Impressions so far

It is really too early to make a valid impression of Mexico, the people here and the Lake Chapala area but since I know that some of my readers are considering a visit or possibly moving here, I will write what I think so far and update my impressions later. Most what I will write now will not be from my own personal experience but from what others have told me or I have read somewhere.

Mexicans seem to enjoy their country very much and although they for the most part are poor by US standards they manage to make the best life they can for themselves. They are religious and family oriented. They enjoy food and fiestas. They can work very hard for very little. I understand that in this area the prevailing wage is about 10 pesos an hour, less than a dollar an hour. I have also been advised to not pay for something up front or the job may never get finished. If you buy an item in a store make sure you want it and it is in good condition because it is unlikely you could return it or get your money back. Once they have your money, it is theirs.

All over Mexico, if the owners of houses can afford it, they have a walled compound and iron bars on the windows. I have been told that the Mexicans are opportunists that will take any item left unattended. They feel that if you left it unattended, you wanted them to have it. Supposedly a watch dog is the best deterrent against theft and it is good to know your neighbors who can watch your place while you are not there. I heard stories that even walls will not deter thieves if they know that you have valuable items in your house. They will just take a sledge hammer and knock a hole in the wall or they will slip a small child through a window with iron bars and the child will then unlock the door. So showing off your valuable items to impress the Joneses is not a good idea in Mexico. There are even reports of home invasion robberies in the middle of the day but I think that this is only a problem for the rich.

Except for the bigger cities, there doesn’t seem to be much of a night life. People tend to stay home in the evenings. Most Mexicans cannot afford to go out for a beer or to eat in restaurants so they stay home with their family.

Much has been said of Mexican drivers. For the most part, I think they are good drivers but will often take chances like passing on blind curves. Many of the roads are single lane each way which they change to three lane roads. Many of the roads are in poor condition and your vehicle will take a beating. In most villages there are the topes (speed bumps) where you will need to stop and proceed at 1 MPH. Some of the curbs are high and can damage your vehicle if you get close. Telephone or utility poles may be in the street and the streets cobblestone and very narrow. In many cases, one way streets are not clearly marked. Highways may have no place to pull off so if you have a flat or car trouble you may become an obstacle in the middle of the road. Road construction or repair may be marked by another obstacle, stones in the road. If you can afford it, it is best to take the toll roads in most cases.

Real estate in the Lake Chapala area is high for Mexico due to the Norte Americanos who wish to live here and will pay almost any price. Some of the ex-pats from the US blame the Canadians for the increase. You can find cheap places (the cheapest place I have seen listed was about $40,000 USD) but there is usually a problem like poor location, no parking or needs extensive work (fixer-uppers). If you can afford to pay $300,000, you can see many very nice places some with up to 5 bedrooms, nice gardens and may even have separate casitas for guests or a swimming pool. A similar house in a good area of California could cost up to $1,000,000.

If you buy a lot with the intention of building, make sure you investigate fully and can get utilities. You may have to buy an electrical transformer and run electrical lines for blocks. I have also heard that in some areas, transformers may be stolen. Wood for building a house is hard to get. Most house construction is bricks, pumice blocks or cement. The water supply may be intermittent and undrinkable. You may need to buy water tanks for storage and install a water filtration system.

Rents have also increased but for $500- $600 a month you can usually find a house. The rent paid may include the services of a gardener. I would think the wise thing to do for someone looking to locate here would be to rent for 6 months or a year and look for a bargain. For instance, I have been introduced to a woman who has a nice place here and is going back to the United States to be near her children because her husband died here and his memory makes her too sad to continue to live here. One house I have been in was purchased one year ago for $42,000. But it is fairly remote from the center of gringo action and is small and needed some re-model work but it is now very nice with a beautiful mature garden in the back yard. The current owner spent quite a lot of time looking for a place and lucked out getting her place. If it is not important to have wonderful weather and English speaking people around, then you will find much better real estate prices in other areas of Mexico.

There is more freedom in Mexico than in the United States except in some areas. For instance there seems to be no zoning or building permits. You can build what ever you want on your land but it also means your next door neighbor can use your wall as a wall in his house or move goats or a pig sty next to your property. You can smoke in most places except for buses but I have heard that Mexicans do not approve of smoking while walking down a street. I have been told that there are “No bad mouthing” laws where you can be sued if you embarrass someone in public. I think you can be jailed for adultery and pedophilia is dealt with severely and pedophiles may not even make it to the jail house.

Fruits and vegetables in Mexico are better and cheaper than in the States. Some imported comfort foods like peanut butter may cost as much as $5 a jar. Other items, like cars, televisions, computers and electronic gear are more expensive. Good medical and dental care is cheaper in Mexico.

As with any situation, there are pluses and minuses. For me, life in Mexico is looking pretty good.