I'm filled with admiration and respect for The Insider's Guide. Its 368 pages are so complete and comprehensive and so well thought out and so well organized. Teresa Kendrick and her colleagues have done a wonderful job of providing and packaging a full authoritative range of information, not only for long and short-term residents of the Lake Chapala area but also for those many people who seem to be contemplating coming here either to live as permanent retiree-residents or as snowbirds. read more

Don Adams and his collaborators have produced a guide that's aimed directly at those people up north who are contemplating coming here, either permanently or for lengthy annual visits. The resulting volume is, in my opinion, a real winner. The various chapters are divided into topics such as putting your financial affairs in order and arranging for transfers of money.... read more

*Statistics from Multi List Vallarta The last decade of the millennium has brought a multitude of changes to the real estate market of Puerto Vallarta. The effects of this can be seen by the e... read more

"Inventory of housing" were words I didn't understand very well - until a friend from the U.S. asked me to find him an inexpensive old "fixer-upper" in this colonial city. He's an environmentalist so I... read more

Once upon a time, in the previous century, an old journalist and his still-beautiful bride were pondering retirement and escape from Washington, D.C. They had roots and land on the original TVA lake i... read more

In the late '90s we became captivated by the richness of the Yucatan region's hacienda architecture and the history of its multilayered civilizations. Trailing through myriad Maya villages and down ove... read more

(Disclaimer: All prices quoted in this article are accurate as of February, 2000. In addition, there are ALWAYS exceptions!) It is helpful for newcomers to Mexico to review the basics of property eval... read more

If you live in the states and are thinking about living in Mexico, read this book. If you are thinking about building a house in Mexico, read this book. If you are thinking about retiring, read this book. If you already live in Mexico, read this book. read more

Anyone interested in purchasing land Lakeside has watched the prices skyrocket over the last two years. It's next to impossible to find single lots because the contractors are buying open land, subdivi... read more

Are you renting in Mexico or did you buy? Why? Can you own your house outright? These are questions I’m frequently asked. Generally, my recommendation is to rent for at least six months until you get... read more

On April 1st, I bought a new condo as a rental. That should have been a warning. Fool! If you've been reading my columns you know what I went through to gut out my own house and rebuild it, and you've ... read more

Mary and I went to Aguascalientes on the last day of September to look for a house to rent. Harry and Alejandro had left the previous day, traveling by bus. We offered them a ride in the White Bullet (... read more

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.

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Buying Real Estate: Homes for Sale, Houses, Apartments & Condos The Impact of Currency Exchange Rates on Your Mexican Property: What to look out for and how to protect yourself- By ... read more

CONTENTS: POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS POLARIZED HOUSING MARKET PEPSICO BOTTLERS MERGE INTERNET BANKING EXPORTS OF FURNITURE CEMENT SALES UP FIRST BOND IN EUROS UNEM... read more

Table of Contents Good year for investment Business reputations Property as an investment Revival i... read more

Table of Contents STATE OF THE NATION REPORT GENERAL GOALS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FIGHT AGAINST POVE... read more

Enjoying the Mexican beachfront or colonial hillside town, you've decided to put down roots in Mexico and "save money" by buying in. Think twice: you may make the deal of a lifetime, or you wish you'd ... read more

"Protect Your Health at All Costs!" If you want to "Live Your Mexican Dream", you've got to be healthy.   Drinking w... read more

Foreigners can buy or invest in real estate in Mexico without any restriction, except in the coastal and border areas. There, foreign individuals and branches of foreign corporations can have 100% cont... read more

Can I buy and own property in Mexico? Yes

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There is a way to protect yourself from currency fluctuations that may increase the cost of your property. The worldwide foreign exchange market is huge, with average daily turnover totaling approx... read more

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... read more

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 ... read more

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... read more