Finding a short-term (4 months) furnished rental in San Cristobal de la cases

[Lun]

Hi everyone!

My partner, our 9 month old baby and I are planning on leaving to live in Mexico next month for at least 4 months, up to a year. We would like to stay in a smallish mountain town and think san cristobal might be the one for us.

I've had a look on flipkey and there are a few places starting at $800 per month. Is this price about right? Are there any other sites I should look at? Or would anyone who lives in san christobal be able to ask around for us? We would really appreciate that!

Other than visas and travel insurance,is there anything else we will be needing? We are from Australia, so visas won't be an issue for us.

It's a very exciting time for us! We are hoping to learn some spanish and it would be a great learning experience in spanish for our baby too.

[cuylers5746]

Hey Mate;

Auzzies like Mexico a lot. I think you'll have fun. We loved Melbourne when I taught there in 2002 I believe. I still can't get those "hook rights" out of my mind.

After having had my own small contracting outfit and working across the country (USA), and having to rent for short periods, get up and move again. I can definitely tell you this - everything is for rent - for the right price.

Drive around San Cristobal on the side streets, find a vacant house you like and go ask the neighbors who owns it? Warning Label - Most houses, condos for rent on Internet sites are way over valued - looking to snag a Gringo with bucks. Most won't want to rent for only 4 months, but increasing the monthly rental until it makes them comfortable about doing it will work. Think last century when marketing is concerned for most Mexicans. A pot out on a chair on the sidewalk with a wilting head of lettuce can denote the restaurant is now open. A big shiny pot on the curb, now probably means yes we have tamales and are open. So if you see a vacant house and not rental sign, it just may be for rent and the owners thinks his vacant house is enough to draw prospective renters or buyers. Somewhere down in history I think the good Lord had the Mexican's invent the best common sense?

I've rented a house boat on Lake Union, Seattle with friends before, I've live on a lake, I've rented the past editor of Time Magazines deluxe condo on Hutchinson Island, FL for a pitance of what market price would be. I rented it for half price as I discovered he definitely wanted to rent it for less than a year, and wanted some one to care take it while up in Conn. doing a new housing development. You just have to be adventurous and ask the right questions.

I've rented a nice A Frame Cabin in Big Bear Lake California at a ski area that was only for sale. Met the lady outside watering and starting asking her questions. Since she didn't live there she after meeting me and my buddy was more than glad to rent to us and show the place to prospective owners as she felt the property would be safer with someone in it and it saved her a bunch in gas and time not having to drive up the mountain each time to show the house.

People usually in Mexico are thinking rentals for a year or more, excepting in touristic beach resorts. That's their mentality - now negotiate from there.

[Lun]

Thanks for replying cuylers5746!

So you suggest we go there first and find somewhere then, instead of trying to find somewhere on the internet. I didn't think $800 per month was too bad - what would I be expecting to pay if I organised it there instead? Also, how would I know if a house was vacant or not?

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by cuylers5746

So if you see a vacant house and not rental sign, it just may be for rent and the owners thinks his vacant house is enough to draw prospective renters or buyers.

Very true.

In fact, it is common to put signs on property saying "No se vende - no se renta" (Not for sale or rent). People assume that vacant lots/property are available and owners must get tired of people asking about them.

[TundraGreen]

Originally Posted by Lun

… Also, how would I know if a house was vacant or not?

Often houses or apartment buildings have signs on them. And you can ask someone in the neighborhood or at a corner store.

One strategy is to pick the neighborhood you want to live in and then walk or drive around looking for a place. It is different than the way it is done north of the border but it works.

[mickisue1]

It's never wise to rent over the internet, no matter where you are going.

A bad hotel choice can be a disaster for a night, or you might forfeit a couple of hundred USD. A bad home choice means you are locked into living in a place that's bad for you (especially with a tiny one in the household) for months.

As noted above, stay at a hotel or B & B for a couple of days and walk around the city, find out what neighborhoods appeal to you and then start asking.

The house that looks lovely on the internet may, indeed be so. It may, also, have neighbors who like to throw loud parties till 2 am, or be a block away from the church with the biggest and loudest bells in town.

If you are dead set on having the house secured before you arrive, at the least do your search with the words "se renta san cristobal de las cases". You'll get fewer gringo prices.

For example: a quick look at a site found with that search shows numerous two bedroom apartments for $5000 to $6000 pesos (about $400 to $480 USD). Some of them are brand new and quite nice looking.

[cuylers5746]

Very good tip

[tepetapan]

Originally Posted by cuylers5746

Very good tip

Actually it is a very bad tip and shows no insight into the rental business. The normally higher cost of a rental found over the internet reflects the added amenities, better grade furniture, service when there is a problem and the cost of advertising. Most internet sites offer numerous pictures and the opportunity to contact the owner / manager as many times as you care to write, with questions and concerns. Try doing that cruising the neighborhood. Try contacting a local owner on Christmas day when you find a water leak. The money you pay for a rental by the internet, in most cases, shows a serious, professional landlord who is willing to spend the money and time to present his property to people from all over the world.
. Coming to Mexico for 4 months and spending a week, two weeks or more trying to save a hundred dollars or more a month is a waste of your vacation time. In fact, if you were to contact the owner of a unit shown on line and asked for a discount for a 4 month rental you might be very surprised.

[cuylers5746]

Spoken like a true Real Estate Agent or retired one!

[cuylers5746]

Well Lun;

You got to choose? You have 4 out of 5 responders on this blog telling you to come rent at a hotel first and walk the streets and neighborhoods first and don't rely on the Internet? You feel lucky with the 1 out of 5 or the 4 out of 5?

Her's an excellent example a real nice artist lady, Gringa from New Mexico was retired in Panama and got disinchanted with many things and wanted to relocate in Mexico. I wrote to her several times, sent her Internet web sites "as starter ideas", but if you show up ride around for a couple of days you can find your perfect situation, micro climate, elevation, house, light in the house, neighbors, etc. etc.

She took my advice and instead of having to pay $3500.00 m.n. monthly she found the perfect place and negotiated a 3 bedroom little home with one bedroom with lot's of windows and light for her artist studio and for only $2500.00 m.n.

Not mentioned, was your comment on 4 months or more. Sounds like if you guys fall in love with the area you'll state if all your ducks line up in a row? San Cristobal I hear from my friends is a very beautiful city and great life style. So saving $1000.00 per month or more spread over a long term might just pay all of your utilities?