Don't Buy Lake Chapala Real Estate Until You Hear This (Expert Insights)

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Amanda Abella (00:00):
The Lake Chapala area is one of the hottest real
estate markets in Mexico, andit's with very good reason.
And today we are giving youeverything you need to know from
prices to what's going on, whatcould be a good investment,
what's the market looking likein this area with Amanda Turner
of the real Amanda Turner, whohappens to be one of the best
real estate agents in the area.

(00:21):
We're gonna be working togetheron a lot of projects.
Uh, for a lot of our relocationclients and things, because man,
we get asked about this area.
This one is time.
We get y mm-hmm.
One and two and Meida are three.
But every week we're gettingquestions about what's going on
in Lake Chip, Paul, what do Ineed to know?
What, what are the priceslooking like?
So thank you so much for beinghere today to kind of share with

(00:41):
us what you're seeing from, frombeing on the ground.

Amanda Turner (00:43):
Yeah.

Um, you know, running businesses here, but
also helping people buy and sellreal estate.

Thank you.

All right guys.
Welcome to Entrepreneur Expat,in case you missed it.
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Single video that we have comingout on this channel.
And if you are interested in theLake Chapala area with the real

(01:12):
estate, we work very closelywith Amanda in this area for all
of our relocation clients.
So just go to entrepreneurexpat.com/consult.
We can help with everything fromimmigration, to real estate, to
insurance, and everything inbetween, so you have everything
you need to make your move easy.
In one spot, instead of havingit be fractured with a bunch of

(01:32):
different contractors you needto find on your own.
So again, that's entrepreneurexpat.com.
Slash consult.
All right, Amanda, so you'vebeen here since 2020, right?

No, 2020 or, uh, I've been here October will be
eight years, so, oh, so

even longer than that,

2017,

I guess.
Yeah.
So 2017.
Right.
So I'm sure you have seen theutter explosion

07092025_153838 (01:54):
Yeah.

Of this area.
So.
What have you seen in the lastseven years?
Both in terms of Americans andCanadians and, I mean, we've met
Italians here, we've met peoplefrom all over the world.
It's very diverse here.

07092025_153838 (02:05):
Yeah.

And what have you seen in the last seven years,
um, or eight years in terms ofthe growth of this area, uh, in,
in Mexico?
Because, I don't know, I, to mepersonally, I didn't know this
place existed until I got here.
Mm-hmm.
But apparently a lot of peopleknow this place exists.

Yeah.
So it's very interesting the,the different.
Um, waves that have happened.
So when I first came here, therewere a lot of snowbirds.
A lot of people would buyproperties and then they'd
vacation here six months of theyear during the, the winter
months from Canada or northernus.
Um, a lot of that was happeningsnowbirds.

(02:42):
So, uh, and then rentals werehuge.
And what we noticed with the bedand breakfast is that.
People were, were, uh, reservingtheir rooms a year or two in
advance.
So they would come and theywould stay, and then they'd put
down a payment for the followingyear to stay for a month or so,
um, during the high season.
Then it kind of mo then itstarted moving to people.

(03:03):
Were moving here more full-time.
So what I've noticed is that,uh, more people are full-time
now than snowbirds.
So they just come, they buy aproperty, they sell everything
they have north and, and thenthey just move here for the
whole year.
And um, and then there's a lotof last minute reservations in
the bed and breakfast.
We don't have, uh, so much ofthat, you know, a year or two in

(03:26):
advance like we used to have.
It's more very last minutereservations.

What do you think is fueling, you know, not the
migration of, you know,Americans and Canadians to
Mexico?
We've done videos at nauseum.
About what's going on there, butwhat do you think is fueling
this area specifically?

Um, this area has a lot of pluses.
I'd say the main thing is theclose airport.
It's only 30 minutes away fromhere.
Um, and it's an internationalairport, and they're actually
redoing the Wallah Heart airportright now.
And it's beautiful.
Have you, have you been Oh yeah.
We've flown in

and outta there a bunch of times.
Okay.
Yeah.

So, um, it's absolutely beautiful right now.
And, um, the, so the, theproximity of the airport and
then I would say, because thisis such a large expat area, like
there, there's a largeconcentration of expats, English
speaking expats here.
So, uh, it's a very soft landingfor people.

(04:21):
Who are looking to move out ofthe country.
And it's still very close to theUnited States and Canada.
So it's just like maybe oneflight away for some people

and also very close to Guadalajara, which is
Mexico's second largest city.
Yes, I know.
We recently moved out to theLake chip area.
We're in Aah now, uh, we're morenear Hoko Pec and um, that was
one of the pluses for us.
It's like, okay, we can getoutta the city.
Because we're a little done withthe chaos of the city for now.
But if we need to go back forwhatever reason, like we were

(04:52):
there running errands on Monday,no big deal.
We're in and out the same day.
So for those, so you like get a,but it feels like worlds apart
from the city here.
It does.
Does.
They're completely differentplaces.
Different.
Lake Chappal

is still kind of stuck in the past.
People still ride horses andYeah, you know, the horses will
be trotting down the street heresometimes I joke that

our neighbors are cows.

Yeah, so, so that's really cool about it.
Guha is, yeah, it's, it's amajor city.
It's like you said, secondlargest city in Mexico.
And, um, but it's right there ifyou need it.
If you, if you just wanna dosomething different, because
this is a smaller town, so youhave small town living here, you
know.
But the good thing about it is,is that, um, another thing

(05:31):
that's changed about this areais that previous to, uh, when I
first got here, well, when Ifirst got here.
I believe my cafe, my businesswas the first business in the
area to have internet actually.
So that's changed.
And it was much more a cashsociety back then too.
And now credit cards arestarting to be incorporated more

(05:52):
in a lot of the businesses.
Um, but the infrastructure is

not bad either 'cause we're out by the other
side of the lake and theinternet we get here is actually
better than the internet we weregetting in Guadalajara.

Yeah.
Yeah.
The infrastructure here is greatbecause, you know, I mean, you
have people demanding greatinternet because a lot of people
are working online or, orthey're just used to having good
internet from, from US orCanada.
And so it was a high demand forthat.
And so what we're finding isthat a lot more stores are
opening up that will.
Sell things in this area thatpreviously all had to go to Gua

(06:25):
Hara to get those things.
So a good example of that isCostco.
So previous you would have to goto Costco to get what you needed
from Costco.
And now there are plenty ofstores that carry their products
here.
And so you can just go downstreet.
Yeah, we noticed, we, uh,

went to the, the famous Super Lake the other day
and we saw like Kirklandproduct.
Yeah, I know

half the store is Kirkland products.
Yes.

Yeah.
And we're like, they are proprice gouging us here, but we
know it's because of the importtaxes and all that stuff.
For those of you who don't know,uh, super Lake is a well-known
store in the Lake Chip areawhere you can go find American
and Canadian goods.
Mm-hmm.

07092025_153838 (06:58):
Yeah.
So if

you miss your mac and cheese.
Uh, you can, you can go find itthere.
Yeah.
Velv Vita.
Yeah.
We had a ball there the otherday.
I know.

So, well, super Lake's where I go to get
everything for, for thebusinesses.
Pretty much.
Like that's my grocery store forsure.
But yeah, the, the, the importproduct, so Velv, Vita Macaroni
cheese is, um, you know, theypurchase the things from the
United States and then to crossthe border with them, you have
to pay a 50% Yeah.
Fee for those things.
And then you have to mark themup to make any kind of profit
for having it in your store.

(07:26):
So yeah, your import stuff isgonna be more expensive than
just your local.
Local goods.
Yeah.

And for context, we're currently in Ahi.
He right?
Yeah.
So we are in Ahi Central.
And it's Chapala San Antonio.
What is the rest?
I always forget the rest of thename.
Uh,

Chapala Rivera, San Antonio.
Ahi.
San Juan ela.
Chanteek.
And Kopec.

So this whole area,'cause we are more in like
the Kopec area and we've noticedhow, for example, things are
starting to develop a lot moreover there.
Yeah.
Like they just opened an Oxo ina pharmacy like right down the
mountain.

07092025_153838 (07:54):
Mm-hmm.
Right.

And when I see stuff like that happening, both
of us, like,'cause we have thatentrepreneurial investor
mindset, we're like, oh.

Yeah, this means something.
You know what else?
This means something.
Yeah.
Uh, so the Poncho Ponchos is avery popular grocery store here.
It's a very nice.
Posh type of place.
And they had a location inRiveras and they just opened
one, I would say about a yearago in West Ahhee.
And so that was kind of like asignal.
Oh, things are gonna startmoving around out there.
But, but yeah, the area betweenAHI and San Juan Costilla is

(08:24):
pretty much considered West Ahi.
And there's all newinfrastructure out there.
They're building gatedcommunities.
That's like, that's the place tobuy.
I mean, it was really the placeto buy a couple years ago, but,
um, I think it's still.
Probably considered a place tobuy right now.

So what are prices currently looking like in
ahi?
Because we get asked about AHIin AL specifically, and we're
like, I mean, you can find somegood stuff here.
Yeah, right.
Um, so what are, what are theylooking at for specifically AHI
in al?
And then we can talk about otherparts of the lake

as far as prices go.
Yeah.
Okay.
So land in AHA at the currentmoment is going for about$600
per square meter, um, to build,you're looking at anywhere, uh.
From anywhere between a thousanddollars and$1,500 square meter.
Yeah, because this spends lotsfor sale too.
All around the lake.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Um, so, and that thousand to 15,1500 for a building.

(09:15):
It just depends on what you're,what you're putting in your
house.
Are you using content stone?
Are you doing marble tile?
Like what are you adding to it?
You know, you're basically likeelevator.
Right.
Exactly.
Love.
Um, so, so that just depends onyour taste preferences and uh,
so yeah, that's basically it.
So aah is gonna be the mostexpensive area in all of Lake
Chip Paul, I'm not just talkingabout this Lakeside area in all

(09:37):
of Lake Chip Paul, it's gonna beyour most expensive area.

A lot of people in the comments are saying
things, and I heard you say thison a video, and this is what
we've been telling people too.
They're like, oh, AHI heat'sgotten too expensive.
And I heard you say on a video.
I'm like, yeah,'cause Mexico'sgetting its shit together.
Yeah,

07092025_153838 (09:52):
yeah.

And it's a highly, it's, and it's a highly
desirable area.
So can you speak more to that?
Because, uh, we have a lot ofinvestors, for example, who will
come work with us and they'llbe, uh, you know, they might
already have properties.
Uh, we literally had aconversation with someone the
other day, already hadproperties in.
Dubai and then also propertiesin Malta.
Now they wanna add to theirportfolio in Latin America.

(10:13):
Mexico's number one, uh, ontheir list.
Uh, what is going on here thatyou had and Reuters recently
announced that, uh,international investors really
have their eye on Mexico, uh,Latin America in general, but
Mexico being one of the top onesin Latin America.
What is going on here?
Because you've been here, youknow, the better part of the

(10:33):
last 10 years.
I think the last time I was inMexico was actually 2016 or 2017
around the era.
And then when I came back in2023, I was like, what the hell
happened here?
Like this is just, whew, shit,this has exploded.
So what do you, what?
What is going on that now somany investors have their eye on
Mexico.

Well, I think what's happening is the idea of
diversifying portfolios, likegetting some, some of your funds
out of the United States andCanada.
Um, you know, the, the politicalclimate is kind of everywhere in
the world is kind of havingpeople, people are moving
around, moving around.
You know, it's

global musical chairs, that's what my mom
calls, calls it.
Yeah.
I

think that in terms of, uh, Mexico.
Place in the world.
I don't think that, you know,there's too much threat going on
here.
Mexico kind of stays out ofpeople's business.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So it's, so I think, you know,like there's not too much to
worry about here.
Like Mexico's not.

(11:31):
I mean, of course they're in therunning for becoming a great
country, but, and they are agreat country and not as far as
like GDP and all of that, all ofthat goes, um, you know, they
don't have nuclear weapons,anything like that.
But, um, but Mexico, Mexico,like you said, just kind of
minds their own business.
They're just here.
Existing and doing their thingand trying to be the best that

(11:52):
they can be.
And I also think that you have alot of natural landscape here
and uh, the culture in itself ismore people oriented.
And I think the United Statesand Canada kind of misses that
about.
People in general, and I thinkwe're, we're a little bit
nostalgic about those things,like being closer to family,
being closer to friends, and,um, so I think that's happening.

(12:15):
I think business wise, Mexico'skind of seeing what other places
are doing and they're, they'renot necessarily mimicking that,
but they're trying, like I said,trying to do better as a
country, what works and Yeah.
And they're, they're inviting.
Some of that foreign aspect intothe country so that the country
can start to grow a little morewith the rest of the world.

(12:36):
Yeah.
And there's investment

here from, from all over the world.
And uh, we can like, touch uponthis briefly just'cause it was
in the news, but you know, on,on the American news, like
there's a lot of news aboutriots and Mexico City, uh, and I
did this because we have friendsin Mexico City and they're like,
this is being totallyoverlooked.
Yeah.
I'm not so sure.
Like, this is not a big dealthat they were trying to make.
Yeah.
It's a big deal as the, the, thenews is making it out to be.

(12:59):
Um, you know, and, and I thinkinvestors pretty much know that.
Yeah.
Because you look at where a lotof Mexico's money comes from,
and it's not all foreigners,let's be clear.
Right.
Uh, it's just like one piece ofpuzzle.
Well, foreigners only,foreigners

only account for 1% of the entire population of
Mexico.

Yeah.
So it's, it's, yeah.
So it's not like foreignersjacking up prices or anything
like that.
Um, but in terms of, if you lookat how Mexico brings in a lot of
money, um, nearshoring was huge.
Mm-hmm.
That was one of the things.
And then also foreigninvestment.
You know, not foreign investmentin, in the, the gringo moving
here necessarily.
Right.
Although obviously thatstimulates the economy

07092025_153838 (13:35):
mm-hmm.
In

huge ways.
Mm-hmm.
Um, but also just from all overthe world, they're opening lines
of business with countries allover the place.
Yeah.
That one.
Seeing like what their optionsare.
Yeah.
That

1% that I mentioned is not just Americans
and Canadians.
I mean they are the majority,but, uh, the 1% includes people
from all over the world.
Yeah.
Foreigners.
And that includes.
Even, even more southerncountries than Mexico.
Yeah.

One of the things we've noticed in our analytics,
because we check'em all thetime, um, is we have traffic
coming in from all over theworld.
Yeah.
Like, obviously Americans andCanadians are number one or one
and two, but now we're gettingthem from everywhere.
I mean, we've had traffic comingin from Brazil, from Argentina,
from Europe, from Asia, yeah.
And we're like, whoa.
Okay.
There's a lot of global interest

07092025_153838 (14:21):
mm-hmm.

Uh, in, in Mexico right now.
'cause like you said, they're.
Getting their shit together.
Uh, I was reading the other daythat Mexico is kind of an
emerging market and what a lotof, uh, people who are
interested in globaldiversification are telling us.
And what we try and tell people,because we see it with our own
two eyes, and I'm sure you'veseen it even more than we have
'cause you've been here muchlonger, is like, yeah.
Like things in Mexico are kindof like an upward trajectory.

(14:45):
And then you look at countriesthat a lot of us come from and
it's kind of like the oppositesituation.
Is going on right now where lifeis just getting more difficult.
Yeah.
In countries like the UnitedStates and Canada, to your
point, they're involved in.
So how many conflicts do UnitedStates involved in at this
point?
Yeah.
You know, that does affect youand how you're able to move
globally and things like that.

(15:07):
Um, there's

just, there's a lot of turmoil everywhere, and I
think for the most part, Mexicolike.
Where's the turmoil?
You know, like there's notreally anything going on.
I mean, we mentioned the riotsin Mexico City, but I mean,
everybody kind of knows thatthat's a nothing burger, you
know?
So.
Yeah.
Um, but other than that, like,yeah, like Mexico's just
chilling over here and, and Ithink people appreciate that.

Mexico's just chilling.
Everybody's just chilling.
And, uh, one thing that a lot ofMexicans have told me is, uh,
yeah.
In Mexico, you know.
People have issues with thegovernment, but you know,
government's an issueeverywhere.
Governments are gonna do whatgovernments do, and it just is
what it's, oh yeah.
The

government here needs work for sure.
But that's everywhere.
That's

everywhere.
Uh, that's why you globallydiversify, to your point, which
is what a lot of people arestarting to do.
Uh, but what a lot of Mexicanshave told me is like, yeah, here
they let you work.
Mm-hmm.
And they let you make money.
Mm-hmm.
You know, like, like they letyou go, make your money.
Yeah.
No one gets in the way.
Of doing that.
And that's something that we'veheard from people interested
moving here or investing here,or starting businesses here like

(16:06):
you did that that's somethingthat interests them because
they're starting to again seelike the opposite,

07092025_153838 (16:12):
right.
Uh,

in the countries that they're from.
Okay.
So, um, ah, he, he's moreexpensive.
Right?
Uh, what would you think isprobably better for like a
long-term investor?
Like, we're closer to Koto pack.
We love it.
Right.
And then, like I said, we sawthe Oxo starting to come up in
the.
And a lot of construction andthings and we're like, oh boy.
Yeah.
Right.
Uh, things are shifting andchanging over here and we did a

(16:33):
video the other day that got alot of attention.
That was, uh, how like if youreally want it, like invest and
like long haul, you're probablygonna get better returns.
Uh, if that's your goal.
Mm-hmm.
You're gonna get better returnssomewhere else on the lake.
Than Ahi.

Yeah.
So, so Ahi, he's more of like adestination place.
It's gonna be the mostexpensive.
It's kind of one of thosesituations where like, I have to
be in aha.
He, I have to experience this,you know?
Um, that's a situation, vibe.
Let's be real.
It's a vibe.
Oh, it's definitely a vibe.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Um, I mean it's historic Centrobasically.
Yeah.
Like some of these buildingsare, you know, 500 years old.
Yeah.
So, um.

(17:11):
But the, I would say the leastexpensive area to purchase is
hoko.
And, um, you and I kind oftalked about this a little bit
where, uh.
Between Ahi Centro and San JuanCosla, which is considered West.
Aah uh, that area is starting todevelop more, but it's gonna
start moving more towards HoCo.
So buying at these low pricesthat HoCo has is actually a

(17:36):
really good idea.
Being, being somewhere they'restarting to sell land on the
Librato?
Yeah.
Or on the, uh, we saw that onthe HoCo bypass.
Yep.
Which would be a great place tobuy.
I mean, I think eventually it'sgonna have a lot of traffic, so
the noise might be an issue.
You know, you can fix that withlike noise cancellation windows
and, and all that.
But, um, but you're gonna havethe views up there on the HoCo

(17:59):
bypass.
And to me, in my opinion fromHoCo out is, are the best views
on the whole lake.
I mean, you look like, it lookslike you're on an ocean.
We're right by, by

HoCo and our views are phenomenal.
Yeah.
Yeah.
In the rental that we're in,like, you don't get views like
that.
And now he, he can collar

anymore.
Mm-hmm.

It's just not,

the downside to Hoka right now is that, um.
It's a little bit further fromthe airport.
I believe it's about 45 minutesto an hour to the airport from
there.
Yeah.
Uh, there's less of an Englishspeaking community there, but
that's personal preference.
Like some people would ratherbe, you know, immerse themselves
and be in the language.
Yeah.
Like us.
That's how we do it.
Um, yeah.
Yeah.
So, so, uh, uh, I mean,Guadalajara is still the same,

(18:36):
same distance because you justtake the Hoko back way, but, um.
Yeah, I think HoCo is a goodbuy.
I think it's, I think in 10years it's, it's gonna be worth
it.
Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Long term.
'cause we were, he was there andhe's like, holy crap.
Like seeing all the opportunityin HoCo, he's like, I buy here
over Ahah.
But he is thinking with investormindset.
Um, but I think I read thatlike, aah chapala area, you're
still looking at like, uh, eightto 10%, uh, appreciation every
year on the properties.
I don't know if that's true ornot, or if you can compare it.

(19:07):
Yeah.
I think this

whole lakeside area is appreciating like that.
For sure.

Which, if you compare that to, I think

Ahe, he a little more, but, but Ahe, he's its
own, in its own, you know,little bubble world.
Yeah.
It's

in its own world.

Yeah.

Um, and there are some properties in Ahe.
I'm not sure where we were thefirst time we were coming here,
but there's some like roads overthat way, um, where like, the
houses are stunning.

Oh, that's left esta.

Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's most stunning houses.
That's the most.

That's next to Ahi, that's probably the most
highly desired neighborhood tolive in.
Upper and lower l Floreta

and La Floreta because we became familiar with
it when we moved out here and wehad to run a bunch of errands.
Like, I mean, it has everythingthat you need.
You've got the storage, you'vegot the Walmart, you've got the
Tell Cell, you've got the AutoZone, like literally all in one
Yeah.
Spot.
Mm-hmm.

There.
And it's, and it's wide roads.
Uh, cobblestones are well caredfor.
They have their own garbage.
Trucks and, and facilities and,um, and it's very lush, you
know, lots of greenery in there.
So do

people need, um, uh, one thing that happens in
Mexico is the, which is ifyou're learning, I think it's 50
kilometers from a coastline.
Mm-hmm.
Um, right.
Trust.
You need a, basically a banktrust.
Yeah.
Uh, in order to be able to own.
Uh, the property, basically, youlike lease the land, but you
have property owner rights,right?
Mm-hmm.

(20:29):
Is how those things work.
Very common for other countriesto do that in different ways.
Thailand, the whole countryYeah.
Is like that.
Oh wow.
I didn't know that.
Yeah.
The whole country is like thatin Thailand.
Yeah.
Uh, where like it has to be aThai person who's like a 51%
owner, the property.
Oh, okay.
For example.
And if you are buying propertyas a foreigner, you have to do a
trust, all that kind of stuff.
I think the exception is likebuildings.

(20:51):
Like in Bangkok.
Oh, okay.
'cause I think it goes accordingto the building.

07092025_153838 (20:55):
Yeah.
Uh,

so it's like, oh, well 51% of the people in the
building need to be tied, butthen you Ah, I see what you're
saying.
Yeah.
Does that okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So I think that's the only likekind of difference.
Yeah.
Like in, um, but yeah, it's notuncommon, right.
Uh, for people to do that.
Does that apply here, Lakeside?
Because technically you're on acoast

No, it doesn't apply here.
It doesn't apply here.
No.
It's only for oceans.
Okay.
And es did you know that?
Oh, I didn't know that.
Yeah.
CTE is also, but that makessense because you can make, I
mean, that's a, that's a hugeresource and uh, making money on
that, on that type of situation.
So that makes total sense.
So for

this area, you would not need a fee, so you own
the land outright.

Mm-hmm.

Do you see that changing anytime in the future?
'cause I think a lot of people.
You know, with the nothingburger protests.
Yeah.
A lot of people are now maybefeeling a

little concerned, I can't, uh, I can't speak on
what the government's gonna doabout this situation.
You never know.
That's why you globallydiversify.
Yeah, exactly.
So, yeah.
So it could come to that point.
I know that here in this area wehave what's called a hido land.
Yes.
So it's basically native land.
Mm-hmm.
And you can own it as aforeigner.

(22:02):
Um, but it's basically the samething as a fi comso or a trust
where you don't outright own it,you know?
Right.
Um, but the, a Hto land is onlya hido for about 25 years, and
then you can take it out of thea Hto title.
Um, most people don't like tobuy a hido for that reason,
because it's like a trust.
And who knows, like maybe if thepolitical climate gets worse and

(22:25):
does somehow move this way toMexico, you know, all the
people, all the natives could belike, well, why you globally

diversified?
We want

our land back.
I don't know.
You know,

so,

so it's not very common that people buy a heto
and they kind of try to stayaway from it.
I stay away from it.
Buying and selling.
Yeah.
I don't think it's my place.
I feel like that should probablybe, you know.
Uh, what it's there for is forthe Mexicans.
And so it's, and it's also verydifficult because I work mostly
with, with Americans andCanadians, so, you know, I just

(22:55):
don't, I prefer not to, not to

deal with any of that stuff, right?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
'cause it does add a layer ofcomplication Yeah.
Uh, to the process.
Um, although, you know, we havesome contacts where you, you
know, they have direct con andlike, it, it's worked, right?
But it does lead to otherlayers, uh, of complication that
people may not.
Wanna deal with and in terms oflike what happens in Mexico or
whatever.
Um, you know, that's why youglobally diversify.

(23:19):
We keep saying that like maybeyou have a, we're looking at
like, hey, maybe we just buy upsome land here.
We could get some good dealsthere.
Yeah.
You know, we'd rather buy ithere than Tulum.

07092025_153838 (23:28):
Mm-hmm.
Right.

For example.
Um, and then, you know, we go tothe next country and we figure
out, and you diversify theportfolio.
Speaking of Tulum, right.
One thing that I've noticedhere, I don't know if it's on
purpose or not, you're gonnahave to tell me, but I've
noticed there's not like a bunchof high rises or anything, uh,
around the Lake Chapala area.
Which I like.
Right, because if you look at itfrom kind of an investment

(23:49):
perspective, if we compare thatto like Tulum, which you were
just saying, you were in Tulumnot long ago.
Tulum had a real estate bust.
Mm-hmm.
Uh, not too long ago there wasoverdevelopment over building.
You were there, you saw it foryourself.
You're like, this is totallycheap construction.
This is crazy.
You know, a lot of projects hadto stop.
They didn't have money comingin.
There are opportunities in termsof like, Hey, you can invest in

(24:11):
a project that's 60% done, or

07092025_153838 (24:13):
yeah,

maybe somebody needs to do a fire.
You know, you could.
Uh, but there's a big bust goingon in Tulum right now, and it's
just high rise, high rise, highrise and overdevelopment.
I haven't seen that here.
I don't know if that's like onpurpose or.
Yeah.

Well, I think, uh, okay.
One of the things that peopleshould probably know about
Mexico is that financing is verydifficult to obtain.
Yeah.
Um, even for citizens, peoplewho live their, here, their,
their whole lives, uh, interestrates are fairly high, very
high.
Um, so, so that's a factor inthat, that, that it's not easy
to get financing.
And so to finish a project, youknow, you've gotta come up with

(24:50):
your own capital.
Um.
That does happen here from timeto time.
There's a specific building thatI have in mind over, uh, past
the Walmart a little bit.
I don't know if you guys, it's atwo story building and it has,
um, commercial spaces in thefront and then in the back are
the condos that, that peoplepurchase.
Okay.
Attention on the way

back today.
Yeah.
So,

um, I'm trying to think exactly where it is.
It's across.
There, there aren't really anylandmarks over there, but you'll
see it like once you pass thelight for Walmart.
Um, that thing has been underconstruction since I've lived
here and, uh, it's justconstantly under construction
and I think it's the same thingis happening where they're just
trying to get owner fundingbasically.
So they sell a unit and thenthey continue with, with the

(25:31):
project, but it's not selling aswell.
And part of the reason isbecause a.
I don't think that they have anelevator there, so people don't
necessarily want to climbstairs.
It's a very common thing herethat people want one level, um,
or an elevator included with theproperty.
Uh, also most people want a homehere.
They want, they want astandalone home.

(25:52):
Um, and they want character, youknow, they want, they want that
colonial style.
That's big style heap.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And these condos that are goingup are, are more modern Yeah.
Style.
And people are leaving the USthey don't want that.
You know, they, they, and youknow, the Mexicans.
Who are coming from Guadalajaraor other parts of Mexico, they
don't want that either, youknow?

07092025_153838 (26:12):
Yeah.
So they have that either there.
Yeah.

Yeah.
So I don't feel like it'snecessarily gonna take off here
because I think people reallylike the idea of, um, like the
quaintness of this town, youknow, like the historic, uh.
Aspect of Lake Chip and, andjust like, it's still kind of
the wild west and I think that'swhat people like about it, you

(26:34):
know?

Yeah.
And I think, uh, there's a lotmore opportunity here for sure
than in Guadalajara.
'cause we've got dms from peoplebeing like, I wanna buy in
Guadalajara.
And we're like, well, unless youlike, have to be in Guadalajara
for some reason.
Right.
I don't see it like being.
Because, um, the, the owner ofour, where we were in
Guadalajara, wanted to sell thehouse.
So we ended up doing a lot ofresearch Yeah.
On real estate markets andthings like that.

(26:56):
And we came to the conclusionlike, unless you like, have to
be here.

07092025_153838 (26:59):
Yeah.

You know, I, we don't really think it makes a
whole lot of sense in terms oflike an investment perspective
right now, if you, I totally

07092025_153838 (27:05):
agree.
Now, if it's a

lifestyle choice, right?
Like I really love the city.
I wanna be here, I see myselfhere for a long time.
That's a totally differentstory.
But I feel like there'sdefinitely a lot more
opportunity over here.
I think Ahi, he can correct meif I'm wrong, I think aah, he
kind of is moving in thatdirection where it's more of a
lifestyle choice.

Yeah.
I think it is.
Yeah, for sure.

Not necessarily like, Hey, I'm gonna get a good
investment out of this.
Yeah.

Right.
They're investment properties.
Um, investment properties in,uh, lake Al are hard to find.
Yeah.
It's, um, you know, they comeup, I would say one in every 20.
To 30 properties that getlisted, you're gonna find a good
investment property.
But yeah, it's, it's morelifestyle than anything.

Yeah.
All right.
Well if you guys are interestedin this area, we can help you in
a few ways for, so for ourrelocation clients who are
interested in the Ahah area, weput you up in this bed and
breakfast in the Ahah Centro,the number one bed and breakfast
in this area run by Amanda andher husband.
And then on top of that you getmore bang for your buck'cause we
could do real estate tours.

(28:10):
Yes.
Uh, as well in the area, whetheryou're looking for, Hey, I'm
going to Ahi it's lifestyle.
I'm not looking to sell thisthing in 10 years, or anything
like that.
Or if you're more adventurousand you want more opportunity
maybe out by, you know, HoCo andthat whole area, we can help you
because we get requests forboth.
Yeah.
Depending on the profile of thebuyer and what they're looking

(28:31):
to do.
So all you need to do is go toentrepreneur expat.com.
Slash consult.
We put the whole team togetherfor you, not just here, but also
other parts of Mexico.
And we would be more than happy,uh, to help you.
Is there anything else you thinkthey should know about this
area?

Um, I don't think so.
I think I, I mean there are alot of videos out there about
AHI in the Lake Chip, Paul area,so I feel like.
We kind of covered some groundon things that aren't
necessarily being asked.
Yeah.
So they're great questions.
Um, but no, I think, I think,yeah, that's, and then I have my

(29:07):
channel too that, that kindaYes.
The real Amanda

Turner.
Yes.
I love her real estate videos.
I, I.
I think they're some of the bestin Mexico.
Thank you.
The others are like way toocorporate and you're like quirky
and fun.
Thanks.
And you really show, but you'llsee like the, and we'll start
doing some real estate tourswith you as well.

Yeah.

Uh, because I think what I really like about
this Ahi he area, for those ofyou where you, where it's a
lifestyle choice is like whatyou said, the architecture, that
old school, Mexican.
Yes.
Every home is different.
And that colonial, they're verydifferent with the adobe
ceilings.
Yeah.
And I mean they're stunningproperties.
Yeah.
Out here in the Ahi area.
For those of you.
Who want that, you're justprobably not gonna find them for

(29:44):
a steal.
Like those of you who are like,I have, I have 50 grand to spend
on a house.
Like, ah, he, that doesn't,

that doesn't exist.
That doesn't exist really inMexico much anymore.
You know, like, I mean, thewhole world is, is going through
inflation and, and, and, youknow, there's, there's higher
prices in the world these days.
Yeah.
Like in Mexico, like, like wesaid, is.
Is, uh, growing up, so it, the,those steals, like they just

(30:10):
don't really exist anymore,unfortunately.

Yeah.
And speaking of inflation, butthis is good for the, perhaps
the investors.
I don't know if you knew this,but you know that like in the
United States where we're from,they just keep raising the debt
ceiling and spending more money.
Right.
Mexico announced last week thatthey cut their deficit by$8.5
billion.

Oh, wow.
Wow.
Okay.
So

it's what you're saying, it's like, hey, we're,
we're growing up.
Yes.
Like we're adulting now.
Exactly.

Yeah.

We're adulting.
So, you know, for those of youwho invest, who are investors or
a lot of people are concernedabout how much money the United
States and Europe spends andit's not, uh, sustainable for
the long term.
Right.
Well, you know, Mexico just cutits deficit by over$8 billion.

Yeah.
And, uh, anybody who wants tobitch about Mexico not being
affordable anymore, I mean.
I'm proud of Mexico for thatreason.
You know, me too.
Like it's not a bad thing.

Yeah.
So I mean, and, and to Mexico'scredit, I mean, even in the
immigration process, they'relooking for people who have
means and, and resources.
Right.
Because I mean, it makes sense,you know, like they're like, we
don't want people who are goingto be a burden.
On the system.
I mean, they don't have systemslike that to begin with.

Well, the, uh, the minimum wage is directly
attached to the minimum amountfor solvency to become a
resident.
Yeah.
So if the solvency increases, sodoes minimum wage so that, uh,
you know, Americans andCanadians and other foreigners
aren't competing for Mexicanjobs.

That's another thing a lot of people don't
realize.
I know we're going on on a bitof a tangent here, but I think
this is important.
Like a lot of people thinkthey're gonna come here and find
a job, and I'm like, no, no, no.
You're not gonna compete withMexicans for jobs.
Like the government is not gonnawant you.
Yeah.

In fact, we only hire, um, it's so rare that we
even hire anyone.
Well, you have a

business here, you can speak outside.
Outside

of this town.
Yeah.
Like we try to hire only peoplewho are from the Lake Al area,
like Guila Harrans, come overhere, you know?
Uh.
I don't know anywhere else inMexico.
They come and they want a jobhere.
We, we try to keep it very, verylocal.
Yeah.

And, and Mexico wants, from what we're seeing
with the immigration stuff, theywant people who have means and
who are gonna contribute to theeconomy.
They're making it easier forpeople who wanna contribute, uh,
to the economy.
And I think that's.
I mean, it's common sense whenyou think about it.
It really is.
Yeah.
Yes.

Especially for a country that was kind of in
distress like Mexico was.
They needed a little bit ofoutside help, you know?
So, um, they invited that inand, and so I think they're
benefiting from that now.
And that's excellent.
That's great.

Good for Mexico and it's on that upward
trajectory, hopefully.
Knock on wood, it stays that wayfor Mexico.
Yeah.
And, and Mexicans because itreally is an amazing country,
like investments aside.
Yeah.
You know, just, you know, wetalk to people from all over the
world and Mexico always comes upas like one of the top places in
terms of food culture, uh,quality of life.
And now we can add, you know,economic opportunity.

(32:59):
Because I think maybe otherpeople don't realize this.
Um, you know, Mexico also has agrowing middle class, and also
people moving more into likeupper middle class, like
Mexicans are also starting tomake money

Yeah.

In ways that they've never made money before.

Yes.

You know, and they're becoming more educated
and usually that's a pretty goodindicator in terms of where a
country, um, is moving.
So it makes sense that a lot ofinvestors are kind of eyeing
what's going on here, andthey're like.
We're gonna, we're gonna keepour eye on, on that one.
Yes, exactly right.
We, we might put a little moneythere, or we might buy some real
estate there and have afootprint.
Yeah.

(33:32):
Uh, in Latin America and in acountry that.
For all intents and purposesaround Latin America, Mexico's
pretty stable, so, yeah.
Yeah.
All agree.
Well, thank you so much forsharing your insights on the
real estate.
Thank you Amanda, andinvestments and your experience
living here for as long as youhave.
And the other video we did aboutrunning brick and mortar
businesses.
Yeah.
Uh, here in Mexico, we reallylook forward to doing a lot more

(33:53):
real estate tour video.
I know.
I'm excited.
This is

gonna be fun.

Yeah.
We actually have some clientscoming to this area, uh, in
September.
So, you know, we'll probably belike.
Chit chatting over here in thebed and breakfast, um, with
everybody as we help themrelocate.
Uh,'cause what a lot of peopledon't realize is, um, you know,
we can help people with theimmigration process.
Mm-hmm.
And then we'll also take care ofyour housing, uh, for you with
what you pay us.
So you don't have to worry aboutanything.

(34:16):
At all in this entire process.
So we look forward to reallydoing a lot more business with
you and partnering with you andseeing how this grows, how Ahi
grows, how Mexico grows.
Um, and yeah, we're, we're gonnabe bringing you a lot of
business, Amanda.
Yay.

Hopefully I'll bring you some too.
Yay.

All right guys.
Thank you so much for watchingus today.
Make sure to like, subscribe,hit that notification bus.
You don't miss a single video.
And once again, if you areinterested in moving to Mexico,
we handle immigration.
We help you with insurance, wehelp you with tax strategy.
We work with people like Amanda,not just for a place to put you
up, uh, while you're herehandling your immigration.
Also real estate tours andthings like that.

(34:56):
We work with the best of thebest.
As you can see.
We go meet them in person so youdon't have to go find them, uh,
yourself.
So just go to entrepreneurexpat.com/consult and you can
apply to work with us.
Whether you're interested inmoving here as a lifestyle
choice or investment, we got youcovered.
Thank you so much for being thebest part of Entrepreneur Expat,

(35:18):
and we'll catch you guys on thenext one.

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