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10 Tips for Living in Mexico

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adminee
  11/25/2008 12:08 EST

We're going to be putting together an article entitled, 10 Tips for Living in Mexico, and we need your help. Please post a reply to this thread with as many tips as you'd like (or as few) for expats living in Mexico. Whether you're a newcomer yourself or a seasoned expats whose lived abroad for many years, share your favorite tips for expats living in Mexico. If you want to discuss or expand upon someone elses tip, feel free! We'll use your posts to compile the articles.

Thanks, in advance, for your help!

Betsy Burlingame
ExpatExchange.com

MegSondey
  12/2/2008 20:44 EST

Has no one replied to this at all? If not, I'll at least post a few ideas.

1. Learn as much Spanish as possible. You can never learn too little or too much.

2. Read about the history of the specific city, region, state to which you'll be moving. Get to know the national holidays, the cultural heroes, etc.

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico
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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

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Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
Connect

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adminee
  12/4/2008 15:01 EST

Great tips! Anyone else have any advice to add? If you got a call from an old friend or colleague who was moving to Mexico, what advice would you give them?

Betsy

homesweetmexico
  12/4/2008 23:27 EST

My best tip:
Keep quiet and listen a lot. It helps you learn the culture and customs.
Julia Taylor
Author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here

Songbird
  12/7/2008 16:23 EST

Each region has its own particularities, history and cultural mix, and it helps to know what this is. Some places are easy to get your FM2 and 3, some are not. Insider information from those who live and function here is the key to making life easy in Mexico.

Some people I know have just launched a "future expat" tour for ths wanting to get the lowdown on San Cristobal de Las Casas in Chiapas, of Zapatista fame.

http://mayanspirit.com

jefas64
  5/28/2009 21:34 EST

If you're already fluent in Spanish, read any law that you hear of, or that you find referenced anywhere in your applications, research, etc. For that matter, read any law that you can!

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico
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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

marcebbva
  6/8/2009 14:57 EST

Maybe you think about to open an account in Mexico, is cheapper and easier than never in bancomer has created an special util for foreigns residents. Visit the web site www.bancomer.com/pcu

RVGRINGO
  6/8/2009 16:15 EST

They do have a 'Preferred Customer Unit' especially designed to cater to expats, primarily those who speak English. They get to go to the head of the line, or to a special teller or bank officer. Frankly, I won't use it because I find it prejudicial and I wouldn't want my Mexican friends and neighbors to see me getting special treatment. I prefer to wait my turn when I need something in a Mexican bank. Other than that, we maintain our banking in the USA where it is much less expensive and where there is FDIC, online banking in English, and more flexibility in products. We've lived here for many years and have found no need for a Mexican bank account. We do use a Mexican investment house to keep emergency funds in a mutual fund, cash occasional checks, etc.

SuzannaMaria
  6/10/2009 11:58 EST

Okay my top 10 tips for living in Mexico .....
1. Expect the pace to be slower.
2. Expect things to be different and people to do things differently. (this is a good thing or we might as well stay in our home country). Don't try to change anything. It does not need changing - only our perception does.
3. Treat people with respect and they will respect you.
4. Try to speak any Spanish you can - it is appreciated and bad grammer seems to be happily tolerated.
5. Don't try to bring everything you had back home with you. Do you really want the same life style?
6. Do bring what is most important to you like photos, favorite books etc. my husband would say fishing gear.
7. Get out, walk about, learn about and enjoy your new community.
8. Bring cool clothing.
9. Give some thought to the life you want to create here and then go about deliberately creating exactly what you want.
10. Enjoy everything!

Suzanne Marie Bandick www.OnlyinMexicoYouSay.com

BajaGringo
  6/18/2009 02:38 EST

I have a few more than 10 - here goes...

Living in Mexico is not for everybody. Of course neither is Arkansas, but that is for another thread on a different forum. Besides, I would hate to upset a former US president or any of our forum members who hail from that (great?) state as well...

If you are even thinking about retiring in Mexico, my suggestion would be to come down first and find a vacation home rental in a community where you are considering and spend a month minimum there. Once the new car smell wears off you will have a better chance to see the country for what it really is, with all its warts and cultural charm together.

Only then can you know if you might be a good candidate to live here and actually enjoy the experience. Some thrive here, others don't. It depends a lot on who you are. I have made my own list of the general traits I see in folks who seem to do well down here:

1. Bohemian
2. Self sufficient
3. Thick skinned
4. Easy going
5. Adaptable / flexible
6. Open minded
7. Adventurous
8. Non-complainer
9. Culturally inquisitive
10. Doesn't believe that you can't teach an old dog new tricks

In my 30+ years living in various parts of Latin America (Argentina / Venzuela / Brazil / Mexico); I have had a pretty good opportunity to see how this works. My experience is that expats who can be identified by these traits (I probably missed some others that could be included) are the ones who truly do well in Latin America.

Now you need to be able to ask yourself some questions and give brutally honest answers. Your retirement / expat life happiness may depend on that honesty.

Do any of the following particularly bother or upset you:

1. Your neighbor who leaves his trash cans out, days after the garbage truck goes by.
2. Your neighbor who likes to play loud music at 11:30 at night.
3. Your neighbor who mows his lawn only once a month. When he does it is usually on a Saturday morning at 6:00 AM.
4. Your neighbor who likes to work on his car in front of his house. He has 3 more in back that he will get to eventually.
5. Your neighbor who likes to have family get togethers every weekend and their family is bigger than many mid-western towns.
6. The grocery store frequently does not have 2 of the 5 items you went there to buy.
7. Electricity going out 5 minutes before your favorite TV show is to begin.
8. Water pressure going out the evening your family arrives to spend the weekend.
9. The mechanic tells you he will have your car ready at 5:00 PM and you thought that meant today.
10. The plumber hooked up your new sink with the hot and cold water reversed.
11. Barking dogs, blasting advertising from loud speakers or honking vendors in your neighborhood at 7:00 AM.
12. Are you the type to call the police, the city zoning enforcement officer or write letters to the editor of the local newspaper for everything that bugs you about things going on in your neighborhood back home, including any of the first 11 items in the list?

A yes answer to two or more of any of the above or especially to question 12, indicates that there is a strong possibility that Mexico may not be a good choice for you for anything more than vacations and an occasional dental appointment.

If you are coming to Mexico to eat the same food you ate back home, live in a home with all the same features and amenities you had back home and want to maintain basically the same lifestyle you had back home... Then just stay back home. You will probably be a whole lot happier and the locals will probably be just as pleased to have never had the pleasure of staring at your grumpy, complaining mug every day as you gripe about any and all of items 1 through 11 on the list.

The expat life is not for everybody and it isn't a Scarlett Letter or anything. Just a simple fact and being able to be honest with yourself and realistic in your expectations.

If you are the type that can focus on the side of Baja / Mexico that does appeal to you and not let some of this stuff bother you too much, then you just may be able to survive life as an expat in Mexico. In fact you might (gasp) actually learn to see life from a different perspective and come to the illogical conclusion that maybe there are a couple of things a third world country can teach us. (God forbid)

It is all about perspective and attitude IMHO.


YMMV

SuzannaMaria
  6/18/2009 08:59 EST

Well said BajaGringo! I read your post to my husband and we were both nodding our heads and laughing. Yep, we are over on the other coast of Mexico and find all the same things. You are bang on. We have to love it or at least accept it or we will drive ourselves crazy. May I share your top 12 questions on my Mexico blog? Giving you credit of course.

Suzanne Marie Bandick
www.OnlyinMexicoYouSay.com

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico
Connect

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Welcome Home MexicoWelcome Home Mexico

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Cetra
  6/18/2009 11:26 EST

Baja Gringo,

You could not have explained it better. Every single point touched is real but I will have to add you your excellent comments the following.
Moving tips:
1. Make sure the Moving Company you choose is able to provide International Services; otherwise you will get in trouble at customs. (that means more costs and delays).
2. With your Household Goods you cannot bring Wine, Food, Medicines, if you do want to bring them, they must come with your personal carry-ons and not in the moving container.
3. Try to let go most of your belongings, since most of them won’t be necessary in Mexico (Ski equipment, coats, blankets, etc), besides everything can be found in Mexico. Remember International Moving is very expensive.

Real Estate
1. In Mexico real estate agents are not certified as in USA, and they get paid by the owner of the property so they will always show you what they have available and not really what you are looking for.
2. If possible, drive around the area you want to live in, and ask to see who the Real Estate Agent most people recommend is. Not always the Big Real Estate companies are the ones that
3. Rentals run for a minimum of 12 months, but as an expat you must add a clause that say that if you leave the country before the 12 month contract, you can do so with one month penalty and giving one month notice. (it is called the diplomatic clause).
4. Normal practices to rent are: When signing the contract, you must pay one month of rent in advance, and one month as deposit that will be returned to you at the end of the contract.
5. Most properties already have electricity, running water and a telephone line. If telephone line is not installed, there are many options to choose from and will be connected fast.
6. Always make sure to ask for the owners ID, Proof that he owns the property, proof that they have paid all property taxes, bills, etc.
7. Once you rent the property, change all locks and key combinations.

CULTURAL TIPS
1. Saying “NO” for a Mexican is difficult, so a “YES” not always means “YES”. If they are trying to explain that something cannot be done, it won’t be done even if you get a “YES” at the end. A “Maybe” can be translated as “NO”.
2. In social events punctuality is very relaxed, so if you invite Mexicans to your house, expect them to arrive one hour latter.

Hope this tips help you,

Jesus Garcia
Cetra Relocations Mexico
www.cetra.com.mx

homesweetmexico
  6/18/2009 20:51 EST

BajaGringo,
Your post really made me smile. You are so right on and I really appreciate how you recommend renting. I'm always surprised at how many people appear to skip the step of learning about Mexico before they dive into questions about buying real estate in Mexico.
Mexico is a wonderful place because it's MEXICO. It sure took me a few years to get adjusted to living in Mexico but I learned a lot and I'm a much better person because of it.

Kind Regards, Julia Taylor
Author of Mexico: The Trick is Living Here and creator of www.home-sweet-mexico.com

maryjomeek
  9/14/2009 21:41 EST

do you have a blog on your trip to San Cristobal? I'm interested in knowing housing prices; i'd rent something basic w/cooking facilities for this winter; have been there and really liked it. Any problem getting internet access there, a must! if you can help pl. email me [email protected]; thanks alot

carltimothy
  6/14/2012 19:02 EST

Correction;

1. There are professional real estate agents (AMPI Members) that work just as they do in the states with MLS systems and will show Buyers any agency's listings to find them just the right house.
2. The size of an agency has absolutely no bearing on its professionalism.
3. Rentals are not for a minimum of 12 months only. Rentals can be for one day or more than a year depending on the location of the property.
Whenever you consider making an investment in real property in Mexico make sure you are working with a professional broker who is a member of AMPI. They must live up to AMPI's code of ethics and receive continuing education. This will help make your experience more pleasant and give you more peace of mind.

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