Welcome to Retire to Mexico.

Show notes:

Some facts about Mexico:

• The capital of the United Mexican States is Mexico city.  It is the largest city in the Americas and second largest in the World.
• There are 31 Mexican states
• The language is Spanish.  And Mexico has the largest Spanish speaking population in the World
• The government is a Presidential Federal Republic
• Size is 761,606 sq. mi. – 5th largest country in the Americas and 14th in the world.  It is slightly smaller than three times the size of Texas.
• Population is 108,700,891 (estimated for 2007)
• Unemployment rate is 3.2% with an under-employment rate of 25%
• Currency is the Peso – about 10.899 to the US dollar
• Inflation rate of 3.6% in 2006
• There are three time zones comparable to Central, Mountain and Pacific time zones in the U.S.
• Location:
  • North is USA
  • East is the Gulf of Mexico
  • South and West is the Pacific Ocean
  • Southeast is Guatemala and Belize
• Tropic of Cancer divides the country into two zones – temperate and tropical
• It has the second largest defense budget and armed forces in Latin America
• Home of the largest number of US citizens abroad (about 1 million as of 1999) or about 1% of the Mexican population and 25% of Americans abroad
• Culturally diverse
• Literacy rate is over 91%
• Natural hazards
  • Tsunamis
  • Volcanoes
  • Earthquakes
  • Hurricanes
• So why retire here:
  • Enjoy a great climate, great food, rich culture and fabulously friendly people
  • Integration into the local community can be very fulfilling
  • Great place to learn Spanish
  • Live well on $2,000 a month for two including rent
  • Health care is very good and affordable
  • Low crime rate once you are away from the US border
  • No major law suits
  • Slower pace
• Where:
  • Any where – ocean, water front, city, mountains, rural
  • Most popular by numbers of retirees – Guadalajara, Chapala, Ajijic
• What else:
  • No need for a car – public transportation is affordable and reliable
  • If you drive at night only drive the toll roads.  Local roads may have a large number of hazards
  • Mexican drivers are aggressive
  • Be very careful when buying property

Remember that before you move:

• Research, read, observe, and inquire
• Visit many times to find the right area
• Stay 6 months or more in your chosen area
• Now make the move

For more information listen to this podcast: