Live in Mexico... Work in San Diego??? (rent, house)

[Grofica]

I would really like to buy a decent house... i have worked so hard and i dont want to spend until my old age paying for a house.....

OK how many people here live in mexico and work in San Deigo?

Is is possible to get a job in San Deigo and not speak spanish? (by job i mean a good job)

How hard is it to get a residence visa for mexico?

how is the house / auto insurence done?

Anything else you can tell me I am all ears

[db108108]

My partner lived with his parents in Tijuana and worked just across the border in Otay. He did it for 2 months before he moved back to San Diego. The daily crossing is just crazy - some days it can be a three hour wait. And it's not a smooth, idle-your-car wait. It's a everybody-is-trying-to-cut-me-off, this-line-is-going-in-circles type wait. If you can deal with that, do for it.

[Steve Bagu]

Crossing the border at San Ysidro is not that bad.

Between 5-9 AM is the busiest as people (Americans and Mexicans) who work in San Diego are trying to cross. Generally the wait time can be 45 mins to a hr and a half.

Last thurs at 6 AM it took me 45 mins to cross. Going tomorrow at the same time for a DR appointment.

A persons work schedule would determine what time to cross.

For me...I would rather leave a little earlier and sit somewhere with a cup of coffee then sit at the border waiting to cross.

Steve

[Grofica]

well with that pass thing doesnt that make it a lot quicker???

Does anyone have answers for the other questions????

[Steve Bagu]

Initally the Sentry pass worked well based upon the traffic flow I saw while waiting in line.

Due to the increase of new sentry users the traffic seems to be backing up in the sentry lanes.

Problem I have is with the regulations to the holder and limited usage for the fees required.

Taking into consideration the expense involved for the "Pass" and time saved ? against the cost of gas waiting in the normal lanes...only saving I see is the time factor.

Price of the "Pass" and the fuel I use in my opinion balance out.

Steve

[mrssalcedo]

I have lived with my Mexican husband in Tijuana for over 6 years. I am very happy here. I start work very early so for me the border waits are from 15 to 30 minutes, but I do cross at about 4 am everyday. My niece crosses about 6 and her wait is usually not longer than 1 hr. I don't really think the lines are too long right now, because many mexicans who worked on the other side are no longer employed due to the economic situation in the US. I only rent a place in the Playas area and only pay $425 for a 2 bdrm, 2 1/2 bath place so I am not knowledgeable about buying a place, but do know that as an American you have more hoops to jump thru to buy, but you can. I do not have any kind of permit to live here, but usually you are to get a F2?? pass to live here. I can get away with being a visitor as I am never in Mexico longer than 72 hrs as I cross almost daily except on weekends. But these F2? passes (sorry forgot the name) are pretty easy to get. Oh and I am not fluent in Spanish, but can speak enough to get by. I actually will be retiring with my husband in Mexico, though probably not in Tijuana. Hope that helps.

[Dougo40]

Wow this is helpful stuff. I am getting ready to move to Tijuana from NC myself. This is just the stuff I am looking for. Does anyone know the feasability of walking across and taking Transport.

[Steve Bagu]

You can read my earlier post on what to expect. Things have not changed much. Due to the economy traffic has slowed down a little going across some days.

Walking across will be with a few hundred others real early in the AM. The BP lets about 10 people at a time cross (from the ground buttons that mark the border) to the actual person checking ID's...keeps people from bunching up.

Once thru the bldg you can walk across the street to a Metro rail that will take people to downtown San Diego with many stops on the way. Greyhound Bus is also there.

Many Mexicans who work in Calif...Americans who live in TJ but work in SD...school children...some American or those Anchor babies are eligible for US education cross during the week.

I personally crossed on foot one time amongst some children and the BP person asked what school they were going to and waved them on thru the turnstyle.

There are many Americans in TJ and Rosarito...some owning property...some renting...some with a FM2/FM3 and others propbably without either. Too many Americans here to make any one person stand out. There are some who just have a weekend place that is owned/rented for vacation needs.

Four lots over from me is a place that a older couple each with a Harly (his/hers) who come down for the weekend only.

Hope this little info helps.

Steve