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.” Because of my experience as an engineer, I tend to think logically and see answers more in terms of black […]
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As a consultant, I have heard many repeated questions and feel it is time to put my opinion onto paper about what is happening in the real estate market here at Lake Chapala. Inventories of residential properties available on the local multiple listing service seem to be relatively stable over the last ten years in […]
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This month I think we need to connect with our neighbors. No, not the ones in the next house, the ones that are in your garden, sometimes under your house and — unfortunately — sometimes living with you in your house. The insect world does not see boundaries and bugs will go where the opportunity […]
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Spring has arrived! Easter is just over and it is time to think maintenance on your home. What annual maintenance issues have you been putting off that you should be reviewing, repairing or replacing? Water purification systems Home water purification systems tend to get ignored until one day you notice the Ultraviolet (UV) light bulb […]
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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 […]
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Recently, I have been helping my wife’s family to sell their home in Guadalajara. It is located in a community near a popular shopping center and is located in front of a large community park and local church. It has been tough process, since there is some dissension in the family because one member does […]
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May is our hottest month when everything tends to slow down and everyone heads for the shade in the afternoon, trying to relax and get away from the heat. The days linger a little and it feels like the sun just hangs steady in the midday sky a little longer. Fortunately, the gentle breeze of […]
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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. Although […]
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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. When selling Mexico real estate, the seller must first be established as the […]
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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. Security experts explain that crimes against real estate and property can be […]
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