My mother likes to say when I get a bee in my bonnet, I’m going to win at whatever it is. I hate to admit there’s more than a grain of truth to that. Some may say it’s a character flaw, but I think it’s an asset that has served me well…most of the time. When I am focused and determined to “win,” I usually get what I want. For better or worse, it’s how I’ve operated my entire life.
As a football fan, I like to think I have a little bit of Bill Belichick in me (get your nasty mind out of the gutter). Not much of a personality, quiet, boring, a dry sense of humor, that’s me…and Coach Belichick. He’s also one of the greatest coaches and thinkers in NFL history; he sees things from every angle and plans accordingly. His teams are always the most prepared for the most improbable of plays, except the end of that one Dolphins game but we won’t go there. Anyway, I pride myself on preparation. So, in preparation for on-the-ground house hunting internationally, I did what I always do—I had a good think, focused, and then took action.
My process, if you can even call it that, was insane! I found the houses online that I wanted to see in person, but I noticed some properties had listings on multiple sites, and sometimes the asking price and/or descriptions didn’t match. Adding more work for myself, I used Google Images to find as many listings as I could of those same properties, and I would focus on the price. There didn’t seem to be a pattern where one site was consistently higher, and there was no MLS to consult. When you’re house hunting in another country, you have to get used to other ways of doing business, and find someone you trust to guide you through the maze of information. At the same time, you have to be proactive and come to the table with more than just a smile and a check. So, in my private notes, I added a column with the lowest price I could find and I constantly updated my spreadsheet. I knew there would be little room to negotiate, but I also knew if I had a different number in my back pocket, there would be at least some wiggle room or I could just walk away.
While I was doing all of this research, I’d been in touch with a couple of brokers, one of whom I really connected with. I found the broker’s information on an expat blog, and sent an introductory email. A very nice gentleman replied on behalf of his wife, who was actually the broker. He migrated to the United States when he was very young and eventually returned to Mexico to minister to people. She was very supportive of his work. They weren’t fake religious people who traffic in all kinds of anti-Christian things–they’re true believers. Although I’m not religious, I respected them for their commitment to service.
After I booked my ticket, I let her know the days I would be there so she could show me around. I also sent her a modified copy of my spreadsheet, but kept the one with my research numbers to myself.
We met for the first time outside of my hotel. I was staying in the centro area, which is what Americans would call “downtown”. She took me to an area known as “norte” or “north” of the city, an area in the early stages of development, where a lot of expats were buying. It was a bit away from the action, but exactly what I wanted. After living in New York, I wanted to be a little outside of the hustle and bustle, but close enough to be able to grab an Uber and head to the city. Thirty minutes or less was my goal.
In the north, just off the highway, there were several gated communities. Exit ramps that looked like they’d just been built and with a single turn, streets lined with high-end developments and family friendly amenities.
I was reminded of a show I watched on HGTV years ago when I was looking to buy my first apartment. The host of the show, I want to say it was Egypt but I just don’t know. Anyway, she said something like, “You want to move to an area that’s up and coming, not been and gone.”
As we visited those new communities, I couldn’t help thinking, “Yup, this is definitely up and coming.” The homes we looked at on day one were further away from centro but the area around it was being developed, so I would be getting in on the ground floor. Whereas the places I looked at on day two were closer to centro and in some instances had more amenities, but the prices—whew chile! Affordable, but more than I was willing to spend and less bang for my buck. The homes were smaller, but cost more per square meter. There was one in particular that I remember very clearly. It had a private club that had me, a person who despises excess, fantasizing about playing tennis on the multiple surface courts. The fact that I thought I could play tennis with these knees is laughable. When I looked closely at the workmanship and the quality of the finishes in the home we toured, I knew it wasn’t for me.
In the end, the more productive day was definitely day one. My strategy was never to purchase the flashiest home. It was to purchase the best long-term investment.
I saw more than one property I could work with. There was the model home with the ceiling fans, cabinetry and lighting fixtures included, something we take for granted in the US, but add-ons in Mexico. It had a nice balcony and an unusual design for that area. There was the ranch with bedrooms that had a window on the inside wall to allow more light in the hallway, but it also gave a view into the bedrooms. There was a cute but small home with lots of light. And the unaffordable development with okay houses but a spectacular gym and commons areas.
The top two contenders weren’t those that my realtor added to the list, they were those I found online.
House 1: Nearly 2,400 hundred square feet flooded with light and more light means more heat. I walked in and it felt right immediately. Living room and right next to it, the dining room with an unobstructed view to the television (it’s all about the tv placement). Right next to the dining room, a very large kitchen–the whole area was an “L” setup. A bathroom off the dining room. Another room next to the bathroom where I could paint, which is a hobby I’ve sworn I’m going to pick up. Pool. Outdoor bar. A less than inviting staircase but when you have so many pluses, that minus didn’t matter much. Upstairs office area, three bedrooms, two of which had balconies and a third which has a walk-in closet.
Did I mention the view? Right across the street was the gym and the recreation room and the children’s play area and the tennis courts and the rooftop bar. It was a sight.
House 2: Over 2,200 square feet. I walked in and there’s a bathroom near the door. Next was the dining room, living room and kitchen to the right. A fully dressed kitchen by the way including an oven and vent hood. On the other side of the kitchen wall was a bedroom with a dressed closet and a bathroom with Moen faucets. No pool. No outdoor bar. Unique staircase that my Mom loved. Three bedrooms, one with a walk-in closet and all with nice, tempered glass showers and dressed closets.
Oh, and the clubhouse! Gym, pool, basketball court and party area. Nice. Development of 23 houses so it was intimate.
Solar panels! If I pay for the panels, they would install for free!
I had videos and stills of each place. Mom kept talking about the rails in house #2, but I had to admit, I was more drawn to house #1. It’s the feeling I had when I walked inside—like I was in a place that brought me peace. But, with house #2, they could furnish it, for an extra fee. House #1 had a pool and bar, additional expenses with house #2. House #2 had fully dressed closets and a kitchen, so that would save me money. Also, SOLAR PANELS!!!
As I sat there at the end of my second day, I knew what I wanted, but I didn't know what’s best for me. Sleeping on it, like talking it through with my mom, won’t help. Rather than decide, I spent part of my evening working on two pro vs. con sheets to see if my decision was any clearer. The bee in my bonnet was buzzing away, and I knew I was going to get what I wanted, it was a matter of making a decision. And like Coach Belichick, I was going to consider my options from every angle, and be prepared for whatever came next.
House hunting internationally was not what it appears on HGTV. The really interesting stuff, in my opinion, happened offscreen.
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