Coming back to Mexico

Coming back to Mexico

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We bought a house and moved to Mexico in 2007 near Toluca. We left Mexico in 2009 due to my declining health. Since being back in Arizona I have been hospitalized 5 times including two stays in ICU. The latest hospitalization was due to a burst blood vessel in my brain. I am slowly getting over that. I now have a possibility of renting or re-purchasing our home in Villa Victoria.I find I miss our home and Mexico and am negotiating with the owner of the house to get back in it. I am on Social Security and Medicare, my wife will be eligible to take early retirement (Social Security) December 2012. What I am thinking about doing is renting the house first and stay in it (after getting myself stronger and without symptoms) while my wife finishes up her employment in Phoenix. Then when she retires next year move her down and we re-purchase the house. My questions are as follows:
*Does that seem like a reasonable plan.
*How has inflation been in Mexico in the last two years?
*Is it difficult to get IMSS insurance in Mexico?
*We did not turn in our FM3 when we left, what will I have to do to get another one? or will I have to use a tourist visa?
*We did not turn in our auto registration when we left, what will I have to do to get our automobile registered. Just answers no smart ass comments, please.
*Are the cartels mainly in /Acapulco, Monterrey, and Michoacan?
Which crossing would be safest crossing in to Mexico from Phoenix. Would it be best to drive through /Sinaloa to Guadalajara and pick up the cuota to Villa Victoria? Or would it be safe to drive through /chihuahua, Torreon and that route?

Thanks for any information which you can pass along.

Dr. Mike
Dr. Mike

http://www.smarthealthchoices.blogspot.com

There are hundreds of paths up the mountain,
all leading in the same direction,
so it doesn't matter which path you take.
The only one wasting time is the one
who runs around and around the mountain,
telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.

Hindu teaching

esperanza

Aug 30, 2011, 10:37 AM

Post #2 of 28 (1991 views)

Re: [drmike] Coming back to Mexico

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DrMike, welcome back to Mexconnect. I for one have missed you and am glad to hear that you are recovering from a lot of health situations. Ánimo, amigo!

I will address a couple of your questions:

1. Many prices in Mexico have gone up a lot since you left. For example, I do most of our food shopping at the neighborhood tianguis (street market) and find that to purchase fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses I spend a little more than double what I spent a couple of years ago. Gasoline prices are through the roof, even for Magna (unleaded regular). We're paying almost 10 pesos the liter now. Prices for medicines have also risen, but not as much as food and gasoline.

2. IMSS is simple to get if you don't have pre-existing conditions. With the pre-existing conditions that you mention, it may be impossible.

3. The cárteles are everywhere, although much of their activity is in the states you mention. However, parts of the State of México, Cuernavaca, Jalisco, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and other states are also very problematic.

I'll leave answers to your immigration, travel, and vehicle-related questions to others. Many of Mexico's immigration laws changed about a year-plus ago and those new laws are set to change again in just a few months.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

davidkrug

Aug 30, 2011, 10:59 AM

Post #3 of 28 (1985 views)

Re: [esperanza] Coming back to Mexico

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I have failed to turn in my immigration paperwork a time or two. It's a hassle and the stress is worth more upon returning. I've found peace in just dealing with the bureacracy. It's so much easier.

Cartels typically ignore Americans. It's bad for business to hassle us.

Enjoy Mexico!

Amor y Paz

Retirement: World's longest coffee break. ~Author Unknown
Visit Me Online at: DavidKrug.org

CanuckBob

Aug 30, 2011, 2:01 PM

Post #4 of 28 (1929 views)

Re: [esperanza] Coming back to Mexico

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Agreed, however food and gasoline prices have also risen significantly in other parts of the world. Coming from Vancouver, BC (where regular gasoline is now approx.16 peso/Lt) Mexico still looks like quite the bargain. Food prices, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables in the winter months, are still 1/2 price. Then you can factor in the difference in real estate, insurances, property taxes, etc............YMMV

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://lakechapalainfo.bigforumpro.com/

esperanza

Aug 30, 2011, 2:45 PM

Post #5 of 28 (1913 views)

Re: [CanuckBob] Coming back to Mexico

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The OP specifically asked if prices had risen in Mexico during the last two years. He didn't ask if the cost of living here was a bargain compared to other places. I shared my current Mexican experiences with him; however, as you said, YMMV.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

CanuckBob

Aug 30, 2011, 3:30 PM

Post #6 of 28 (1903 views)

Re: [esperanza] Coming back to Mexico

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I didn't misunderstand the question. They actually asked "How has inflation been in Mexico in the last two years?" to which I wanted to further add to your reply that it was similar to many other places in the world.............but thanks for clarifying anyways;>)

Bob
Inside Lakeside
http://lakechapalainfo.bigforumpro.com/

RickS

Aug 30, 2011, 6:52 PM

Post #7 of 28 (1858 views)

Re: [drmike] Coming back to Mexico

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"Which crossing would be safest crossing in to Mexico from Phoenix?"

This subject has been discussed a great deal here lately. Do a Search Post function using 'border crossings' and read them all. To summarize I think the consensus is that 'mathematically there is no one best crossing/route (that you would actually take) AND your chance of having a bad crossing - safety wise - is quite small to non-existent at most. If I were coming from Phoenix and all things else were considered equal, I'd just cross at the Mariposa crossing on the west side of Nogales and head down cuota 15.

Aaron+

Sep 9, 2011, 6:00 PM

Post #8 of 28 (1558 views)

Re: [drmike] Coming back to Mexico

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5 times in ICU, and you are seriously thinking of moving back to Mexico, and not even to a major medical center? With Medicare only good in the USA (except for certain emergency situations, and then not for continuing care), and an inability to obtain IMSS coverage (with IMSS not really recommended for any serious condition), I have to question your reasoning abilities.

Forget the immigration questions and repurchase issues, and enjoy life near Phoenix!

La Isla

Sep 9, 2011, 7:24 PM

Post #9 of 28 (1532 views)

Re: [Aaron+] Coming back to Mexico

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If his house is near Toluca, then he's not that far from Mexico City, which is certainly a major medical center.

Gringal

Sep 10, 2011, 8:00 AM

Post #10 of 28 (1469 views)

Re: [Aaron+] Coming back to Mexico

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I appreciate his desire to return to Mexico...........and I don't question his reasoning abilities, but I have to agree that if someone has health issues that put him in the ICU on more than one occasion........there are some serious questions about Mexico being a good choice for the long haul. .

If he is well enough off financially to be self-insured, then a good choice would be the major medical centers such as Guadalajara and Mexico City.........along with some good ones in Queretero and other major population centers.

IMSS, even when their gringo clients have paid in for years, is bumping them off the rolls for no discernible reason lately, at least in the Chapala area. With pre-existing conditions, another problem arises. Don't know about elsewhere.

Sep 10, 2011, 12:46 PM

Post #11 of 28 (1421 views)

Re: [drmike] Coming back to Mexico

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I'll pick one very narrow subject, cartels: they are everywhere, but I totally agree that at this point they don't bother us gringos. Friends just spent a week and a half in Michoacan and had a perfectly wonderful time, although they were saddened by the dramatic downturn in business formerly provided by visiting gringos, it's not just bad, it's a disaster.

There are two stories that concern me a bit, one is the apparent extortion attempt on the school teachers in Acapulco, that's off the normal cartel reservation, why? - who knows, maybe interdiction has cut into drug and smuggling profits enough to cause them to seek new sources of income (which pretty much kills the naive concept that legalizing drugs would send all the butchers back the cane fields).

The second story is one of an Austin high school football team who invited a Monterey team to come play, the Monterey team had to decline when they were informed it would cost $30,000 USD to "insure" the buses made it to the border safely. Again, that's getting serious. But then again, I don't know specifically which cartels were involved, or if in fact it was simply opportunistic criminals using the current climate to their advantage.

But, I have no concerns as of now and intend to drive to TX next month as usual.

However, it may be like the old saying: Mistakes; it could be the only purpose for you life is to serve as a warning to others?
www.chapalaweather.net

(This post was edited by stevebrtx on Sep 10, 2011, 12:49 PM)

whynotwrite

Sep 10, 2011, 1:18 PM

Post #12 of 28 (1408 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Coming back to Mexico

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the first story sounds like it could be true. The second story sounds like b.s. and just an excuse not to make the trip.

Sep 10, 2011, 1:29 PM

Post #13 of 28 (1407 views)

Re: [whynotwrite] Coming back to Mexico

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Could be, but it was in the Austin paper and I got it from a guy yesterday who lives there. Like I said, at this point of disarray there are a lot of opportunistic criminals and no one wants to take the chance, would you put you kid on a bus and take the chance that it's a bluff?

Seriously, the worst part is the decline in business in Michoacan, it's very bad for those people. In Santa Clara de Cobre the fact that 3 gringos were in town was a major event with a guy running around announcing it.
www.chapalaweather.net

chinagringo

Sep 10, 2011, 1:58 PM

Post #14 of 28 (1397 views)

Re: [whynotwrite] Coming back to Mexico

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The football team story was confirmed in more than one story in both the Mexican media and NOB media. The fact is that the school had the opportunity to rake in some extra money from playing the game in Texas!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Rolly

Sep 10, 2011, 2:09 PM

Post #15 of 28 (1393 views)

Re: [whynotwrite] Coming back to Mexico

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From the Austin Statesman newspaper

Round Rock ISD athletic director Jim Loerwald confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that Monterrey Tech has backed out of a game that was scheduled to be played on Thursday against Stony Point. According to Loerwald, Monterrey Tech, a football team from Mexico that played games at The Woodlands and Highland Park over the past two weeks, claimed that a cartel was demanding $30,000 in order to let Monterrey Tech cross and come back across the border.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Sep 10, 2011, 4:15 PM

Post #16 of 28 (1362 views)

Re: [Rolly] Coming back to Mexico

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Um, this isn't confirmation that a cartel made this demand, but a statement by a secondary source quoting an unsubstantiated statement that such a demand was made. Which it could have been, but sounds unlikely to me.

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

Sep 10, 2011, 7:35 PM

Post #17 of 28 (1343 views)

Re: [richmx2] Coming back to Mexico

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Get real, what do you need, the head of the cartel to get on Utube with a personal statement? The point is that the climate is so poisoned that no one is willing to take a chance, does it matter if it was Sinaloa, Gulf, Zeta or just a bunch of punks with guns?
www.chapalaweather.net

Sep 10, 2011, 10:49 PM

Post #18 of 28 (1316 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Coming back to Mexico

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As one who for a short time worked as a reporter on the border, and in various news media on and off over the last umteen years, I would have expected a quote from someone on the Monterrey football team, if only the PR director... and I know any editor worth his or her salt would have demanded it.

Unsubstantiated rumor mongering, as a couple of "tuiteros" in Veracruz recently learned, is not just unacceptable journalism, it can have serious social consequences.

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

Yacatecuhtli

Sep 10, 2011, 11:01 PM

Post #19 of 28 (1314 views)

Coming back to Mexico

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In Reply To

cartels: they are everywhere, but I totally agree that at this point they don't bother us gringos.

So I guess that in events like the recent casino incident in Monterrey the cartels make announcements in English first to make sure any gringo can get out in time and not be harmed while the Mexicans are left to parish ....???!!? Or at the Narco blockade they have turn off signs before the blockade so the gringos can turn off and not be bothered..... I wonder how they got the message out to the gringos at the soccer game in Torreon ?

Personally I think its a numbers game, a lot more Mexicans in Mexico than gringos so obviously they will be more Mexican victims.......

Sep 11, 2011, 6:43 AM

Post #20 of 28 (1286 views)

Re: [Yacatecuhtli] Coming back to Mexico

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Stuff happens, you might notice that today's date 9/11/11 commemorates 3000 people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but as a group gringos are not in the cross hairs at this time.
www.chapalaweather.net

Grieger-Lods

Sep 12, 2011, 4:34 PM

Post #21 of 28 (1140 views)

Re: [drmike] Coming back to Mexico

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Dr. Mike,
I understand your desire to move back to Mexico. We just moved to Puebla and we love it here. Quality of life sometimes overrules longevity. Make your decision based on what is in your heart. Life is short and only you know what you truly want.
Gay Lods

rscastro

Sep 19, 2011, 2:33 PM

Post #22 of 28 (867 views)

Re: [richmx2] Coming back to Mexico

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I just have to make a comment on this line of thought. I'm a 16-year veteran Texas reporter/editor and have worked the past 22 years as a Texas public school PR director. That doesn't make me an expert on anything, I guess, but I do have firsthand knowledge on this subject. The athletic director for Monterrey Tech received an annonymous phone call from someone who knew the specific buses his team takes when it travels--there would be three buses and the caller knew that as well as the bus line. Although it was annonymous, Mr. Garcia felt that he had to take this threat serious. No way of knowing if it was a member of a cartel or just someone hoping to grab an easy dollar. Bottom line, we never want to do something that could endanger the lives of our students. That's a priority no matter what country you are living in. So, he cancelled the two games his kids were supposed to play in. However, he did bring a smaller group--40 players instead of 60--to play in the Tom Landry Classic in Dallas. They flew on American Airlines at a cost of about $25,000. It would have cost them about $8,000 to bus the entire squad up here. Sad.

We're still moving to Mexico next year, however. Can't wait. I know much of what we hear here NOB is media hype. It's not exactly safe on the streets of Houston in some areas at night. You just have to use common sense wherever you live.

Sep 19, 2011, 10:20 PM

Post #23 of 28 (801 views)

Re: [rscastro] Coming back to Mexico

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Thanks. What Mr. Garcia said has some weight, but not Mr. Loenwald, who wasn't in a position to confirm or deny anything, other than he heard something from somebody. This is a serious problem I find with U.S. and other foreign reportage on Mexico (and other countries)... stories are written by people who have depend on second-hand and not necessarily reliable sources, and the information is often garbled as it was in this instance. Honestly, I'm kinda shocked that no one at the Austin newspaper seems to have tried to telephone anyone at Monterrey Tech. As the late Molly Ivins used to point out, any Texas reporter who doesn't learn Spanish isn't doing their job.

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http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

sioux4noff

Sep 20, 2011, 7:25 AM

Post #24 of 28 (752 views)

Re: [richmx2] Coming back to Mexico

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Quote

stories are written by people who have depend on second-hand and not necessarily reliable sources, and the information is often garbled

Honestly, I see that same thing in stories written in the local Spanish language publications here in Puerto Vallarta. Read about the same thing in a few papers and you will get several versions, sometimes pretty far apart in content.

Sep 20, 2011, 2:53 PM

Post #25 of 28 (679 views)