FM3 card within 180 days so do wait too long , or just return to the states and then return to Mexico for another 180 days. I have a few friends that do this.

Just do your research and realize EVERY single aspect of your life will change. Some good , some bad. I think a 2 to 3 week mini exploritory vacation should give you a better feel if this is for you.

I dont really understand what you mean by they are "not that different" Price? condition ? There are a ton of houses and properties here for sale so my advice is to choose a place and visit. Another conv. is a real estate agent being plentiful, They are here ,but not many. Hire someone or rent a car or pay a taxi driver for the day and just drive around and look . Look again the next day and maybe the 3rd, 4th and 5th day contact the people and look and talk about the property and house cost.

Answer 3

I would recommend the book:  The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or just hanging out by Doug Bower.  He retired to Guanajuato--it's cheaper than the gringo towns along Lake Chapala or San Miguel de Allende.  It's just that your Spanish has to be better to get along in a Mexican town vs. a gringo town.

Retiring to Mexico is not for everybody, so you should rent for a while to see if you like it.

Watch the webboard at chapala.com and you'll see what people in that area are talking about.

Answer 4

A gringo single female moved permanently to Mx  check out this web site  its loaded with great STUFF

www.gomanzanillo.com

take a few vacations to different places in Mx  but  try them in what would be their worst season , I personally like being near not on the beach

a polluted lake in the mountains doesn't call me

Answer 5

Good choice. It is an excellent place to live. You also have many options on where to install and it all depends on what you like. For example, the most popular place for Americans and British to retire in Mexico is a small city named Cuernavaca, Morelos. They like a lot that place since it is the only spot in the world where all-year-long is spring and the English-speaking colony there is quite big. Eventhough, as a foreigner you cannot purchase a lot or a house in the seafront or in the borders, you still can purchase a house near the seafront if you like the beaches. Many Americans that like the beach and the sun retire to places like Ensenada or Rosarito in Baja California or in Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, others choose Mazatlan, Sinaloa; Guaymas, Sonora or the Nayarit Riviera (All three near Arizona). If you like archeological sites, good weather, and nice people you can also choose Merida, Yucatan. In the other hand, if you cannot live far away of big cities you can choose all-american Monterrey, Nuevo Leon which has the best hospitals in all Latin America and the Mediterranean, and it is 2 and half hours away from the border with Texas (1 and a half hour in plane to Houston, TX). Or if you like european-style cities you can choose Guadalajara, Jalisco or Guanajuato, Guanajuato (New Spain's jewel).