When you rent or purchase Mexico real estate, you'll find that construction techniques as well as climate are probably very different from what you are accustomed to. Will you struggle with mold in your Mexican home? read more

As it is anywhere else, real estate is a major investment. What about shifting foundations due to the earth's movements? Who is at fault? This is not a discussion of legal liability but rather a discussion of geology.

In Mexico, the term "fault" has been used to describe a special soil condition that has caused damage to some homes here at Lake Chapala. The damage was generally caused by an uneven settlement of the foundations. read more

Readers often ask, "Is Mexico safe? Can I do anything about it?" Security anywhere can be a very sensitive issue, and security in Mexico is no exception. Sometimes we need to rethink how to keep our homes safe. There is much that we can do. read more

In Mexico, the Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is the Impuesto Sobre la Renta (ISR), which is paid by the seller of the property. It translates to a tax upon rent, profit, yield or income and in other financial circles it is called an income tax. In recent years, Mexico's federal government had modified the regulations governing the Impuesto Sobre la Renta. read more

Recently I had the pleasure of visiting with some of my wife's family in northern Mexico. The old house where we stayed is approaching 100 years in age. I won't say the plumbing was poor, but the real estate was obviously dated and there were some noted problems and historical issues with the plumbing. read more

As the rains begin, there is that smell of wet earth, as the layers of dust and grunge slowly melt off the roofs and sidewalks and wash into the streets. The showers quickly became a very intense rain. It comes down in torrents that overflow through the village and make certain streets look like the arroyos that, in some cases, they once were. How does this affect your Mexico real estate? read more

This may not sound like a Mexico real estate or home maintenance issue, but I thought my experience was worth sharing. Recently, my wife and I purchased a Mexico vacation package offered by our bank. A... read more

What are the best things to do when renovating a home to sell in order to maximize the return on the effort and money invested in renovations with the best sale price?

Some of the best investments are the simplest and overall the least expensive to do. read more

When we think of the word trap, we usually think of the small apparatus used to catch mice or something sinister to capture and / or injure a soldier during war. But the traps I want to address in this article are the drain traps in the plumbing of your Mexico house. A trap is an element in drains. read more

Gas is an important element in homes here in Mexico — propane gas. We use it to cook our food, heat our water, occasionally to heat our homes and dry our clothes. Now remember that this is not natur... read more

Spring is the time for home maintenance before the summer rains. What annual issues have you been putting off that you should be reviewing, repairing or replacing? From water purification systems to leaky roofs to cisterns and water tanks, it's often the little things that can cause problems. I think it is safe to say that everybody has a screw loose… somewhere in the house. read more

Here in Mexico, there's one term I hate to hear on a job site. No, it isn't "oops." It's the term "mas o menos." It is the Spanish term that literally translates to "more or less." read more

Cockroaches, scorpions, earwigs, mosquitoes, termites, beetles, ants and even fleas, present different challenges to homeowners here in tropical Mexico. They are part of the dark side of our little paradise read more

North of the border, the real estate market has been influenced by the limited amount of credit available, causing banks to defer or decline applications for credit. On the other side of the equation, most homes in the area do not have mortgages, and the seller owns the home free and clear. read more

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? read more

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. read more

In Mexico -- or anywhere -- the three key words for roof sealing are: preparation, preparation and preparation. read more

Recently, I have had to help clients who are far along in their project, way past the original schedule and way, way over budget. read more

A brick dome or cupola can be very attractive... and also, a maintenance problem.

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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.

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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 ... read more

Our morning showers would definitely not be the same without them. We sure miss them when they fail or run out of gas. Our water heaters are usually the silent worker in the back of the house; sometime... read more

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... read more

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... read more

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... read more