Relocation to La Paz Baja Calfiornia Sur

So now that you love the place .. how do you actually MOVE here?

So you have fallen head over heels in love with La Paz and you want to enjoy the health and lifestyle benefits of living in paradise. But how the heck do you do it? How do you move here, find a home, support yourself, get your money out, and find a good doctor or medical specialist?

First is the move itself. Most people end up visiting and staying until they end up calling La Paz home. There are properties for every budget and for every taste. There are mobile homes on rural lots, condos with sea views, town-homes in gated communities, luxurious homes overlooking the sea and so on. The choice is wide – and the problem usually isn’t which house to buy – but rather “how do I actually relocate to La Paz”.

Let’s talk about income first. Surprisingly there are lots of opportunities to earn a small income while living here. You must first become a Temporary Resident and apply for a work permit, or set up a company with a Mexican partner. But once legally allowed, there is lots to do that can supplement your income.

There are expats producing delicious treats and selling them in our organic markets, managing farms, running restaurants, hotels, and B+Bs, hosting sea kayaking adventures, teaching at the university, chartering boats, and running camping and hiking expeditions. In order to work, you will need to be a Temporary Resident, obtain a work permit and an RFC number to pay Mexican income taxes. All of this can be done with the help of a good immigration lawyer.

Retired people fall into a special category and can apply for residency with proof of adequate monthly income. Working is usually not allowed under that category. There are several benefits to becoming a “pensionado’ in Mexico, such as reduced domestic bus and air fare, and possibly reduced medical and drug costs – depending on one’s income. As in all legal things, I would encourage you to check with a good immigration lawyer. I use several good lawyers that I could recommend. They deal with immigration matters, capital gains tax, real estate closing and wills and testaments.

You will soon need a bank account. There are many banks to choose from; Banorte, Scotiabank, Banamex, Bancomer, Santander. We ended up with Inbursa which is small and provides personal service. We also like their “one stop shopping’ approach, and we have purchased car and health insurance from them. Opening a bank account is simple. Bring a copy of your temporary or permanent residence card, proof of your Mexican address (e.g. an electicity or water bill) and some ID.

Mail forwarding is easy. Often people join us and share a mail forwarding postbox. We use Postall and pay a annual fee to have our mail and packages forwarded to us. It makes shopping on Amazon a breeze.

So now that you are legally resident in Mexico, what will you do with your time? There is loads to do, in addition to simply gazing at the changing colors of the sea. There are charity fund raisers, marina events, sailing regattas, kitesurfing competitions, fishing derbies, book clubs, charity auctions/dances, dinner events, tango classes, French lessons at the Alliance Francaise, Spanish classes and cultural events. The city of La Paz has an extraordinary offering in the way of local cultural events and parties organized, almost every month on the Malecon (boardwalk). This is one of the many charms of La Paz. You are living in an authentic Mexican town that goes about its daily life, with or without its annual influx of tourists and snowbirds. It is a wonderful window into Mexican life.

Health care may be your next worry. Mexican health care is very good. Many doctors and dentists in the Baja speak English and some have trained in the USA. Dental work is inexpensive and of equivalent quality to Canada or the USA. Doctor and dentist recommendations come from La Paz Gringos where someone will answer you within a few minutes. There are several private and public hospitals in La Paz, and many clinics. The cost of a medical consultation runs from 30 pesos ($2.00 USD) to USD $100.00 depending on the specialty.Health insurance is available from American and Mexican companies. Some insurance is very broad and includes repatriation. Other insurers only cover ‘‘catastrophic medical events” and leave the small stuff up to the client.

Finding a dream house is easy. There are many beautiful properties here, and with the current US exchange rate at 18.50 to the peso, Mexico is ‘on sale’ for Americans. I would be happy to show you any number of homes that could become your home in Paradise.

I use a bilingual expert real estate lawyer to explain the Fideicomiso process and help with closing. Furnishing and setting up your house can be great fun and with the help of the stores and trades I am connected to in Guadalajara and La Paz, you will find everything you need and more!! I also provide furniture packages and interior design products as well.  Makes your life easier if you can choose furniture and decor from a local designer. Great furniture at factory direct prices and lovely designs.  Should you purchase a property in La Paz, I can connect you to lawyers, accountants, rental people, property managers, cleaners, tradespeople and more.

So what is stopping you from living your dream? With a little bit of grit and determination, and a large dose of adventure and fun, you will soon be living a fabulous life in one of the most beautiful regions of the world.

Come on down and live the dream. You deserve it.

Your real estate and relocation specialist,

Heather Borquez