About JWinPS

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Mexico: Does anyone bank with USAA?:

I'm not in Mexico yet, but am planning a move. I've checked into Schwab International. Per their website, $25,000 is required to open the account. This may/may not be a problem. This is just an FYI.

Mexico: The tired, endless, going no where political Topic.:

I am for discussing anything that affects expats and for providing/sharing information with expats. I personally have benefitted from responses to other people's Topics as well as the helpful information provided to mine. On most topics raised dealing with the current US Administration and the potential or real impact on expats, the discussions have been brief and civil However, the Topic "Effects of policies of new administration on lives of expats living in Mexico?" has gone too far, too long, IMO. It is often going onto tangents. Certain people consistently use denigrating name calling in their argument thinking this gives greater weight to their comment or makes it seem more accurate. It does neither. I have made a few comments on the Topic, but have largely desisted since it has become, IMO, an abomination. I eagerly look for other posts of interest. However, they seem [could be my perception] to have become fewer. I wish there was a way to just table that discussion. It is, again IMO, serving no useful purpose. I have asked the moderator to look into it. But, so far see that it is still going strong. Again, I have no problem, in fact I believe it's a good idea, to discuss how the current political situation has on expats. But, have it reasonable, polite, informational. Then, TABLE it. Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way. But this "feeding frenzy" Topic is far from what I expected from this forum.

Mexico: Trump protests in Mexican cities:

I just read that Mexican citizens are now protesting Trump. The article said they are not protesting Americans, just Trump. The triggering event was the new roundup of undocumented citizens. Previously, only those with criminal records were deported. NOW, any whom they come across in the process of apprehending the criminal are also deported - even though there were no criminal offenses committed in the US. I was wondering if any know of expats also joining in on the protests? Solidarity.

Mexico: Effects of policies of new administration on lives of expats living in Mexico?:

Your questions were very interesting. However, you lost me at the point you said "or are you only comfortable taking over other people's threads?" You thereby set the stage for the comment about “troll.” While I wouldn't have responded that way to you [i.e., troll,] you did set the tone. To further show you wanted to start an argument you said “A bunch of intellectual cowards who only feel comfortable going after someone and are fearful of actually expressing a coherent opinion of their own.”

Mexico: Puerto Vallarta Expats - Who Rented, who bought:

I've read many articles and heard advice on whether to rent or to buy a home in Mexico. So, I'm not seeking that type of information here. This is primarily directed to those who live in Puerto Vallarta. I would like to get your own experiences. I'm focusing this topic on PV since each city/area has it's own characteristics of renting vs buying. and this is the area I'm interested in. Whether you chose to rent of buy, what were your reasons for doing so? If you had it all to do over again, would you do the same? What problems, if any, did you run into that came as a surprise? What practices/legalities/etc did you experience that may have been different from doing the same in the US? Any other information that you would like to share. Thanks.

Mexico: Anti-Amer.sentiment in the Riviera Maya:

MexJuan1, well said. I'm not in Mexico yet. However, I am eagerly awaiting my ability to move. This man is a danger to the World. I want to get out before it becomes another Nazi Germany. The Jews who recognized the dangers in Germany left before things went totally downhill. Those who did not leave, well, we know how it turned out for them. As a gay man I'm additionally concerned about the potential ugly conservative GOP pushing their hate.

Mexico: Shipping books & music?:

I did a search and sa/w that JohnPS made a posting on 12/28/2016 on this subject. Here's the link: http://www.expatexchange.com/expat/index.cfm?tpcid=3406771&dbname=ee&frmid=254&forumid=0&shared=N&skey=dvd

Mexico: Crime in Mexico?:

I've heard and read a number of stories about the drug cartel related crimes. How murders have been between members of drug cartels. I've also read accounts accusing Mexican law enforcement being behind massacres of suspected drug members. Those accounts implied the people were suspected, but not proven to be, members of drug cartels. Expats residing in Mexico would be in a position, more or less "first hand," to provide an insight on this apart from news headlines. Input anyone?

Mexico: income taxes:

From what I understand, US Social Security benefits are not taxable in Mexico. Just as they are not in the US. In the US, the benefit is not "income." It's money coming back as a benefit based on social security taxes to your income [which are matched by your employers.] {There is a point at which additional income can cause a portion of the SSA benefit to become taxed.}

Mexico: Puerto Vallarta real estate listing prices:

I have no familiarity with the real estate pricing process in Puerto Vallarta [or for anywhere in Mexico for that matter.] In the US the listing price does not necessarily equal the selling price. In fact, it rarely does with a savvy buyer or seller. Negotiations are the norm. In a seller's market, it is not uncommon for the house to go for more than asking as multiple bidders rush to outdo the other. The reverse is true in a buyer's market where the listing sits without offers and the buyer frequently accepts a lower, sometimes much lower, offer. Either that, of the seller pulls the listing off the market. In a "normal" market, the negotiations also usually take place, but with smaller swings between listing and selling prices [unless the listing price is far out of line.] Is it similar in Puerto Vallarta? Do buyers and sellers frequently negotiate the actual selling price? Or is it "my way or the highway?" If negotiating does take place, do buyers tend tend to start off with a specified percentage lower price, e.g., 5%, 10% or more, to test the seller's flexibility? Or, is it just every case being different?

Date Joined:

12/21/2016

Total Posts:

64

Posts/Day:

0.59