Moving to Mexico's Lake Chapala: Checklists, How-To's, and Practical Information and Advice for Expats and Retirees
Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez, Editor-in-Chief of El Ojo del Lago, has this to say: "I found it highly readable, most comprehensive, and flawlessly organized. I think it's the best book of its kind that I have read, and I have been down here for 25 years."
Is the information current? You bet! Why? Because Lisa Jorgensen only moved here this past spring. read more
Pancho Villa, plumbing and Mexico real estate
Investing to sell your Mexico real estate
Some of the best investments are the simplest and overall the least expensive to do. read more
Annual home maintenance in Mexico
The Best How-To Book on Moving to Mexico
Dealing with insects in your Mexico house and garden
Heating options for chilly nights in Mexico
What can we say? It is now November and it has already been cold; cold like late December when the chill in the air sends us under the covers at night. Without the heating systems we knew north of the border, how can we keep the house warmer?
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Grading and drainage in Lake Chapala real estate
The rules are different for Lake Chapala real estate – the elevation of the house and how the surrounding gardens and street are graded can affect the quality of your home.
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Waterproofing the roof in your Mexican home
In Mexico -- or anywhere -- the three key words for roof sealing are: preparation, preparation and preparation.
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Home construction or improvement contracts in Mexico
Recently, I have had to help clients who are far along in their project, way past the original schedule and way, way over budget.
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The cupola: Spain's gift to Mexico's colonial architecture
A brick dome or cupola can be very attractive... and also, a maintenance problem.
read moreWindows and Doors in Mexican Homes and Offices
It is rare to see windows made of wood and, still rarer, is to observe high-tech windows.
Windows and doors are elements in our home that we use frequently. Yet we never give them a second thoug...
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Seller's Overture: Advice for Selling Property in Mexico
Why do some properties take so long to sell?
After offering advice to buyers purchasing real estate in Mexico, it seems only fair to discuss the issues for a seller in a foreign country.
You have dec...
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Drinking Water Filter Systems For Home And Travel
"Protect Your Health at All Costs!"
If you want to "Live Your Mexican Dream", you've got to be healthy.
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Drinking w...
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Travelers' checks, ATM machines or cash… Oaxaca, Money and Exchange: A Primer
Advice to heed before heading out the door to the airport, questions you'll have after landing, and money issues that will arise in the course of your vacation
You don't need to take travelers' checks...
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Toilet Paper and Mexican Plumbing
In village businesses, it is common to see a sign in the bathroom asking you not to throw tissue paper down the toilet.
The debate among friends in high school was whether the toilet paper shou...
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Teaching English Overseas: A Job Guide for Americans and Canadians
Latin America is a really enormous TEFL market, with tens of thousands of jobs available every year in language schools, binational centers and universities….
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Obtaining Mexican Social Security (IMSS) Health Insurance
Expats living in Mexico have other considerations and better economic choices not commonly shared with the short-term traveler.
First, there is no need for evacuation to a home country. Second, beca...
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Communicating with Contractors
Let's look at the construction business here at Lake Chapala. This is like many businesses in that just about anyone can hang out a sign and call himself or herself a contractor. I believe the freedom ...
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Aljibes - underground water cisterns
Last month’s article stirred up some questions from some homeowners that I thought we could address in this month’s issue.
Aljibes (underground water cisterns) are a critical link it each homeowne...
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The Sky Is Falling
Once the rainwater drains off the roof, where is the water going?
After two strong rainfalls in Guadalajara, I was up on my father-in-law's roof last weekend to help a contractor from Chapala clean an...
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Is a flat roof really flat?
It is there above us, protecting us from the sun, the wind and the rain however; generally we are not worried about our roofs until we see water leaking through it. Typically, roofs he...
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Septic systems
For the average new homebuyer, there is nothing more horrifying than the thought of buying a home with a septic system. This hidden, underground system seems to conjure up thoughts of backyards flooded...
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Soils and foundations
Ever considered the base on which your house is sitting. Yes, there is a foundation between you and the surrounding soils. In general there are stone foundations bound with mortar mixture to help keep ...
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Care and maintenance of the fireplace
As I write this month's article, I am sitting beside a wood stove in a cabin by a frozen lake in Ontario. So this article's topic becomes very tangible and important, especially because I want to keep ...
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