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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent primer to get your feet wet,
By magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (COMMUNITY FORUM 04) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Live Better South of the Border (Paperback)
If there is a more enthusiastic and engaging publicist for the charms of living in that magic land south of the border, I don't know who it is. "Mexico Mike" Nelson has lived and worked in Mexico off and on for several decades, having operated an import and export business there in addition to driving and travelling over much of the country, and he brings that vast experience to this book.First, I should mention my own situation. I've visited Mexico several times in the past, and have driven across Baja once, but have no experience actually living there. I just started to think about living and retiring early down there. I am 51 years old, "semi-retired," and am living in a place in the U.S. where the cost of living is cheap, but am wondering if I can get more for my money in Mexico. If I can find the right situation there, it's possible I might never need to work again, although I'd be on a budget, although not a draconian one. So I was looking for a primer on Mexico to see if my dream of retiring there permanently was realistic and Mike's book seemed to fit the bill. That having been said, this book is geared more toward those who are interested in living in Mexico for an extended period of time but perhaps aren't quite ready to retire there yet. This includes international business people who have been transferred there, artists and writers wanting to live cheaply while they concentrate on that masterwork, and those just starting to investigate Mexico as a possible retirement option. He's not shy about discussing the negatives, however, and you will find much practical advice on finding a safe place to live, what the crime is like in a given area, and how to avoid risks and be safe in both the big city and in rural areas. That having been said, Mike is very clear that in most areas of Mexico you are actually safer than in big American cities, you just need to know what the differences are and act accordingly. He's also very clear about the costs of living in many areas of Mexico. First, the bad news. Gone are the days when you could live like a king on $300 a month. Most places in Mexico will cost you $900-$1200 a month to live, including rent, utilities, and food and entertainment, which means a decent but not huge or luxurious house or apartment in one of the preferred areas by Americans. If you are willing to live outside "Gringolandia," which means in a smaller town where most of your neighbors will be Mexicans rather than Americans, you can live for half that if you're willing to economize. If you're willing to rent a small house on the edge of a small town, which means you might be taking cold showers and cooking your meals on a dual-burner propane stove, you can live on $400 to $600 a month if you're careful about expenses. He found a place like this when he first moved to Mexico and loved it. He got a lot of writing done and there were very few distractions. On the other hand, he admits that now he would prefer not to live without quite so many conveniences. And if you want to live in Baja, you can double the $900 to $1200 a month figure, expecially in Cabo, which he says costs about the same as southern California. For that, however, you're getting an area with great conveniences, good medical facilities, and so many Americans that you won't have to speak a lick of Spanish if that's what you want. He says the bottom line, however, is that you can expect to spend about 70% of what you spent in the states to support your old life style, and your standard of living will actually be higher for that amount of money than what you could afford in the States. He also includes advice and info on buying and owning property, art and culture, which banks to use, medical care, where the best language schools are, dating and love life ("all latinas have brothers, none of whom has a sense of humour about their sister"), and even advice for gays and lesbians. He even says you can call him personally for advice, especially on business matters, and includes his address and telephone number. For me the best part was the section on the different cities and towns and what it was like to live there and what the ambience and cost of living there was like. This includes sections on everything from giant Mexico City with its 21 million people to little mountain villages 7,000 feet up on the central Mexican plateau of just a few hundred people. Many of the towns discussed are around 50,000 people, though, and a number are 200,000 or more. A few are 5,000 or less, for those who really want to get away from the big city and from the other Americans and Canadians to get some real local color. Mike also points out that his book is really for those who need the basics on living in Mexico. He recommends another longer, more detailed book by another writer (which costs more, but he says it's worth it), for those who have read his book and want more information. He also says it's intended more for those who are really looking to retire in Mexico and need something on that. I found Mike's book excellent for my first read and am now considering getting the more detailed and expensive book that he recommends.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Resource For Aspiring Expatriates,
By A Customer
This review is from: Live Better South of the Border (Paperback)
This is a great book for anyone who is considering relocating to Mexico. Most other books are directed only at retirees. The information here is relevant to anyone of any age. The author briefly covers immigration issues such as getting your FM3 visa and car permits. He also discusses the issue of working. I was surprised to find out that work permits are not all that difficult to obtain. I have talked to expatriates who have confirmed this. There is an extensive list of cities with the pros and cons of choosing each. The bottom line is this book will help you decide if Mexico is right for you.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This man KNOWS Mexico,
By Dana Lain (Galveston Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Live Better South of the Border (Paperback)
I've travelled for years using the old Sanborn's drivingguidesand when I saw Mexico Mike had written this book, I ordered acopy... My book was I have friends who have made the move and told me they found his advice saved them some money when they looked for a place to live. For myself, I carefully read his advice to single women. END
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