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I'm currently in Georgia, having chickened out on moving to MX several years back. I think I have a better chance of making it happen this time.

Short bio: female, old [70 soon], healthy, adventurous, poor.

Thinking Baja for several reasons:
1&2 are about equal: cost of living, climate
beyond that:
relaxed regulations
proximity to San Diego

My social security is about $950, after Medicare takes its cut. Not quite ready to sever that tie/cost yet, however.

Not too interested in in-town living [noise factors, mostly]. Will need to rent, not fancy but no dirt floors, either. Don't need to be waterfront -- walking distance to a nice beach would be important, however. Own a good car, although once the Georgia tags expire in December 2013, renewal would not likely be possible in Georgia. Need other options for that. My Spanish is rudimentary, but I think would return to some extent.

Some years past I spent a week in Ajijic [not my cup of tea] and another week in Bucerias, near PV. Opted out for a laundry list of reasons, but life has changed and I've mellowed. Back to being near San Diego and the US.

So -- gotta go out right now and get some exercise. Know I'll have a lot of questions, but think many of them will be answered on other posts when I have time to look.

Primary question: Location, and low-priced rentals. ETA: next spring

Thanks!

What will be your rent budget........realistically??

It really depends what you want. The amount of time it takes to figure everything out down in mexico can be daunting. I will give you some hints as to my experience down here.

The closer you are to major comericial areas (Like Major department stores, Movie theaters) the better the Neighborhood. This applies to Playas de Tijuana. The better neighborhoods in TJ seem to be around Blvd. agua caliente, Hippodromo, etc. around the Main Golf course but there are pockets elsewhere in TJ. I hear there's a new hotspot on 6th street in TJ (Mexican Intellectuals and young hipsters etc.).

Rosarito is another matter altogether. It seems to me that the quality of housing is not that great compared to Playas or TJ and if you want something decent you better be prepared to pay $600-700 per month due to extra tourist features like security and pools etc. (South Rosarito, Popotla, Calfia, Rosamar) Another thing Utilities are not included in alot of things so factor that into your budget price.

I would say it will be easier to find something for $300-500 in a good neighborhood in TJ compared to Rosarito (Greater competition!). You have to be careful though because your 70 and female. There are some gated communities with security and I would recommend that to you because that will give you time to adjust to life in Mexico. (I've seen some decent apartments arount Otay Mesa - tijuana airport too!)

Here are some Mexican websites you should visit to find better deals.

craigslist: mexico city clasificados para empleo, vivienda, contactos personales, ventas, servicios, comunidad y eventos
Buscador de casas en venta en México, casas en renta en México - Trovit Casas
Anuncios Gratis | Vivastreet | Clasificados Gratis

Hope this helps get you started.

BBB has some good info up there.
One thing I will say at the risk of upsetting some here is, don't choose a Mexican community just because the price is right. If you arn't one of them, you don't belong there and eventually they'll let you know that.

Thanks to all for the replies! First of all, I'm thinking further south than TJ -- more like Ensenada. And I'm guessing a rent budget of no more than $400. Don't even know if that's doable, and I guess that's the main thing I need to know. Right now, with a mortgage payment of around $375 I survive on my income, but it's not always pretty. I don't care about gated communities, [although I don't want to be unsafe, either!] and while I'm not a total hermit, I do OK by myself most of the time so I don't care about being in a big gringo community. Small place is fine -- 3 rooms. Don't need AC [don't have it here and don't care for it]. Do need a usable kitchen and DSL. I don't look or act 70 [most of the time], don't have a lot of fear [but do have enough common sense].

Thanks again!

Hey, thanks for all the details. I really appreciate the time and help. This may all be pie in the sky for me right now. I'm just doing some early research on rentals and if my rent budget isn't realistic, then none of the rest of it matters and I'll probably stay where I am. Still -- It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and if it's possible, then I'll probably try it. Barring unforeseen issues of one kind or another.

Many thanks!

Hey, nothing wrong with planning .. do it all the time ... that is part of any trip one thinks about IMHO even if it doesn't take place... better than ....... I'll leave that alone

Welcome aboard ...

http://tijuana.es.craigslist.com.mx/apa/3317959577.html

Lots on craigslist.

http://tijuana.es.craigslist.com.mx/apa/

Punta Banda, where I live, is twenty miles south of Ensenada. You can easily get set up for 400 monthly, including DSL.
Do some research and ask if you have any questions.

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for all the good links to Craig's List. Sorry to drop off for awhile, but I didn't think my comments had been moderated yet. Go figure.

I'm surprised to see what's available in Rosarita for really reasonable rates. If I can swing it up to $500, I could live in luxury. For me, anyway.

Dennis, Punta Banda sounds really interesting, too. It's so encouraging to hear that this is even possible! Now I need to figure out how to get Craig's List in the Ensenada area, but will fool around with that later. Got an appointment in a neighboring town soon, so it'll have to wait.

Thanks again, everybody. You've brightened my day!

Suggest you spend a week or so in the area, checking places out.

You will find that Ensenada, compared to Rosarito.....is more of a "real city" in terms of shopping, medical, social/cultural events and services.

The Punta Banda area also is an interesting community as it has its own theater group, social events and nightspots.....a big plus is the availability of a safe, clean beach to walk on.

Depending on what you are looking for and your wants/needs, this area of Baja seems to have it all.....

"A safe, clean beach to walk on" -- that's the main thing I'm looking for. I've spent a little time with my friend Google Maps this morning and they don't recognize Punta Banda, however, with a little close up viewing I've found that name bandied about in the area of La Joya and Agua Caliente. Is that the right place?

Excellent advice re coming down for a look. I did that on the mainland about 5 years ago and learned a lot. If further online research and help from the good folks on this board continues to make a move sound feasible, I'll probably do that -- although more likely a drive to find the right location and a place to rent, rather than flying out for a short visit. In effect, that would be moving, but since I won't be bringing more than will fit in the trunk of my Toyota, I'll be mobile and relatively unencumbered. Can find a place I love and stay, or head back north with little lost.

I already know I like Mexico, I learned first-hand about the realities (noise, utility fluctuations, water challenges, etc). I know I'm happy with neighborhood tiendas for the most part, street vendors selling mangoes, the big weekly markets. Don't really need Wal-Mart on any regular basis. I cook 99% of my food, eat simply. Don't have the $$ to be a consumer.

My wish to be nearer the border has to do with ease of renewing my tourist visa, since that's what I plan to stay with. Might also be nice to drive up to Napa or Phoenix from time to time to visit friends. That said, as long as I can get from home to the US in daylight hours, I'm happy. I think I could live in a small fishing village, as long as there's a beach and DSL. But, a slightly larger beach town would probably be better. I think, from looking at rental sites, that 'Ensenada Centro' isn't going to work for me at all!

OK -- I'm officially rambling. Thanks so much to all for all the info.

Originally Posted by mskitty

...Sorry to drop off for awhile, but I didn't think my comments had been moderated yet...

Sorry bout that.

Due to an enormous volume of professional spammers, this site only confers real-time posting after a demonstrated history that exceeds what robots/pros are currently willing to do. If it didn't we'd be buried under an immense pile of ads for boots, Viagra, etc...

You're all set now and your posts appear as soon as you make them.

No problemo! I hate spam as much as the next person, so I don't mind the initial moderation. For some reason [no doubt operator error] when I looked at the link to this thread I didn't think my second posts had appeared, when in truth they probably did. I was glad to see them -- wondered if I'd been banned right off the bat. And I was trying to be so nice!

All is well now.

I strongly suggest that before you even think seriously about it you make a trip over to actually check the areas out. Do you have someone local in the San Diego area who could accompany you down to spend some real time, seeing what the areas are really like.

You need to spend some time here, Talk to a lot of folks besides real estate agents pushing rentals and ask them about how they live with/deal with all your needs, concerns and situations that come with life down here. I love it here but would hate for anybody to make that decision based solely on an internet as or an agent showing you a rental. Give it some time and effort before making the big move.

And welcome to the forum...

Originally Posted by mskitty

"A safe, clean beach to walk on" -- that's the main thing I'm looking for. I've spent a little time with my friend Google Maps this morning and they don't recognize Punta Banda, however, with a little close up viewing I've found that name bandied about in the area of La Joya and Agua Caliente. Is that the right place?

Bullseye. You found it.

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

Talk to a lot of folks besides real estate agents

Don't deal with RE agents at all if your inquiries are about an expat community. Get your info from those living there. It's free.....and honest.

A while back there was this person that was on this board that relied compleately on the word of a Real Estate person to make a decision to move here . He moved here and signed a one year contract and I dont think he lasted 2mos. and moved on.
Come visit and ask a lot of questions a whole lot of questions and if you do decide to rent Rent Month To Month.

Giggles. I probably shouldn't have stated my age. I may be oldish, but I'm far from being a little old lady. I'm just as adventurous, capable, active, healthy and almost as strong as I've ever been. I've lived in many parts of this country, don't think twice [well, these days maybe twice] about moving to a new place that piques my interest. I explored the Colorado Rockies on a bike and my feet for two months when I was 40, alone, staying in Forest Service campgrounds, at times alone in the campgrounds. Driven across country 3 times alone. Countless drives in the 500-1000 mile range, alone, several in the past couple of years. Not trying to brag or anything, just trying to allay any fears y'all may have about my age. To me, it's not an issue.

Are the practical problems that come with living in your area particularly different from those that come with living in Ajijic and/or a village near Puerto Vallarta? Before I went down there to check those towns out back around 2008, I spent a lot of time on the MexConnect board, got lots of good advice from lots of good people. Met a few of those plus a bunch more while I was down there, and learned a lot about the realities. Even had a chance to hear a talk on Dengue Fever from a local [American trained] doctor. In both towns, I stayed in small inns on back streets where I was part of the town, not in big hotels away from it all. I had a chance to see a number of rentals in Ajijic in all price ranges, and one or two in Bucerias. Granted, none of that compares with living there, but I'm guessing that the info I learned back then will hold true today in Baja, for the most part? I welcome any comments or corrections to those or any other assumptions. You people are doing it -- I'm just a wannabe at this point.

Flying down there and staying for awhile, renting a car, just isn't in my budget, I'm afraid. I have to do it the harder way, and I'm used to that. I have no plans to make a sudden move -- it'll be next spring at the earliest. Plenty of time to figure it out. I've lived most of my life this way, and I'm pretty good at it.

So, while I haven't been to Baja aside from Tijuana and Tecate, I've lived in SoCal, have lived on or near the beach there and in Oregon, and I know that if there's a beach handy life is just automatically better. Even a cold Oregon beach!

Thanks for the welcome -- and I'll stay away from real estate agents unless someone here recommends one when the time comes.