You Won't Believe the Property They Bought for $180,000 in Rural Mexico
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- Опубліковано 31 тра 2024
- Join James and the Almost Retired in Mexico team as they delve into an inspiring story of life transformation from the fast-paced urban setting of Arlington, Texas, to the peaceful, starlit countryside of San Pedro, near La Paz, Mexico.
Discover the compelling journey of a chef turned retiree and his wife, a busy project manager, as they swap city life for the tranquility of rural Mexico. He's retired in Mexico, she's working remotely in Mexico.
- Explore James' background and his gradual love affair with Baja Peninsula, which started from frequent visits and eventually led to purchasing a property in the area.
- Understand the lifestyle changes involved in moving from a highly urbanized environment to a community with just five neighbors, and how James and his wife adapted to their new surroundings.
- Learn about the logistics and technology solutions, like Starlink, that make remote work possible in a location far removed from city infrastructure.
- Get a detailed tour of their property, emphasizing the lush garden and various plant species they cultivate, which range from local fruit trees to exotic plants.
- Discover how James and his wife contribute to and interact with their local community in San Pedro, from supporting youth sports to engaging with local artisans and businesses.
This video provides a real-life insight into the challenges and rewards of retiring in rural Mexico, offering inspiration and practical advice for those contemplating a similar life change. Join us as we uncover the serene lifestyle that awaits under the vast, starry skies of San Pedro.
00:00 Introduction
01:09 James' Background on the US-Mexico border
01:48 House shopping on vacation
02:37 Pre-retirement in the US
03:28 Working remotely in rural Mexico
08:57 House tour
10:33 Garden tour
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Thanks for the tour James. James and I worked together in Texas for a lot of years. All he ever talked about was moving to Mexico. Almost every year he was at his timeshare in the summer. Way to go James. Hopefully I will be joining you in the next 6 years.
Thanks for sharing! And hopefully I'll be making a video with you in about 7 years ;-)
These videos are informative and calming. Fun to see people enjoying life and creating positive new realities for themselves.
Thanks Christina - I love to hear that reaction!
James and Barbara are such wonderful people and I'm happy to see their beautiful home and plants! But especially Coco!!!!
Cocoa is a rescue and he's had some challenging health issues - so they are saints for giving him a good like!
I cannot believe I didn't see this video sooner! What an amazing place James has! I know my family would love to grow all of those plants and cactus! Just WOW! The outdoor Pizza Oven area is So Perfect!! I can only imagine family gatherings in a place like that! Just so Lovely! Again Brighton, You and Kat knocked this one outta the Park!! Love it!
Very nice. Almost a tropical jungle in the yard. Maybe you should move from the beach to that area. It seems to have peaked Kat's interest. Perhaps then she'd want to stay. When my parents had the home in W Palm Beach (Boynton actually) they had 2 types or orange and 1 grape fruit tree growing in the backyard. I never knew how sweet a Ripe Grapefruit could be. The tropical fruits alone are good reasons to live there. Thanks Mr B. Another good one. P n D
Thanks Dave. That's about as much of a jungle as is possible in the Baja Peninsula. Kat loves plants - and I think he has better soil - better than sand!
And Kat lived in West Palm Beach as a teenager - and she had all sorts of citrus that she still tries to grow in Mexico and Portland now.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Farmer Kat looked at home there.
Thank you for this tour. Their home looks very cool.Congratulations!
Thanks for watching - I'm happy to share!
wonderbar!! love the yard, plants, CoCo...very nice
I really enjoyed seeing your home and garden and hearing about the journey.
I'm glad you enjoyed the tour (as did I.) There are more tours to come, so be sure to subscribe if you haven't already.
What a joy to see James' and Barbara's new home! I love this couple and have been excited for them to make this move. Thank you for the nice tour of their property. They are incredible people and deserve the slice of heaven that they are claiming as home.
They are wonderful folks and are definitely enjoying their little slice of heaven!
We will probably just rent land/a home in central Mexico. We are in Oaxaca right now. Things are cheaper here than in Baja. Oh yeah, those fruit trees grow even better here!
Sounds like you have a plan. Central Mexico is much more affordable and a more friendly climate. Keeping plants alive on the Baja Peninsula is quite a task!
Why are you leaving Oaxaca?
Great job James and Brighton.
Thanks Brad!
Just fabulous. I enjoy your channel. Thank you
Thank you so much, Derrick!
Beautiful, and Congrats James and Barbara! You guys made it happen! Loved the video! I'm retired now, Brad still working on it, but definitely taking time out to smell the rosemary!! 😁❤️⛵️ Linda and Brad, Corpus Christi
You guys have a standing invite to drop by any time and stay in the upstairs room!
So happy for them! What a wonderful property and deal especially compared to the USSA . If we didn’t have teenage children we were moving with, Baja was one of our top moving options , We love Sonora because of that desert meets beach vibe and being from Arizona we love the picturesque desert scenery and can handle dry heat but for now have to narrow places down with our children in mind for a more smooth transition. Once they fall in love with Mexico we can expand our options
A life-threatening accident or experience. How long is it to a large hospital, & or, do you die before help arrives, statistically?
San Pedro is actually just 30 minutes to be biggest trauma hospital in the state. But for other rural areas, it could be a day's drive to a major hospital. And a few hours to a small regional hospital. Definitely something to consider!
Your place is fabulous, I love it! The outdoor amenities you have are the heart and soul of Baja life. You're close to El Triunfo, we love that town and could well be living there if it wasn't for my need to kite surf 50 days per year. But with all the gringos you can no longer get much more than a small empty lot here in La Ventana for 180K, we lucked out and got in a few years ago. There is an agricultural town nearby here called Los Planes that people could probably find similar properties to yours at sane prices. Or maybe San Bartolo, a beautiful, very clean and tranquilo little town on the way to Los Barilles that we love.
BTW, a rural place like yours is called a Rancho, those 'Saguaro' like big cactus are (Elephant) Cardons, yes that's called an Organ Pipe in AZ but here it is a Pitaya Dulce, or sweet Pitaya, the related and more common cactus with the octopus like arms in these parts is Pitaya Agria or bitter Pitaya yet counter intuitively the fruits of the Agria are delicious and sweet. We have dozens of them and collect the fruit every season.
We like to visit La Paz, we live only 35 minutes away but truly it's the rural life that we love. We have our own off grid homestead we named Rancho Sueño Azul that we have developed from raw land we purchased. Although it's not as established as yours it's a secluded paradise of native plants and wildlife with million dollar views above the Sea of Cortez. We broke ground last week on a house we designed and I work every day assisting our builder who typically works alone yet is happy to have me assisting him doing the unskilled work like shoveling and hauling. A bonus is that I am forced to stretch mi español everyday while working with him, I have improved a good bit just in the first week.
Starlink became available last season, it's a game changer and the subscription and equipment price is half that of the USA.
The night skies are quite good over here as well, we have an Oberwerks BT-100XL-SD binocular telescope on a Manfrotto tripod that is fantastically easy to set up and use, far superior to standard telescopes because the view is not reversed or upside down, it's simply point and shoot and pan and scan and you are viewing with both eyes in stereo. For instance we tracked the SpaceX launch entirely across the sky a few months ago, we follow the ISS overhead all the time. Right now you can see the Southern cross and nearby Omega Centauri by 10 PM every night, all the star clusters and nebulae around Sagittarius and Scorpius, es fantástico! Highly recommended! We don't watch much TV, we watch the stars always and have learned all the prominent stars and constellations.
Otra buen día, we're all fortunate to be living the dream down here.
Enviado desde Rancho Sueño Azul BCS
Congrats on getting a slice of La Ventana before the prices skyrocketed. Did you see last week's video: ua-cam.com/video/YZkEfqskehc/v-deo.html
That's one fancy telescope! I just bought a spotting scope to use to see across the bay and up at the stars. It also doesn't reverse the image. But it would be amazing to see in stereo.
Good luck on the build and let me know if you want to be interviewed at some point - you seem to have a great story to share!
Thank You for the details you gave. I am taking notes.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico So many good tips and stories on your channel, I like to share some here too! That couple in La Ventana are very representative of the Americans and Canadians here, their story and ideals are pretty much ours as well.
@@Dividendflywheel De nada!
that's a great piece of land and he did such a great job with it. More house tours! :))))
More house tours to come. Maybe I need to come to Casa Gatos Malos (isn't that what you call your house?)
This is the way!!!!!! People you have OPTIONS take advantage of them and do your thing!!!!
Agreed!
So true! People fail to see the options they have because they aren't thinking creatively
Perhaps an interview with his real estate agent to gain perspective of homes in that area of Baja. Mixing a vacation with house hunting trip sounds perfect
Thanks for the suggestion. My wife and I added a real estate tour to our weekend vacation in La Paz and bought a house that weekend. I have a tour of La Paz, but not out where these guys live. ua-cam.com/video/ffu16rBkpQ8/v-deo.html
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico thank you
What a beautiful place
It really is!
Learn the culture and traditions and help us preserve them. That's all we ask in return.
That's a great suggestion. What are the top 3 things you'd suggest gringos do differently?
Hopefully they keep sending water
Nice!!!
Thank you! Saludos
Only an American would call that kitchen tiny and bleak.
Well, he is a chef...
Wow, what a great property! How fun to see all the plants. I’m wondering if they adopted the pup there or brought him/her along? Last month I was in Jungapeo, Michoacán, which is the guava capital of Mexico and they happen to be my favorite fruit. It was a beautiful rural property called Agua Blanca and is a popular jumping off point for the monarch butterfly reserve. Highly recommend if you have not been. The family that runs the inn is absolutely lovely and welcoming and I look forward to returning during the butterfly season.
Cocoa is a rescue from Texas and we did bring her with us
When is butterfly season? I've heard great things.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico from November to April. I just missed it so I need to go back.
Nice plan.
I think so too!
It is a dream house I love it
I agree - thanks for watching
James is really interesting! Too bad his wife isn't retired yet but their arrangement works. Wow, Kat was in her element!
Kat loves plants! This trip involved two garden tours - it's the only way I could get her to come with me.
Yeah - it's too bad Barbara works, but if she likes it, it's great that she's able to do it from Baja California Sur.
We are able to watch the sunset daily from our upstairs porch under a Palapas and sip margaritas as the sun goes down!
How long ago did they buy? Where does the water come from? Drinking water and for the house. Is there a water shortage? Do you have to worry about hurricanes?
Be safe !
This part of Mexico is very safe. Probably safer than a similar area in the USA.
Far too remote for our lifestyle, but it is a nice property, and they seem to enjoy that life
Yeah - it's too remote for me too. For me, living 25 minutes from the malecón in La Paz is too far away. But I'd love to see the stars from his place.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Three blocks to the beach in Puerto Vallarta suits me just fine
@HamiltonRb that sounds perfect!
Amazing property 😮 My dream. For now I’m renting a house in Hidalgo ❤
Hidalgo the state? What city? That looks like a gorgeous part of Mexico!
By the way! I’m from Texas also. Born in Freeport, lived in San Antonio and in Arlington off of South Cooper ❤
I’m in the capital city of Pachuca. I moved here last summer from Playa del Carmen. I’m just minutes away from El Chico National Parks. I love hiking, camping and the cooler nights here.
That sounds wonderful. Are there many expats in Pachuca? I'm planning out a summer trip to the area around Mexico City and I'm picking destinations now...
Wow I would love to tour his yard (garden). Looks very tranquil. A retreat from the rat race I have been on for over 30 years
If you ever come to San Pedro I’d be happy to slow you around
@@jamesmorris5897 slow ? I guess it is. A welcome pace that is.
Wow what inflation , years ago buy so much for a song, old timers said
Yeah - inflation has hit Mexico pretty hard in since the pandemic.
Beautiful piece of property. I’d like to be their neighbor!
Yes - it's gorgeous out there. Thanks for watching
Great bbq area ! Now I have confirmation that charcoal is readily available, I'm throwing the charcoal grill in the trailer when I head down.
Yes - I think charcoal is common. I think the locals like to grill out. We have a built in gas grill, so I've never looked for charcoal...
Good day to all, we are trying to do the same thing Move to La Paz and it seems San Pedro may be the place At this point we are leaving San Diego towards San Felipe tonite, by sunday we should be in San Ignacio working our way to Loreto aftewrwards La Paz
Very nice. Don't miss the FMM at the border (unless you already have your residency or citizenship.) Enjoy the drive!
In Mexico, we have thousands of towns good for living, but remember, don't try to change nothing 😂
We don’t want to change anything. We just want to keep our footprint small and be a positive part of the community!
Great advice! Foreigners who come expecting to change Mexico should probably just stay in their country and try to improve that. Move to Mexico because you love Mexico!
These are the most racist comments I have read. Do Mexicans coming across the US border change the US? Dismissing other peoples cultures is so trerrible. People who moved to Mexico think of it as their home now. Of course they’re going to be changing things but hopefully for the better.
Very lovely home. Did I miss the lot/land size? Looks like they have a good amount of room and surrounded by natural beauty.
It's just under 1 acre. And then a lot of nature surrounding that too!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico that's a nice size!
Just about .75 acre
I totally think he needs 3 gates and no lights to avoid thieves but even with that no guarantees. Such a beautiful lifestyle however from a restaurant person sitting in DFW with envy. Thanks Brighton and Kat. You know my best friend is your neighbor in Baja from the USA and I live through her for paradise.
The house was owned by a military general before they bought - so the thieves may not know that gringos moved it!
Which neighbor is your BFF?
I completely agree, people tend to idialize rural Mexico and it can be very unsafe, police is very unreliable in urban areas and in rural areas is pretty much non-existant.
@franyo8014 have you had a bad experience in rural Mexico? Being that this is actually a small town, I think they have a police station. It's in the municipality of La Paz.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I am from rural Mexico, I know the country extensively. I know Mexico and its complex social, political and economic structure. In the country side/small towns you safety pretty much depends on the civility of your neighbors and keeping a low profile. There is no such thing as somebody is robing your home, you call 911 and the police arrives in 2 minutes.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I sent you email :)
Hi I was wondering if it isn't less money to buy in Playa.
The baja peninsula is more expensive than most places on mainland Mexico. But I would think that Playa is pricey because it's so popular with foreigners. I haven't been to that part of the country in years, so I'm not sure.
What’s the weather like? It seems it may be cooler up in the mountains?
San Pedro is pretty hot in the summer. It's not up in the mountains - those are a few dozen miles further from La Paz. And I don't think those mountains get much cooler. It's definitely cooler in the summer on the Pacific Coast - like Todos Santos.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico is it cooler then Vegas? Haha
We stay about 10 degrees f cooler than La Paz and cool food quickly at night
Almost cold compared to a summer in DFW!
@@jamesmorris5897 what about 89 degrees?
Is it humid there
How did you buy property in Mexico. I read that you have to lease it unless you are native.
Foreigners, according to Mexico’s Constitution of 1917, cannot own land in the Restricted Zone. But, with lots of foreign buyers interested in purchasing in the Restricted Zone, the Mexican government came up with a solution in 1973: the fideicomiso, or bank trust. It’s a legal way for foreigners to acquire land for residential purposes in the Restricted Zone. It is in fact more clear-cut than in many other overseas destinations where beachfront and oceanfront property comes with a raft of regulations that are difficult to navigate and comply with.
Thanks for explaining that. I made a video with Gord about it: ua-cam.com/video/F1xkDNwHewA/v-deo.html
hey those are my in-laws!
Hi David! Thanks for watching!
Amazing ! Is this 1 acre?
I think it was just under an acre. But it feels like more than an acre.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico yeah it looks bigger! :)
Yes, I would believe the price because Americans are driving up the price of property and rent in in Mexico.
We actually took our next door neighbors into La Paz to the doctor when the woman and her husband got on the bad side of a swarm of bees that had moved into their outside bathroom.
It's not just immigrants causing real estate to soar. In fact, Americans own very little of the real estate in Mexico - a very small percentage. It's primarily a growing middle class of wealthier Mexicans investing in real estate, and inflation. Mexicans prefer to put their money in houses and land instead of the bank. I know several middle class Mexicans who own second and third homes. Also, cost of living and housing has shot up worldwide in the last 4 years. We can blame our governments and the worldwide covid response for that. But media prefers to point fingers and get people angry at outsiders for their problems.
From my understanding is if you are not Mexican you can only own the property for 100yrs or for your lifetime is this true?
The land is overseen by a Fideicomiso Trust but is owned by us and will be inherited by our children.
That's a common misconception. Properties near the ocean (30 miles?) needs to be in a trust as James said. But properties in the middle of the country can be owned outright by foreigners.
Oof!! I want a place to park my moho and make a sustainable garden. Until I retire, I would need a caretaker while I am in the US. I love Mulege and San Ignacio. Maybe, one day
...
Make sure you get a TIP for your motorhome if it's going to be in Baja California when you aren't there. Especially if you put it in storage. Few people know about this requirement and it's hardly ever enforced. But when someone in the government decides to crack down... you're gonna want to have your TIP (Temporary Import Permit.)
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I live in mine full time, so I wouldn't be leaving it alone. But, that's great info to know!! I'm still OK to have it there during my tourista time, right? I would need the caretaker for the grounds while I was gone to be sure everything was there when I returned (like y'all do).
It's nice of James to allow his wife to keep him in a style for which he can get accustomed to. lol P n D
She still can’t believe we live here!
Hah! I need Barbara to talk to Kat. Of course, I can't cook a boiled egg...
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Why do you need to cook a boiled egg ?😁😇
@@jamesmorris5897 Re the working wife. A good friend and a friends Father In law died of advanced Alzheimer's while waiting for his wife to retire. Just a warning, life can be too short. We all come with an expiry date, problem is the date code is smudged.
$180k for a property in Mexico?? I thought you could buy Mexico for $250k 😂
KEEP UP CUP CAKE !
@@docholliday2961 - did I hurt snowflake’s feelings.
Go home and cry to mama
Who was your agent? Could you please share his name and contact information?
I want to see tax forms for the IRS, RE: FATCA? Please.
No one talks about FATCA. @AlmostRetiredInMexico
Why?
Noni is expensive. Look it up. It is a special medical fruit.
Wow - I saw it for $40 a pound for the fruit. Barbara could quit working and just harvest the noni!
Before there was any treatment for HIV, this was used and still is in Africa. Amazon sells it for $43 for 32 oz. It has a lot of different health benefits.
what good is it if the cartel can just take it awy from you ?
I'm sure the cartel could take your property from you in the US too. Or the government... or just some wealthy corporation. It's probably just as likely.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico That only happens to influential people who tell the truth. but thats global. I would think the cartels would just ride up and physically take your stuff with violence. but I have no real knowledge of mexico.
@@ScreamingEagleFTW Cartels aren't much of a problem for the average foreigner living in Mexico. They don't want anyone calling the US government and complaining about them. The Mexican government is much easier for them to deal with.
And for the street level criminals, they need to deal with the locals. I just read a story about 3 burglars where were stripped naked and walked thru the streets of Cabo Pulmo.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico For the Cartels to show interest wouldn't you need to have something that they need or want that isn't available elsewhere ?
Y por eso los mexicanos que no ganamos en dólares, ya no podemos comprar casa. La gentrificación nos está haciendo daño. Greengo
It’s more affordable for Mexicans to buy a house in Mexico then it is for Canadians and Americans to buy houses in their own countries. You can still buy for under 100k
@@Jay-be2le te invito a que investigues más, la mayoría de los mexicanos no tenemos casa propia.
He and his wife both worked 60-90 hours a week. They deserve to have a home that they love. They worked for it. I’m very happy for them, and for others who did the hard work, saved their money, and are now able to rest and enjoy their lives.
@@mariasoto9678 you have a higher ownership then Canadians and the same as the US 66%. Funny how you complain their are only 1 million Americans that live in Mexico that’s like 0.5 percent. Meanwhile their are 37 million Mexicans living in the USA. The irony of your comment is in insane
pero se lo compró a un mexicano, quien ganó mucho dinero con la venta.
Yeah. Not to be a Debbie downer….but they can and will take your property. And I’m not talking about the government.
Do you have experience with this? I'd love to make a video about this actually happening!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I would never buy property in Mexico, I would only rent. The people I know who own ranches haven’t been able to go for 15 years and don’t even know if they even could go back. I lived in Tijuana for 2 years and some other areas for shorter duration. You have no legal protections. I love Mexico. But the government stole my Truck. You will hear all kinds of backwards excuses as to why you won’t get deposits or any other negotiable amount of money back. Once money goes in the hands of a Mexican, you are not getting it back. Even if the contract falls through. I’m more specifically talking about cartel and drug operations that will take your property. They aren’t going to ask. You’re in Baja. Baja is amazing. They will kill you just for your vehicle. Don’t get too comfortable. I’ve personally seen a police station decimated by automatic rifles killing several cops, bodies hanging from bridges, cops extorting, and just all kinds of drug overdoses. And I’m not even trying to talk you out of anything. As I said I love Mexico. But I wouldn’t drive at night. And I would wouldn’t trust a single person. Not even the guard you’re hiring if the community has one. All they have to do is threaten their family and they will do anything for the criminals. If you call the cops, they will blame you. The government doesn’t operate the same as the us. They will let you live peacefully for a while, then one day you will just be harassed because they need to get money in any way they can. But don’t take my word for it ASK THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE THERE. There’s a reason why there’s no foreign investment in Mexico you don’t see the Chinese and the Europeans, etc., buying up land and houses in Mexico.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Love when people report my comments lol Blocking your channel. Good luck!!
Lotsa fun till the Federales show up and tell you to gtfo !
We both have permanent residency so not a problem!
I'd lo love to have a garden like that, but realistically, it would be too much for me to handle. I will stick to a small-scale garden.
I have been visiting La Paz, with the idea of retirement since about 2015.
I decided that El Centenario was the right fit for me and have explored every season. I am back in June to finalize my residency, and I am retiring soon after.
I will have some time-consuming things to take care of here before I can move permanently, but it's getting closer! 😎🏜🏝
Lisa - good to hear you've settled on El Centenario. Small scale gardening is my speed too. In Portland we have just 1/10th acre and that's still too much for me.
See you soon!