Rent/Buy Real Estate Archives

Finding Lakeside Housing

Renting It's generally a good idea to rent first to become accustomed to the area and get a good idea of what neighborhood you might like to live in on a more permanent basis. See our post Renting a Home in Lake Chapala for more specific information on renting. There are many local rental agencies, each one of which is independently owned and operated, so you may want to contact as many as possible to look for options. As the post referenced above points out. there is no substitute for being here in person to see properties you are interested in as internet pictures do not tell the whole … [Read more...]

Lakeside Retirement Budget Planning

When planning a move Lakeside, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to plan your Mexico budget in advance. Of course you will inevitably make adjustments once you are on the ground in Mexico, but having a proposed budget will give you the peace of mind you need when making a major life move. While prices have risen in recent years, the good news is that Lakeside life is still quite affordable with careful planning. Visa Costs - the Bottom Line Your first expenditure once you've made the decision to move to Mexico will be your resident visa. Temporary Resident Visa We'll talk … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]