Resources : Moving To Veracruz, Mexico

Moving to Veracruz, Mexico

What about health, dental or other professionals?

Many of the doctors, dentists and other professionals received their schooling in the United States or Canada. Their facilities in many cases are more modern than ours, and the level of care is comparable. Waiting times are significantly less than in Canada or the US. Check out this blog of an experience with the medical community in Veracruz: http://www.mexico.us/veracruz/i_can_sure_see_its_so/

How do I maintain the interior of my home when I'm away?

We will have maid services available for you. If you are renting your home, this service will be part of the rental arrangements made. If you do not plan to rent your property, we can either simply air out your home regularly for you, or just before you arrive to enjoy your home.

How is the community maintained when I'm not there?

All homeowners will be a member of the community association and will need to pay an annual community association fee. This fee will ensure the common areas of the community are well maintained while other items such as garbage, landscaping, exterior maintenance and security costs are shared by all the members. Each homeowner will have the opportunity to vote on community decisions.

Is there internet or satellite TV?

Absolutely. Our community will have internet and satellite TV available.

How much is Electricity and other utilities?

Electricity is billed every other month, and obviously it depends on your usage, but you can expect approximately $150.00 every two months if you are living in your home. Water is not metered and garbage pick-up is included as part of your community association fees.

What is the standard of living like?

One of the reasons why so many retirees or soon-to-be retirees are planning to move to Mexico is the quality of life. Quality of life can mean different things to different people, but if you are looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, the ability to enjoy more services affordably that you might not be able to afford where you are currently or for you to continue the lifestyle you currently enjoy at a reduced monthly budget, then Mexico is worth considering. Some of the services that are popular are maids, cooks, or gardeners that are willing to do the work for far less than you would pay in Canada or the US. Prices vary by State, but Veracruz has inexpensive electricity, food costs and property taxes that significantly reduce your monthly expenditure budget.

Do I need to know Spanish?

Simply put – yes. There are many ex-pat communities in Mexico that may make life simpler and you can find English speaking professionals everywhere - ours will be one of them. Even within an English-speaking community, you will feel more comfortable when you learn the language. Think of if this way – learning a second language is a great way to improve brain function. Some have even said their memory improved significantly when they started learning another language! If you are looking for help with learning the language, there is a great Spanish Immersion School in Veracruz: http://www.veracruzspanish.com/

Retiree Incentive Programs?

Mexico is actively seeking retirees and to show this support, they have recently introduces a program targeted specifically for those 60 years and older. This program provides residents with discounts up to 50% off things like medical, dental, travel, entertainment just to name a few. This program and many other benefits propelled Mexico to be Ranked Number One country to retire by International Living ( http://internationalliving.com) in 2007.

What about Taxes, Snowbirds or Non-residency?

The best thing to do is hire a Certified Financial Planner that is well versed in retirement abroad as we do not have those accreditations our selves. Click on the link for an article comparing snowbird vs. non-resident http://www.advisor.ca/images/other/ae/ae_1004_toolbox.pdf