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Our Most Asked Questions

These are the questions we often hear from our clients.

IS MEXICO SAFE?

Outside of a few cities such as Tijuana and Mexico City, and the state of Chiapas, which are more likely to see crime, you will be as safe in Mexico as your hometown in Canada or the United States. One should always use common sense, but hundreds of thousands of northerners have happily moved to Mexico, and think no more about crime than they would in their own hometowns.

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DON’T YOU NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH TO LIVE IN MEXICO?

There are many areas in Mexico where one needn’t speak Spanish at all to live quite comfortably. Of course, it’s always good to learn what you can, but there are places where there are many other northerners, and where even most of the locals speak very good English.

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WHAT ARE THE HOSPITALS LIKE IN MEXICO?

Most of the retirement destinations we recommend in Mexico have fine, reputable hospitals, often with staff trained in the United States. Good hospitals are plentiful, and the prices are much cheaper than in the US. The quality of the facilities varies. Our website will help you find adequate facilities close to your location. You can usually get health insurance for just around $250 per year.

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CAN I GET MY SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK IF I LIVE IN MEXICO?

Yes, your check can be mailed to you (and deposited) in Mexico.

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WHAT PLACES IN MEXICO ARE INHABITED BY LOTS OF AMERICANS/CANADIANS?

The State of Jalisco is a major retirement magnet for Americans, it encompasses, Guadalajara, Ajijic and Puerto Vallarta. Lake Chapala/Ajijic is a town with many foreigners, but in particular lots of Canadians. The Baja Peninsula also has many American expats due to its close proximity to the US. Most of the towns we feature on our website have US consulates, which indicates a sizable presence of Americans in that area.

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I CAN BUY A DECENT HOUSE FOR LESS THAN $400K IN SOME PLACES IN THE US, WHY SHOULD I BOTHER WITH THE HASSLES OF LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY?

True, but that house that you buy in Mexico for $200k would be similar to something you would buy in the US for over $600k. But though the savings start here, they do not end here. Real Estate taxes are less than 0.2% in Mexico, as compared to the typical 2-3% in the US. So, on a $400k house in the US, you would typically pay $8k-$10k in yearly property taxes, vs. less then $1k in Mexico. Then, your monthly living expenses are far cheaper in Mexico than in the US. While two people can barely make ends meet in the US on $2k per month, you live more than comfortably in Mexico on $2,000, and that includes a live-in maid!

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CAN I BRING MY PET?

In Mexico, only cats and dogs are considered pets! If your pet is less than three months of age, a health certificate is required. If your pet is older than three months of age, it will need a Health Certificate and Anti-rabies vaccination record (with a date of less than a year ago). It is very important to take the necessary precautions to have all the documentation needed, and that the information it contains fits the pet’s characteristics i.e. age, breed, color, sex, etc. If the contrary happens, you might face drawbacks or even the rejection of your application, if inconsistencies are detected.

• 1. When arriving to Mexico, you must present your pet and all the documentation in one of the Inspection de Sanidad Aropecuaria offices (Sanitary Inspection Office), located in every airport, port and borders in the country.
• 2. Your pet will be inspected physically by a government officer of Mexico to check for parasites or other infectious health issues.
• 3. If your pet complies with all the requirements mentioned above, a Zoo sanitary Import Certificate will be issued, allowing your pet to enter the country.

When there is more than one pet, the cost of issuing the Import Certificate will have to be paid by the owner of approximately $130 USD at any bank counter at the time of arrival. (This rate varies every six months; it changes on January 1st and July 1st)

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I NEVER / RARELY LEFT THE US—WON’T LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY BE SCARY?

Living in a foreign country is not for everyone. However, Mexico has the largest American expatriate community in the world (over one million Americans live in Mexico), and many facilities cater exclusively to Americans. In many such places, you would rarely have to interact with non-English speakers and would be quite at home.

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WHAT ARE PROPERTY TAXES LIKE COMPARED TO THE US?

Property taxes in Mexico (called “predial”) are around 0.2% of the decaled value of the property, as compared to 2%-3% in the US. This means that while you would pay around $5-6k per year in the US for a property valued at $200k, you would pay less than $500 in Mexico!

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I CAN’T FIND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR. DO YOU HAVE MORE LISTINGS NOT ONLINE?

We are in contact with many realtors and developers and have access to many properties in Mexico. If you do not see what you are looking for here, please contact us at info@livtopia.com and we will help you find the perfect location in Mexico.

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WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE?

It varies from very hot (over 90° F), along the coast, to very moderate, in the mountains and plateaus. We will help you find the ideal location, based on your comfort zone.

CAN I DRINK THE WATER?

No. Stay away from the water. Do what we do (and what most Mexicans do), drink only bottled water and make sure the ice cubes are made from purified water.

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OTHER FAQs

WHAT IS LIVTOPIA?

Livtopia is where you'll find online homes for sale all across Mexico. Whether you want a condo, a retirement property or a unique home at the edge of civilization, we have it listed for you here. If you do not find what you're looking for, please send us an email to info@livtopia.com.

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WHAT SERVICES DOES IT PROVIDE?

With Livtopia, all the realtor and real estate broker listings you used to have to hunt for are compiled for you, all in one place. We perform a detailed search on available properties that fit your search criteria. Once you zero in on the location and selected a specific set of properties, we can help organize your actual purchase. We can pick you up, take you to visit the sites, and will help you negotiate the purchase. We will then help you close on the property, and can even help you actually move there (relocation, visas, finding local help, orientation, and so on).

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WHAT SERVICE DO I GET?

Livtopia is much more than your typical realtor service. We not only help you find a property to buy or rent, we provide you with all the tools to locate the ideal place for you to live, help you move there, and help you settle in. We can pick you up at the airport and show you the properties, help you negotiate the deal, and guide you through your property’s closing process. We make sure you know everything there is to know about the builder, their track record, reputation, and ensure that you are not being taken advantage of for not being a local.

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DO YOU ALSO HELP FIND PROPERTIES OUTSIDE OF MEXICO?

We plan on doing so, but have been too busy keeping up with requests for Mexico. We are happy to help you on an exception basis. Please send us an email to specialrequests@livtopia.com.

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CAN YOU GET FINANCING FOR PROPERTIES IN MEXICO?

It used to be that you could not get financing unless you used your US-based assets to get a home equity line. Increasingly, US banks are starting to offer mortgages for Mexican assets. Please check with your financial institutions, or send us an email to specialrequests@livtopia.com.

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I HEARD THAT I CANNOT OWN PROPERTY AS AN AMERICAN IN MEXICO. IS THAT TRUE?

No, that is not true. In most cases you will be able to own the property directly in your name. In certain locations (worst cases) you would own the property through a trust (that we can help set up), so the bottom line is, you can absolutely own property in Mexico.

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IS THERE TITLE INSURANCE?

OYes. We can put you in touch with companies that provide title insurance, or even get it for you.

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CAN I TRUST THE BUILDER?

No. You need local knowledge to make sure that house that looks so nice on the outside or in the picture is not made out of cardboard, or that the finishes are up to US standards. But no worries: we will make sure that you have all the inside scoop on any house you buy through us.

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CAN I FIND ALL THE ELECTRONICS AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD ITEMS I AM USED TO?

Yes, although they are often a bit more expensive than in the US.

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CAN I TRUST LIVTOPIA?

We are a US company, and you are paying us in the US, in US dollars. If you are not happy with our service, or if you feel that we are not providing you with the services that you paid for and/or expected, you can obtain a remedy for that just as you would from any other American firm. We grow primarily through word of mouth and recommendations. Customer satisfaction is not just an empty slogan for us, it is how we grow and survive. Your total satisfaction is our ultimate goal.

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WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION?

A lot of our information is from personal experience, accumulated from living, working, and traveling throughout Mexico over many, many years. We have dozens of local staff who constantly update the information with the latest news. Our site is a living document that is constantly being updated.

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WHEN SHOULD I START PLANNING MY RETIREMENT?

Typically, we recommend that you decide on the location where you want to retire up to 5 years before you actually retire. We suggest that you buy or rent a property in that location, and spend as much vacation time as you can in the 5 years before retirement, so that you can get to know the lay of the land, make friends, and make your ultimate relocation that much smoother.

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE A MAID?

A live in maid will typically cost you $300 per month. A maid who comes 8 hours a day (and who often cooks), and goes back to her or his own home for the night, would cost around $150 per month.

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HAVE A NURSE?

A professional nurse (with the same quality and training as US nurses) would cost you less than $500 per month if he or she lives with you and is available to you exclusively. A nurse who comes in during a 12 hour shift (day or night) will typically cost less than $250 per month.

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WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN MEXICO?

Golf, deep-sea fishing, biking, hiking, sailing, boating, rafting; you name it, we have it and will help you find it.

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HOW ABOUT THE FOOD / COOKING INGREDIENTS?

The food is wonderful and international cuisine is plentiful. You can find all the major ingredients and brands you are used to, as well as all the major supermarkets (Sams, Walmart, etc.)

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HOW ARE THE HOSPITAL FACILITIES?

Good hospitals are plentiful, and the prices are much cheaper than in the US. The quality of the facilities varies. We will help you find adequate facilities close to your location.

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CAN I FIND MY CHURCH / SYNAGOGUE / MOSQUE?

Most Mexicans are Roman Catholic, but you can easily find places of worship of all the major denominations.

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SHOPPING?

From major US-style malls to local artisan markets, shopping centers abound in Mexico, and you can find all the products you are used to, although some products are a bit more expensive than in the US.

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HOW ARE THE SCHOOLS?

All the major towns have good private schools. We can help you find a good school near you.

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HOW IS THE TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM THE USA?

Most places we will recommend to you are within three hours’ drive from the US border. The farthest locations (such as Huatulco or Cancun) are at most a two-hour flight from all major US hubs. The highway system in Mexico has improved dramatically over the last 5 years, and all the major cities are connected with good modern highways, and with many daily direct flights to the US.

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WHAT ARE THE LOCALS’ ATTITUDES TO AMERICANS?

Mexicans are very mild people and love the Gringos, and are some of the friendliest people in the world towards Americans.

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