Places to live in Mexico City

[tresninos]

So my husband will be moving to the Mexico City area in October, I will remain in the US for 2 more years. What are good safe neighborhood to live in?
We are looking at around $14000 to $20000 pesos...
He will have a company car, so parking a must, more than 1 bedroom for us in the summertime to visit. He doesn't care about the nightlife, but maybe good food around.He's big on golfing and relaxing when not working.Thanks

[Longford]

Originally Posted by tresninos

So my husband will be moving to the Mexico City area in October, I will remain in the US for 2 more years. What are good safe neighborhood to live in?
We are looking at around $14000 to $20000 pesos...
He will have a company car, so parking a must, more than 1 bedroom for us in the summertime to visit. He doesn't care about the nightlife, but maybe good food around.He's big on golfing and relaxing when not working.Thanks

At this point in the conversation, given the little you've told us ... I believe there are too many possibilities to start listing them here. You're describing a rental budget up to about the peso equivalent of US$1,400 monthly and for that amount you'll/he'll have many options in very nice colonias in or near the city.

If they're not too personal of questions, and without you providing too many exact details, can you share with us the vicinity, colonia or part of the city, where your husband will be traveling to for work? Sante Fe. Paseo de la Reforma. Lomas de Chapultepec. Bosques de las Lomas? Polanco. Wherever. I'm going to assume it's a central office environment and not a job where he'll be traveling during the day from client to client.

I continue to believe that it's better to live closer to the office than further away, because there's a lot of traffic congestion in the D.F. and it's not a stretch to think that commuting to/from work can require 1.5 to 2 hours in each direction. Also please tell us the level of Spanish language fluency your husband has.

If this is a corporate transfer (and even if it's not) then your husband's employer probably has an HR department which has handled these types of transitions before and the staff in that department and co-workers will have some strong opinions on where the two of you might fit-in. Specific recommendations regarding which colonias to either avoid or stay away from. I'd place a lot of confidence in such personal recommendations from people "on the ground" there.

I will suggest that your husband locate himself in a community where you feel comfortable. He can probably adjust to the new lifestyle and typical challenges than you can. Ask for the veto power, if you don't already have it. You don't want him to move someplace you'll hate visiting or staying at. Noise. Traffic. Crime. You'll want to avoid the negatives best you can. But it'll not be easy at first to figure all of that out, I know.

Anyhow, this and what others will chime-in with ought to help draw-out more and better answers.

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by Longford

...
I will suggest that your husband locate himself in a community where you feel comfortable. He can probably adjust to the new lifestyle and typical challenges [better?, more easily?] than you can. Ask for the veto power, if you don't already have it. You don't want him to move someplace you'll hate visiting or staying at. Noise. Traffic. Crime. You'll want to avoid the negatives best you can. But it'll not be easy at first to figure all of that out, I know.

...

I am guessing that a "better" or "more easily" was left out of the post by accident. If so, out of curiosity, why would the husband adjust better than the wife. Without knowing the couple I have no idea who will have an easier time adjusting.

[Longford]

Originally Posted by TundraGreen

I am guessing that a "better" or "more easily" was left out of the post by accident. If so, out of curiosity, why would the husband adjust better than the wife. Without knowing the couple I have no idea who will have an easier time adjusting.

Given the stage of the discussion and not knowing more about the OP and her spouse, I made some assumptions ... which we'll find out if were wide of target, or not.

I believe, and my observations have been, that a working expat husband in the D.F. rolls with the punches and adjusts to the change easier than the wife and any children do because he typically has less to deal with than a wife does when relocating (particularly to a new culture/country/language) largely because he's working so many hours and therefore worries less. Particularly so when the wife will be visiting and not having the opportunity, for the first two years, to adjust while experiencing many of the same things the husband does. He'll have a head start. A two-year head start. That's significant. And when she arrives full-time and if she won't be working she'll most likely be handling many of life's day-to-day logistics. Making her way through the city. Figuring out the shopping. Handling the kids, if there are any. Etc. Just my thoughts, based on unfounded assumptions I've made about this couple, or family.

[conklinwh]

Originally Posted by Longford

Given the stage of the discussion and not knowing more about the OP and her spouse, I made some assumptions ... which we'll find out if were wide of target, or not.

I believe, and my observations have been, that a working expat husband in the D.F. rolls with the punches and adjusts to the change easier than the wife and any children do because he typically has less to deal with than a wife does when relocating (particularly to a new culture/country/language) largely because he's working so many hours and therefore worries less. Particularly so when the wife will be visiting and not having the opportunity, for the first two years, to adjust while experiencing many of the same things the husband does. He'll have a head start. A two-year head start. That's significant. And when she arrives full-time and if she won't be working she'll most likely be handling many of life's day-to-day logistics. Making her way through the city. Figuring out the shopping. Handling the kids, if there are any. Etc. Just my thoughts, based on unfounded assumptions I've made about this couple, or family.

Longford ir right on and very consistent with what I've seen in multiple overseas assignments. In addition to men being mostly oblivious, the vast majority of issues fall to the non-working spouse and their comfort need to be paramount.

[tresninos]

Longford. well done.
Without two many details...The company he works for is opening retail stores throughout Mexico.The first is Mexico City. The others have not been confirmed.
I have 3 boys, 2 of which will be in the 11th and 12th grade.I didn't think it was a good time for them to move with college so close.the 3rd will be in 5th.He's ready to go.
My husband will adjust, he's spanish and speaks the language and ready for the next stage in life.
I agree the city, but he has said that he is looking for a place that is not so lively,noisy etc. but has food and things within distance.
I ask about the $1400 USD a month ( should include utilities) because its the last phase on the negotiations. I would like it safe, family friendly for when the rest of us go and visit.Maybe a some history.They are offering food money for about $1000 USD per month? Does that seem hight for 1 person?
Thanks for all your responses.

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by tresninos

Longford. well done.
Without two many details...The company he works for is opening retail stores throughout Mexico.The first is Mexico City. The others have not been confirmed.
I have 3 boys, 2 of which will be in the 11th and 12th grade.I didn't think it was a good time for them to move with college so close.the 3rd will be in 5th.He's ready to go.
My husband will adjust, he's spanish and speaks the language and ready for the next stage in life.
I agree the city, but he has said that he is looking for a place that is not so lively,noisy etc. but has food and things within distance.
I ask about the $1400 USD a month ( should include utilities) because its the last phase on the negotiations. I would like it safe, family friendly for when the rest of us go and visit.Maybe a some history.They are offering food money for about $1000 USD per month? Does that seem hight for 1 person?
Thanks for all your responses.

Something in me resists stereotypes, even if there may be a basis for them.

$1000 usd/month for food for one person is a lot if he likes to prepare meals and eat at home. $12,000 mxn is $400 pesos/day. If you stayed away from expensive restaurants, you could eat three meals a day in restaurants and still be within that budget.

[ExpatPumpkin]

OMG, if I were you I'd seriously consider going now and taking the kids... And put them in the American School of Mexico City. Unless your kids are in a seriously elite private school now, the ASMC is probably a far superior institution. And they have amazing US college placements...

Just something to think about. If you do go now, however, make sure your husband's company will pay for all school expenses (tuition AND admission fees).

[Isla Verde]

Originally Posted by tresninos

My husband will adjust, he's spanish and speaks the language and ready for the next stage in life.

Did your husband grow up in Spain? Has he ever been to Mexico? In any event, he'll have to pick up a lot of Mexican Spanish, so he'll be able to fit better into Mexican society.

[Longford]

Originally Posted by tresninos

Without two many details...The company he works for is opening retail stores throughout Mexico. The first is Mexico City. The others have not been confirmed.

This comment makes me think that your husband will eventually be driving to different parts of Mexico and therefore locating yourselves within easy access to Hwy. 57 and the D.F. expressways is a starting point when looking for housing. Probably a “suburban” location rather than city center.

Originally Posted by tresninos

I have 3 boys, 2 of which will be in the 11th and 12th grade. I didn't think it was a good time for them to move with college so close. the 3rd will be in 5th. He's ready to go.

I think you’re on the right track with your thinking to stay behind with the children. The older ones are at an age when uprooting them and plucking them down in a very different culture and environment where they’d leave behind friends and have to make new ones in Mexico City in the short time between now and college/university attendance could be a difficult adjustment for them.

Originally Posted by tresninos

My husband will adjust, he's spanish and speaks the language and ready for the next stage in life.

Your husband’s fluency in Spanish is going to make the transition all that easier. If your level of fluency is less than his (and your youngest child’s isn’t that strong, either) you’ll have time to enroll in a language course and practice before making the final move to Mexico.

Originally Posted by tresninos

I agree the city, but he has said that he is looking for a place that is not so lively,noisy etc. but has food and things within distance.

When I’m reading your comments I first thought that the Ciudad Satélite area of Naucalpan, in suburban Mexico City, might be what you’re looking for. In many respects it’s a Mexican replica of a suburban area in the USA. Homes and apartments. Shopping centers. Schools. Highway transportation

Originally Posted by tresninos

I ask about the $1400 USD a month ( should include utilities) because its the last phase on the negotiations. I would like it safe, family friendly for when the rest of us go and visit.Maybe a some history. They are offering food money for about $1000 USD per month? Does that seem hight for 1 person?

MX20,000 may be a little low for the rental of a 2/3 bedroom single-family home there, however. It could be sufficient for an apartment, though. There may be no harm done if your husband asks for a MX25,000 housing allowance. Although, if you’re willing to dip into his salary to supplement the housing allowance then the MX20,000, if that’s all that’s available, would mostly cover the housing costs. Electric can be expensive, as can cable television/internet … by USA standards. And there’ll be the cost of a private school for your youngest. I doubt you’ll be satisfied with a public school education. The food allowance seems sufficient.

This is my 2 cents worth.