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.Dear Reader, Several of our favorite spots in Mexico over the past decade have become increasingly expensive…and crowded with retirees from North America. But there are still many undiscovered charming towns…where you’ll find incredible deals on real estate. That’s one of the reasons we’re returning to the country September 21-29. When we began writing about and traveling to San Miguel de Allende 15 years ago, it was an undiscovered gem. The same with the areas around Lake Chapala. Property was downright cheap; food and everything else was inexpensive…and few Americans lived there. But these places have changed. In short, they have been discovered by North Americans. Now roughly 10,000 North Americans live in San Miguel de Allende, about half of them year round, and there are approximately 40,000 North Americas in the Guadalajara/Lake Chapala area. That said, both of these areas are still very nice places to live. And they are certainly less expensive-and a lot more charming-than the warm areas of the United States, such as Florida and California. San Miguel is one of the most beautiful cities in the Americas…narrow, hilly, cobblestone streets, colorful sixteenth-century buildings, bougainvillaea-covered walls, lovely churches, a still-thriving artist community, and gothic cathedrals. 77F…year
round
And if you’re looking for a place to live where you’ll be near fellow Americans, with most First-World comforts, where you can stretch your dollar much further than at home, these places are definitely worth investigating. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for an authentic Mexican experience, where you’ll meet relatively few North Americans, where you’ll need to know some Spanish…and where you can find excellent property buys, you’ll want to look closely at the cities of Zacatecas and Queretaro. Zacatecas, says Ajijic resident JanCarmony, who I spoke with recently, is like San Miguel was 15 years ago. It’s one of the best-preserved colonial cities in Mexico. “It’s a small artists’ community, just like San Miguel once was,” says Jan. “It’s a charming city that hasn’t been Americanized.” And you can still buy a 2-bedroom house here for less than $50,000. Your own 18th-century hacienda Famous for opals and other semi-precious gemstones, Queretaro is another undiscovered colonial city with tranquil streets and plazas…and excellent property buys. And if you’re looking for a hotel or other larger-scale project, there are several lovely 18th-century haciendas in the nearby highlands. I recently learned about a large, 3-bedroom house with a swimming pool, a massive garden, and servant’s quarters outside of Queretaro city, for $95,000. Give our travel desk a call right away if you want to join us in Mexico, tel. 800-926-8575. Sincerely,
Barbara Perriello P.S.
This Sept. 7-12, in Ireland, we’re holding our first ever International
Living Overseas Conference. If you’ve ever wanted to ask IL contributors
and experts questions firsthand, this is your chance. You can also join
us on a private jaunt through Southwest Ireland immediately following the
Dublin Conference. September 12-17 we’ll be exploring the counties of Galway,
Kerry, and Clare, and the lakes of Killarney, by boat, train, and
bus. Give us a call for more details.
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