Are Americans Welcome to Live in Mexico? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

host · 04-15-2006, 10:59 PM

We've had a blossoming discussion on another http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...32#post2046332. My travels to Mexico persuaded me that I could enjoy living there. I felt safe on the streets of Guadalajara...a wonderful; city, in the high desert country, with a pleasant arid climate. The old, colonial silver city, Guanajuato, is also a compelling place.

My understanding is that Amercans are free to hold and transfer title to real property except is coastal zones.

My opinion of migratiing to Mexico is positive especially if they continue to come here to live in large uncontrolled numbers. What do you think?

Quote:

http://news.pacificnews.org/news/vie...a877fc13301da7
'Generation Gringo': Young Americans Moving to Mexico

News Feature, Louis Nevaer,
Pacific News Service, Nov 04, 2003
Editor's Note: Young and middle-aged Americans, spurred by nostalgic memories of Mexican vacations in high school and college, are moving to Mexico, joining with U.S. retirees and changing Mexican cultural and economic life.

MEXICO CITY--In the last decade, an estimated half million Americans moved permanently to Mexico, making the United States' southern neighbor the country with the most U.S. expatriates in the world.

.....Many Mexicans are ambivalent about the new invasion. "The last time Mexico experienced anything like this, it was a prelude to war," Jorge Canto, a businessman who works with Americans said. "Is history repeating itself?" Mexican officials worry that older American immigrants will strain Mexico's health system. Because of the influx, Medicaid and Medicare have expanded their payment programs in Mexico, and some U.S. HMOs cover members living in Mexico.

American entrepreneurship in Mexico is making its presence felt. In a study conducted by the Inter-American Development Bank, the amount of remittances sent to Mexico from the U.S. soared to $14.5 billion, up from $9 billion two years ago. But closer examination reveals that $3.5 billion of those remittances is money sent by Americans to themselves in Mexico, to purchase homes, finance the opening of businesses and for living expenses.

History may indeed be repeating itself. In 1598, Juan de Onate claimed what is now the American Southwest for Spain, and for two centuries, trade between the areas that are now New Mexico and Arizona came via Mexico City. It was not until 1821, when Mexico declared its independence from Spain, that the north-south route was redirected. The east-west Santa Fe Trail joined the outpost of New Mexico to the United States by linking Santa Fe to St. Louis, Missouri.

That link predominated until the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA seems to be restoring historic north-south economic and cultural trade routes. In time, the old east-west corridor may be viewed as a relic associated with America's 19th century nation-building.

PNS contributor Louis Nevaer (nevaer1@hotmail.com) is an author and economist His latest book, "NAFTA's Second Decade" (South-Western Press) will be released in December.
Comments

C&H on Nov 28, 2005 15:24:50, said:
We are the next wave of retirees! Only 55 not approaching geezer status as yet! We looked all over Mexico. You can see our search at
www.newbeginningsmexico.com
but we ended up in Ajijic. We are almost through our second year and are still very happy! The village has seen a major surge of home purchases along with the rise in the lake level this summer. According to friends in real estate the purchasers are mostly 55 or under.

tecoyah · 04-16-2006, 04:22 AM

I always enjoyed my excursions into Mexico when I lived in San Diego. Just remember to Pad the Pockets of Federales and you can have a great time.

SteelyLoins · 04-16-2006, 05:39 AM

While Mexico can be fun to visit, there are reasons that 8-11 million of its citizens have decided to live here, even to the point of risking their lives to do so.

If you wish to test your luck by buying Mexican real estate, you may not do so in coastal zones, or within 100 km of the US border, or anywhere in Baja California. Contrasting that to US law in and of itself should let you know your status in Mexico. Don't be surprised if you find your title is no good after you've built or purchased a house, either.

If you are not discouraged from living in Mexico after thorough research, or reading this post:

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showpos...8&postcount=26,

you might bear in mind this quote from Host's link: "Living in Mexico requires an openness to differences and a willingness to change."

This e-mail, which has been making the rounds for some time, does a decent job of illustrating some of the changes:

Quote:

If you are ready for the adventure of a lifetime, try this:

Enter Mexico illegally. Never mind immigration quotas, visas, international law, or any of that nonsense.

Once there, demand that the local government provide free medical care for you and your entire family.

Demand bilingual nurses and doctors.

Demand free bilingual local government forms, bulletins, etc.

Procreate abundantly. Deflect any criticism of this allegedly irresponsible reproductive behavior with, "It is a cultural U.S.A. thing. You would not understand."

Keep your American identity strong. Fly Old Glory from your rooftop, or proudly display it in your front window or on your car bumper.

Speak only English at home and in public and insist that your children do likewise.

Demand classes on American culture in the Mexican school system.

Demand a local Mexican driver license in order to obtain other legal rights and legitimize your unauthorized, illegal presence in Mexico.

Drive around with no liability insurance and ignore local traffic laws.

Insist that local Mexican law enforcement teach English to all its officers.

And lastly, organize large public demonstrations in order to influence the Mexican government to provide benefits to you.

Those of us who prefer the US healthcare system will probably have better access to Medicare if a great many retirees move to Mexico, though.

ironman · 04-16-2006, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelyLoins

While Mexico can be fun to visit, there are reasons that 8-11 million of its citizens have decided to live here, even to the point of risking their lives to do so.

That reason been that they have no job opportunities and that in one month of work in the US they will be making more $ than in a full year back at home.
I'm not mexican, I'm guatemalan and live in Guatemala, fortunatley, i don't have to leave my beloved country in search of a better future, but i do have the experience of living near a big community of US citizens, and i can tell you they're very happy living here, and how not, if they can live like kings with what in the US would be a mediocre salary, private medical insurance costs $40 a month for you and your wife and like 25 extra for your kids. A very, very nice home, very well built cost you around 85-100 grands, housekeeping costs about $200 a month and at the supermarket you can find almost every single product by the same brands at the US for practically the same price. You have access to the internet with no complications, even with your cell phone, there are a lot of cable tv options, directv, etc... Believe me, when you analize it, all of the sudden there are a lot of good reasons to come and live in our countries and the reason why all my live i've been neighbor to many, many US citizens that grow in number every year, that only speak english and pretend to impose in Guatemala the rules and ways of the US, but hey, i see it as human nature and have many friends among them, although i had to learn english 'cause to the day they only know the basics of spanish.

loganmule · 04-16-2006, 08:15 AM

Ironman points out some distinct advantages available to retirees, but there is no suggestion of mass emigration from the U.S. by young people who seek job opportunities which are available to them in Mexico or elsewhere in Latin America. To me, it looks like people from Mexico come to the U.S. for relatively better wages to support families, while U.S. citizens head to Mexico to get more bang for their accumulated bucks.

To get to the point of the thread, I find Steely's arguments to be compelling, and would further note tecoyah's admonition to "Pad the Pockets of Federales". To be "welcome" as an immigrant means to be afforded certain basic civil rights, albeit perhaps not equal to those of citizens. When it comes to the issue of U.S. citizens emigrating to Mexico, I'm just not feeling that kind of love.

flstf · 04-16-2006, 03:58 PM

I have worked several times in Mexico setting up control systems for industrial water treatment plants. While driving between Monterrey and Mexico City the Federales stopped us at roadblocks four times. I guess they were looking for drugs or guns or something. The first time we had a difficult time explaining why we were in their country and they started to search our car etc..

During our conversation I mentioned the company Pemex since that is where the water treatment plant is located. They immediately stopped searching, apologized and sent us on our way. The next 3 stops we didn't even leave the car, just slowed down and mentioned the word Pemex and were waved on. A very powerful word to the soldiers especially when you speak little Spanish and they speak little English

soccerchamp76 · 04-29-2006, 11:07 PM

Hey, now with the legalization of personal heroin, cocaine, ecstacy, marijuana, and other drugs, its gonna be the hot spot for youngin's!!!

Although selling is still illegal, you dont have to worry about hiding your joint anymore...............

04-16-2006, 04:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	I always enjoyed my excursions into Mexico when I lived in San Diego. Just remember to Pad the Pockets of Federales and you can have a great time. __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

04-29-2006, 11:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
soccerchamp76 Go Cardinals Location: St. Louis/Cincinnati	Hey, now with the legalization of personal heroin, cocaine, ecstacy, marijuana, and other drugs, its gonna be the hot spot for youngin's!!! Although selling is still illegal, you dont have to worry about hiding your joint anymore............... __________________ Brian Griffin: Ah, if my memory serves me, this is the physics department. Chris Griffin: That would explain all the gravity.

04-16-2006, 08:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
loganmule Junkie Location: midwest	Ironman points out some distinct advantages available to retirees, but there is no suggestion of mass emigration from the U.S. by young people who seek job opportunities which are available to them in Mexico or elsewhere in Latin America. To me, it looks like people from Mexico come to the U.S. for relatively better wages to support families, while U.S. citizens head to Mexico to get more bang for their accumulated bucks. To get to the point of the thread, I find Steely's arguments to be compelling, and would further note tecoyah's admonition to "Pad the Pockets of Federales". To be "welcome" as an immigrant means to be afforded certain basic civil rights, albeit perhaps not equal to those of citizens. When it comes to the issue of U.S. citizens emigrating to Mexico, I'm just not feeling that kind of love.

04-16-2006, 03:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
flstf Easy Rider Location: Moscow on the Ohio	I have worked several times in Mexico setting up control systems for industrial water treatment plants. While driving between Monterrey and Mexico City the Federales stopped us at roadblocks four times. I guess they were looking for drugs or guns or something. The first time we had a difficult time explaining why we were in their country and they started to search our car etc.. During our conversation I mentioned the company Pemex since that is where the water treatment plant is located. They immediately stopped searching, apologized and sent us on our way. The next 3 stops we didn't even leave the car, just slowed down and mentioned the word Pemex and were waved on. A very powerful word to the soldiers especially when you speak little Spanish and they speak little English