Focus clients give us top marks!
Online Testimonials: (see 6-Day Live program testimonials below)
“The guidance from Michael Nuschke and the Focus on Mexico team from the perspective of folks who live at Lakeside and have made the transition to Mexico provide a sense of calm and leave one with the belief that I, too, can do this! I have spent at least a couple of years doing extensive research on moving to Mexico, only to be left with what was often conflicting information from people with ulterior motives, trying to sell me something that I didn’t need or that was of low quality. Michael and the team at Focus on Mexico cut through the misinformation and calmly and in a straightforward manner provide you with real-time facts that can be applied immediately and with the expertise to leave you feeling confident in planning your move to Mexico.
The investment and time spent in the course was definitely worthwhile. Additionally, the resources provided for “homework”, as well as supplemental videos, serve as excellent reference materials long after the course is over and as you prepare for your move to Mexico. I enthusiastically recommend the Focus on Mexico program to anyone interested in the idea of moving to Mexico. Aside from the excellent resources and reference materials, the program is very information-driven, forgoing distracting overproduction and videography and instead concentrating on delivery of pertinent, timely and accurate information from people who currently reside at Lakeside. Additionally, I believe that the cost for the course is very reasonable when one considers how costly misinformation and mistakes can be and how discouraging wrong information could be to those of us who are seriously considering a move to Mexico.
After taking the Focus on Mexico course, I feel confident and ready to begin on the journey of moving to Mexico!” JOEL CASTRO
“The Focus on Mexico online program was the first online program I have taken. There is so much to learn before moving to another country and you could spend months and months researching everything. This course was well-organized and offers critical information and resources to help you to plan before, during and after your move. Saves a lot of time and brain damage 🙂 The information you will learn is invaluable and I highly recommend this course!” P. HATFIELD
“Our overall impressions of the class was that it was very informative and enjoyable. It was obvious that a lot of work went into the presentations. You were very prepared each class. It was so helpful learning from someone who is already living in Lake Chapala. It was also enjoyable seeing others in the class and learning from their questions.
We would say that this class is a MUST DO if they are considering moving to the area. We had several questions answered that we were wondering about for instance bringing our car, health insurance, banking options and rental prices. We want to thank you for putting this class together. We are looking very forward to meeting you and your team.” BECKY & DON THOMPSON
“If you are thinking of moving to Mexico as either an option for your retirement (like me) or just because you like Mexico and want to live there more permanently, I wholeheartedly recommend any of the courses offered by Focus on Mexico. I just completed their online 6-week course, Move2Mexico RoadMap, and found it immensely valuable for so many reasons.
Having visited Ajijic and surrounding “lakeside” towns on the north shore of Lake Chapala, I’ve been researching the how-to’s for a few years now and thought I was pretty knowledgeable. Here’s what I loved about this course: Firstly, it’s a small group of classmates and is interactive, meaning you can ask questions in real time and get-up-to-the-minute answers. Things are always changing with regard to immigration requirements, etc. and the F.O.M. team does a great job of staying abreast of those so that what you get is useful and accurate. Even if you can’t attend the classes live (which are held in the Zoom format), you can watch later and still ask questions via email. The answers come fast and are highly personalized. Michael (the owner and presenter) gave me a lot to think about by posing the kinds of questions designed to really suss out if you are being realistic or not.
Secondly, the presentations are often enhanced by co-presenters, such as lawyers, doctors, and real estate agents who work at Lakeside, giving you actual professional advice and tips on how to navigate health, housing, and legal issues. Thirdly, even though I’d read books and looked at what’s available on the internet, this course offered topics I’d never seen before, much less given any thought to.
Upon completion, I felt like I really had enough information to create my own timeline and step-by-step to-do list in order to make the move seamlessly and with as few problems / mistakes as possible. I also loved the deep and abiding respect for the Mexican people and culture conveyed by the program (Michael). And the ongoing resources offered (via Facebook groups, unlimited access to the slides and presentations, lists of professionals and other resources) were very much appreciated.
In addition to the hour-long presentations, there are videos and interviews germaine to each topic that really flesh out the classes. Whether you are looking to buy or rent, whether you have lots of money, or very little (like me), there is something for all of us here. Oh, and there are personal before-and-after phone calls to be sure you will get the most out of it. That was an unexpected and welcome surprise. It made the whole experience feel tailor-made just for me. Plus now I have a whole bunch of other people to connect with and talk with as we all make our plans and get moving (my fellow classmates). Moderately priced to begin with, it was worth every penny and then some.” SUSAN STEWART
“My wife and I were very pleased with the content and participation of the on-line Focus program. We have been considering the move to Ajijic for some time now and the class helped us a great deal in focusing on the things we need to accomplish in order to make a smooth transition to Mexico. I would highly recommend the program to any who might just now be considering retiring in the Lake Chapala area as it is a good, well delivered primer course and the interaction with the on-line group is extremely valuable since you get the thoughts and impressions of others.” BILL & TONI BROWN, KALAMA, WA
“My wife and I recently participated in the Focus on Mexico on line program that covered topics related to moving to Mexico. We have to say it was an excellent program. The topics were presented in a clear and concise way that were timely and detailed. Programs such as Health Care in Mexico, Immigration, Renting or Buying a Home, and more, provided critical information that would have taken weeks, if not longer to discover on our own.
The huge advantage was the ability to hear actual, on the ground, professionals such as Doctors, Lawyers and Real Estate Agents in Ajjic and Chapala describe the ins and outs of Mexico. The ability to watch the program from the comforts of home and then have the ability to re-watch the topics is a huge advantage. The cost of the program is worth every penny when you consider the time saved and information provided that will keep you from making costly mistakes later in your journey to Mexico. Kudos to Michael and all the Focus on Mexico presenters. Very well done.” STEVE AND ELENA G.
“There’s really only one way to increase your chances for a successful move to another country and avoid costly mistakes, and that’s attending a relocation seminar complete with experts on all relevant topics. There’s no one who does a better job when it comes to Mexico that I know, and that’s Focus On Mexico (FOM). It’s true that researching relocation content online on the internet is available, but I’ve always followed an old adage from Napoleon on receiving information and that is simply asking, “… is it accurate, AND is it useful?”. Investing in a reliable and recommended source is essential. And committing to a set of class sessions forces the student to commit to the learning. I think FOM checks all of the boxes by providing content that is both accurate and useful. Guest speakers who are experts in their field cut to the core of the needed data for decision-making. With so much knowledge gained under our belt, we are now ready to go forward on a new journey to Mexico, for the rest of our lives. Thank you FOM. Thank you Michael & Rhonda Nuschke. Your seminar provided the steps, one by one, for us to live a new dream in Mexico.” MICHAEL & CARRIE HEMPHILL
“Thank you to the wonderful Focus on Mexico team~ together you gave us a tremendous amount of information in such a short time. Your devotion as individuals to make sure we each got what we needed is a testimony to your love of Mexico, her people, and in particular the Lake Chapala area.
We feel privileged to have spent week with a great group of people. I can see that those of us who make the move will develop a strong bond.
For Steve and I it was an affirmation that it is now time for an adventure….You should be proud of how one week can transform so many lives.” MICHELLE & STEPHEN SILVERSTEIN, November 2017
Live Program Client Testimonial Videos (2016, 2017, 2018)
6-Day Live Feedback from Participants
“Did our program meet your expectations?”
- “Educationally, very comprehensive program. Covered most of the topics I could think of. Just the right length 3-4 hours a day is a good target. Also enjoyed all the outings. They gave us a real feel for the various locations and cultural activities. This program is a must for folks considering Mexico, but do not have the experience or knowledge. Not only educational, but FUN. Lake Chapala Society & Focus On Mexico make for great resources.” Charles Snyder Nov/2022
- “The program’s balance between ‘lecture’ and excursions was a fantastic way to remain engaged throughout the days & nights. Every day and every excursion was educational! Honestly, we learned something new every day. Superb food and entertainment! Surprisingly diverse food selections were made available & the balance between selecting our own dishes with the Focus team choices was wonderful for us! Socializing with Focus staff & speakers was the most valuable time we had. You’ve no idea how important interactions with staff was to us.” Chad & Jen Vaughn Nov 2022
- “Very well done. Both topics & speakers top notch – educationally exceptional.” “Staff were very committed, personable, and realistic. Michael & Rhonda get a big round of applause. Ana is very personable and gave good insights as a Mexican native. Gracias!” “Education was well worth the time and in many ways invaluable. I am very comfortable that I’ve learned enough to move here. Can’t wait!” C.A. Nov/2022
- “We have scoured the internet and read numerous books about moving to Mexico, and yet, until we attended your class, nothing seemed to really inform us of the nitty gritty steps we needed to take to make our move happen. We were especially impressed with how you introduced us to the various Lakeside areas and the character of each area. We can actually see ourselves living there now, and we were able to nail down exactly what our wants and needs are to make living at Lake Chapala a realistic experience. We truly appreciate all the referrals you shared with us. .I would highly encourage anyone thinking of moving to Mexico to take this course first. Your comfort level will soar .”Cheryl & Bill
- “This course was well-organized and offers critical information and resources to help you to plan before, during and after your move. Saves a lot of time and brain damage 🙂 The information you will learn is invaluable and I highly recommend this course!”
Lori Cooper”I believe this course is a great way to get introduced to the idea of moving to Mexico. Focus on Mexico has been doing this for quite a few years now, and have built a reputation for giving out accurate information, and has also built a reputation among the local people (professionals) to be able to use them as experts and referrals, for most if not all your questions.”
R. L. Butlerfrom Dot French 2018; “Personally, being my first time in Mexico, YES! I learned an enormous amount and feel the cost of the program was well worth the value I received. If I know someone thinking of moving or living in Mexico (as a snowbird), I would recommend this course.” - from D & D Fisher 2018; “Yes! I’m glad we took the course because now I feel more confident and excited on retiring abroad, esp. in this area.”
- from Loren Abramson and Lain Tetrault 2018; “More than expected in every area.”
- from Annette Parker 2018; “Didn’t know what to expect but I’m definitely glad I came. I think it was an experienced that opened up the possibility of living in Mexico.”
- from Richard 2017; “Best and conscientiously organized program I have ever attended in my whole life. The incredible Focus on Mexico team will make you feel you are a member of their family. Highly recommended 5 Stars!”
- from T & K Walden 2017; “Not at all!! They EXCEEDED them!!”
- from Sydney Metrick 2017; “The program far exceed my expectations. You’ve had presenters that covered just about everything we need to know. One or the other answered even the most obscure questions or researched it for us.”
- from Alumnus Van Lilly 2017; “Exceeded them. Better than I remembered.”
- from G & K Stephens 2017 “The staff was very knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. They were always ready to give you the time necessary to answer your questions and give any help you needed…super helpful-first class.”
- from Heidi Woodhead 2017; “Absolutely! Great program and we will encourage anyone to attend if they have a desire to live in Mexico.”
- from Bette Brazel 2016; “Focus on Mexico delivered everything I expected and more. Before coming I had read some reviews where people said FOM provided information you could gather yourself. While that is true, I found that the information delivered by FOM was vetted, so that we were immediately connected to the best doctor, immigration and moving services, etc. Money spent on the course saved me both money and time that would have been spent locating resources on my own, deciding whether a move to Mexico was right for me, and possibly some mistakes along the way. For those planning a move to Mexico, FOM also provides the beginning of a network to build on which is hard to put a price on.”
- from Jane Findley & Brad Dougherty 2016; “Yes – and more. One of my wildest dreams was to include a family member who has zero interest in moving to Mexico. Not only did that happen, he grew in his vision that it could be a place we both agree upon. This is a magical place and we have been touched for evermore by our time and personal experiences here.”
…and from previous years…
The value of the program really is exceptional…

“Choosing Focus on Mexico was the best decision I could make. The value received was very much worth the price.”
The educational segment was excellent, much needed and much appreciated. I had not fully considered tax responsibility whether I live in the USA or not. The tax specialists were very informative. Investing in Mexico and information on the Mexican economy was enlightening and opened other considerations that, again, I had not thought of. The potential financial benefit is appealing. I especially appreciated “Alternative Health Care” and mainly because I hear/read so little of it at home. I will certainly investigate this further. “Survivor’s Spanish” was excellent and laid a much needed foundation on which to build at least conversational Spanish. ALL the outings were great. Ballet Folklorico was unbelievable. Honestly, I thought “Ballet? Oh great.” But it was a not-to-be-missed event. Thank you for including that. All of Sunday was excellent. I thoroughly enjoy walking to explore cities and seeing the open air markets, plazas, Tianguis were excellent introductions to Mexico, the people and their creative ways to make a living. Monte Coxala was a welcomed respite and came at just the right time in the week. The range of dining establishments was an excellent demonstration of the variety of restaurants available in the area. I think most of us expected simply restaurants serving Mexican food. I was tremendously and positively impressed with the warmth demonstrated by the Focus Team. From the time I got through Customs to the time that I went back to the airport, encouragement and warmth was consistently exuded. Not only that, but they were very helpful and stressed that they were available to help us 24 hours per day during our visit. So I already have friends in Lake Chapala and I won’t be going there alone!My Focus agent (Catherine Gonzales) was outstanding. She spent time with me one-on-one, answered my questions, made suggestions and said she would be on the look out for property that might work for me. Again the warmth and assistance was pretty amazing.I was interested in living in Mexico for lower cost of living and weather. I didn’t want to explore the country on my own and after extensive internet research, I chose Focus on Mexico to introduce me to the Lake Chapala area. Choosing Focus on Mexico was the best decision I could make. The value received was very much worth the price. They informed me of instances that would have taken me months to learn – – frustrating months that probably would have led to a return home. Focus on Mexico provided a wealth of information that I needed to know BUT I did not know that I needed to know! If anyone who reads this is considering an “exploratory trip” to Mexico, I encourage you to contact Focus on Mexico. If I had not chosen Focus on Mexico, I think it would have turned out to be a very big mistake for me.
“If you couldn’t tell, I loved my experience with the Focus on Mexico program. It’s a great blend of education and fun – the description of it as a Learning Adventure is right on the money.”
The educational segments were incredibly informative and helpful. I would never have found all this information on my own. All of the speakers were well organized, knew their stuff and were engaging. I especially enjoyed those who made us laugh – it helps us stay awake and engaged! I loved all of our fun outings. They were so varied that it’s hard to pick one favorite. The Ballet Folklorico (and the beautiful theater!) was definitely a highlight, as was the spa visit. I loved the Orozco murals in my first visit to Guadalajara, and found that the addition of a guide to explain something about them provided a meaningful new dimension to the experience. Everything