Real Estate in Jalisco

Get yourself a good realtor! Shop for what you want; one story, small 2 bedroom, or room for guests. After owning here for 10 years, people who come visit like staying at S.F. Hotel in Chapala.  They have freedom to walk about, check things out without a car. There is so much to see, hire a realtor to drive you about like I did. Ask questions, and figure out what section of the Lake you prefer.  From West to South of the lake: Jocotopec, San Juan Cosala, Ajijic, La Floresta, Walmart, San Antonio, Chula Vista, Mirasol, Chapala.  Our first home was in Chapala and we felt totally safe, however, there is a fiesta quite regularly into the wee hours of the morning so in January 2017 we moved just 5 miles outside Chapala towards Mezcala in a little pueblo named San Nicolas.  We are around the corner from Vista Del Lago Country Estates which are fabulous homes around a 9 hole golf course.  For just 500 pesos annually you can become a social member and enjoy the monthly dinner parties with entertainment. It is quieter living along side the lake in San Nicolas de Ibarra. Just remember this is Mexico and we are guests. The happy folks here will throw a Fiesta to celebrate

anything and everything. It is just a 5 minute ride, on a good road to the park in Chapala to walk our dog, and it is 8 miles to shop at Soriano for groceries.  The fitness center I joined is in Mirasol "Fit for Life" and they have a "Curves" circuit of equipment that I can easily manage three times a week.  There are a number of fantastic cafe's nearby.  A few places that we frequent are in San Antonio.  Panino's, Adelita's, and the new cafe just across the street from Panino's.  There is also access to a malecon in San Antonio to walk your dog.  Our dog Rags was adopted from the Lucky Dog Shelter and he has since attended obedience and agility school.  The mayor of Chapala has done an excellent job by increasing safety A recent Sermon by Pastor Ken Armstrong .  We love living in Mexico and the real estate taxes and cost of living make it affordable enough that a person has money to give back and to travel.  View the video and the pictures posted on this link An Expat Blogs.

and tourism around Lake Chapala.  Our annual cost to maintain our home in San Nicolas, which includes property taxes, the water bill, insurance, renewing annual tags on both cars is a whopping $560.00 USD annually.  Besides the affordability, we love the culture, the people, the various service opportunities, and the fellowship at Little Chapel in Mirasol. I actually found the place I originally purchased online in the USA. We sold it in 2017 and found the next home in one of the many Real Estate for sale magazines that are here at Lakeside.  Enjoy the adventure.  Check this site for Health Insurance options, and recommended restaurants on the links provided on the right.  Hasta Luego! MEET SOME LOCAL Women of Value.   CLICK ON  BLOGGED PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.

Seguro Popular for ER

Any person can obtain health insurance in Mexico for an annual fee of $300 USA. The IMSS office for residents of Chapala is located across from old railway station, near Christiana park on

Gonzalez Gallo. It is best to use a local attorney to get through the (3) step application process. The IMSS hospital in Guad has the latest technology and equipment. The picture here is of the Seguro Popular office in Chapala, Seguro compares to county health care in the USA. For an emergency you can get care, but you will wait in long lines, and the Seguro hospitals are filled with stressed out, under paid doctors and nurses.

The ALTERNATIVE Health Insurance option for those who do not wish to pay the $300 annual premium for IMSS insurance is to apply for SEGURO POPULAR

whose office is shown in the first and 2nd pictures above. SEGURO compares to county health insurance in the USA. To apply for SEGURO you will need your passport, your CURP card, your GREEN card, and a CFE bill in your name with your address on it.  Once you receive your Seguro Popular acceptance 8 x 11

sheet of paper, you can obtain FREE meds.  You get SEGURO meds filled at the pharmacy located at 380 Zaragoza. However, in order to be seen by a SEGURO doctor, you need to arrive at 7:30 AM and stand in a line that could take up to an hour.  Therefore, we established a relationship with a local doctor and for minor emergencies, a cold, flu, infection etc. We opt to pay the 300 pesos per office visit and save our IMSS insurance for anything major, like a needed surgery, heart attack or whatever. There are many great doctors at Lakeside.

Solar Savings

With our CFE bill wavering close to the red zone, and with the annual 12% increase across the board for electricity at Lakeside, we chose eSun Energy in Ajijic. eSun has the highest quality installations in Mexico and their sevice is excellent! We look forward to paying CFE about $7.00 USD every two months!!! WARNING to home-owners and renters.  Once your CFE bill hits the RED ZONE, your bi-monthly bill triples. So if your CFE bill goes from 800 pesos to  2400 pesos, it never reduces.  Those who do rent at Lakeside, call the office and make an appointment to discuss how you can reduce your CFE bill.  Owner maintenance responsibility is simply to toss a bucket of water across each panel during the dry season.  WARNING: Do NOT use soap, do NOT use a squeegee.  Removing dust with a splash of water is sufficient to maximize efficiency.  To remove bird droppings"  1 cup white cider vinegar mixed into a 5 gallon bucket.  Toss the mixture across the panel, then toss a clean bucket of water across the panel. Professional annual cleaning is available by eSun for 30 pesos per panel.  Check out their website.  They are professionals!!! eSun Energy

An English speaking salesman came to our casa, went up on the roof to inspect location and get the data on our two air conditioners on Tuesday. We provided eSun with a CFE bill and on Wednesday a written quote was delivered based on our personal two year consumption. Our capital investment will pay for itself in 4 years, but the BEST NEWS is that we can crank up our air conditioners for four hours per day, during the four hottest months at Lakeside. Since we live at Lakeside full time, we have now increased our travel budget by reducing our cost to run the air conditioner!  Hallelujah! 

Unleashed, NOT bored

Unleashed without boundaries, without a limit of fresh air to breathe, without an edit of any emotion, we embark upon unknown trails. Without a compass, but in complete FAITH, with a destination, and great expectations, we explore wide eyed and exuberant! Without the need for a life jacket,  we stretch to utilize our gifts and bless others. With FREEDOM to roam about the planet and witness great NEWS, we remain resolved to be tested and proved! Our spirits are refreshed by legions of others who have gone before us! In a CLEAR COLORFUL VISION ~~~ Imagine yourselves laughing with the locals of Chapala as they attempt to comprehend your Spanglish.   With excitement the Mexican people embrace all who habla um poco Espanol.  Walking along the Malecons of Chapala and Ajijic and down the stony streets,  you will thrill as locals greet you with huge smiles!  Flowers and people seem to bloom and emerge easily inside unkempt, imperfect, unexpected places. WOW, a humongous tree with an enlarged trunk and vivid orange blossoms grows next to a poinsettia that towers like an aged California oak.  Our mind fills up with lavish images, beyond any of our past, and there we stand riveted by God's absolute BEST!  We left behind what was known along highway 99 and highway 88 to Silver Lake and we marvel at the green hills surrounding Lakeside. Our ears hear His voice whispering "Well done My good and faithful servants"  Our spirits are lifted as we put our hands to good use among several great organizations. We tred with grand delight, feeling unleashed, but not unprotected as we walk the streets of

Ajijic, La Floresta and Chapala. The picture above is of the lush garden at the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic. LINKS on the right of this blog will take you on a vivid tour of Lakeside. Uncharted walks makes my soul respond with giddyness to the bromide elixir that the lake emits. A cobbled street runs thru La Floresta to connect Chapala and Ajijic. This stroll allows your eyes to witness horses and children at play without an ordinance! A spot where artesians yearn to stay and participate in the MAGIC of artsy AJIJIC.

Our weekly calendar is full of fun activity and local invites. We have met folks from around the globe! Daily walks to lakeside include hugs and chats. Much to do as grateful volunteers. Each March we raise money for Love in Action at the Annual Chili cook off.  FUN times galore!  Monday we attend a Spanish class in Ajijic.  Tuesday morning after our malecon walk with Donna, Dan, LC, Lucinda and a bevy of others, Mike attends

Bible study with a groovy group of gringo men. Tuesday night Barb hosts a women's CR group in our home while Mike enjoys a boys night out. Wednesday Barb serves at UPSCALE RESALE a second hand store much like Superior Thrift in Stockton.  All proceeds help fund HOPE HOUSE. Thursday we attend Spanish class again, followed by a Spanish practice session every Thursday evening at 5:00 pm with at least 15 local people from Lakeside.  Friday Mike works for a few hours at HOPE HOUSE, a boys orphanage, then we generally catch up with Villa Santa Paula resident neighbors Jack & Albert, Gary & Mila, Dan & Lynette, Amy, or Virgina.   We have booked passage around Lake Chapala on several Sunday afternoons with a group from Church.
There is also a Kayaking and Sailing Club in La Floresta which offers sails around Lake Chapala on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings. Adventures await as the surrounding forested places give oxygen to the villages within the state of Jalisco. As we abide in Him where EVER we travel, we rest in His hands as He opens the doors for our safe passage. My hopes, dreams and best plans have always been surpassed when it comes to swallowing fully that which has been made possible for my senses to intake. With our anchors pulled up in California, we float freely among English speaking people that blend with a variety of snow birds seeking paradise -- We mix it up within the small town of Chapala (population 20,000) and the colorful culture in Ajijic (population 10,000) along the shores of Lakeside! A fishing community feel of GLEE abounds. A local Hotel on Hidalgo offers all day swimming in an olympic pool that faces the lake for only 50 pesos! The Hotel, the cafe, and the pool are kept very clean. Hotel Villa Monte Carlo is a great place to cool off on those hot days! LINK on sidebar.

 An awesome gander of what "is"allows any person to be struck with wonder at this simple truth --- that regardless of language, color, education or the economy - we are united by our reverence for untamed, natural beauty. Trusting God, we remain surrendered to the AWE inspiring grandeur of His Spirit that is resplendent! Our path is filled with His GLORY to behold! Men and Women of truth, grace and spirit. Mothers, daughters, fathers and sons, globe trotters, and California giddy gurls shop and adorn themselves with color. We were born into being with a body that responds to color, music, food and the fantastic elements of nature -- people discover their unique best in Mexico in the midst of poverty and the riches, we have mucho to be thankful for. We are here to experience God's love as we marvel in all that He has so abundantly provided. COME to Chapala and expect to be astounded!  Focus on what delights your soul and come and explore!  Watch, listen and be ever AMAZED! We all are the "BE" in being unleashed. Go with courage and become the Columbus of your imaginings. Pack light, wear that LOVE that cannot be worn out! "He has commanded His angels concerning you." Therefore confidently "Cast all anxiety on Him" and travel in faith that Jesus has gone before you! Buen Provecho! Enjoy LIFE to the fullest!

Love it, or Leave it!

Living in Mexico is not for everybody, but it is for me, a retired woman from California.  I hear some ex-pats complaining about the traffic, or the humidity, or the length of time it takes to get served a meal.  C’mon, really….the traffic is slower

because around lakeside we wobble along on cobblestones, and it is highly effective as it slows down the rat race pace! The humidity part? Get an air conditioner installed for $600 USA, or go walk around in Walmart or the Casino to cool down. Humidity should be adored for how moist it keeps a woman’s skin.  Ever notice the beautiful complexion of Mexican women?  Patience? The time spent in a cafe waiting for your food to arrive is called

dining!  When the food arrives it is freshly made, not something slammed on your plate with a waiter watching the time clock eager to bus the table and replace you with another tipper.  One must choose to NOT compare what was, to what is.  One must embrace the culture of Mexico and look for the

positive in it, or one must sensibly just go back to what feels at home.  It is best to NOT expect the rich Mexico culture to change to accommodate our comfort levels, but to go with the flow, which means that you cannot expect that CFE, Telmex or Telecable will arrive on time to fix your problem.  If one misses having their street cleaned by

the City, in exchange for higher taxes, then one should just visit Mexico on vacation instead of moving here.  What I came to love about the culture of Mexico is the people, and their determination to take care of their own.  Here in Mexico a woman or man aged 65-85 do not look for food stamps, or government aid to sustain their life here.  They get up every morning and sweep the sidewalk in front of their

home/business with a smile and a hope that today they will earn adequate funds to feast on the staples and/or maybe serve meat a few times a week.  Frida had polio, Frida had sever back injuries and Frida did not seek social security disability income!  Frida learned to paint in her bed because most of the time she was in severe pain.  You gotta love Mexico, or not…and if you do not…then just go back to where life suits your personal expectations with minimum complaints. 

A Great Church

The Lord's Church is a small collection of people from every sector of faith. The Bible teaching sermon begins at 11:00 AM. It is a true non-denominational gathering of friendly folks. The basic doctrine is that we all believe in Jesus Christ.  Christians are called to be "ambassadors of reconciliation".  Wednesdays at 4:30 in the Upper Room is a fellowship with various food dishes and laughter.  LOCATION: Right on the carretera, next to Panino's in San Antonio. Sunday service begins at 11:00 AM. Pastor Ken Armstrong speaks English and his background lends to a great respect for those who have attended various other congregations.  These are notes from a recent study on Ephesians 6 Got Your Armor On? For more information on the background of Pastor Ken see the comments.  You can reach the Pastor at  376-108-1861.  Associate Pastor Earl Schenck  331-637-0128.

Manzanillo Resort

At port city beach near Colima can be reached by car in just 3 hours from Chapala.  Enjoy beautiful, safe toll roads all the way.  Love meeting up at Mom's cafe with friends at 8:00 AM and getting on the road by 9:00 AM to arrive at the beach by noon.  Just past the volcano in Colima, the coconut groves wave and point you towards this under populated port beach town. For the Starbucks, Carl's Junior, Dairy Queen, Domino's Pizza junk foodies - there is a new mall as you come into town and the upstairs, air conditioned food court is outstanding!  We have stayed at the HM, Pepe's, Las Hadas and the Camino Real in Manzanillo.  While in town I always check out new places and I give  The Barcelo Karmina five stars.  It has a private beach, it sits on the Las Hadas golf course, four swimming pools, WIFI and it is ALL INCLUSIVE.  By clicking the above link, you join the Premium Club for FREE and you get points in peso rebates for each stay.  The Barcelo has hotels worldwide.  Stayed for Mothers Day and plan on New Years Eve in a deluxe suite at a great price as a Premium Club Member.

Healthy Eating in Mexico

It is easy to overeat at Lakeside because there are a number of fabulous restaurants along the lake. The Paris Cafe, Bruno's, Paninos, Montana Cafe, Cafe Negro, Tango, Pranzo, Lake Taco and the Food Court at Del Lago. Staying at home to cook or bake has become a delightful passion only AFTER I put on more weight than I would like to confess! The Shepherd's Code is NOT a diet, it is a lifestyle change for anyone who wants to prevent disease or to lose weight. It is an easy adjustment because you can still eat bagels, chocolate, whip cream, sandwiches, pancakes, even crackers and cheese, all made out of ingredients that are NOT full of carbohydrates.   SIMPLE RULE is to EAT FAT to LOSE FAT.  Keep the daily carb count to 20 and have FUN in the kitchen while watching your clothes get baggy.  A local missionary couple shared that together they have lost over 60 pounds in 60 days! This link will direct you to a collection of recipes that are designed to put your body into the FAT burning mode, or ketosis. The Shepherd's Code  be sure and watch the video at the bottom of "Breakfast Choices".  Kristina WIlds, a faithful wife wrote this book and developed The Shepherd's Code to help her husband who has ALS. Available on Amazon.

MAIL in MEXICO

What a great find! ISHOP  is located in San Antonio near Paninos. All those who serve you speak English.  UPS, FEDEX, FAX, DHL, and regular US Post mail will safely arrive to your family and friends when placed in the

 capable hands of ISHOP. We do not have a printer at home because we do not need one.  When we must print, I send ISHOP an email with the attached document and they print for me. For just a few pesos, you can do anything.  A coffee shop is right next to the mail boxes.  We rented a box here and share the annual cost with a few neighbors as we rarely receive anything but email. We used ISHOP to FEDEX docs to close escrow in the USA.  With the cost of a box, you can receive packages delivered to ISHOP and they call you to come and pickup. PHONE: (376) 766-1933 and the FAX (376) 766-2755.

RESIDENTE PERMANTE

PART A begins at the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento, or in the town that issues passports near you in the States.  You must bring BANK stamped copies of 3 months bank statements. Marriage License. Passport. Drivers License, Copy of deed, Copies of any IRA's or other investments. Mexican Consulate takes your photo, takes fingerprints and electronically dispatches to Mexico. They also issue you a 6 month visa, which is a special stamp inside your passport. Once you enter Mexico, you have 90 days to begin the application process.  CALL immigration attorney Spencer in Chapala 376-765-7553. His office is on Hidlago on the lakeside of the street, NEXT DOOR to the Lake Chapala Inn sign on Hidalgo. A fee of 5,500 pesos ($400 USA) will ensure a quick turn around. Give your passport and airline Visa to Spencer and he will complete all ever changing required forms.

IF you are NOT a pensioner with automatic monthly deposits of at least $1,500 per month, you can only file for temporary status.  IF you already own a home in Mexico, the application process for a Residente Permanente, or a Residente Temporal is faster. Applicants will now need two appointments at INM offices to finish the immigration process. Using a local attorney HELPS because they have established relationships at the INM office. One appointment is required to have your fingerprints taken, to sign papers and to deliver your (6) photos. You will need to return for a second appointment to receive your wallet GREEN colored (PR) immigration card. The day you pick up your GREEN Residente Permanente (RP) card, drop off a photocopy of your PASSPORT and a copy of FRONT and BACK of GREEN (RP) card at INM office and request a CURP card.  A curp card is necessary to obtain State of Jalisco Health Insurance at Seguro Popular.  The INM is responsible for accepting and/or rejecting visa applications from foreigners who wish to live in Mexico. Another agency, the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Secretary of Exterior Relations or SRE, sometimes also called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is responsible for monitoring immigrants within its borders. Specific information about the laws can be obtained by individuals who hire attorneys to expedite the process and avoid long delays. BELOW a picture of GREEN (RP) Residente Permanente wallet sized card.  MAKE a color copy and get it laminated to carry with you.  The laminated copy is sufficient at banks etc. Keep the original at home in a safe place.  IF it gets lost or stolen, it is a huge process to get replacement.  Spencer makes this process a breeze.  Expect it to take 2 months to get GREEN card, and TWO weeks to get CURP card.

Connected as One

"Walk this way" and follow Me, into My word and be blessed by what God shall reveal unto you. LOVE is a verb! God is Love and He is active and moving. His love is the seed that He placed in us when we were conceived. His plans for us are predestined. His love for us is evident in all the miraculous beauty that surrounds us. We are His wide varietal bouquet, each person a unique flower, delicate, and beautiful to behold! We shine, we sparkle because of the Light of Jesus within. Jesus gave us the charge to go and LIGHT UP THE WORLD. We are His and He is our unlimited Source of power! Our sparkle is polished to a radiant shine as we gather together regularly to be honest, to be transparent, and love one another as we are loved. As His chosen people, comitt to remaining accountable to the following: SPARKLE AT HOME in His holy Presence. Remain in Him, as He remains in Thee. In complete UNITY embrace these truths:

1) God's Word is active
2) Salavation is by grace
3) The Diety of Jesus
4) Jesus will return
5) Resurrection reality
6) Jesus born of a virgin
7) The Holy Trinity exists

Our Father, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, as One, we call on the Name above all names, we call on Jesus, and we speak His name with reverence, for He is holy, He is God and we worship Him because He alone is worthy. As the church is His, not man's creation, not man's building, not man's monument, as His people we agree to disagree about the non-essential things that may cause His children to divide and therefore fall from His grace.

1) Method of baptism - fully immersed, sprinkled, pool, ocean
2) Kinds of worship music - songs - instruments
3) The role of a woman serving Christ in the church
4) Wearing make-up or believers dancing
5) Whether drinking a glass of wine is a sin
6) What date or time Jesus is coming back
7) What version of the Word of God should be studied

Imagine the people of Stockton, Lodi, Manteca (and beyond) coming together weekly to discuss the Holy Bible while developing new transparent friendships. Imagine people of Ajijic, Chapala and Guadalaraja being changed as a result of regular participation. As we sparkle at home, and invite others to gather in an atmosphere of beauty and worship, to partake in the living and active Word of God, let us delight in our personal Jesus and in the astounding ways He blesses us, cares for us, equips us, restores us, and uses us, individually as we tell others of what He has done in us and through us. AMEN! Let us BE REAL about our faith, our walk, and our growth in Him, by Him and for His glory. Let us come together with the same Holy Bible, in differenct communities, neighborhoods and continents ~ to be connected by the same Saviour, who loves all, redeems all, and provides for all our needs. Let us learn from the experience of other gardeners in the field of Jesus followers. This is an awesome vision! A church of Jesus Christ that outgrew a home, because He attracted so many by our Joy in Him! Our homes overflowed and so a simple midtown structure was built to provide a place for a growing number of people, all who admit a desire to share in the Joy of the Lord that we carry. The first Chapala church will be held in Unit #7 at Villa Santa Paula in 2014. Jesus gave me this vision and I trust that He will prepare me, and the way for this vision to be a reality. If you live in Jalisco, hold this vision in your prayer and know that God will spread His Message of Salvation, Restoration and Revelation in you, and in your home too. No need to wait upon Barbara, just open your doors, invite Jesus and others and He will make it happen. Women in positions of leadership at other churches, or local businesses, please join me in a prayer for preparation and provision. Let us be willing servants for our Lord Jesus longs to bless us in unimaginable ways. "I will not leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5 -- As we go through life, we are encapsulated in God's love, secured by His covenant, and guided by His Word. Notes from the sermon given by Pastor Ken at Little Chapel on Sunday February 4, 2018. The words we mumble, sing or pray do NOT sway God to act on our behalf.....the Holy Spirit thankfully intercedes for us, and His will, NOT ours is consistently done. "Living in Him" means that we are His chosen Ambassadors and we are to represent Who He is through us, the mercy, grace, love, compassion and kindness we extend...we first received from Jesus.  By taking His name, His word...we are clothed in His righteousness, and His way becomes our best response to all people, in every situation. We call ourselves Christians, NOT in vain for our gain, but with humility and gratitude for all He has done "in" us and for us. Like in marriage we become One and take His name, for His purposes and glory. AMEN

The American Legion

There is so much GOOD we can do in Mexico.  It is a wide open mission field which enables "retired" folks to stay busy doing something that builds the kingdom, while giving us peace about how we can help. There are many worthy organizations.  The Hope House is an orphange for boys. For more information click this link:  HOPE HOUSE

The American Legion post #7 is located on the corner of Morelos and Guerrero in Chapala. The Legion also raises money to assist those who are less fortunate.  Whether you are visiting Lakeside, or living at Lakeside full time, your donations of clothing and food will be distributed by the Legion in Chapala. The annual renewal fee for membership at the Legion is only 300 pesos. With that membership you get a 10% discount of food at their American cafe.  Comfort foods, a lending library and monthly events gives you ample opportunity to fellowship with folks amazing folks from around the globe.