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p0nchito

Nov 20, 2003, 12:42 PM

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wanting to move to mexico

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hello everyone,

i am interested in moving to Mexico. i am 20 years old and am fiddling with the idea. My best friend is from veracruz and plans to move with his father in about five years. The city is sort of isolated with about 10 to 20,000 people. What there planning to do and myself is raise cattle,pigs,chickens,fishing etc and make their living off that, which they say is a great business. But what i would like to know is how much would i have to save to be able to go. Save for things such as a lot for a house and ranch, a house, and the animals. Now if anybody can help me with the lifestyle or living in mexico and anything else i mentioned i would greatly appreciate it. (just a couple things you might want to know) Again the city is a humble city nothing to fancy near the mountains and gulf of mexico. I am hispanic myself and can speak fluent spanish, i have a great job and am able to save quite a lump sum.

Thank you!

raferguson

Nov 20, 2003, 6:53 PM

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Re: [p0nchito] wanting to move to mexico

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One problem is that agriculture is a somewhat marginal business even in the USA, with low rates of returns despite large capital investments in land and equipment. We have family in agriculture in Illinois, so we have a bit of an inside view. This is doubly true in Mexico, since they are trying to compete with modern commercial agriculture in the USA, thanks to NAFTA.

If you had an agricultural family background, this might be a more realistic plan, but I would argue that your chances of success would be low even then. Remember that people are leaving the farms worldwide to move to the cities, mostly because they can't really make a decent living on the farm, especially compared to city wages. Even a good paying job would not let you save enough to buy a large farm, which is a requirement to make a decent living.

If you are even remotely serious about this, acompany your friend home sometime, and ask lots of questions. Find out what land really costs, how much income they make after expenses, etc. Visit other farmers and ask them the same questions.

I suggest you stick to your well-paying job.

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

Rolly

Nov 21, 2003, 5:11 AM

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Re: [p0nchito] wanting to move to mexico

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Amigo, you have a wonderful dream. but I fear it is just that -- a dream. Sr Ferguson is right -- it's not very likely to be possible.

Rolly Pirate

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

jeffsitka

Nov 21, 2003, 3:55 PM

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Re: [p0nchito] wanting to move to mexico

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I know a guy from a pueblito in Jalisco. He has eighty cows and grows corn in the rainy season for feed. He plants his corn and and then comes to the US to work for a couple of months while the fields are too wet to work. He probably makes more money working two months in US than he makes all year in Mexico.

His uncle raises cows, sugar cane, corn, calabasa, beans, and chiles. He has quite a bit of land and he comes to the US, too. If these guys were making any money at home, they wouldn't need to come to the US. If you're making good money at twenty, stay at it!

mkdutch

Nov 23, 2003, 8:36 AM

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Re: [p0nchito] wanting to move to mexico

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How about this alternative? Keep your job, and invest your savings in real estate in Mexico. Escept for properties close into resorts, property prices are attractive. The carrying (annual real estate taxes, utilities, etc.) are very low compared to the USA, for example, and you may have the opportunity to rent it for all or part of the year to cover those costs.

The major roadblock is the relative dirth of financing - most sales are cash or short-term owner financing. With NAFTA and the large number of baby-boomers coming of retirement age, real estate values in Mexico should continue to rise.

Owning would also give you a place to go and vacation as well. While I hesitate to suggest a partnership, perhaps your friend would be interested in working land that you own. Buena Suerte!.............Dutch