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All the Reasons to Consider Retirement in Mexico

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When time for retirement starts closing in, it’s time to consider a place to retire to. Many people stay home and carry out their retirement there. But others are keen to spread their wings and fly. They consider heading out somewhere new, where that new breath of life is waiting. That is why so many people place the Riviera Maya in Mexico at the top of their list. It might be the weather, the lower cost of living or even the fulfilment of living abroad. Mexico has everything, which is why it is the perfect place to seek retirement. Take a moment to write down all the elements that you and your partner will want and need in selecting a retirement destination. Then start a shortlist of places that will satisfy the criteria. We bet that Mexico is at the top of the list!

Retire in Playa del Carmen

When living in North America, you have several choices to live out the best years of your life. You could select Europe, Hawaii, or somewhere in the Orient. Whichever countries you are researching, make sure you do all your due diligence when comparing what best suits your specific requirements. But at the same time, don’t forget to listen to your emotional urges to live in a place that keeps popping up in your mind. And we certainly hope that place is the Riviera Maya. In all honesty, there are no shortage of reasons to consider this piece of paradise.

Just recently, International Living rated Mexico 3rd out of 10 on its annual report The World’s Best Places to Retire in 2019. Even though Mexico wasn’t number one, you have to consider the approximate location to your home country and family. Living in North America, most retirees and expats can be less than a 3 to 6-hour plane flight from home. The following reasons will help you complete that long-visited list of why you should consider retirement in Mexico.

The Cancun International Airport

Cancun International Airport

This ever-growing airport is conveniently located on the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, just minutes away from the Riviera Maya stretch. It is an ideal location that can be used as a home base to explore other worldly destinations. In fact, the Cancun International Airport is the second largest and busiest airport in Mexico, right after Mexico City’s. Moreover, it is one of the country’s state-of-the-art airports. It is constantly improving its infrastructure and completed its fourth terminal in October 2017. Cancun’s airport is Mexico’s most popular ports-of-call for tourism. It provides multiple means of transportation to almost anywhere on the Peninsula. You can choose from luxury bus lines, shuttle services, taxi services, and reliable public transportation.

Near perfect year-round weather

Once you arrive in Mexico, you can toss your coat, sweater and boots in a box and store them away – for good. The Riviera Maya’s daily temperature rarely fluctuates throughout the seasons. The daytime highs in summer range from the low to mid 90s, and the evenings settle down to the mid and upper 70s. The colder months level off into the low to mid 80s, and a relaxing 70 to 73 degrees after the sunsets. These types of temperatures make every day a beach day. Mexico is all about outdoor living day or night. Can’t ask for any better weather than this. Especially for your long-awaited retirement.

Beach Sunset

Enjoy a Caribbean lifestyle

If having fun in the sun and being surrounded by the Caribbean Sea sounds like the perfect place for you, move down here now. The Riviera Maya has made several Top 10 lists as having some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Here is where the turquoise waters meet up with the fine, white sand. Imagine strolling along where the soft sand gently massages your feet, the warm tempered waves splash against your legs, and palm trees sway subtly above your head. It’s not longer a dream, but a reality.

The cost of living is unbeatable

Tulum

Living a comfortable lifestyle on a modest amount of money is no problem at all in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. With inexpensive entertainment, low taxes, and bargain shopping, you can enjoy a comfortable – and sometimes luxurious – life. Other contributing costs of saving factors include the USD to Mexican Peso exchange rate and low property taxes. The latter makes owning a home very affordable. You will rarely need a car, because public transportation is very reliable and inexpensive. Likewise, walking around or biking is great due to the proximity of it all. Visiting nearby communities can be as easy as catching a colectivo or flagging down a taxi.

Modern infrastructure, modern comforts and stable government

Mexico has a very modern infrastructure that includes running water, sewer systems, water purification plans, and a very reliable electrical grid. Likewise, services such as Wi-Fi are offered everywhere, and many times it is free. Internet cabling reaches most places and has a reliable speed. When it comes to shopping, you will find familiar retailers, grocery stores, and outlets selling all modern conveniences of home. Lastly, the Mexican government has been and continues being stable. It also has plans to continually enhance the country’s notable reputation for being safe and very protective of its tourists. Don’t hesitate to let your guard down once in a while and enjoy life as it is meant to be.

Other factors for the best retirement in Mexico

Other worthwhile benefits are the fabulous cuisines, the ease of travel between regions (especially with the upcoming Mayan train), a welcoming culture and festive environment. These are only a few of the reasons why Mexico is the perfect retirement destination, and why it has topped many international lists.

Most importantly, however, is the ease of purchasing real estate in the region and becoming a happy homeowner in Mexico. You will find new developments which are thought out as perfect for retirement, such as Starlight Towers in Playa del Carmen, with its indoor patio and smart architecture. Or if you prefer Tulum, you will find places such as Puerta Azul, which offer open-plan condos perfect for entertaining visiting friends or family.

Benefits of Living in Mexico

Expats Rank Mexico 1st Place for Personal Happiness

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Expats in Mexico are the happiest people in the world, according to a recent InterNations survey. They surveyed over 18,000 expats from 163 countries, taking into consideration different factors of moving and living abroad. Mexico ranked first – out of 68 countries – for personal happiness. It ranked second for leisure, ease of settling in and cost of living. Thanks to the investments being made in safety and quality of life in the Yucatan Peninsula, many foreigners continue choosing it as their perfect retirement destination. Others find it to be ideal as a snowbird destination.

Perfect Retirement: Settling in is Easy in Mexico

Retiring to Mexico

According to other studies, 39% of expats living in Mexico are, in fact, retirees. Out of all expats in Mexico 20% have said that they moved down here for the weather and quality of life. No wonder it ranked second for leisure, ease of settling in and cost of living. 85% of the expats mentioned that settling down in Mexico was really easy. They mentioned the ease with which the local culture has made them feel at home. In fact, if you compare cities such as Sarasota to Playa del Carmen you will notice that it is over 50% more affordable to live in Mexico than it is to retire in the United States.

Another aspect of the survey that made Mexico stand out was the friendliness of the Mexican people. 64% of those surveyed said that Mexicans are some of the friendliest people they’ve encountered. Because of this, it ranks first in friendliness. Over half of them reported that the local’s attitude towards foreigners is very friendly, which is why making friends in Mexico is easy. And the language barrier is no problem. In fact, 96% of them reported that they already speak Spanish to some level.

Expats are Happy with the Financial Benefits of Living in Mexico

But it is probably the financial benefits of moving to Mexico that is the driving force of retirees wanting to move down here. The survey revealed Mexico to be second in cost of living and third in the personal finance index. Actually, 17% of expats in Mexico reported that they have more money than they need.

Overall, Mexico remains a top-of-mind retirement destination for many reasons. But personal happiness is perhaps the most important one. That is why 88% of expats surveyed said they were quite satisfied with their lives in Mexico placing it in fourth place in the overall ranking. And the truth is, that purchasing a retirement home in Mexico is really simple. With so many Mexico real estate options available, it also comes as no surprise that people are choosing this beautiful place to spend their winters and benefit from their home the rest of the year.

5 Reasons to Retire to Mexico

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5 Reasons to Retire to Mexico is a contribution by Crystal Tost from Re/Max.

When trying to decide on the right country for retirement, you will find that there are many options available. Many countries can dispute the pros of retiring there. However, there are several reasons why many Canadians and Americans choose to retire to Mexico. In fact, here are five great reasons to call Mexico home after retiring.

Proximity

For those who currently reside in Canada and the United States, Mexico is a great retirement destination due to proximity. As part of North America, Mexico can easily be reached by car from any country. Moreover, flight routes are available between major destinations between the United States and Canada and Mexico, such as Cancun. Not only does this help to make the move easier, but it also makes it easier to travel back and forth to your home country to visit relatives and friends.

Cost of Living

Everything from real estate to groceries is cheaper in Mexico when compared to Canada and the United States. This means you can afford to purchase more luxurious accommodations while also enjoying the lifestyle you seek. Or, if you simply want to maintain your current lifestyle while making your dollars stretch further, living in Mexico can help make it happen. In addition, due to the country’s strong tourist economy, you can easily rent out your retirement property if you decide to head back to your home country for an extended stay.

Language and Culture

While Spanish and several native languages are the official languages of Mexico, many residents speak English, too. This is particularly true in the service industry and in those areas that are popular amongst tourist and expats such as Playa del Carmen. This can make the process of moving to the country, purchasing real estate and navigating through the country once becoming a resident a whole lot easier.

Of course, if you want to enjoy a wonderful cultural experience, you can also very easily choose a location that will allow you to submerge yourself entirely in the Mexican culture. The government system is similar to that in the United States and Canada, too. Couple that with the diversification of products and goods, the cultural experience is not too vastly different from what you are used to.

Healthcare

While the quality of healthcare provided will vary from one location to the next, healthcare standards are generally very high in Mexico. This is particularly true in the bigger towns and cities that are popular retirement locations. Here you can typically find doctors, dentists, hospitals and specialty medical providers. Not only do they offer high-quality services, they also do so at a fraction of the price you would pay back home. If that’s not enough to convince you, many of them also offer their services in English.

Lifestyle

With its wide range of topography and climates, you can very easily live whatever type of lifestyle you desire. Mexico is conductive to enjoying an active, outdoor lifestyle. But you can also enjoy living life at a leisurely pace. After all, the country has a laid-back vibe and warm and welcoming citizens. For those who want to retire in the Riviera Maya, they’re in for an amazing laidback lifestyle. Hit the beach every day and take a stroll amongst the lively coastal towns it offers.

Retire to Mexico Today

These are just five reasons to consider Mexico your retirement home. Spend those golden years in this wonderfully cultural country. Places such as the Riviera Maya are great expat retirement hubs. These are just a few of the many reasons almost 2 million Americans call Mexico home. If you want to spend your golden years sipping margaritas by the beach in a year-long warm climate, you should definitely retire to Mexico.

What to Look for in a Retirement Home

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Life can hardly get any better than sitting on the beach enjoying the cool ocean breeze. The palm trees above are gently swaying in time with the Caribbean Sea’s gentle waves, slapping against the white sand beach. You are just about to delight your palate with your favorite beverage. Then you suddenly wake up to the sounds of trucks and loud pipes outside. You look up at your bedroom’s plain white ceiling and think, “I’m dreaming again”. This gets you thinking about retirement more than ever. Where will you invest in a retirement home? Well, if your dreams are any indications. It should be in the Caribbean. But, that’s not all, the question truly is, what should you look for in a retirement home?

Whatever you decide, we’re sure it won’t include listening to loud vehicles in the morning or waking up to the same old routine. Instead, it will be more like living in a permanent dream vacation. You will be in a place that will allow you to live and do the things you truly want for the rest of your days. But first, you need to find a location that accommodates your needs. Let us help you with some useful suggestions in what to look for in a retirement home. These are intended to provide an interim itinerary that can jumpstart your search.

Find a Location That Meets Your Expectations

Retirement Home Mexico

If you are looking to be close enough to Playa del Carmen, without the hustle and bustle of the city’s endless action, then think about looking just outside the city’s central district. There are many surrounding communities that have easy access to the heart of Playa del Carmen, such as El Cielo. It’s easy to catch a cab, drive or walk to all of Playa del Carmen’s most popular places. You are close to shopping centers, restaurants and other daily attractions.

If you want to be near or in the middle of the action, choose a location that can offer direct access to amenities. You can step out onto Playa del Carmen’s Fifth Avenue, or in Tulum’s hotel strip. This places you steps from the beach and turquoise waters. It is always suggested to briefly stay in the approximate area(s) you are thinking of purchasing in. That way you can offer more detailed information to your trusted real estate agent when discussing your ideal location and needed activities.

Set a Budget That You are Comfortable With

Determine an allotted dollar amount that won’t create pressure or a financial burden on your retirement budget. Avoid the need to constantly think that the cost doesn’t matter, because it’s your retirement. Many retirees lose focus on their planned itineraries when they first experience paradise. There are plenty of condos and homes that will meet, and even exceed, your wants and needs. If you can justify the extra expense or cost, then go for it. But remember, you can always upgrade further down the road, as well.

Is a Condo or a Free-Standing Home Better?

Puerta Azul Tulum

There are advantages to both a condo and a single dwelling. A stand-alone home offers more privacy and more room. And in most cases, it has yard space to do with as you wish. Having a single-family home usually has a garage and plenty of space to park more than one vehicle. But there are other factors to consider such as maintenance and upkeep, which is usually more than in one condo. When you are away for a period of time (if you are a retiree snowbird), you can’t just lock the door and leave. You have to make sure your home is secure, the yard is cared for, and the pool is take care of (where applicable).

A condo is usually a part of a bigger complex. Its exterior and common areas are part of the association’s responsibility (which you pay for, of course). You can leave your home for an extended time and all you need to do is lock the door. There will be people around upkeeping the property and its amenities. On the other hand, there is less privacy beyond your front door. Parking can be troublesome if you have more than one vehicle, as well. Depending on the complex, there is rarely any covered parking, unless you pay extra for it. These are things to consider when looking at both a condo and a free-standing home.

You Need a Real Estate Agent to Find Your Retirement Home

Nothing really happens until you find a qualified and trustworthy real estate agent. Many inexperienced retirees don’t take the time to research and find a reliable agent to guide them through the process. Especially when they’re doing it in a foreign country. When you start looking for an agent to represent you, make sure they are skilled in working with American and Canadian buyers and that they know the ins and outs of purchasing a home abroad.

Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy your golden years in paradise. Whether you’re looking for a laidback lifestyle in Tulum or an upbeat, activity-packed adventure in Playa del Carmen, it’s up to you to decide what you want from your retirement.