Moving to Mexico as an American (Bert's story from San Jose del Cabo)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 ก.ย. 2024
- In 2005, Bert Ball moved to Mexico from the United States. As an American living in Mexico, Bert shares his story. From looking for the right place to live, pulling the plug on life in the US, traveling back to the US and abroad and more.
Enjoy Bert's story. I found Bert on Facebook in the San Jose del Cabo Facebook Group. He volunteered to share his story with less than 12 hours notice when another interview fell through. Thanks Bert for sharing.
I plan to share the stories of many Americans and Canadians who moved to Mexico. Please tell me in the comments what you think is important for me to ask these expats.
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![Retired Early in Mexico [San Jose del Cabo]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CYNmZIbnuP8/mqdefault.jpg)
![Retired Early in Mexico [San Jose del Cabo]](/img/tr.png)
Great info from Bert! Might be the best interview! Thanks!
Brandon that was a great video
Yes! More interviews with expats living in Mexico, please! Just like this. And wherever in Mexico is good! So helpful to hear how different people are piecing it together 🙏🏻👍🏻😎❤️
Just don’t call yourselves “expats”, you are immigrants.
Like many Mexicans in The US.
Thanks Cindy - more coming up soon. Be sure to subscribe. ;-)
Love your videos, I like the looks of this spot. I also love Bert's condo!
Thanks for watching Lynn
Thx Brighten! What complex is this that he and Leenie enjoy so much?
I think it’s called Laguna Vista
Bravo Bert! Wonderful to see someone who created a life in which they thrive. I like that he made moves early in so far as real estate. Smart move. Enjoyed this episode Brighton. 👌🏻 As for addtl questions, I'd like to hear how folks integrate in to local community. How they contribute to bettering lives of locals. Do they hire staff and if so, what benefits do they provide their staff ie health care ins etc.
Those are great additional questions. In my experience, most gringos hire locals as contractors to work a few hours per week (pool guy, house cleaner, gardener.). Benefits are only included when someone works "full time" for you. All the folks that work for me have full time jobs elsewhere. But I should do a vide about this!
You eat at Apple Bees and then fly off to Europe in the summer? 😮
Can you ask them the process of becoming a citizen of Mexico? Visa process? Timeline? Costs of paperwork/lawyer?
Thanks. They never seem to discuss the mosquitoes. 😩😩
Most gringos don't become citizens. Residency is pretty straight forward. You need to meet financial requirements and it takes a few months (you must start the process in your home country.) Cost is a few hundred dollars. No lawyer needed, but you can have someone help you for about $200 extra - not needed if you speak fluent Spanish. I have a video that may help: th-cam.com/video/Q8rSXSc6uP0/w-d-xo.html
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Thanks so much! 🙂
8:08 A "fideo-comiso" only works with noodles. What he's talking about is a fee-day-ee-co-me-so. Seems like a good guy.
Yeah - I caught that too. But who really knows how to pronounce (or spell) that word?
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I do dammit! Ha ha. I can’t help myself getting all anal about pronunciation 🤣 my kid is afraid to come to me for help with his Spanish class….
California baja dude.sur
Thanks Bert, you are so down to earth. Keeping it real.
Thanks for watching Ricky
Baja is practical for me from Orange County, CA. to retire to. Thanks.
You're right - lots of folks from California thru Vancouver BC moving down here.
Hi Brighten. Great idea of a video series. I love to watch peoples’ lives blossom by Retiring in
mexico! Fred and Cindy
Thanks so much! One question: should I force them to wear my cowboy hat during the video, or just photoshop it in afterward in the thumbnail ;-)
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Oops, Great logo, amazing idea. Some may not want a drink goblet as part of their image LOL. Might ask.
@life in huatulco Great point - I hadn't thought about that when I chose that image for my "logo." BTW - I did a survey of my viewers and Margaritas on the Beach was their favorite activity. So I switched from the Mexican flag to a Mexican flag colored margarita glass. Maybe I draw a cowboy hat onto my margarita glass.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Here, too, in Huatulco. Just that be sure someone is not in a 12 step program before tagging a goblet beside them LOL. Great logo…only about the one being interviewed.
That means no sence with around many people drive.
A lot of people drive in Los Cabos. So much so that it's often an awful experience getting stuck in traffic. Better to walk!
Great idea. I enjoyed the interview and hearing about Bert’s adventure and travel. Keep up the great work. One area I like to hear about if the Americans and Canadians are making long term friendship with Mexicans and locals. Thank you. 👏🙏🥂👍
Great suggestion!
From my personal experience, I have Mexican acquaintances and expat friends. Language is a definite barrier. Hanging out with other expats who speak English means I don't need to really use my brain. But my Spanish is at a level were I can converse, but I really need to think hard to make it happen. And most Mexicans I know only speak a little English, so if they are speaking English, then they are thinking hard to make it happen. I'm guessing this would be different if you lived in a more "local" area and spoke better Spanish.
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Love this series idea!
If you think it's a topic others might also be interested in, I would like hear what your interviewees decided to do for medical insurance... private, IMSS, etc.
The market is flooded with insurance info for younger people. But what are people over 65, 70, 80 doing?
We're starting with private for my 85 year old mother but I'm hoping to be able to switch that to IMSS once we've been in La Paz for a while. I'm hoping she's not the only one in this situation and we can hear what others have done...for some peace of mind!
(Still aiming to get there by end of year. Look forward to meeting you and everyone else in La Paz area!)
Thanks Sheri! I really want to make some healthcare / Insurance videos. I just haven’t found a good source yet :-(. Still searching. See you later this year
I’m interested in how to find a temp rental without knowing Spanish, if there are areas more amenable to this. Is Rosarito a good place to start? It doesn’t appeal to me as a “party area,” but I would like to get down there once I get my income for temp residency in order.
Rosarito would probably be good for this. Anywhere where Americans have been living for a long time the locals typically speak English. Have fun!
TO ME THE #1 ISSUE IS HEALTHCARE, I NEED A CITY THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO MEDICAL CARE AND AFFORDABLE. NOT TOO COLD,
A CITY WITHOUT EARTHQUAKES AND INNUNDATIONS OF WATERS.
NOT TOO EXPENSIVE, WHAT IS NORMAL FOR A SENIOR PERSON'S BUDGET
Most cities of 200,000 people or more have good healthcare. There are many good options inland where the weather is more steady year round. I think a senior could live in Mexico for $1500USD per month. That would be basic and would depend on where you live. There are many less expensive places - and many really expensive places.
Excellent!
Why does Bert sound like Casey Kasem tho???? 🤣🤣🤣
Hah! Great observation!
I would like to hear each person’s view on learning Spanish. I seems so many try to avoid it or learn the bare minimum. It’s nice to hear from people committed to learning the language.
Great point Jeff. I’ll ask about language skills in the future.
I think it is important to try to learn. I am using Expat Spanish and it is great!
Woulve love to see more footage of the area .👍
I'm planning a visit for the X-mas holidays with a my family, so I'll be sure to shoot some videos then.
thanks for the wonderful video and sharing your stories Bert
Glad you enjoyed it
What condo complex is it? Prices have gone up a lot
It's Laguna Vista. I see a one bedroom / one bath for $216k USD. Yes, prices have gone up since COVID - everyone realized their could work from anywhere or wanted to retire early. Prices in Mexico went up...
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Thank you so much!
Great video. I like to know how much is rent for similar apartment in San Jose del Cabo.
Based on browsing what's available on Facebook, it looks like it would be in the $1000USD/month range.
Great advise Burt, we will be there soon, would love to get more intel of the area and community.
This guy is a savant. You can tell he has a very high IQ.
Good interview. We (all of us) need to know safety, actual costs for housing (sale or rent), Utilities, Will we gringo's melt if we stay year long, moving with pets buying cars, and my #1 concern water security. Keep up the good work.
Moving with pets is high on my list of "video to record." Melting is a real possibilities. Especially for Canadians.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Yes and we Canadians have a lower boiling point as well. je je or ja ja . AKA Ha Ha . Then there's the other problem of Melting pets.
I'm as gringo as you can get. Muy Blanco. My dog 🐕 did great moving here and has adapted well. I have never felt threatened at anytime while traveling the Baja. Water doesn't seem to be a problem.
@@kenelswick8918 Thanks Man.
Hey Beeeeeerighton Just had another thought re interviews. To explain just came inside after walking the 2 dogs. It's cold windy and wet here and my Arthritis is killing me. So ... my thoughts are interview some of the expats and ask them if they have Arthritis when in the north and how is it in La Paz. Just a thought. Keep smiling. P n D
Great interview, Brighton!! Woo hoo...Bert made the move during cheaper times. Then again, yesterday is just about always cheaper than today.
Safe travels!
Yes - prices seem to be going in just one direction!
Is it possible to buy fixer-upper property in Mexico? Im a contractor and I would like to buy some thing I could modify and fix to my liking. Thanks. Great talk
Definitely. Our house was a fixer and we are loving improving it. You'll love the lack of building codes (so you can choose which US codes you want to follow and which are just restricting your creativity!)
Love your videos keep them coming just curious are there anything available in the apartment complex where Bert lives will be taking a trip there in 2 to 3 weeks Thanks
www.point2homes.com/MX/Real-Estate-Listings/Baja-California-Sur/Los-Cabos/San-Jose-del-Cabo/Laguna-Vista.html I think this is the place
Great interview Brighton thanks for all your great videos from still snowy and cold Manitoba Canada. Spent two weeks in SJDC in 2014. Absolutely a beautiful town with a great beach to walk and just a short bus ride to Cabo. Never saw a cloud for two weeks just beautiful blue skies. Dreaming of the day we can spend 6 months a year their and snowbird in paradise.
Come back down Andy! Yesterday I interviewed a woman from Alberta who retired at age 49, sold her condo in Canada and bought one in San José. I’ll post that interview soonish.
Gracias Brighten & Bert 😃 Veryinteresting series. can he walk to town centre? the beach?
Definitely walking distance to the town center… a bit further to a beach.
What a great interview. Headed down in a few months to look at real estate.
Thanks Eric. Enjoy your trip. I hope you find something perfect!
Great interview. I learned a lot. Thank You!
Glad you enjoyed it John
Loved his story. Thanks for this video.
Thanks Tammie
Good interview keep them coming...also maybe address the new permanent and temporary residence process
Will do - I have a bunch more people who stepped forward to be interviewed. As to the new process, it seems like they've just shut down all appointments. If I get a handle on what's up, I'll definitely do a video.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico, I’ve heard they are working on upgrading their system. So far I can’t find anything on when they might re-open.
Thank you and Bert 🙏
Thank you for watching!
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Is there like a house insurance for hurricanes
Yes - we have hurricane insurance (and our house has a palm frond roof and 90+ windows.) We pay $1400USD annually for our homeowners insurance.