Any opinions on moving to Mazatlan would be welcome!

wendykain · #1 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 06:03 AM

Hola, or G'day
I am looking over the net very strongly at beautiful Mazatlan to perhaps move to. I now live in Sydney Australia where it is very beautiful and the weather is mostly great but Mazatlan may beat it. I would welcome any comments generally and specifically in response to my particular concerns:
1. Is humidity a problem because it creates mould? Is this a problem just during rainy season or always?
2. I would like to think, while I would choose to simplify somewhat and certainly want to look at the old town rather than a home a lot like the apartment I live hin here, that I could still have the wonderful car that I love (presently BMW convertible). Will something like that create resentment and invite vandalism or theft?
3. I am badly linguistically challanged tho of course I would learn Spanish but it would be slow and very bad. How much of a problem will that be generally and specifically how often will I get "ripped off" - that is taken advantage of because I am an obvious gringo?
4. Am planning on getting over there at the end of the year for a number of weeks to look around. Apart from getting around as much as I can, an pearls of great price for things I should make sure I see or consider then?
5. Lastly, have looked at the Ajajic/Lake Chapala forum, it is chockablock with info, not surprisingly because of the number of retired expats. Perhaps there is nothing like that re Mazatlan because there is not the same expat and retired (thus with more time) population, but if there is something similar I would be pleased to be pointed towards it or any other source of info.
Many thanks in anticipation, I will value anything given to me, and anyone who is in Mazatlan (particularly in the old town and wants a houseswap in December for a great apartment looking over the water at Sydney City, travelling distance to Sydney post office <4ks (2.5 miles), should email me.
best regards Wendy
Oh BTW also, I wondered if I should try to have Christmas in Mazatlan, is it a big event?

RVGRINGO · #2 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 01:11 PM

1. Humidity in the summer and fall is a problem because it makes the heat intolerable for many people. Depending upon your ventilation or ability to afford expensive electric rates to run A/C, you may have mold. Of course, there is also the corrosive effect on appliances and electronics in humid areas.
2. Mazatlan Centro, especially the old colonial part of town has been discovered and there is a great deal of strictly monitored reconstruction in progress and a lot of old buildings or shells still available to be remodeled. I would not ship a vehicle from Sydney because you can only import it to Mexico temporarily. With the obligation to eventually remove it from Mexico, you would have to ship it back. Importing it to the USA would not be an option either. If you plan on staying in Mexico long term, you should consider buying a car in Mexico.
3. Language skills will make living anywhere in Mexico much more enjoyable and, yes, less expensive.
4. Mazatlan is an easy city to get around and tourist maps are available.
5. We always enjoy visits to Mazatlan in the winter and it is tempting to move there, except for the weather. We live in Chapala and will stay there for the weather. Many have moved from Lake Chapala to Manzanillo and/or Mazatlan but found the heat and humidity too oppressive for much of the year and have returned. Of course, there are a few who can afford to have second homes to solve that problem, or who vacation elsewhere for the hot months.

wendykain · #3 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 02:04 PM

RV many thanks. YOu wrote "If you plan on staying in Mexico long term, you should consider buying a car in Mexico.". I was not clear and I apologise. In some areas I know driving a nice car creates resentment. If I have something like the Beem convertable, and assuming I am living in an area with locals not an enclave, will I be asking for trouble?
Thanks for the other info, v helpful,
best, Wendy

RVGRINGO · #4 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 05:36 PM

Not too much. Once it goes walkabout; no more trouble. Seriously, a BMW isn't the car for here. A friend had one and it couldn't stand up to the 'topes' and potholes. He had serious repair bills and had to take it back to Texas. On one trip, when he was following us, he had to turn and go back because he was bottoming out too often. A small SUV with rather high stance is much better. We have a Nissan Pathfinder and a Smart Car, both of which have 15" wheels and stand high enough to clear topes. Mexican roads often have no shoulder (I think that's a berm, to you) and the drop may be severe.

chicois8 · #5 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 09:08 PM

G'day Wendy, I visited many places all over Mexico before I decided to buy a home, one of my criteria was a garage for my car and I have to tell you that most homes that are in "old parts or centro historic" parts of cities do not have garages...I suggest you visit the area during the hottest most humid and rainiest time of the year (which is now) and see if it's for you....I live about 4 hours driving time south of Maz and mold is not a problem as long as air is circulating, one small area in my patio gets no sun and a little mold grows there but I just spray a lite solution of water and bleach and it disappears in munites...good luck

RVGRINGO · #6 (**permalink**) 21st August 2009, 10:07 PM

Many people mistake harmless moss with dangerous mold. If it is green, it is probably moss starting to grow. Mold can be black, grey, blue, pink, etc.

f3drivr · #7 (**permalink**) 22nd August 2009, 02:51 AM

chicois8 is right, most places in old Mazatlan don't have a garage or even secure parking spot. I wouldn't recommend that you leave your BMW parked on the street. Many foreigners have bought homes in Centro Historico and are doing renovations but the work must be approved by the city and lately they have been giving foreigners a hard time. Personally I would not touch anything there with a 10 foot pole. There are plenty of other nice areas in Mazatlan, we have a condo in the Golden Zone and a Lot in Sabalo Country where we hope to build our retirement home someday.

BajaGringo · #8 (**permalink**) 22nd August 2009, 04:03 AM

If you want mild, year round weather and don't like the summer humidity you might want to consider the Pacific coast of norther Baja. The coastline property south of Ensenada down to the Baja Sur border is inexpensive, great weather and enjoys fabulous fishing...

wendykain · #9 (**permalink**) 22nd August 2009, 10:46 PM

f3drivr thanks. you wrote that you would not buy in the old town. Apart from a view presumably that the nice new part suits you better, has a great view, sea breeze etc (all things I love too - that's why I live where I do here in Sydney!) , and I note with thanks your advice about foreigners now having a harder road when renovating or restoring in Centro, is your view that it is an area not to live in based on anything else?
I will be coming for a look, first preliminary and then longer if the first trip is positive, but I wouldn't like to go on thinking Mazatlan might be great for me if there are some aspects about it which will make it a bad choice. Thanks v much for taking the time.

wendykain · #10 (**permalink**) 22nd August 2009, 10:59 PM

Chicois8 and RV, thanks to both of you for taking the time, comments noted.
One of the joys of life is to drive the lovely car around the bays and nice curvy roads up near the holiday house. Because the weather in Sydney is quite good there is no need for our holiday houses to be far away (as a lot of AMerican vacation houses are), so ours is 1.5 hours drive north which is the warmer direction. That means I get to do that fun driving often! I was thinking at this stage that perhaps Mazatlan might allow me to do the same thing, but perhaps not, and as long as there are enough other benefits I could give up that passtime. It would be lovely not to have to though. (Oh trying to have my cake and eat it too? Why not at least aim for that, life is short! <G>)
In any case it is v pleasing to pick up from all this that there is probably no concern about damage from resentful neighbours!
RV I note that you started out in Australia. It is time I looked at the tax situation Australia/Mexico, and will send you a short note personally to ask you to recount to me your first steps on your enquiries, but if anyone here has info which might help in that regard you might be kind enough to share it. Many thanks.