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I have also looked into Mexico quite a bit, as well as Costa Rica, Panama and Equador. What concerns me is the growing lawlessness that might make me a target just because I get a SS check (and am therefore a "rich" gringo). If you know of reasons why I should not be concerned, please share them with me.
I've vacationed in Puerto Vallarta for 15 yrs and seriously thought about buying there. Over time, I decided that I would not be happy because no matter what you do, you're still a foreigner and will be treated as such. Heard too many nightmare stories of when things go bad there is no justice for gringos. Also, I have watched the dollar decline in value to where some of the grocery prices were higher than at home, and I live in an area with high prices (Alaska). A person told me what some unscrupulous developers do is sell a project, fail to maintain it and let it fall into disrepair. The gringos hire Mexican attorneys who charge them plenty and the courts rule in favor of the developer. The gringos end up selling for a song or abandoning the units, then the developer comes in and remodels and sells them again. You need to be very careful and hire an honest lawyer to insure your legal claim to the property and I would only buy a stand alone property. I do have a friend living in PV just fine, but he knew the ins and outs of the system.
I've vacationed in Puerto Vallarta for 15 yrs and seriously thought about buying there. Over time, I decided that I would not be happy because no matter what you do, you're still a foreigner and will be treated as such. Heard too many nightmare stories of when things go bad there is no justice for gringos. Also, I have watched the dollar decline in value to where some of the grocery prices were higher than at home, and I live in an area with high prices (Alaska). A person told me what some unscrupulous developers do is sell a project, fail to maintain it and let it fall into disrepair. The gringos hire Mexican attorneys who charge them plenty and the courts rule in favor of the developer. The gringos end up selling for a song or abandoning the units, then the developer comes in and remodels and sells them again. You need to be very careful and hire an honest lawyer to insure your legal claim to the property and I would only buy a stand alone property. I do have a friend living in PV just fine, but he knew the ins and outs of the system.
I am not surprised, and thanks for the info. I had heard the graft down there rivals anything here. This would be particularly scary if one retired down there alone, or ended up alone. It's a lovely place,but it seems like the underbelly is just too much.
I wondered also about the Mexico area specifically Mazatlan since it seems much cheaper than Puerto Vallarta or Cabo San Lucas. But we are hestitant because as nice as it is to visit, do we really want to put all our "eggs in a basket" and move everything to Mexico. The idea that we will always be foreigners keeps popping up in my head as someone else mentioned and maybe it won't be as nice living there as it would be on vacation. I just wonder if anyone else has moved there in retirement or thinking about it.
I've vacationed in Puerto Vallarta for 15 yrs and seriously thought about buying there. Over time, I decided that I would not be happy because no matter what you do, you're still a foreigner and will be treated as such. Heard too many nightmare stories of when things go bad there is no justice for gringos. Also, I have watched the dollar decline in value to where some of the grocery prices were higher than at home, and I live in an area with high prices (Alaska). A person told me what some unscrupulous developers do is sell a project, fail to maintain it and let it fall into disrepair. The gringos hire Mexican attorneys who charge them plenty and the courts rule in favor of the developer. The gringos end up selling for a song or abandoning the units, then the developer comes in and remodels and sells them again. You need to be very careful and hire an honest lawyer to insure your legal claim to the property and I would only buy a stand alone property. I do have a friend living in PV just fine, but he knew the ins and outs of the system.
That is something to think about. Thank you for your comments.
I realise this is a very old thread but if anyone is still interested -
I will apologise in advance in case i upset someone.
I just can't understand this thread at all.
Offshore living was discounted from the beginning.
Katie said "(apartment to rent) that is below $600/month" -- hell, you can live offshore with ALL expenses included, for less than that, not just rent.
Why people igniore the benefits of offhsore living, fails me completely.
Who says you can't work offshore?? - Technically, no, but who's going to find out.
Greg
Married Australian retiree, living in Malaysia on around US$600 per month.
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Maybe we'll be the happiest people in the end????
don't like being a foreigner
