Buy cheap land and build yourself! True or False?

Forget those expensive developments – you can go yourself, get cheap land and build yourself! If buying property in Mexico is at all on your radar, then you likely have heard this post’s statement (as well as many others from well-meaning friends). So what REALLY is the truth of it?
Well, yes you can buy very inexpensive land in Mexico, in fact in my opinion, Mexico is one of the best places in the world to invest right now. BUT (yes isn’t there always a ‘but’) the problem lies in determining if the inexpensive land is truly a great deal or a rip off. This applies to untouched land as well as property with a house already on it. Here are some things to watch out for:
1. Land that does NOT have clear title. First of all, while it almost need not be said, DO NOT BUY LAND ‘under the table’. Avoid handshake or deals without a government notary public like the plague. Like any transaction in Canada or the US where you use a real estate lawyer, you must use a “Notario Publico” with a registered number in order to purchase land in Mexico. No matter what someone is telling you about an easier deal – you must pay the Notary and make sure the title is clear. The notary actually works for the government on this issue, so if you would like to get a less expensive lawyer to draft the sale contract and have the notary only do their part, this can save you a little money. Any land that does not have clear title can result in a complicated process that is either not worth the effort, or the land could possibly be taken away from you as someone else has claim to that land.
2. Ejido Land. This is land that is owned by a collective group of people such as towns. The seller may claim to own the land – technically they do along with his neighbors – and purchasing this land can be done, but it will take a lot of time and money along with the agreement of everyone in the collective to sell it to you. Ensuring the land you are interested in is not Ejido land is another reason to use a reputable lawyer and notary.
3. Land without any services. The reason why land (especially beachfront) might be inexpensive is lack of power or water service to the property. The government is not going to do that for you. You will have to pay to bring electrical, or roads out to your property, or you may have to drill for a well to get water. These options are expensive, need permits, and may take a great deal of time as you may be required to get the permission of other property owners to proceed.
4. Land Use Permits. The land you are buying may not have the correct permits for what you want the land for. Getting the correct permits can be a difficult process. There are no easy how-to on this process as it can differ for each municipality. Buying land that already has the correct permits for the use you intend it for is the best way to go.
5. ROI. This is only for those of you who are buying land to hopefully see a nice return on your investment. With the current doom and gloom in the stock market, many are looking for solid assets that will put their money to work for them, as well as benefit the area they are investing in. Many hidden treasures are to be found in Mexico for that very purpose. What you need to evaluate is the price of the land verses the potential of the return. Beachfront is always more valuable than beach view, which is more valuable than ‘close to the beach’. Some areas of Mexico are already high priced, you may not see a great return there. On the other side of the coin, basic properties inland may not yield as great of a return as a beachfront will. Evaluate what you really want from your property before you buy.
I hope I haven’t completely deterred you from investing in Mexico. Like any investment, you must educate yourself on the area you plan to invest in. Whenever possible, use a reputable Real Estate Agent to walk you through this process. Many of the above questions can be answered quickly by an agent familiar with the area.
There is one other caution I must add to buying your own land to develop: Building a home or development in a foreign country has many other cautions that warrant a completely different post. Stay posted for my next post on building in Mexico to find out what you need to know.
It all comes down to common sense. Use reputable professionals –especially if they have previous clients willing to attest to their quality of service. You may have to pay a little more for prime land, but will see a greater return on your investment than land you buy at the lowest price. The great part about buying in Mexico is that this prime land is likely ½ to 1/3 the price of land in Canada or the United States. So the answer to the post title is: TRUE - Happy hunting!

Mexico is Dangerous - True or False?

The answer to the title is information learned through a process. My first trip to Mexico was MANY years ago when I was only 12. We were visiting family in California and decided to cross the border into Tijuana. During that day trip - I left with the sense of Mexico being... well, dirty, creepy (it seemed as if some hombres were scanning me- eeww!) and not a place I really wanted to return too. Definitely not somewhere I would want to be alone during the day, forget at night. I suspect there are others out there with the same opinion for the same reason. I have not been back - and Tijuana my now be a much nicer place - I hope so.

On my second trip I went to Veracruz for a short 4 day weekend for business. There was one point in that trip where I was visiting a friend at her store and needed to walk back to my hotel. It was only a couple of blocks, but it was now dark. She re-assured me it was perfectly safe, so I set out timidly. I remember my heart beating quickly and watching everyone around me wondering if anyone had any less honorable intentions. I did get a couple of looks, but more likely because I was in a small town, where white people are rare. I made it just fine back to the hotel.

I have now been living in Veracruz for nearly 5 months. I would walk that same walk now with no concern or worry. Why? I am by far safer here than anywhere I lived in Canada, or in any US city I visited when I traveled extensively. Of course, no matter where you go, you must be aware of your surroundings - unfortunately there are bad people everywhere, but there are many more good people. I do have to be fair here, I moved from a large city (by Canadian standards, over 1 million people) to a more rural environment. That alone in any country would reduce the crime element. The difference is in the attitude. Crime in Canada, and in the US is much more aggressive. What I mean is that if you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of a crime - it is more and more likely to include a weapon, and you are more likely to be injured or killed.

Does crime exist in the same sized city in Mexico? Of course. The difference is this - in Mexico, they don't have drive-by shootings in neighborhoods where innocent bystanders and children are caught in the cross-fire. The crimes are still personal or petty. Pickpocket instead of mugging for example. Murders are either between criminals (usually drug related), or love triangle type tragedies for the most part.People in Mexico still say 'Hola' to a perfect stranger - even when they are not peddling something. I have gone to a complete stranger's home and they readily welcome me into their home and kitchen. The atmosphere here is happier, less angry. Tijuana is a world away and different than Veracruz.

If only you could have walked with me last night through the central park in Cardel, Veracruz. I was alone, after dark at about 8:00pm. The park was busy, several stands were selling either food or novelties. There were other vendors demonstrating a glowing toy to entice the parents into buying the latest and greatest for their child. There is a playground in the park that has a gated enclosure around it - for safety of course. In the center of the park is a beautiful gazebo that I have a daylight picture of. There are many park benches that were mostly filled with lovers, families, young, old, male, female and all enjoying the beautiful night. I wandered through the park relaxed, enjoying the tropical birds chattering in the trees and the latin music in the background. Fear just did not fit in here.

IMO, Tijuana and other border towns seem to have a higher percentage of criminals and their associates either escaping the laws in the US or trying to profit from traffic to and from the US. Once you get a few hours south of the border, an entirely different world opens up to you. Those of you who have stayed at the canned touristy resorts for 'safety' or have avoided Mexico all-together due to safety issues are missing a tremendously rich and enlightening experience.

Don't Drink the Water - True or False?

Upon arriving to Veracruz, Mexico for the first time, we met a professor who was waiting to pass through customs along with my husband and myself. As we chatted briefly, I asked the pointed question that occupied my mind, "Do you have any advise on what we should be cautious of?". His main piece of advice was, "Don't drink the water, even ice cubes in your drinks. Ask only for bottled water."

I took that advice to heart and through that first 4 day trip, I was terrified of the sight of ice in my drink. We were meeting a friend we knew from Canada who was from a city called Cardel, just 30 km north of the city of Veracruz. When I mentioned this conversation, he scoffed and said we had nothing to worry about. I trusted my friend, but also knew he grew up here, so probably wouldn't have the same problems. When we ate at restaurants, they only offered bottled water -no problem.

The internal conflict arose when eating with friends. Our friend graciously introduced us to many of his friends and family, most of whom generously fed us. I did not want to insult them in any way, yet at each family meal, they served me a drink on ice. I would look at my drink, being very thirsty as the weather was beautiful and hot. I would see those ice cubes as potential enemies and wonder what I should do. Not only was I thirsty, but if I did not drink the juice, water or soda, then I would appear rude. How do I say, "I know the ice cubes and water are ok for you to drink, but I won't drink it, do you have anything bottled?

To add to my conundrum, some of these family members were living in humble surroundings. I didn't know to what extent they were giving just to feed us. So now I continue to get more and more thirsty just looking at the delicious drink before me. My husband, always more adventurous than I, goes ahead and partakes. Ok, now I will definitely look snobbish by refusing. I sip tentatively, to both just keep my thirst at bay and to appear to be a gracious guest.

I did not get sick that weekend, nor have I in the 4 months of living here. Why? I have come to learn a couple of reasons why. First, most native people in Mexico themselves drink bottled water. They use commercial ice cubes that have been filtered. Second, water quality can vary greatly from place to place. Most problems tourists and locals alike have with getting sick has to do with unwashed hands more so than the water or food itself.

So, finally, in answer to the question, "Should I drink the water?" I continue to follow the advice of the kind professor to drink bottled water. I am not however petrified by the site of ice in a beverage placed before me by some generous host. If you are visiting any area of Mexico as a tourist, any restaurant will serve you bottled water, "agua en una botella". You may get the question, "con gas?". They are actually referring to soda water. If you want regular bottled water, just respond,"sin gas". Most hotels provide bottled water in the room for your use.Our family does not use the tap water to drink or cook with, unless the water will be boiled extensively during the process. It is a precaution we use to ensure the health of our family.