Entrepreneur Expat
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Don't Buy Lake Chapala Real Estate Until You Hear This (Expert Insights)
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V I D E O S T O W A T C H N E X T :
Online Business Tips to Working and Traveling In Mexico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zGH0voCyOc&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_IA6s3KvB_g9Cc9Ze1eji8j&index=2
Moving to Mexico: 10 Reasons Why We Chose to Live in Guadalajara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK23vD8_xjc&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_LAY7UV78YMgms-f2e1UcwN&index=23
Tips for Moving Overseas: Top 5 Remote Work Skills That Make Money: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFzjCrlNAL8&list=PLh3xKhkMgH_IA6s3KvB_g9Cc9Ze1eji8j
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Disclaimer: The information in this video should not be considered tax, financial, investment, or any kind of professional advice. Only a professional diagnosis of your specific situation can determine which strategies are appropriate for your needs. Entrepreneur Expat can and does not provide advice unless/until engaged by you.
The Lake Chapala area is one of the hottest real estate markets in Mexico, and it's with very good reason. And today we are giving you everything you need to know from prices to what's going on, what could be a good investment, what's the market looking like in this area with Amanda Turner of the real Amanda Turner, who happens to be one of the best real estate agents in the area. We're gonna be working together on a lot of projects. Uh, for a lot of our relocation clients and things, because man, we get asked about this area. This one is time. We get y mm-hmm. One and two and Meida are three. But every week we're getting questions about what's going on in Lake Chip, Paul, what do I need to know? What, what are the prices looking like? So thank you so much for being here today to kind of share with us what you're seeing from, from being on the ground.
Amanda Turner:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:Um, you know, running businesses here, but also helping people buy and sell real estate.
Amanda Turner:Thank you.
Amanda Abella:All right guys. Welcome to Entrepreneur Expat, in case you missed it. On this channel we talk everything about international investments, global diversification, making money online so you can go anywhere in the world and becoming a global citizen. So if that's something that you're interested in, make sure to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don't miss a. Single video that we have coming out on this channel. And if you are interested in the Lake Chapala area with the real estate, we work very closely with Amanda in this area for all of our relocation clients. So just go to entrepreneur expat.com/consult. We can help with everything from immigration, to real estate, to insurance, and everything in between, so you have everything you need to make your move easy. In one spot, instead of having it be fractured with a bunch of different contractors you need to find on your own. So again, that's entrepreneur expat.com. Slash consult. All right, Amanda, so you've been here since 2020, right?
Amanda Turner:No, 2020 or, uh, I've been here October will be eight years, so, oh, so
Amanda Abella:even longer than that,
Amanda Turner:2017,
Amanda Abella:I guess. Yeah. So 2017. Right. So I'm sure you have seen the utter explosion
07092025_153838:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:Of this area. So. What have you seen in the last seven years? Both in terms of Americans and Canadians and, I mean, we've met Italians here, we've met people from all over the world. It's very diverse here.
07092025_153838:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:And what have you seen in the last seven years, um, or eight years in terms of the growth of this area, uh, in, in Mexico? Because, I don't know, I, to me personally, I didn't know this place existed until I got here. Mm-hmm. But apparently a lot of people know this place exists.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. So it's very interesting the, the different. Um, waves that have happened. So when I first came here, there were a lot of snowbirds. A lot of people would buy properties and then they'd vacation here six months of the year during the, the winter months from Canada or northern us. Um, a lot of that was happening snowbirds. So, uh, and then rentals were huge. And what we noticed with the bed and breakfast is that. People were, were, uh, reserving their rooms a year or two in advance. So they would come and they would stay, and then they'd put down a payment for the following year to stay for a month or so, um, during the high season. Then it kind of mo then it started moving to people. Were moving here more full-time. So what I've noticed is that, uh, more people are full-time now than snowbirds. So they just come, they buy a property, they sell everything they have north and, and then they just move here for the whole year. And um, and then there's a lot of last minute reservations in the bed and breakfast. We don't have, uh, so much of that, you know, a year or two in advance like we used to have. It's more very last minute reservations.
Amanda Abella:What do you think is fueling, you know, not the migration of, you know, Americans and Canadians to Mexico? We've done videos at nauseum. About what's going on there, but what do you think is fueling this area specifically?
Amanda Turner:Um, this area has a lot of pluses. I'd say the main thing is the close airport. It's only 30 minutes away from here. Um, and it's an international airport, and they're actually redoing the Wallah Heart airport right now. And it's beautiful. Have you, have you been Oh yeah. We've flown in
Amanda Abella:and outta there a bunch of times. Okay. Yeah.
Amanda Turner:So, um, it's absolutely beautiful right now. And, um, the, so the, the proximity of the airport and then I would say, because this is such a large expat area, like there, there's a large concentration of expats, English speaking expats here. So, uh, it's a very soft landing for people. Who are looking to move out of the country. And it's still very close to the United States and Canada. So it's just like maybe one flight away for some people
Amanda Abella:and also very close to Guadalajara, which is Mexico's second largest city. Yes, I know. We recently moved out to the Lake chip area. We're in Aah now, uh, we're more near Hoko Pec and um, that was one of the pluses for us. It's like, okay, we can get outta the city. Because we're a little done with the chaos of the city for now. But if we need to go back for whatever reason, like we were there running errands on Monday, no big deal. We're in and out the same day. So for those, so you like get a, but it feels like worlds apart from the city here. It does. Does. They're completely different places. Different. Lake Chappal
Amanda Turner:is still kind of stuck in the past. People still ride horses and Yeah, you know, the horses will be trotting down the street here sometimes I joke that
Amanda Abella:our neighbors are cows.
Amanda Turner:Yeah, so, so that's really cool about it. Guha is, yeah, it's, it's a major city. It's like you said, second largest city in Mexico. And, um, but it's right there if you need it. If you, if you just wanna do something different, because this is a smaller town, so you have small town living here, you know. But the good thing about it is, is that, um, another thing that's changed about this area is that previous to, uh, when I first got here, well, when I first got here. I believe my cafe, my business was the first business in the area to have internet actually. So that's changed. And it was much more a cash society back then too. And now credit cards are starting to be incorporated more in a lot of the businesses. Um, but the infrastructure is
Amanda Abella:not bad either'cause we're out by the other side of the lake and the internet we get here is actually better than the internet we were getting in Guadalajara.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. Yeah. The infrastructure here is great because, you know, I mean, you have people demanding great internet because a lot of people are working online or, or they're just used to having good internet from, from US or Canada. And so it was a high demand for that. And so what we're finding is that a lot more stores are opening up that will. Sell things in this area that previously all had to go to Gua Hara to get those things. So a good example of that is Costco. So previous you would have to go to Costco to get what you needed from Costco. And now there are plenty of stores that carry their products here. And so you can just go down street. Yeah, we noticed, we, uh,
Amanda Abella:went to the, the famous Super Lake the other day and we saw like Kirkland product. Yeah, I know
Amanda Turner:half the store is Kirkland products. Yes.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. And we're like, they are pro price gouging us here, but we know it's because of the import taxes and all that stuff. For those of you who don't know, uh, super Lake is a well-known store in the Lake Chip area where you can go find American and Canadian goods. Mm-hmm.
07092025_153838:Yeah. So if
Amanda Abella:you miss your mac and cheese. Uh, you can, you can go find it there. Yeah. Velv Vita. Yeah. We had a ball there the other day. I know.
Amanda Turner:So, well, super Lake's where I go to get everything for, for the businesses. Pretty much. Like that's my grocery store for sure. But yeah, the, the, the import product, so Velv, Vita Macaroni cheese is, um, you know, they purchase the things from the United States and then to cross the border with them, you have to pay a 50% Yeah. Fee for those things. And then you have to mark them up to make any kind of profit for having it in your store. So yeah, your import stuff is gonna be more expensive than just your local. Local goods. Yeah.
Amanda Abella:And for context, we're currently in Ahi. He right? Yeah. So we are in Ahi Central. And it's Chapala San Antonio. What is the rest? I always forget the rest of the name. Uh,
Amanda Turner:Chapala Rivera, San Antonio. Ahi. San Juan ela. Chanteek. And Kopec.
Amanda Abella:So this whole area,'cause we are more in like the Kopec area and we've noticed how, for example, things are starting to develop a lot more over there. Yeah. Like they just opened an Oxo in a pharmacy like right down the mountain.
07092025_153838:Mm-hmm. Right.
Amanda Abella:And when I see stuff like that happening, both of us, like,'cause we have that entrepreneurial investor mindset, we're like, oh.
Amanda Turner:Yeah, this means something. You know what else? This means something. Yeah. Uh, so the Poncho Ponchos is a very popular grocery store here. It's a very nice. Posh type of place. And they had a location in Riveras and they just opened one, I would say about a year ago in West Ahhee. And so that was kind of like a signal. Oh, things are gonna start moving around out there. But, but yeah, the area between AHI and San Juan Costilla is pretty much considered West Ahi. And there's all new infrastructure out there. They're building gated communities. That's like, that's the place to buy. I mean, it was really the place to buy a couple years ago, but, um, I think it's still. Probably considered a place to buy right now.
Amanda Abella:So what are prices currently looking like in ahi? Because we get asked about AHI in AL specifically, and we're like, I mean, you can find some good stuff here. Yeah, right. Um, so what are, what are they looking at for specifically AHI in al? And then we can talk about other parts of the lake
Amanda Turner:as far as prices go. Yeah. Okay. So land in AHA at the current moment is going for about$600 per square meter, um, to build, you're looking at anywhere, uh. From anywhere between a thousand dollars and$1,500 square meter. Yeah, because this spends lots for sale too. All around the lake. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Um, so, and that thousand to 15, 1500 for a building. It just depends on what you're, what you're putting in your house. Are you using content stone? Are you doing marble tile? Like what are you adding to it? You know, you're basically like elevator. Right. Exactly. Love. Um, so, so that just depends on your taste preferences and uh, so yeah, that's basically it. So aah is gonna be the most expensive area in all of Lake Chip Paul, I'm not just talking about this Lakeside area in all of Lake Chip Paul, it's gonna be your most expensive area.
Amanda Abella:A lot of people in the comments are saying things, and I heard you say this on a video, and this is what we've been telling people too. They're like, oh, AHI heat's gotten too expensive. And I heard you say on a video. I'm like, yeah,'cause Mexico's getting its shit together. Yeah,
07092025_153838:yeah.
Amanda Abella:And it's a highly, it's, and it's a highly desirable area. So can you speak more to that? Because, uh, we have a lot of investors, for example, who will come work with us and they'll be, uh, you know, they might already have properties. Uh, we literally had a conversation with someone the other day, already had properties in. Dubai and then also properties in Malta. Now they wanna add to their portfolio in Latin America. Mexico's number one, uh, on their list. Uh, what is going on here that you had and Reuters recently announced that, uh, international investors really have their eye on Mexico, uh, Latin America in general, but Mexico being one of the top ones in Latin America. What is going on here? Because you've been here, you know, the better part of the last 10 years. I think the last time I was in Mexico was actually 2016 or 2017 around the era. And then when I came back in 2023, I was like, what the hell happened here? Like this is just, whew, shit, this has exploded. So what do you, what? What is going on that now so many investors have their eye on Mexico.
Amanda Turner:Well, I think what's happening is the idea of diversifying portfolios, like getting some, some of your funds out of the United States and Canada. Um, you know, the, the political climate is kind of everywhere in the world is kind of having people, people are moving around, moving around. You know, it's
Amanda Abella:global musical chairs, that's what my mom calls, calls it. Yeah. I
Amanda Turner:think that in terms of, uh, Mexico. Place in the world. I don't think that, you know, there's too much threat going on here. Mexico kind of stays out of people's business. Exactly. Yeah. So it's, so I think, you know, like there's not too much to worry about here. Like Mexico's not. I mean, of course they're in the running for becoming a great country, but, and they are a great country and not as far as like GDP and all of that, all of that goes, um, you know, they don't have nuclear weapons, anything like that. But, um, but Mexico, Mexico, like you said, just kind of minds their own business. They're just here. Existing and doing their thing and trying to be the best that they can be. And I also think that you have a lot of natural landscape here and uh, the culture in itself is more people oriented. And I think the United States and Canada kind of misses that about. People in general, and I think we're, we're a little bit nostalgic about those things, like being closer to family, being closer to friends, and, um, so I think that's happening. I think business wise, Mexico's kind of seeing what other places are doing and they're, they're not necessarily mimicking that, but they're trying, like I said, trying to do better as a country, what works and Yeah. And they're, they're inviting. Some of that foreign aspect into the country so that the country can start to grow a little more with the rest of the world. Yeah. And there's investment
Amanda Abella:here from, from all over the world. And uh, we can like, touch upon this briefly just'cause it was in the news, but you know, on, on the American news, like there's a lot of news about riots and Mexico City, uh, and I did this because we have friends in Mexico City and they're like, this is being totally overlooked. Yeah. I'm not so sure. Like, this is not a big deal that they were trying to make. Yeah. It's a big deal as the, the, the news is making it out to be. Um, you know, and, and I think investors pretty much know that. Yeah. Because you look at where a lot of Mexico's money comes from, and it's not all foreigners, let's be clear. Right. Uh, it's just like one piece of puzzle. Well, foreigners only, foreigners
Amanda Turner:only account for 1% of the entire population of Mexico.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. So it's, it's, yeah. So it's not like foreigners jacking up prices or anything like that. Um, but in terms of, if you look at how Mexico brings in a lot of money, um, nearshoring was huge. Mm-hmm. That was one of the things. And then also foreign investment. You know, not foreign investment in, in the, the gringo moving here necessarily. Right. Although obviously that stimulates the economy
07092025_153838:mm-hmm. In
Amanda Abella:huge ways. Mm-hmm. Um, but also just from all over the world, they're opening lines of business with countries all over the place. Yeah. That one. Seeing like what their options are. Yeah. That
Amanda Turner:1% that I mentioned is not just Americans and Canadians. I mean they are the majority, but, uh, the 1% includes people from all over the world. Yeah. Foreigners. And that includes. Even, even more southern countries than Mexico. Yeah.
Amanda Abella:One of the things we've noticed in our analytics, because we check'em all the time, um, is we have traffic coming in from all over the world. Yeah. Like, obviously Americans and Canadians are number one or one and two, but now we're getting them from everywhere. I mean, we've had traffic coming in from Brazil, from Argentina, from Europe, from Asia, yeah. And we're like, whoa. Okay. There's a lot of global interest
07092025_153838:mm-hmm.
Amanda Abella:Uh, in, in Mexico right now.'cause like you said, they're. Getting their shit together. Uh, I was reading the other day that Mexico is kind of an emerging market and what a lot of, uh, people who are interested in global diversification are telling us. And what we try and tell people, because we see it with our own two eyes, and I'm sure you've seen it even more than we have'cause you've been here much longer, is like, yeah. Like things in Mexico are kind of like an upward trajectory. And then you look at countries that a lot of us come from and it's kind of like the opposite situation. Is going on right now where life is just getting more difficult. Yeah. In countries like the United States and Canada, to your point, they're involved in. So how many conflicts do United States involved in at this point? Yeah. You know, that does affect you and how you're able to move globally and things like that. Um, there's
Amanda Turner:just, there's a lot of turmoil everywhere, and I think for the most part, Mexico like. Where's the turmoil? You know, like there's not really anything going on. I mean, we mentioned the riots in Mexico City, but I mean, everybody kind of knows that that's a nothing burger, you know? So. Yeah. Um, but other than that, like, yeah, like Mexico's just chilling over here and, and I think people appreciate that.
Amanda Abella:Mexico's just chilling. Everybody's just chilling. And, uh, one thing that a lot of Mexicans have told me is, uh, yeah. In Mexico, you know. People have issues with the government, but you know, government's an issue everywhere. Governments are gonna do what governments do, and it just is what it's, oh yeah. The
Amanda Turner:government here needs work for sure. But that's everywhere. That's
Amanda Abella:everywhere. Uh, that's why you globally diversify, to your point, which is what a lot of people are starting to do. Uh, but what a lot of Mexicans have told me is like, yeah, here they let you work. Mm-hmm. And they let you make money. Mm-hmm. You know, like, like they let you go, make your money. Yeah. No one gets in the way. Of doing that. And that's something that we've heard from people interested moving here or investing here, or starting businesses here like you did that that's something that interests them because they're starting to again see like the opposite,
07092025_153838:right. Uh,
Amanda Abella:in the countries that they're from. Okay. So, um, ah, he, he's more expensive. Right? Uh, what would you think is probably better for like a long-term investor? Like, we're closer to Koto pack. We love it. Right. And then, like I said, we saw the Oxo starting to come up in the. And a lot of construction and things and we're like, oh boy. Yeah. Right. Uh, things are shifting and changing over here and we did a video the other day that got a lot of attention. That was, uh, how like if you really want it, like invest and like long haul, you're probably gonna get better returns. Uh, if that's your goal. Mm-hmm. You're gonna get better returns somewhere else on the lake. Than Ahi.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. So, so Ahi, he's more of like a destination place. It's gonna be the most expensive. It's kind of one of those situations where like, I have to be in aha. He, I have to experience this, you know? Um, that's a situation, vibe. Let's be real. It's a vibe. Oh, it's definitely a vibe. Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean it's historic Centro basically. Yeah. Like some of these buildings are, you know, 500 years old. Yeah. So, um. But the, I would say the least expensive area to purchase is hoko. And, um, you and I kind of talked about this a little bit where, uh. Between Ahi Centro and San Juan Cosla, which is considered West. Aah uh, that area is starting to develop more, but it's gonna start moving more towards HoCo. So buying at these low prices that HoCo has is actually a really good idea. Being, being somewhere they're starting to sell land on the Librato? Yeah. Or on the, uh, we saw that on the HoCo bypass. Yep. Which would be a great place to buy. I mean, I think eventually it's gonna have a lot of traffic, so the noise might be an issue. You know, you can fix that with like noise cancellation windows and, and all that. But, um, but you're gonna have the views up there on the HoCo bypass. And to me, in my opinion from HoCo out is, are the best views on the whole lake. I mean, you look like, it looks like you're on an ocean. We're right by, by
Amanda Abella:HoCo and our views are phenomenal. Yeah. Yeah. In the rental that we're in, like, you don't get views like that. And now he, he can collar
Amanda Turner:anymore. Mm-hmm.
Amanda Abella:It's just not,
Amanda Turner:the downside to Hoka right now is that, um. It's a little bit further from the airport. I believe it's about 45 minutes to an hour to the airport from there. Yeah. Uh, there's less of an English speaking community there, but that's personal preference. Like some people would rather be, you know, immerse themselves and be in the language. Yeah. Like us. That's how we do it. Um, yeah. Yeah. So, so, uh, uh, I mean, Guadalajara is still the same, same distance because you just take the Hoko back way, but, um. Yeah, I think HoCo is a good buy. I think it's, I think in 10 years it's, it's gonna be worth it. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
Amanda Abella:Long term.'cause we were, he was there and he's like, holy crap. Like seeing all the opportunity in HoCo, he's like, I buy here over Ahah. But he is thinking with investor mindset. Um, but I think I read that like, aah chapala area, you're still looking at like, uh, eight to 10%, uh, appreciation every year on the properties. I don't know if that's true or not, or if you can compare it. Yeah. I think this
Amanda Turner:whole lakeside area is appreciating like that. For sure.
Amanda Abella:Which, if you compare that to, I think
Amanda Turner:Ahe, he a little more, but, but Ahe, he's its own, in its own, you know, little bubble world. Yeah. It's
Amanda Abella:in its own world.
Amanda Turner:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:Um, and there are some properties in Ahe. I'm not sure where we were the first time we were coming here, but there's some like roads over that way, um, where like, the houses are stunning.
Amanda Turner:Oh, that's left esta.
Amanda Abella:Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's most stunning houses. That's the most.
Amanda Turner:That's next to Ahi, that's probably the most highly desired neighborhood to live in. Upper and lower l Floreta
Amanda Abella:and La Floreta because we became familiar with it when we moved out here and we had to run a bunch of errands. Like, I mean, it has everything that you need. You've got the storage, you've got the Walmart, you've got the Tell Cell, you've got the Auto Zone, like literally all in one Yeah. Spot. Mm-hmm.
Amanda Turner:There. And it's, and it's wide roads. Uh, cobblestones are well cared for. They have their own garbage. Trucks and, and facilities and, um, and it's very lush, you know, lots of greenery in there. So do
Amanda Abella:people need, um, uh, one thing that happens in Mexico is the, which is if you're learning, I think it's 50 kilometers from a coastline. Mm-hmm. Um, right. Trust. You need a, basically a bank trust. Yeah. Uh, in order to be able to own. Uh, the property, basically, you like lease the land, but you have property owner rights, right? Mm-hmm. Is how those things work. Very common for other countries to do that in different ways. Thailand, the whole country Yeah. Is like that. Oh wow. I didn't know that. Yeah. The whole country is like that in Thailand. Yeah. Uh, where like it has to be a Thai person who's like a 51% owner, the property. Oh, okay. For example. And if you are buying property as a foreigner, you have to do a trust, all that kind of stuff. I think the exception is like buildings. Like in Bangkok. Oh, okay.'cause I think it goes according to the building.
07092025_153838:Yeah. Uh,
Amanda Abella:so it's like, oh, well 51% of the people in the building need to be tied, but then you Ah, I see what you're saying. Yeah. Does that okay. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's the only like kind of difference. Yeah. Like in, um, but yeah, it's not uncommon, right. Uh, for people to do that. Does that apply here, Lakeside? Because technically you're on a coast
Amanda Turner:No, it doesn't apply here. It doesn't apply here. No. It's only for oceans. Okay. And es did you know that? Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. CTE is also, but that makes sense because you can make, I mean, that's a, that's a huge resource and uh, making money on that, on that type of situation. So that makes total sense. So for
Amanda Abella:this area, you would not need a fee, so you own the land outright.
Amanda Turner:Mm-hmm.
Amanda Abella:Do you see that changing anytime in the future?'cause I think a lot of people. You know, with the nothing burger protests. Yeah. A lot of people are now maybe feeling a
Amanda Turner:little concerned, I can't, uh, I can't speak on what the government's gonna do about this situation. You never know. That's why you globally diversify. Yeah, exactly. So, yeah. So it could come to that point. I know that here in this area we have what's called a hido land. Yes. So it's basically native land. Mm-hmm. And you can own it as a foreigner. Um, but it's basically the same thing as a fi comso or a trust where you don't outright own it, you know? Right. Um, but the, a Hto land is only a hido for about 25 years, and then you can take it out of the a Hto title. Um, most people don't like to buy a hido for that reason, because it's like a trust. And who knows, like maybe if the political climate gets worse and does somehow move this way to Mexico, you know, all the people, all the natives could be like, well, why you globally
Amanda Abella:diversified? We want
Amanda Turner:our land back. I don't know. You know,
Amanda Abella:so,
Amanda Turner:so it's not very common that people buy a heto and they kind of try to stay away from it. I stay away from it. Buying and selling. Yeah. I don't think it's my place. I feel like that should probably be, you know. Uh, what it's there for is for the Mexicans. And so it's, and it's also very difficult because I work mostly with, with Americans and Canadians, so, you know, I just don't, I prefer not to, not to
Amanda Abella:deal with any of that stuff, right? Mm-hmm. Yeah.'cause it does add a layer of complication Yeah. Uh, to the process. Um, although, you know, we have some contacts where you, you know, they have direct con and like, it, it's worked, right? But it does lead to other layers, uh, of complication that people may not. Wanna deal with and in terms of like what happens in Mexico or whatever. Um, you know, that's why you globally diversify. We keep saying that like maybe you have a, we're looking at like, hey, maybe we just buy up some land here. We could get some good deals there. Yeah. You know, we'd rather buy it here than Tulum.
07092025_153838:Mm-hmm. Right.
Amanda Abella:For example. Um, and then, you know, we go to the next country and we figure out, and you diversify the portfolio. Speaking of Tulum, right. One thing that I've noticed here, I don't know if it's on purpose or not, you're gonna have to tell me, but I've noticed there's not like a bunch of high rises or anything, uh, around the Lake Chapala area. Which I like. Right, because if you look at it from kind of an investment perspective, if we compare that to like Tulum, which you were just saying, you were in Tulum not long ago. Tulum had a real estate bust. Mm-hmm. Uh, not too long ago there was overdevelopment over building. You were there, you saw it for yourself. You're like, this is totally cheap construction. This is crazy. You know, a lot of projects had to stop. They didn't have money coming in. There are opportunities in terms of like, Hey, you can invest in a project that's 60% done, or
07092025_153838:yeah,
Amanda Abella:maybe somebody needs to do a fire. You know, you could. Uh, but there's a big bust going on in Tulum right now, and it's just high rise, high rise, high rise and overdevelopment. I haven't seen that here. I don't know if that's like on purpose or. Yeah.
Amanda Turner:Well, I think, uh, okay. One of the things that people should probably know about Mexico is that financing is very difficult to obtain. Yeah. Um, even for citizens, people who live their, here, their, their whole lives, uh, interest rates are fairly high, very high. Um, so, so that's a factor in that, that, that it's not easy to get financing. And so to finish a project, you know, you've gotta come up with your own capital. Um. That does happen here from time to time. There's a specific building that I have in mind over, uh, past the Walmart a little bit. I don't know if you guys, it's a two story building and it has, um, commercial spaces in the front and then in the back are the condos that, that people purchase. Okay. Attention on the way
Amanda Abella:back today. Yeah. So,
Amanda Turner:um, I'm trying to think exactly where it is. It's across. There, there aren't really any landmarks over there, but you'll see it like once you pass the light for Walmart. Um, that thing has been under construction since I've lived here and, uh, it's just constantly under construction and I think it's the same thing is happening where they're just trying to get owner funding basically. So they sell a unit and then they continue with, with the project, but it's not selling as well. And part of the reason is because a. I don't think that they have an elevator there, so people don't necessarily want to climb stairs. It's a very common thing here that people want one level, um, or an elevator included with the property. Uh, also most people want a home here. They want, they want a standalone home. Um, and they want character, you know, they want, they want that colonial style. That's big style heap. Yeah. Yeah. And these condos that are going up are, are more modern Yeah. Style. And people are leaving the US they don't want that. You know, they, they, and you know, the Mexicans. Who are coming from Guadalajara or other parts of Mexico, they don't want that either, you know?
07092025_153838:Yeah. So they have that either there. Yeah.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. So I don't feel like it's necessarily gonna take off here because I think people really like the idea of, um, like the quaintness of this town, you know, like the historic, uh. Aspect of Lake Chip and, and just like, it's still kind of the wild west and I think that's what people like about it, you know?
Amanda Abella:Yeah. And I think, uh, there's a lot more opportunity here for sure than in Guadalajara.'cause we've got dms from people being like, I wanna buy in Guadalajara. And we're like, well, unless you like, have to be in Guadalajara for some reason. Right. I don't see it like being. Because, um, the, the owner of our, where we were in Guadalajara, wanted to sell the house. So we ended up doing a lot of research Yeah. On real estate markets and things like that. And we came to the conclusion like, unless you like, have to be here.
07092025_153838:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:You know, I, we don't really think it makes a whole lot of sense in terms of like an investment perspective right now, if you, I totally
07092025_153838:agree. Now, if it's a
Amanda Abella:lifestyle choice, right? Like I really love the city. I wanna be here, I see myself here for a long time. That's a totally different story. But I feel like there's definitely a lot more opportunity over here. I think Ahi, he can correct me if I'm wrong, I think aah, he kind of is moving in that direction where it's more of a lifestyle choice.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. I think it is. Yeah, for sure.
Amanda Abella:Not necessarily like, Hey, I'm gonna get a good investment out of this. Yeah.
Amanda Turner:Right. They're investment properties. Um, investment properties in, uh, lake Al are hard to find. Yeah. It's, um, you know, they come up, I would say one in every 20. To 30 properties that get listed, you're gonna find a good investment property. But yeah, it's, it's more lifestyle than anything.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. All right. Well if you guys are interested in this area, we can help you in a few ways for, so for our relocation clients who are interested in the Ahah area, we put you up in this bed and breakfast in the Ahah Centro, the number one bed and breakfast in this area run by Amanda and her husband. And then on top of that you get more bang for your buck'cause we could do real estate tours. Yes. Uh, as well in the area, whether you're looking for, Hey, I'm going to Ahi it's lifestyle. I'm not looking to sell this thing in 10 years, or anything like that. Or if you're more adventurous and you want more opportunity maybe out by, you know, HoCo and that whole area, we can help you because we get requests for both. Yeah. Depending on the profile of the buyer and what they're looking to do. So all you need to do is go to entrepreneur expat.com. Slash consult. We put the whole team together for you, not just here, but also other parts of Mexico. And we would be more than happy, uh, to help you. Is there anything else you think they should know about this area?
Amanda Turner:Um, I don't think so. I think I, I mean there are a lot of videos out there about AHI in the Lake Chip, Paul area, so I feel like. We kind of covered some ground on things that aren't necessarily being asked. Yeah. So they're great questions. Um, but no, I think, I think, yeah, that's, and then I have my channel too that, that kinda Yes. The real Amanda
Amanda Abella:Turner. Yes. I love her real estate videos. I, I. I think they're some of the best in Mexico. Thank you. The others are like way too corporate and you're like quirky and fun. Thanks. And you really show, but you'll see like the, and we'll start doing some real estate tours with you as well.
Amanda Turner:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:Uh, because I think what I really like about this Ahi he area, for those of you where you, where it's a lifestyle choice is like what you said, the architecture, that old school, Mexican. Yes. Every home is different. And that colonial, they're very different with the adobe ceilings. Yeah. And I mean they're stunning properties. Yeah. Out here in the Ahi area. For those of you. Who want that, you're just probably not gonna find them for a steal. Like those of you who are like, I have, I have 50 grand to spend on a house. Like, ah, he, that doesn't,
Amanda Turner:that doesn't exist. That doesn't exist really in Mexico much anymore. You know, like, I mean, the whole world is, is going through inflation and, and, and, you know, there's, there's higher prices in the world these days. Yeah. Like in Mexico, like, like we said, is. Is, uh, growing up, so it, the, those steals, like they just don't really exist anymore, unfortunately.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. And speaking of inflation, but this is good for the, perhaps the investors. I don't know if you knew this, but you know that like in the United States where we're from, they just keep raising the debt ceiling and spending more money. Right. Mexico announced last week that they cut their deficit by$8.5 billion.
Amanda Turner:Oh, wow. Wow. Okay. So
Amanda Abella:it's what you're saying, it's like, hey, we're, we're growing up. Yes. Like we're adulting now. Exactly.
Amanda Turner:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:We're adulting. So, you know, for those of you who invest, who are investors or a lot of people are concerned about how much money the United States and Europe spends and it's not, uh, sustainable for the long term. Right. Well, you know, Mexico just cut its deficit by over$8 billion.
Amanda Turner:Yeah. And, uh, anybody who wants to bitch about Mexico not being affordable anymore, I mean. I'm proud of Mexico for that reason. You know, me too. Like it's not a bad thing.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. So I mean, and, and to Mexico's credit, I mean, even in the immigration process, they're looking for people who have means and, and resources. Right. Because I mean, it makes sense, you know, like they're like, we don't want people who are going to be a burden. On the system. I mean, they don't have systems like that to begin with.
Amanda Turner:Well, the, uh, the minimum wage is directly attached to the minimum amount for solvency to become a resident. Yeah. So if the solvency increases, so does minimum wage so that, uh, you know, Americans and Canadians and other foreigners aren't competing for Mexican jobs.
Amanda Abella:That's another thing a lot of people don't realize. I know we're going on on a bit of a tangent here, but I think this is important. Like a lot of people think they're gonna come here and find a job, and I'm like, no, no, no. You're not gonna compete with Mexicans for jobs. Like the government is not gonna want you. Yeah.
Amanda Turner:In fact, we only hire, um, it's so rare that we even hire anyone. Well, you have a
Amanda Abella:business here, you can speak outside. Outside
Amanda Turner:of this town. Yeah. Like we try to hire only people who are from the Lake Al area, like Guila Harrans, come over here, you know? Uh. I don't know anywhere else in Mexico. They come and they want a job here. We, we try to keep it very, very local. Yeah.
Amanda Abella:And, and Mexico wants, from what we're seeing with the immigration stuff, they want people who have means and who are gonna contribute to the economy. They're making it easier for people who wanna contribute, uh, to the economy. And I think that's. I mean, it's common sense when you think about it. It really is. Yeah. Yes.
Amanda Turner:Especially for a country that was kind of in distress like Mexico was. They needed a little bit of outside help, you know? So, um, they invited that in and, and so I think they're benefiting from that now. And that's excellent. That's great.
Amanda Abella:Good for Mexico and it's on that upward trajectory, hopefully. Knock on wood, it stays that way for Mexico. Yeah. And, and Mexicans because it really is an amazing country, like investments aside. Yeah. You know, just, you know, we talk to people from all over the world and Mexico always comes up as like one of the top places in terms of food culture, uh, quality of life. And now we can add, you know, economic opportunity. Because I think maybe other people don't realize this. Um, you know, Mexico also has a growing middle class, and also people moving more into like upper middle class, like Mexicans are also starting to make money
Amanda Turner:Yeah.
Amanda Abella:In ways that they've never made money before.
Amanda Turner:Yes.
Amanda Abella:You know, and they're becoming more educated and usually that's a pretty good indicator in terms of where a country, um, is moving. So it makes sense that a lot of investors are kind of eyeing what's going on here, and they're like. We're gonna, we're gonna keep our eye on, on that one. Yes, exactly right. We, we might put a little money there, or we might buy some real estate there and have a footprint. Yeah. Uh, in Latin America and in a country that. For all intents and purposes around Latin America, Mexico's pretty stable, so, yeah. Yeah. All agree. Well, thank you so much for sharing your insights on the real estate. Thank you Amanda, and investments and your experience living here for as long as you have. And the other video we did about running brick and mortar businesses. Yeah. Uh, here in Mexico, we really look forward to doing a lot more real estate tour video. I know. I'm excited. This is
Amanda Turner:gonna be fun.
Amanda Abella:Yeah. We actually have some clients coming to this area, uh, in September. So, you know, we'll probably be like. Chit chatting over here in the bed and breakfast, um, with everybody as we help them relocate. Uh,'cause what a lot of people don't realize is, um, you know, we can help people with the immigration process. Mm-hmm. And then we'll also take care of your housing, uh, for you with what you pay us. So you don't have to worry about anything. At all in this entire process. So we look forward to really doing a lot more business with you and partnering with you and seeing how this grows, how Ahi grows, how Mexico grows. Um, and yeah, we're, we're gonna be bringing you a lot of business, Amanda. Yay.
Amanda Turner:Hopefully I'll bring you some too. Yay.
Amanda Abella:All right guys. Thank you so much for watching us today. Make sure to like, subscribe, hit that notification bus. You don't miss a single video. And once again, if you are interested in moving to Mexico, we handle immigration. We help you with insurance, we help you with tax strategy. We work with people like Amanda, not just for a place to put you up, uh, while you're here handling your immigration. Also real estate tours and things like that. We work with the best of the best. As you can see. We go meet them in person so you don't have to go find them, uh, yourself. So just go to entrepreneur expat.com/consult and you can apply to work with us. Whether you're interested in moving here as a lifestyle choice or investment, we got you covered. Thank you so much for being the best part of Entrepreneur Expat, and we'll catch you guys on the next one.