Please let me know when you’re ready to come for a visit, because I want to be sure and schedule some time to show you around the area and answer all your questions.

The time of year you’re planning to visit is a great time to come… but then there’s never really a bad time weather wise at least to visit here.

All for now. Thanks for your comments. Sid

The arts of all kinds are alive and well here. Thanks again Randy. Sid

If other Club Members have rental questions please send me an e mail directly to Sid@ChapalaClub.com and I’ll be happy to answer your questions.

All for now, Siemre tu amigo, Sid

Thank you

Frank

Yes, I know just what you mean about sometimes a place just seems right.

My advice would be to just be very careful when dealing with for sale by owner properties. I’ve bought them myself in the USA, but as a lawyer there I drafted my own sales contract and had been a broker so I knew the ropes.

Mexico is different. Different laws, Different traditions. Different Business practices etc.

I hope our readers do not interpret these words in a negative way as my intent here is not to attack Mexico or it’s laws or traditions in any way, but only to advise those not familiar with them to be sure and get a clear understanding of everything involved BEFORE you commit to buy any property.

This is one of the major functions of the Realtor members of the GIL and the MLS associated with GIL (Groupo Inmobilario del Lago).

For Sale by Owner properties are not inherently bad, but you must be your own advocate is my point. As an Exclusive Buyer’s Agent Realtor and member of GIL my highest priority is to protect my clients best interests.

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and dreams with us.

Siempre tu amigo, Sid

I know your a smart careful guy, but for the benefit of others who may be reading our comments I feel obligated to mention to potential home buyers here at Lake Chapala Ajijic the following:

If you decide to buy a home from a FSBO, remember to have a recommended Notario to check all the paper work.

But, also remember that the Notario doesn’t act as an escrow agent holding the money and performing other related services not associated with the deed itself.

The GIL (Groupo Inmobilario del Lago) Realtors which are members of the MLS with the website http://www.mlsmexico.com/chapala routinely act as escrow agents for the purpose of holding initial payments (Escrow deposit) in their USA Bank Escrow accounts with wire services, being sure that the utilities are pro-rated and changed to the new owners name, and many more details associated with a sale that Notario’s typically have no part in.

I’m not saying never buy a home from a FSBO. What I am saying is to be very careful. Best to contact a GIL member firm to assist with the closing such as “Lake Chapala Real Estate” (www.choosechapala.com) 766 – 4530 and ask for Marvin or Barbara. This is the best way to insure that the closing goes smoothly.

Thanks again for your comments. Siempre tu amigo, Sid

Sometimes stuff just feels right. Sometimes sharing the feeling can make a whale of a difference years later. In about 1972 I landed in California and thought about buying a house. I found a real estate gal who I liked and stuck with her as the only person to go to for quite a long search. She knew what I wanted. We couldn’t find it — so I rented at the beach and also has an old house which was a tear-down but right on the campus where I was teaching.

It was over a year later that Elaine called and said “Steve — I found your house!”. She was absoutely right, and I was thrilled to live on Butte street for years. It was a little single story charmer with a pool in the back yard. I took the lumber from a very old gas station that was being torn down and converted the entire huge back area to redwood decking. For then, the pool was fantastic as a way of living, though for the maintenance, it’s the last full pool that I’d want to own;-)

I was looking at Craig’s list the other day – dreaming as usual when I ran across a FSBO that I’d love to be able to think about more seriously. I don’t know if it’s overpriced or not, but it’s charming, the right size, great location within a block of la Bodega on Privada – a block from the lake.

http://guadalajara.en.craigslist.com.mx/reo/959235255.html

This little place has possibilities for us. Love the large room upstairs for work, the great kitchen and high ceilings. Love the brick work on ceiling in dining area. It’d be nice to have a bit more yard – not a lot — but some space for gardening and maybe some hydroponic greenhouse. It’s a bit hard to see what the outside of this thing looks like, but love the upper patios, and wonder about yard security for parking the van, and keeping bad guys out of the bedrooms upstairs;-)

The house is owned by the publisher of the subscription-site, MexicoConnect, with it’s great long standing forums on Mexico. I’m an organizational psychologist as you may remember, and so was this guy in a previous Canadian packaging. I can’t think of his last name at the moment, though there’s a chap by his same name who does software and lives down there who did Judy King’s site. Small darned world.

Care and appreciation…

Steve Iman & Kenny Gardner
sciman@csupomona.edu