American buying land in Mexico (mortgages, attorney, buying a house)

[NCN]

I have heard too many horror stories about innocent people being put in Mexican jails. I would not even want to visit, let alone buy property and live there. When we traveled through Texas near the Mexican border the air was really dirty and smelled awful.

[tijlover]

I got hoodwinked into buying me a lot near Rosarito based a lowball projection for costs to build a house. I was told I could build this big house for $35k. Well, I had the blueprints drawn up, everytime I went down there to preview the development of the blueprints, the costs went up with each trip, finally ending with a $70k pricetag. And with Mexicans, you might get half-way through the construction, and they'll say you'll need yet another $10-20K to finish it. No Thanks! What a waste of money! I finally listed my lot for sale 1 year ago, and it looks like I'm going to lose a heap of money over it. Be careful with their rosy price estimates down there!

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally Posted by North Carolina Native

I have heard too many horror stories about innocent people being put in Mexican jails. I would not even want to visit, let alone buy property and live there. When we traveled through Texas near the Mexican border the air was really dirty and smelled awful.

I know it is rude to discuss the obvious, but....you said you "we traveled through Texas" could it be that you were really smelling Texas? Also, every year hundreds of innocent people are tried and found guilty in the USA only to be released at a later time when the real perpetrator is found.

[tijlover]

I agree. Every so often you read about someone being released from a long prison stay due to being cleared by DNA evidence. And what about all those plea agreements innocent people make on a daily level in this country. Right on!

[Mattie Jo]

You may have been smelling the Rio Grande, which is highly polluted. Mexico does not smell. Everyone has heard horror stories, and so the same few are told over and over again.

[PioneerWoman]

Originally Posted by tijlover

I got hoodwinked into buying me a lot near Rosarito based a lowball projection for costs to build a house. I was told I could build this big house for $35k. Well, I had the blueprints drawn up, everytime I went down there to preview the development of the blueprints, the costs went up with each trip, finally ending with a $70k pricetag. And with Mexicans, you might get half-way through the construction, and they'll say you'll need yet another $10-20K to finish it. No Thanks! What a waste of money! I finally listed my lot for sale 1 year ago, and it looks like I'm going to lose a heap of money over it. Be careful with their rosy price estimates down there!

It's a no-brainer that prices for a house on the beachfront or in a popular retirement area would cost more than $10,000. We're talking about the difference between building, say, in Montego Bay, California vs. the cornfields outside of Pierceton, Indiana. The houses in the area where I want to live are built from adobe, or cinder block if you're rich. Many times there is no electricity available. It will have to include a water well or rainwater harvesting. My thought is, so what if the $10,000 turns into $50,000 or even $100,000? Can you build your custom, off-grid, green-living home anywhere in the U.S. for that? And, I can't imagine that anyone would come back to the States and expect work to progress in Mexico in their absence... I wouldn't even do that in Texas.

What I was looking for is anyone who has ever heard of the 1/2 hectare (1.24 acre) government give-away land deal. And, no... this is not beach-front or retirement-complex land. The guy was talking about rural, mountainous, nearly inaccessable, 5,000 ft.+ elevation, out-in-the-sticks land. I believe that it could be plausible, because of all the migration from the farm/ranch areas to the cities, but I would like to know more about it.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by North Carolina Native

I have heard too many horror stories about innocent people being put in Mexican jails. I would not even want to visit, let alone buy property and live there. When we traveled through Texas near the Mexican border the air was really dirty and smelled awful.

I find it hilarious that people would base their opinion of Mexico off of driving by the border and old tales. Sure Mexico is no America, but I think that is a good thing, the water in Costal Baja is clearer than anything in the US. If you want a safe nice place to visit that may open your mind try Puerto Vallarta:



(I know it looks dirt nasty! )







After you have spent 2 days here you will want to buy property in Mexico.

[Mattie Jo]

Beautiful photos. thanks.

[Travelling fella]

Keep them coming Mach

we need to let people know that there are many myths of Mexico, the only way to know it is by personal experience

Obviously not everything is beatiful, but not everything is awful either, there is no perfect country, but for some people Mexico is perfect!

[Travelling fella]

some more pics

<---- Puente de Dios in la Huasteca Region

<----- Poza azul, Cuatro Cienagas

<---- Agua Azul Falls, Chiapas

<----- Gypsum dunes, Cuatro Cienagas


<--- Chacagua Lagoons, Oaxaca

<---- A crystal clear underwater view from Poza Azul, cuatro cienagas

<---- Sumidero Canyon

<---- La huasteca region

<----- Banderas bay

<----- The Popocateptl an sleeping volcano near Mexico city

<---- Michoacan mountains


Please have a look at Mexico's city diversity

<----- Main plaza or Zocalo, Downtown Mexico city

<---- Tehotihuacan

<----- Santa Fe District, Mexico city

<---- Santa fe district, Mexico city

<---- Casino Español, Mexico city downtown

<---- Fountain from the central yard @ Palacio Nacional, Mexico city downtown

<----- Plaza california, Mexico city - Del Valle district (this is a few blocks far from my home )

<--- Polanco District

^^^^^ Polanco again

<---- Polanco

<---- The angel of independence, Mexico city

<----- Botanical garden @ Mexico city's national (and free!!) university

<----- San Angel district, Mexico city

<----- San Angel District, Mexico city

<------- Chapultepec castle, Chapultepec district, Mexico city


Oh my beautiful and beloved Mexico
If I die far from you
Let them say I'm just sleeping so they can bring me back to you!

(Translation of a Mexican song called Mexico Lindo y Querido)

For more pics and info checkout these sites, they are in english!!

Mexico City on the web

Biodiversity of Mexico - fauna, flora, ecosystems - VN Illustrated Database