By Diane Schmidt
Merida, Mexico
D.Schmidt
Moving overseas
is an exciting prospect. There is so much that is fresh and new in the
experience. But before you get too carried away with the adrenalin of
the move, it is wise to find out a little about what living there is
going to be like. In particular you will want to think about the most
important concern - your abode. Is renting and buying property in a
foreign country a feasible option?
First of all, you'd want to decide Whether to Rent or Buy.
My advice, obviously is to rent for an extended period before buying.
My sister and her husband moved to Mexico in September 2010, and their
experience supports this adage. There are many reasons to Consider Renting Before Buying.
Most rental leases—in any country, but particularly in Mexico—are negotiable. One can rent for just the night or for a full year, depending on what the owner has available, and in cases of long-term rentals, one can ask for a one to two-hundred-dollar (or more) discount.
Pets may or may not be allowed into the equation, but even this can be negotiable. In my sister's case, her rental house came with a ‘no pet’ policy, but there they were, the owners of two large, furry dogs—plus a cat with kidney problems—renting one of the famed architect Henry Ponce’s houses. Their very knowledgeable real estate agent advised them that they should never say anything about your pooch or kitten until you’ve actually met with the owner or property manager and viewed the property. Oftentimes, once they are met with a friendly face and obviously responsible personality, the idea of an accompanying dog or cat may no longer be a factor, especially when there is good money to be earned.
When you eventually decide to purchase a home in Mexico, hire an English-speaking lawyer of your own choosing, preferably one who has been referred by someone you trust. A real estate agent in the Playa del Carmen area told my sister about a situation involving a trusting American couple who owned two large dogs not unlike theirs. After receiving assurances from the owner that the building was pet-friendly, the couple went ahead and purchased a unit in the complex; yet within months of moving in they had a law-suit on their hands, the owner having lied about the ‘pet friendliness’ of the building in order to make a fast sale. As my sister and her husband discovered on Their Drive With Their Pets From Canada to Mexico, "Pet-Friendly" is often a label tacked on to earn your business, and may not be quite as advertised.
When purchasing a property requiring renovations, hire someone with a good local reputation to oversee the project, preferably an architect or reputable contractor. A friend of mine, wanting to save money, chose to take on the task of overseeing his renovation project himself much as one might do in the rest of North America, hiring a local electrician, plumber, carpenter, etc… to do individual jobs. While most of the work got done, he had to keep flying back to Mexico to ensure the workers were actually showing up and doing their various jobs. In the end, he had to tear out and ‘re-do’ the bathroom counters because they were installed at a height that was perfect for the rather diminutive Mexican workman who installed it, but not suitable at all to the owner’s far taller wife.
Most rental leases—in any country, but particularly in Mexico—are negotiable. One can rent for just the night or for a full year, depending on what the owner has available, and in cases of long-term rentals, one can ask for a one to two-hundred-dollar (or more) discount.
Pets may or may not be allowed into the equation, but even this can be negotiable. In my sister's case, her rental house came with a ‘no pet’ policy, but there they were, the owners of two large, furry dogs—plus a cat with kidney problems—renting one of the famed architect Henry Ponce’s houses. Their very knowledgeable real estate agent advised them that they should never say anything about your pooch or kitten until you’ve actually met with the owner or property manager and viewed the property. Oftentimes, once they are met with a friendly face and obviously responsible personality, the idea of an accompanying dog or cat may no longer be a factor, especially when there is good money to be earned.
When you eventually decide to purchase a home in Mexico, hire an English-speaking lawyer of your own choosing, preferably one who has been referred by someone you trust. A real estate agent in the Playa del Carmen area told my sister about a situation involving a trusting American couple who owned two large dogs not unlike theirs. After receiving assurances from the owner that the building was pet-friendly, the couple went ahead and purchased a unit in the complex; yet within months of moving in they had a law-suit on their hands, the owner having lied about the ‘pet friendliness’ of the building in order to make a fast sale. As my sister and her husband discovered on Their Drive With Their Pets From Canada to Mexico, "Pet-Friendly" is often a label tacked on to earn your business, and may not be quite as advertised.
When purchasing a property requiring renovations, hire someone with a good local reputation to oversee the project, preferably an architect or reputable contractor. A friend of mine, wanting to save money, chose to take on the task of overseeing his renovation project himself much as one might do in the rest of North America, hiring a local electrician, plumber, carpenter, etc… to do individual jobs. While most of the work got done, he had to keep flying back to Mexico to ensure the workers were actually showing up and doing their various jobs. In the end, he had to tear out and ‘re-do’ the bathroom counters because they were installed at a height that was perfect for the rather diminutive Mexican workman who installed it, but not suitable at all to the owner’s far taller wife.
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