Cost of Living Archives - Page 2 of 4

Is It Too Late to Move to Ajijic?

There is a lot of current social media buzz about the flood of foreigners moving to Ajijic, rising prices, etc. A recent video by Tangerine Travels points out some of the drawbacks of Ajijic and generated a flood of comments. Additionally, some people say the town is ‘full’ and the expats are ruining the character of the town. So let’s look more in depth at the ‘ugly’ side of Ajijic: Rising Real Estate/Rental Prices It is true that prices for both home purchase and rental are rising. The Tangerine video stated that there is nothing available for purchase in Ajijic for less than $250,000 … [Read more...]

Can You Afford It?

Living costs are a moving target everywhere in the world and Lakeside is no exception. Jerry Brown and his wife, Lori, are local expats with their own YouTube Channel, Jerry Brown Travels. Recently they reviewed their current monthly household costs for living in Ajijic. Check it out for yourself and see if Lakeside living might be in your future. Also see our comprehensive article on the local cost of living and come to one of our week long learning seminars to plan your own budget and get your specific budget planning questions answered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqRgjzfp0LI … [Read more...]

The Climate in Lake Chapala Mexico

by Karen McConnaughey Bill and I had three main reasons for picking the Lake Chapala area as our retirement destination of choice. We wanted… - A temperate climate - A lower cost of living - To leave the rat race We had both worked since we were 16, and we were just tired of it. I thought Bill would want to retire to Florida (where he lived previously) or Phoenix (where his daughter lived). We were both tired of Kansas City winters and never wanted to shovel snow again. I knew if he chose either of those places, he would be saying ‘bye’ to me in his rear-view mirror. I just couldn’t … [Read more...]

Ajijic and Lake Chapala Real Estate

Buying Ajijic and Lake Chapala Real Estate - What you can Expect Homes at Lake Chapala are built similarly to commercial construction in the U.S. and Canada, using brick, rebar and concrete. Ceilings tend to be high, floors are tile and walls are thick stucco. Homes often have a Spanish flair with lovely wrought-iron scroll work over the windows that are both decorative and secure. "You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy!" If you have ever wanted to paint a wall teal, lime or fuchsia, this is the place to go for it! In fact, you'll fit right in. Of course, if you choose to leave the … [Read more...]

Retire To Mexico’s Lake Chapala – An Essential Planning Guide

Plan Your Move to Lake Chapala Mexico the Right Way You’ve read about the beauty of the Lake Chapala area and how enticing it seems from the descriptions in the pictures and articles. You've done some research on this as a possible retirement destination. It looks very promising - even exotic! But reading about moving to Mexico and actually doing it are two different things. Relying on what you read on the internet or what you hear from other people can be dangerous - how much of it is "Fake News" or just out of date information? So without a doubt, it is a good idea to do your “due … [Read more...]