This the second par of yesterday’s article – tips on finding locations where other expats already live.
4. Some other Community Factors to Look For
Even considering the point above, it is worth recognizing two conditions:
1. Even next to the “main attraction” there is usually a fairly large area to choose from; not all will be expat favorites. For example, the beachfront in the Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen) extends for almost 100 miles. Some pockets are more densely populated with expats than others.
2. Many tourist regions have more than one attraction. For example, in Playa del Carmen, or Los Cabos, the golf courses are close second to the beachfront, as far as expats buying real estate goes.
3. There are often pockets of expat communities away from the obvious point. For example, in Puerto Vallarta, a number of communities up on the hillside are gaining popularity. In these cases, other factors like views, proximity to shopping and (perhaps most significantly) prices have motivated groups of expats to form back from the beach.
As you start browsing for Mexico properties for sale online, take a look at community names and Google them. Of course, don’t forget to ask your agent if it’s a popular expat community.
5. What is the Sale Currency?
This is a very basic item which shouldn’t be given too much weight. If the prices are not in dollars, it’s likely only very few (if any) expats are buying. Mexican businessmen and even regular home owners know the value of selling to foreigners, and are very quick to advertise in dollars as soon as a couple of gringos have knocked on the door.
On the other hand, pretty much for the same reason, pricing in dollars does not necessarily mean that it is an expat community. Mexicans tend to see a sale in dollars as something “elitist” or desirable for the sake of image, so they may also jump the gun.
6. How Close Do You Want to Be?
If all you want to know is that there are other North Americans around that you’ll see now and then, share a coffee with or see on the street, you can probably give yourself a good deal of flexibility, provided you chose a region where there is an expat community.
On the other hand, if you want to know that many of your neighbors – in the same building, or on the same block, etc. – will speak English or be from back home, then you’ll have to be more selective, consider more factors and – most importantly – be sure to tell your agent!
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Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 16 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the president of Top Mexico Real Estate. Contact him at (512) 879-6546.
The TOP Mexico Real Estate Network; “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!â€
