Are there land leases for twenty years or more in Mexico?
No, a land lease for more than 10 years is not legal and never has been!

How strong is Mexican Currency?
The Mexican Peso has been the strongest currency in the world (yes, in the world) in the past four years. The Peso is now slightly overvalued against many other world currencies. Still capital inflow from North of the border and oil export revenues will keep the currency very stable.
 

How do I choose a good real estate agent?
This is not an easy question and there is no easy answer. The best way is to get a recommendation from someone that bought from a local agent and was happy with the service. You cannot depend on name brands from the US to be good agents here and sometimes the best agents are from small local firms.
 

Are there many retirement communities in Mexico?
Yes, there are many Americans who chose retirement in Mexico and are living in retirement communities in Mexico.
 

What kind of finance is available in Mexico?
There are developers that offer finance but the interest rate is very high, between 14% and 16%. There are a number of US lenders already offering US interest rates of between 7% and 8%. The interest rate will depend on the property, the deposit and the finances of the buyer. The deposit will be a minimum of 20% and in some cases 30%.
 

I want to have someone move all my household goods to the Baja and get them through customs. Can you do that?
We can make this move as easy as possible for you. We work with people that will help you pack on the US end, see you through the customs process and get you unpacked and settled in your new home
 

Is Title Insurance a good idea?
Mexico has many different kind of titles so it easy to get confused. If the property you want to buy does not qualify for Title Insurance it might not be the best idea to buy it. Stewart Title is insuring several developments now and if a developer tells you there is Title Insurance, ask to see the policy and ask for the contact details of the Title Insurance representative. If the agent selling the property tells you Title Insurance is not necessary, walk away.
 

What documents should I ask for when considering purchasing a property?
You need to see the title, the last tax bill and a bank trust, if available.
 

What happens to the deposit I make on a property?
It is important to only give a small deposit until you have the opportunity to see the title insurance and the contract. If you decide not to purchase the deposit should be returned to you immediately.
 

How can I be sure I am not paying too much for a property?
Like anywhere else, Mexican property is worth what someone will pay for it but you can ask for an appraisal and ask what similar properties have sold for. If the agent will not answer these questions, get another agent.
 

What are the property taxes in Baja Mexico?
Your yearly property taxes will run you about ¼% (0.0025%) of the total purchase price of Baja California real estate.
 

Is there such a thing as Escrow in Mexico?
Mexico does not have traditional escrow but you can find developers that are using a Title Company to hold money in escrow. Be careful of any developer that wants you to give an unsecured deposit.
 

What are closing costs going to be?
Closing costs are higher here than in the US. Between 4% and 6% is normal.
 

If I make a deposit on a house and then find the house has a lien on it or has problems with the title, can I get my deposit back?
Only if you have stipulated in the offer agreement that you have the right to withdraw your offer under those conditions.
 

Who do I need to settle the property?
You will need a Notario. This is a lawyer that is licensed to conduct property transactions.
 

What if I get sick while I'm in my Baja California casa? Is it safe to go to a Mexican hospital?
There are good hospitals with good doctors. But there are also not so good ones. We can help you find the hospital and doctor that will meet your needs.
 

Is it really expensive to call the US? How can my family call me? Who is the best long distance company?
There have recently been some new companies that provide excellent service. We can manage this process for you. We ourselves use a Internet Telephone system that gives us unlimited calls to anywhere in the US and Canada. When someone calls our US number, it rings at our house in Mexico.
 

Can I have a USD bank account? How much do I have to deposit to open it? Can Mexican banks be trusted?
There are a few rules you have to follow to open a Mexican account. We can give you the instructions or we can send one of our consultants with you to assist you with the language problems and make it an easy process.
 

How much cheaper are drugs in the Baja?
Much cheaper but you need to find a pharmacy that has good quality medications. We can help you do that.
 

We want a high speed internet connection, but don't speak Spanish. Can you help us?
We work with the Mexican telephone system (Telnor) to get you the best, most reasonable DSL service.
 

Insurance - Auto and Health- What kind of insurance do I need? I hear there are lots of dishonest ones. How Can I find a good one?
There good insurance companies here but it is easy to pick the wrong one. We can recommend a company that will provide excellent insurance at a competitive price.
 

Where do I get the best deals on quality furniture purchase and/or rental?
There are so many furniture companies that it is easy to get confused and also easy to get poor quality. We only work with the best (both for bargain prices and expensive prices.)
 

What if I get sick? Is it safe to go to a Mexican hospital?
There are good hospitals with good doctors. But there are also not so good ones. We can help you find the hospital and doctor that will meet your needs.
 

I heard the border crossing is very crowded and slow. How do I know what is the best time to cross the border?
Once you know the right time to cross the border life becomes a lot easier. This is part of our package to help you learn the simple ABC's of the Baja.
 

Where do you buy stoves, washers and dryers and other appliances in the Baja? Are they same as American companies? Is their a warranty that can be counted on? Can I get them repaired?
There are appliance stores that sell new appliances that are either the same or just as good as US ones. Lots of people choose second appliances with good warranties. We can assist you in finding the right place for your purchase or repair needs.
 

Cable, satellite and digital TV- How can I get these connected? Will I be able to see all my favorite shows?
There are a number of choices here. We can recommend them to you or you can use our service to handle all of these things for you and yes, you can see all your favorite shows.
 

Do I need a Mexican drivers' license? Will you help me get it?
If you are going to live here permanently it's a good idea, but not required to have a Mexican license. A Mexican license is required if you have Mexican plates on your car. We can assign one of our consultants to accompany you to the licensing department and explain what you need to do.
 

If I chose retirement in Mexico, will my Social Security benefits allow me to live comfortably?
Yes, there are a lot of retirees in Baja California who have a great lifestyle on their benefits.