To build or buy a house in Mexico
The houses here are distinctly different to those where you come from and, on top of that, the person(s) constructing your house are speaking another language.
read moreBuying Real Estate in Mexico and the Mexican Notary Public
In Mexico, the notary public (notario público) is a public official appointed by the State Governor. He has the capacity to attest and certify documents and business and legal transactions that require authenticity. He also provides for strict security of original records and documents.
read moreWater pressure systems versus the rooftop tinaco tank in the Mexican home
Traditionally, the water pressure in your Mexican home would be supplied by a tank of water up on the roof of your home that is called a tinaco in Spanish. Water draining from the tank flows under the ...
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Real estate: Can I buy and own property in Mexico?
Can I buy and own property in Mexico? Yes
read moreViva La Baja! Relocation and Real Estate Guide to the Baja California Peninsula by Molly McHugh
Molly McHugh's recently published Viva La Baja! Relocation and Real Estate Guide to the Baja California Peninsula provides concise, easy to use information for anyone interested in north or south Baja. It is obvious that McHugh's objective is to provide an excellent product that will be useful for people of all ages and from all walks of life.
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Windows 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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Moving to Mexico? It's different. Do your homework.
I have determined a list of the best recommendations for any buyer purchasing in a foreign country.
What has struck me a few times this past year have been some of the minor last minute conflicts that...
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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.
Drinking w...
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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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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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What is a home inspector?
The objective of writing this column is to act independently and discuss the typical property ownership/maintenance issues and real estate concerns for existing and perspective homeowners here at Lake ...
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Water distribution systems
For many newcomers, the water distribution systems here in Mexico are different from water supply they are used to in the rest of North America.
In the case of a typical home in Canada or the USA, the...
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How much electricity am I using?
It seems last month's article regarding our electrical bills touched a lot of people here in my reading audience. Thank you for you kind comments and questions. I wanted to expand a little more regardi...
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Why hasn't my home sold?
An important factor is the condition of the house. This relates back to the general appearance of the home and those important first impressions.
With this month's edition I want to touch on some ...
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Electrical surges and spikes
We see them in just about every house here at Lake Chapala. Sometimes they are humming and others quietly sit in a corner, showing a little light on. But all are on guard, protecting our electronic dev...
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Salitre: a form of masonry cancer?
Salitre is the Spanish term commonly used for masonry “efflorescence.” Salitre is the white powdery stain that forms on the surface of bricks and concrete and can cause the stucco or paint o...
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Cracks in masonry
No, this is not an article about an additive drug, a quick glib joke or that exposed skin area of the refrigerator repairman's lower back, as he crouches down in front of you. This article is about mas...
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The Lake Chapala real estate market
Between 2003 and 2006 , the average sale price of Mexico real estate in the Lake Chapala area increased by approximately 69%.
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