*Buying finished homes with closets, cabinets, and other essentials is NOT a thing in Mexico. Oftentimes, you’re delivered a ‘concrete box house’ whereby you’ll need to add all the essentials that come standard with homes in the US.

Let me know your thoughts… If you’re interested, contact me below:

If you’re looking for luxurious lakeside living outside of Merida, Yucatan, then this property in Altosano, Merida, Yucatan, is for you. Key benefits include its proximity to Progresso Beach, a golf club, a major university, and several shopping plazas, all situated on a principal road in Merida.

The development itself boasts a large central lake and a clubhouse with resort-style amenities, enhancing its appeal.

Contact Ruth for more details about this property ►

Montebello is the undisputed epicenter of wealth and growth in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. Properties here are rapidly increasing in value, but entry-level prices are almost non-existent… until now.

This boutique 1-bedroom unit is an investor’s dream and a brilliant way to establish a foothold in this elite area. This apartment isn’t competing with $1M homes; it’s catering to the massive demand for high-quality, turn-key rentals near corporate offices, upscale clinics, and the best amenities.

Key Benefits of this Smart Purchase:

• Sky-High Rental Yield: Montebello renters (often executives or digital nomads) demand quality and pay a premium for location.
• Low Operating Costs: Minimal maintenance and utilities mean your profits stay higher.
• Future-Proof Location: Located near major new developments and commercial hubs, guaranteeing long-term appreciation.
• Luxury Living on a Budget: Enjoy all the benefits of the neighborhood (security, prestige, convenience) without the massive price tag or upkeep of a house.

If you’re looking for a low-risk, high-return property in the most desirable area of Southeast Mexico, stop scrolling. This is your answer.

Click the button below for more details about this property!

Finding a high-quality home in Merida at this price point is becoming nearly impossible. With premium features like marble flooring and Chukum finishes included, you’re getting a luxury feel for a fraction of the cost.

Lock in this high-growth investment and give your family the security, comfort, and appreciation potential of a smart move abroad.

You still got a chance to get a deal on an apartment or house in Conkal. Starting at $129,000 USD… Phase 1 is completed and they’re beginning on phase two.

This video showcases beautiful apartments in Conkal, which is located about 10 minutes north of Merida. The presenter highlights a special promotion offering fully furnished units with cabinets, closets, and air conditioning (as of the airing of this video).

The gated-community features a clubhouse with amenities like a TV and seating areas, as well as an outdoor space with trees and plants. The apartments are available in different configurations, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms (one-bedroom option available for even less).

Upstairs units are slightly cheaper and come with one parking spot, while lower units include two. The video also points out nearby conveniences, including a coffee and pastry shop, a “fruteria” for snacks and produce, a laundry and dry cleaner, and a 24-hour water station. A new fitness center is also mentioned.

The complex is still developing, with phase two already underway, and additional commercial spaces are planned nearby. The presenter encourages interested parties to contact them for more information.

Click the button below to discuss options with Cartess.

This development in Hunucma, located 20 minutes from Mérida and Sisal beach, Yucatan, emphasizes ecological sustainability and a deep connection with nature. It preserves Mayan culture, integrating ancient ruins and local aesthetics into its design, offering a unique investment that also supports environmental well-being.

Properties feature durable, natural materials like polished cement and local “pedra kalisa” stone, reflecting Yucatecan traditions. The design prioritizes longevity and a harmonious integration with the surrounding environment, with amenities such as a natural pool and areas designed for relaxation and connection with nature.

This project offers various options, including lots starting at 300 square meters, and houses starting from 1.7 million pesos for a one-bedroom bungalow. Larger homes and customizable options are available, with construction timelines ranging from 6-10 months, presenting a compelling investment opportunity distinct from typical developments.

Got questions? Need help finding your dream home? Book a consult with Ruth. 

Your circumstances may be unique and as always, it’s recommended you speak with an immigration attorney that specializes in getting Mexican residency. Many people might assume they don’t qualify for residency because they don’t meet the minimum income requirements; but there are many other ways to qualify.

Speak with an attorney before you write it off. I’ve seen many people get residency when they thought they did not qualify. If you have additional questions, feel free to leave a comment below.

I may or may not be able to respond in a timely manner, but we do have a private VIP membership where members get my priority and I answer all questions posted there. Click here to learn more about the benefits.

And in today’s post I’ll share that one thing.

#1 on my list would have been to …

Take a Local Class in Merida to Learn How to Speak Spanish

That’s the #1 thing I would do differently. In fact, I would encourage you to start before you even arrive. If you’re 1-year away from making the move here, start immediately. Don’t wait.

And once you arrive, sign-up for local classes immediately (or at least get with a local teacher).

I took classes from a tutor and it was very helpful, but I didn’t stick to it long enough. After a few weeks, I was out. But those few weeks of classes helped me out a lot. Knowing that, I would have forced myself to stay in the class and continue lessons for at least the first 3-months, and then take more one-on-one lessons to refine and keep on top of what I learned.

Learning the language, or at least learning the basics to communicate simple wants and needs can be a game-changer for you.

I’ve seen countless people leave Mexico due to the frustrations of not being able to talk or understand what’s being said. This can be overwhelming and could be the breaking point for most.

I met a lady last week who was soooo excited about moving here from the US, but after arriving during an exploratory visit, she started to doubt if she could really do this–all because of the language barrier.

I get it … When I was in Colombia a few years back, I almost left to go back to the U.S. because I got so frustrated with not being able to understand or communicate.

I had to remind myself I’d only been in Colombia less than 3-days and that it’s unreasonable to expect to know what folks were saying … I really had to convince myself to stay. It’s that serious ya’ll and you shouldn’t underestimate how overwhelming this can be to your psyche.

My wife cried when she couldn’t order a hamburger at the restaurant … I mean she was balling.

The lady I mentioned a moment ago looked disappointed and doubtful when she couldn’t tell the waiter what she wanted to eat. I could tell her spirit was slightly broken as she struggled to communicate. When I’m out with clients, I often stay outta the way so they can get a real feel for what’s coming …

Sometimes they get mad because they felt like I allowed them to like a fool; and they did, lol…

But I do that because I don’t want anyone walking away with a false sense that this is a walk in the park.

It’s not!

The reality is that learning Spanish will be a game changer for you. When I first arrived in Mexico I kept telling folks you can get by without knowing Spanish (and you can ‘get-by’) … And that’s all you’ll ever do is ‘get-by’.

Your quality of life is greatly enhanced the sooner you learn. I’m able to say that now because after being here for a while, I see the drastic difference with just the little bit of Spanish I know now, versus when I first arrived.

Yeah, I could do little things here and there … And yeah, I could get by, but my God; there’s an entirely different world that opens up to you when you learn this stuff.

There were some classes I wanted to take but I couldn’t because I didn’t speak Spanish. The fact of the matter is we are in Mexico and they speak Spanish here. It’s going to be difficult to do certain things without knowing the language.

Truth is, it sucks standing in line not knowing what the cashier is saying. Depending on the scenario, I can gather and piece together what’s being said when I hear certain words and phrases, but that gets old after a while. I’m tired of trying to wing-it.

At some point, it just makes sense to buckle down and learn this language. Once you do, there are many places across Central and Latin America you can visit or live in with much more ease.

Another factor to consider …

If you’re trying to keep your costs/expenses lower, learning Spanish will help you with that too.

For example, when I go to the doctor or need medical services done, it actually costs more money to deal with English speaking doctors. English professionals tend to charge much more than many of their local counterparts.

When I go on these apps to find local doctors, I’m able to see their prices on their profile page. And in many cases, the prices are drastically different for English speaking docs.

Also, I’m limited to who I can see when I’m only seeking English docs. Even some of the docs who do speak English, they will not treat or have a session with you in English. They’ll tell you they can only speak in Spanish during their session (perhaps it’s something they do to limit their liability due to somethings being misinterpreted).

So at the end of the day, you really limit yourself in the quality of care you can receive when you’re limited to only choosing from a pool of 2-3 English speaking doctors, versus choosing from 50 of them; most which are probably more qualified.

It’s been fun and comical getting by with my limited Spanish the first couple years, but now it’s at a point where it’s important to grasp this language thing. It can be learned if one takes the time to learn it.

In many of my YouTube comments, people who are still living in the States will make snarky comments about why I haven’t learned Spanish after being here for a while.

They say all this while yet, I’m still out here making it work and living my best life! I’m here putting myself out and making myself vulnerable in an effort to share my ups and downs so others can take or learn from my good and bad experiences.

One of the primary reasons I hadn’t buckled down in learning Spanish is because of ‘Life’. Since arriving to Mexico, we’ve had a lot of life changing events to happen.

I had an emergency surgery and was in the hospital for 7-days. My daughter Haley required emergency surgery as well.

Haley was also diagnosed with schizophrenia since arriving to Merida; and for the last year, we’ve been in and out of the hospital for the bulk of our time here for that.

It can become challenging to find the time when you have ‘life’ going on; and it’s hard for people to understand why when they’re looking from the outside in.

I’ve mentioned this before, it ain’t easy moving to and living in a new country. You don’t just show up and life continues on as before. Not at all.

Now, single folks may have more time on their hands than say a family of 4,5, 6 or 7. A family will have a lot more responsibilities than 1 or 2 people. 

We have to keep our kids occupied … Help them with homework (homeschool). Help them assimilate and so on.

It’s not easy starting over in a foreign place and this is the stuff other content creators don’t share because it’s not popular… They want to convince you it’s easy and fun to travel and live abroad.

Moving abroad and ‘STAYING’ abroad are two different things. Anybody can move abroad … The real challenge is if you can actually stay and build a new life. Most folks don’t make it past the first year; because it’s hard ya’ll!

Some days you’ll wonder if it was a good idea to move abroad. You’ll wonder if you’re messing your kids up, lol … You’ll wonder if there’s something wrong with you!

But that’s all part of the game when you make the decision to Move Abroad and Thrive!

So … if I had to do it all over again… I’d immerse myself completely in learning Spanish from a local school in the country you intend to live in (or start taking lessons form an actual tutor online right away before you arrive).

While online apps may help a little bit, it won’t be nearly as good as learning from locals with a local tongue … So much gets lost in translation when learning from these apps.

Plus, they don’t come close to sounding like the locals you’ll be hearing from once you land. It’s like everything you learned in school and from the apps goes straight out the window when they actually start talking to you. They sound NOTHING like the apps, lol!!

So yes, learn some of the basics from the apps:

• How to count
• Basic greetings (hola, buenas dias-tardes-noches, como estas, gracias, de nada, a usted, a ti, con gusto, hasta luego, etc)

But take an immersive class with a small group of people and just go all in. Once things slow down a bit and Haley gets more stable, I’m going to take one of these immersive classes. For now, I’m gonna start with private one-on-one lessons; I wish i stuck with the one I started with when I first arrived. I’d be so much further along.

Merida has quite a few Spanish language schools to choose from

One thing to remember … There’s all sorts of Spanish (Spain, Colombian, Mexican, Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Panamanian, etc). Each has it’s own dialect, flare and jazz … So its important to take lessons from a local in the country you plan to visit or live in.

In Colombia (Medellin), when you say ‘Thank you’,  they’ll respond with ‘Con Gusto’, which means ‘With Pleasure’ …

They don’t say ‘Con Gusto’ where I’m at in Mexico. They simply say ‘De Nada’ (thank you). Or they’ll often say … ‘a ti’ or ‘a usted’.

In Merida, when you walk out of the store or leave, they’ll say ‘Hasta Luego’ (see you later)… I’ve never heard them use that phrase in Colombia. It’s almost like they use it to say, ‘thank you, see you again soon.’

So, all Spanish is not equal.

Don’t be trying to learn Mexican Spanish from a lady in Peru. And don’t be trying to learn Colombian Spanish from a local Mexican.

Words and phrases have different meanings and these subtle differences matter.

When you arrive to Merida, do a Google search for some of the local Spanish schools here. They have quite a few. Read the reviews and get feedback from others that have taken local classes.

If you found value in this content, I think you’ll appreciate the value in our VIP Members Portal.

We recently interviewed an immigration and real estate attorney in Mexico. They shared tips and resources for getting residency in Mexico and they talked about all the rules and requirements for buying real estate in Mexico.

The interview is stored and locked up inside our VIP members portal. You can get access to it, along with the other informative interviews we have inside.

There’s also an #AskCartess section, where you can ask me questions directly and I answer. Click here to learn more about our VIP Members’ Only Portal.

*The LIFETIME option includes a FREE telephone call with me to discuss your plans to live abroad! And it includes FREE access to our Move Abroad Academy and our Remote Work Course.

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I’m in a city called Merida and it’s considered the 2nd safest city in all of North America (that’s Canada, the U.S., and Mexico). Merida, Mexico is also ranked the 30th safest city in the WORLD (on the list of 40 safest cities in the world, not one city from the United States is listed).

Finding affordable living options in the U.S. can be quite costly … But in Mexico you can live in or near beautiful beach towns for less … In a recent video I posted, I show a small studio apartment that’s renting for $299 per month.

The apartment is brand new and the rent includes water, high speed internet, semi-furnished and weekly trash pick-up; and the town of Chablekal is only 30-minutes from the beach (Progreso Beach, Yucatan).

Here’s a clip if you haven’t seen that video:

It’s not the most upscale place in town, but when your retirement income is less than $1,500-$2,000 per month, and you’re struggling to live on that in the U.S., a $299 monthly rental in one of the safest cities in the world starts to look really good!

For many, it’ll be the first time they’ll have money left over at the end of each month to actually have a life.

My kids and I go to movies (my 2-daughters and I saw a new release movie for $6.96 total — for all 3 of us); and the movies are in English.

At the beach, you can walk up to the fisherman as they’re pulling into port and buy their fish, shrimp, lobsters and octopus for mere pennies (see clip below).

You can go to the markets and get all of the fresh fruits and vegetables you want … You can also get fresh poultry, beef, pork at prices that are unreal (see clip of the market)

Your cost of living goes way down when you choose the right country to live in…

One of the reasons we moved abroad was to catch-up on our finances. With retirement 10-years away, I determined we needed to drastically cut our expenses and start saving and investing.

Truth be told, I did a poor job planning and saving for retirement. No 401K. No savings. No investments.

I spent all of my money living in the present with no regard for the future. Now it’s time to catch-up and make up for the lost time… So moving to a country where our money stretched further seemed like the best plan.

So far, it’s been working out for us. 3-years in Mexico and our finances are better than they’ve ever been. Our kids are thriving and I think we’ll be on track for our 10-year plan (we’ll have a house and car that’s totally paid for, and solar panels so we won’t have an electric bill, and zero debt).

Retirement abroad can be a wonderful experience if you play your cards right.

When I moved here, the goal was to hunker down and aggressively save. What I didn’t expect was that our quality of life would drastically improve. I didn’t expect that we’d actually be living better (for less), than we did in the U.S.

That shocked me… Not only have our expenses drastically decreased, but our quality of live improved significantly, while still saving and planning for the next 10-years.

You can really live a great life in Mexico.. You got options if you’re willing to do the research and see what’s out there.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment in the comments section below.

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1. Explore the Diverse Opinions of Others Living Abroad

Listen to a variety of perspectives, including optimists who rave about a place, skeptics who offer cautionary tales, and individuals who’ve had negative experiences. Learning from others’ experiences, both positive and negative, can provide you with valuable insights.

2. Focus on Specific Cities, Not the Entire Country

Rather than thinking in terms of entire countries, narrow your focus down to specific cities or regions within those countries. Each place has its own unique characteristics and nuances that can significantly impact your experience.

3. Research Job Opportunities and Salaries

If you’re considering relocating for work, thoroughly research job prospects and potential salaries in your desired destinations. Be realistic about your expectations and consider factors like job availability and pay rates, balancing monetary incentives with personal preferences. For example, you won’t need to earn $50,000 per year to live very comfortably in places like Mexico, Colombia or Vietnam.

4. Explore Authentic Neighborhoods

Avoid sticking to touristy areas and delve into real neighborhoods to get a true sense of daily life in a specific country. Living like a local often means residing in residential areas away from tourist hubs, thus giving you a more authentic experience.

5. Take Multiple Trips Before Moving

Before committing to a move, visit your chosen destination multiple times, including during different seasons. Experiencing a location in various weather conditions and times of the year can help you gauge its suitability for long-term living.

Some places can get extremely hot. For example, I live in Merida, Mexico; and it’s not unusual to get heat indexes of 120 degrees F. This is unbearable for many. It’s a good idea to know these things before selling everything you own to move to a place where the weather is unbearable for you.

6. Manage Your Expectations Realistically

Recognize that no country is perfect and every place has its flaws. Maintain realistic expectations to avoid disappointment, understanding that challenges are inevitable but manageable with the right mindset. Mexico has tested my patience a million times since being here; but I love this place and it’s our home for now.

7. Consider Accessibility to Your Home Country

Evaluate the ease of returning home to visit family and friends, as the novelty of living abroad may eventually wear off. Assess factors like travel time and costs to ensure you can maintain meaningful connections with loved ones.

A friend of mine lived in SE Asia and she had to make an emergency trip back to the U.S. Whatever savings she managed to build-up while living there was wiped out when she had to purchase a last minute ticket back to the States. That one-way ticket cost over $7,500 USD!

8. Language Considerations

Assess your language skills and the local language requirements of your chosen destination. While some places may accommodate English speakers, others may require proficiency in the native language for effective communication. It’s not easy trying to learn a new language as an adult and if you don’t have the patience, don’t do it. This is a real frustration for many and I’ve seen people leave after not being able to handle it.

9. Prepare for Emotional Challenges

Anticipate feelings of boredom, loneliness, and homesickness during the adjustment period of living in a new place. Understand that these emotions are normal and temporary, and focus on building a support network to navigate through them. I suggest not leaving at all during your first year. Your emotions will have you packing your bags within the first 90-days if you don’t check your feelings!

10. Prioritize Personal Connections Over Material Comforts

Remember that true happiness stems from personal connections and attitude, rather than external factors like wealth or luxurious surroundings. Cultivate meaningful relationships and find contentment wherever you are, whether it’s in a bustling city or a tranquil vacation destination. You must learn to get out of your own way and you’ll win if you’re willing to make your new life abroad work!

Conclusion

Choosing the right travel destination involves thorough research, realistic expectations, and a willingness to embrace new experiences. By considering these factors and prioritizing personal fulfillment, you can find a destination that suits your preferences and enriches your life journey.