Ok, so you're moving to Mexico. Woo-hoo!

If you're moving for good, consider renting for a year before you even think of buying. Mexico is a wonderful, beautiful place to be, but living in another country is an adjustment.

Giving yourself time to get used to the day-to-day differences before jumping into the home-buying paperwork frenzy will (hopefully) keep you from becoming one of those people that just gripes and rants all day long about how much Mexico is not like wherever you're from.

Plus it'll give you time to find what you want and get a good price.




Finding a place:

* Hire a real estate agent

* Check the newspaper (If you see "Trato Directo," you'll be dealing with the owner)

* Walk the neighborhood and ask locals

* Work out a long term stay with a small hotel or guest house, and enlist the owner's help in your search for permanent housing

* Check city websites (they often have listings)

Heads up! Real estate agents and brokers (foreign or local) are not licensed or regulated by the government. If you use one, you may want to check the agent's or company's reputation with locals or with your embassy. Their commission is usually about 6%.

Notes:

* Homes are often rented or sold furnished

* Apartments often don't come with appliances (refrigerator, stove top, oven, microwave, etc.)

* It's important the place already have a phone line installed (otherwise it will take months to get one)

* Central AC/Heating is rare

* Connecting to the Internet may be a long distance call outside of major cities-check before moving

* Most landlords expect rent in cash

* Mexican law protects renters, and as a foreigner you have rights to that protection as well

Happy hunting!