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Do you wish you could return home?

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CaliforniainChile
  10/15/2020 02:19 EST

All, I've gone through all the phone calls/meetings with financial planner, retirement program, social security, etc. All the figures point to me being able to retire early at 57, sell (or rent) my home in a gorgeous beach city in California, and retire abroad. HERE IS MY QUESTION: Have any of you let go of everything in your home country to permanently live in Mexico and then...years or decades later, you regret not being able to return in an easy fashion, so you remain an expat. I'd like to hear first-hand experiences to help me determine whether I should do 6 months here/6 months abroad and keep my home/ties here. I appreciate any insight from those on the other side of this experience.

NA
  10/15/2020 03:13 EST

I would recommend you keep a home and most of your money in the States, although that would mean that you would have to pay state income tax, but would probably prevent another country from making you pay taxes to them also.

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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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Eidel
  10/15/2020 09:49 EST

I have found the reason many (most ?) people regret living in Mexico is because of the language. They don't bother to learn Spanish and find that Google Translate is not as sufficient as they were led to believe.

If you come here thinking that you will be able to move around easily using an app and you don't want to put in the time and energy to learn Spanish, keep your home wherever it is, because you will return in 6 months, 12 months, 2 years, etc.

hrlee7804
  10/15/2020 11:25 EST

Yes if you can afford to keep a home in US for a time, do so. I sold everything because I don't wish to have 2 residences for upkeep. I did years of research and vacations so not many surprises for me. It is not easy and you must be dedicated to the learning process. But it was my choice. I guess now is the time for you to choose. Keep in mind on a blog site the only thing you will find are opinions. No one can answer for you 100%. It takes courage to make the move for sure. I know this not an answer because there is no answer just opinions and how others have done it.

cedelune
  10/15/2020 11:59 EST

I have no wish to ever return to the US to live. However, you have no idea what life is going to throw at you. An accident 3 years ago resulted in surgeries that weren't available in Mexico, so I stayed in an Air Bnb in Cincinnati before the surgery then a rehab center afterwards. I wish I had a home and community in the US to return to if I needed to! Also, summers here can be brutal and a couple of months away can be a nice respite from heat and humidity, if you live on the coast. Keep your house, set up a small apt in it for yourself and rent out the rest. The extra income and peace of mind will be worth it.

delta90064
  10/15/2020 15:53 EST

I do return to the US . . . whenever I feel like it . . . sometimes every couple of months . . . sometimes longer intervals. . It's no loner home though.

You should keep your US home and rent it. Use the depreciation to reduce your current tax. Pass it to your heirs for the stepped up basis at death . . . avoids all tax on the gain.

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.

bigrio
  10/16/2020 00:03 EST

Financial planners & accountants do not calculate the right time to expatriate. Keep your home on the gorgeous beach in California as long as it accommodates you. In time, you should adopt a seasoned. decision going forward.

mannem
  10/18/2020 10:50 EST

Plenty of good advice here. People move back for any number of unforeseen reasons, such as family needs. Some move back because their health requires a level of care that is too expensive to pay out-of-pocket. Local insurance can be purchased, but it will cost you considerably more than Medicare once you are are over 65. Remember that Medicare generally does not cover non-emergency services outside the US. As you get older, that can become a big issue.

loretad
  10/23/2020 00:07 EST

Hi

What you should do with your house depends on what you are comfortable with. Do something temporary until you have enough experience to make a more serious decision. I sold my house & left Florida with two suitcases 8 years ago. I have no desire to live in the U.S. again, especially now. I know I will probably have to return sooner or later due to old age & declining health. I'm healthy now so I don't worry about it.

In terms of insurance, I have IMSS in case of emergency. I also have Medicare because if you don't maintain it & don't have what they consider credible insurance you will accrue lifetime penalties. If I could drop it & pick it up again without penalties, I would drop it. Medicare is a non-issue for you.

There is a whole world out there. Look around, see what you like & decide what you need to do when you decide where you want to stay. Go for it!

louixo
  10/24/2020 11:09 EST

As HRLEE said, you can only get opinions on a forum. Getting all the info you can on the day to day of your desired future location, will give you some insight, but you really won't know until you are living it. Another post stressed the importance of learning the language, and they are RIGHT! Expat life is much easier and much more rewarding if you can communicate efficiently. You don't have to be fluent, but a working knowledge of the language will do wonders for you. Alot of your language skills will improve when you are living in your destination, and apply yourself. You will be surprised, at what you can learn when you try. Answers will come to you about your chosen destination as you live it. I have been in Mexico for 30 years, and the biggest reason i have seen that caused people to leave was not knowing the language! Life can get tedious when you need an interpreter to get thru basic things. So, just make the move, and remember, you have the choice to return, which becomes another choice just like the first.

MrsJaneSimmondsPhD
  10/25/2020 10:59 EST

I cannot my partner and children are not American my wife was born in England and is a Canadian citizen our children were born in Syria and also are Canadian citizen but because of the ban on the nation of were my children who all are under the age of 6 years old are not allowed in the USA by trump orders. So I cannot go back to the states even doe my partner is 68 yrs old and I am 60

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.

jojoishere
  10/25/2020 19:44 EST

I have never wanted to leave, but have known many ex-pats over the years who make the big move, only to leave Mexico with regrets in a year or two.

I would recommend renting your California place out until you are truly sure that Mexico is for you as it is not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with the medical services and your community. You need to realize that if you want to visit friends/family in the States, it is an international airplane flight away. It will add up and can wear on you.

I don't fall into the category (yet), but I have seen folks leave here just because they want to be part of their grand childrens' lives. This is a big deal as the average working family can't come to visit you very often with kids in tow - it will fall on you to be in their lives.

Anyhow, I think you get my point. You are smart to be thinking this over.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 07:54 EST

NOT EVER. MEXICO IS AND HAS BEEN, MY HOME FOR YEARS. . ILL VISIT USA BUT MY HEART IS HERE. SO IS MY WIFE AND A GOOD SON. COUILD NEVER AFFORD TO LIVE IN USA AFTER RETIRED. IT WAS EITHER HOMELESS, OR MOVE OUT OF COUNTRY.. SO, MY SON INVITED ME HERE; HOPPED A GREYHOUND BUS. AND HERE I WILL REMAIN.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 07:54 EST

NOT EVER. MEXICO IS AND HAS BEEN, MY HOME FOR YEARS. . ILL VISIT USA BUT MY HEART IS HERE. SO IS MY WIFE AND A GOOD SON. COUILD NEVER AFFORD TO LIVE IN USA AFTER RETIRED. IT WAS EITHER HOMELESS, OR MOVE OUT OF COUNTRY.. SO, MY SON INVITED ME HERE; HOPPED A GREYHOUND BUS. AND HERE I WILL REMAIN.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:10 EST

IF U LIVE WITHIN 30 MILES OF US BORDER, U CAN REMAIN AS LONG AS U WANT. MANY PPL HERE SPEAK ENGLISH,. I STRUGGLE WITH MEX SPANISH BECAUSE I SPEAK CASTILIAN. . PPL HERE CAN UNDERSTANR MY CASTILIAN LANGUAGE BUT I HAVE A REAL DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING LOCALS. MY WIFE, A MX CITIZEN, IS BILINGUAL. MAKES LIFE EASIER. HERE.BESIDES, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO BACK TO. LOST MY HOME IN A DIVORCE AND HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR MY EMPLOYMENT AS AN OTR TRUCK DRIVER , I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOMELESS YEARS AGO. SO WHEN I RETIRED, MADE MOVE TO MEX. I SEE MY SON AND HIS MX WIFE OFTEN, SO LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:31 EST

IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHERE U CHOOSE TO LIVE. GO TO US EMBASSEY/MX TO FIND OUT WHAT CITIES 'NOT' TO LIVE IN.. MANY BEACH TOWNS R CONTROLLED BY DRUG CARTELS; AND THEY KILL AMERICANS. LIVE IN A BIG CITY WHERE EXPAT POP IS LARGE, AND CLOSE TO US BORDER. THAT WAY, IF U NEED TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY, U CAN DO IT QUICK. CARTELS DOMINATE NIGHT LIFE AND 'ALL HIGHWAYS'. I LIVE IN JUAREZ. SAFEST TOWN IN MX BECAUSE THERE R SO MANY POLICE HERE. SURE, THERE R CARTELS HERE, BUT , BECAUSE OF SO MANY TEXANS COMING EACH WEEKEND HERE TO SHOP, PARTY, COPS R EVERYWHERE. MX PPL LOVE THAT YANKEE DOLLAR.. AND AS LONG AS U PLAY BY EMBASSEY'S SAFTEY RULES, ULL NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM. SOME PLACES R SO CONTROLLED BY CARTELS, COPS WONT EVEN GO THERE. BEACH TOWNS R BAD PLACES TO LIVE, ESPECIALLY VERA CRUZ, CANCUN, MATZATLAN, ALCAPULCO. IF U VALU YOUR LIFE, STAY AWAY FROM ANY BEACH TOWN. SADLY, AMERICANS BUY DRUGS IN BEACH CITIES, SO CARTELS R POWERFUL THERE.

grapenut
  10/26/2020 08:31 EST

IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHERE U CHOOSE TO LIVE. GO TO US EMBASSEY/MX TO FIND OUT WHAT CITIES 'NOT' TO LIVE IN.. MANY BEACH TOWNS R CONTROLLED BY DRUG CARTELS; AND THEY KILL AMERICANS. LIVE IN A BIG CITY WHERE EXPAT POP IS LARGE, AND CLOSE TO US BORDER. THAT WAY, IF U NEED TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY, U CAN DO IT QUICK. CARTELS DOMINATE NIGHT LIFE AND 'ALL HIGHWAYS'. I LIVE IN JUAREZ. SAFEST TOWN IN MX BECAUSE THERE R SO MANY POLICE HERE. SURE, THERE R CARTELS HERE, BUT , BECAUSE OF SO MANY TEXANS COMING EACH WEEKEND HERE TO SHOP, PARTY, COPS R EVERYWHERE. MX PPL LOVE THAT YANKEE DOLLAR.. AND AS LONG AS U PLAY BY EMBASSEY'S SAFTEY RULES, ULL NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM. SOME PLACES R SO CONTROLLED BY CARTELS, COPS WONT EVEN GO THERE. BEACH TOWNS R BAD PLACES TO LIVE, ESPECIALLY VERA CRUZ, CANCUN, MATZATLAN, ALCAPULCO. IF U VALU YOUR LIFE, STAY AWAY FROM ANY BEACH TOWN. SADLY, AMERICANS BUY DRUGS IN BEACH CITIES, SO CARTELS R POWERFUL THERE.

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