Each and every day, I get email from people asking about Mazatlan… one of Mexico’s premier destinations for expats with a vibrant, established community of American’s and Canadians who are living happily on the cheap! It’s a beautiful sea-side city with all of the amenities you would expect to find in America including Walmarts, Applebees, McDonald’s… you name it. But I digress…

I just received this email from Ted:

“Yes, I have been to Mazatlan . Probably over 20 yrs. ago. What I’m really looking for is a place to retire within one year. Something in between, the hustle and bustle, of Mazatlan, but probably close to Mazatlan, near, or on the Beach, on limited income. Is this possible?”

Sure, it’s possible. There are a lot of housing options available from renting to owning to building. You can do a lot of research online, but it’s also very important to see Mazatlan for yourself before committing to any course of action.  I want to remind you to follow every suggestion I’ve already written about (SAFETY) in my various articles about how to have a safe, sane trip to Mexico.

• Don’t flash cash.

• Don’t wear any jewelry other than maybe some obviously cheap stuff – best to just skip it all.

• Don’t travel alone – at any time – at any place. Always best to travel with a group.

• Be aware that most of the violence in Mexico is focused on the border areas – ergo, perhaps flying is the safest. But also be cognizant of the fact that lots of times, such as at Mazatlan, it requires a trip in a taxi to get from the airfield to the town. Make sure you use a licensed taxi.

• And, if you do decide to drive, make very specific plans – know where you will stop for the night – don’t drive at night, of course – get your car ins before you head out – plan, plan, plan.

• Yes, the major problems occur between drug traffickers and dealers, but innocent bystanders can be caught in precarious situations too – be aware – always.

• Try to stay in the tourist areas – most Mexicans are going to be warm and inviting, but, don’t take the chance – just blend in with the crowd. Don’t call attention to yourself.

And, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone to check in with when you head to Mazatlan or wherever you decide to check out?  Dick and I have so many expats that we will be forever grateful to, for welcoming us on our original trip to Maz. My books contain contact information and details about many established expat communities, clubs and organizations.

Before I close this post, I thought you might like to see what new construction looks like in Mazatlan. Here is a video I shot a while ago which shows you new housing construction in progress…

Did you watch the video? Yes, it is indeed: the construction process looks familiar, but it’s different than how houses are built in the U.S. — you will note that right away. If you decide to have a house built in Mazatlan, do your due diligence first. Ask round. Speak with the builder. Find out how established they are. Ask for references. In sum: do everything you would normally do when investing in a major asset. It’s up to YOU to protect your money, so do a good job of it.

Very best regards,

Barbie