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Renting a home in Mexico
Visiting – whether in a hotel or B&B, or as a houseguest – is much different than living in a town. Renting lets you get a feel for the neighborhood before making a long-term commitment.
Rental costs with an annual or long-term lease are usually lower than high season rent, often substantially so.
Furnished or Unfurnished?
In Mexico in general, houses and apartments are rented unfurnished, and this can be quite “bare-bones.” The tenant provides everything from light fixtures to toilet seats, along with large appliances such as stoves, refrigerators and washer-dryers. Dishwashers are not very common in Mexico.
However, because of the large expat community and seasonal residents – people fleeing snowy winters or tropical summers back home – the lakeside has many furnished rentals available.
Leases, Rental Contracts the Fiador
Plan to pay the first and last month’s rent in advance, as well as a security deposit that is usually the amount of one month’s rent. Insist on a written inventory of what’s in the home to accompany the lease.
Small repairs are usually paid for by the tenant, so make certain you clarify the landlord’s responsibility before you sign.
In Mexico, you’ll need a fiador – that is, someone who owns real estate and will guarantee that you meet the terms of your lease. Essentially, he or she is putting personal property on the line, so be certain you pay your rent punctually and give notice in writing when moving out.
Contracts are in Spanish, as required by law. If you’re not fluent, it’s a good idea to have someone bilingual go over it with you. Local realtors will be happy to help you find a home and can provide a copy of the lease in English.
Finding a Mexico House to Rent
For short term and seasonal stays, some hotels such as La Nueva Posada offer housekeeping units by the week or month.
There are a number of real estate agencies handling San Juan, San Antonio, Chapala and Ajijic rentals. In addition, many of them are affiliated with the multiple listing service.
However, many landlords prefer to rent directly to their tenants. You’ll find ads in the weekly Guadalajara Reporter newspaper, the monthly El Ojo del Lago and Chapala Review magazines. An excellent source for leads are the bulletin boards at Super Lake in San Antonio, and El Torito mini-super and the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic.
Access Lake Chapala.com is the best internet site we’ve seen for searching Chapala Real Estate. They also have some great information on Ajijic and Lake Chapala Mexico, with a description of individual neighborhoods.
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