House and Apartment Hunting is Tiresome
It does not have to be
Photo by Jaye Haych on Unsplash
No one in Mexico is in a hurry to move out of their parent's home. It is customary here to live with your parents for as long as you can, so you have generations of family living together under the same roof.
One would probably assume that rents throughout Mexico are low. Not necessarily true. Property prices are higher than the average household income and therefore most are shut out of participating in the housing and rent markets.
Outsiders, foreigners and expats alike, scoop up these properties at high rates because to us, it is "cheap". Do not get fooled into correlating expensive with better. It is not how Mexico works.
However, there is no need to suffer with life in Mexico. I have documented our living experiences in Mexico to keep you from going bald with worry. A priority for me is to help you understand Mexico so you do not repeat our mistakes.
One of my main concerns for you is finding the right living arrangements in Mexico. Renting property is more common here than buying property. As a result of this, rental properties are in abundance, but vary.
Mexico City offers something for everyone and every budget. Let's increase your happiness by assuring you find the right housing accommodations in Mexico that fit your lifestyle.
Basics for house hunting in Mexico City
I don't enjoy looking for a new place. Nevertheless, I get excited and become a little kid all over again. Butterflies fill my stomach as I begin looking for something "new".
Back home I would just go online and find all the available rentals in my area of interest. In Mexico, more of an effort is required. You have to be more diligent to avoid getting stuck somewhere you don't want to be for a year.
You know how in Track they put the fastest person in the back for that little extra push at the end. That is exactly how you need to come at Mexico. Always going that little extra to ensure your comfort.
When looking to rent in Mexico City, your mind set should be that you will not find everything you want in the first apartment you look at. Instead, use it as a learning experience and figure out what questions to ask when looking at the next one.
For instance, you might notice that there are no connections for your washer or even a stove to cook on. I consider these basic amenities.
Establish a budget and a list of neighborhoods in Mexico City you want to rent in. It will keep you from renting in less desirable areas. Bad neighbors, constant noise and loud music are just a few things you will encounter everywhere in Mexico City.
All of the Ciudad de Mexico is open for business. You will realize what I mean the more time you spend in CDMX.
Have a wish-list for must haves. Consider beforehand what kind of property you want to rent; an apartment or house? Do you want something central; near the market and local services, or away from the crowds? Is a gated community important to you?
You can consider staying in an Airbnb or hotel if you are not familiar with Mexico City, yet. But I would have to say you are ill-prepared and should do more research on life in Mexico.
Rent prices are an issue in Mexico City
Stop converting prices into dollars because you will generate and spend pesos. When you do this, you will realize that it is expensive to live in Mexico City. To put it into perspective just look at a simple case of an individual earning an average monthly gross income of $10,000 pesos.
With some work, you can rent a nice place in Mexico City for about $6,500 pesos a month. That leaves a mere $3,500 pesos for the month or just $850 pesos a week; for food, gas, car payment, entertainment and other bills before taxes.
You, however, think it is a catch at $325 US dollars and decide to rent it, causing a rise in prices for everyone else in Mexico City. Inflation is out of control here because people spending money in Mexico are usually not local citizens.
Remember, spending more in Mexico does not equate to getting more for your buck. Start thinking like a Chilango and see it for what it is, overpriced.
How to approach the rental market in Mexico City
I stated earlier that it will cost a bit more work to find a place to rent in Mexico City than you are used to. However, that does not mean it is impossible to achieve.
Word of mouth is a good starting point. Reach out to acquaintances, as they might know someone with a room, house or apartment for rent in your preferred area of Mexico City. This can also help you become familiar with your areas of interest.
You can always reach out to a realtor. Personally, I have never used one in Mexico City. I believe their fees are paid by the landlord when they rent out a place, but I am not sure. This page will help you get some background information on real estate agents who work in Mexico.
It can be a two way sword, though, because prices vary depending on your looks. Your appearance will be a factor when renting in Mexico City so you should never flaunt your economic standing. People here have an eye for that and it will bring you nothing but problems.
Your socio-economic situation will be used to squeeze more money out of you for looking "different". You may find yourself getting “taxed” with additional costs for services that are already included in the rent. Like having to pay a fianza as a guarantee of payment.
Go online and check the internet for websites on available rentals in Mexico City. A word to the wise when using this method. Do not pay any money for viewings or for an appointment. Some listings will ask for a deposit to send you the number to call.
Site listings are not always up-to-date and the response time is usually long. You might wait awhile for someone to answer. I recommend you use Vivanuncios, Craiglist, MetrosCubicos, InMuebles24 or Century 21.
The best way in my mind to find somewhere to rent in Mexico City is by walking around your areas or neighborhoods of choice. Look for signs in windows, gates or for plastic banners announcing "Se Renta". Take photos of all the banners for future reference. You will also get some exercise, kill two birds with one stone.
Questions to ask when renting in Mexico City
A priority for you is to make sure you are dealing with the actual landlord or a representative of the landlord. This is why I believe the best way to find a place to rent in Mexico City is by putting some mileage on your shoes.
Someone will try to scam you and your chances of this happening will decrease if you deal personally with the landlord. Some sites advise you to ask for a power of attorney. A waste of time because those things can be forged easily by a Notary in Mexico City. Practice common sense; if it sounds too good to be true, then it is too good to be true.
I linked to an article earlier in the post about housing in Mexico City. I hope you looked into it. If not, here is a brief overview of what to look for when renting in Mexico City.
Ask about the water situation, more specifically, ask about its availability. Water is a big problem in Mexico City and not all areas are affected the same. Furthermore, I do not recommend that you drink the tap water ever, even if you have a filter. Best to just buy bottled water for consumption and for brushing your teeth.
Look at the plumbing. Is the cisterna big enough? How many tinacos are there and is everything automated? Is it shared by other buildings or locales?
Gas can also be an issue. A lot of neighborhoods in Mexico City do not have access to natural gas, yet. Most depend on liquid gas that is sold in cylindros or you might have a stationary tank that needs to be filled constantly.
These three should be a priority when looking at a place to rent in Mexico City. You cannot imagine the inconveniences that you will endure if you do not ask the right questions.
Ask what the rent covers. Do you have a maintenance fee? Is the phone, water, gas or other services included? How old is the building? Good to know in case of an earthquake.
I do not own a vehicle, but if you do, you might want to ask about parking. Most apartment complexes have parking available, but usually charge extra. If you find yourself in this position, you can always pay the extra and rent the space out to someone else. Pensiones are really big here in Mexico City.
Visit neighborhoods at different times of the day
I cannot stress this enough. You will avoid going crazy because you will see what the neighborhood is really like.
We live in an upper middle class neighborhood located in the north of Mexico City. We did not pick this colonia just out of thin air. One of the main reasons for moving here was the level of noise, it is a very quiet neighborhood.
However, in the past year and more recently due to the CoronaVirus (COVID 19), we have noticed a disturbing trend. More noise from less considerate individuals.
People coming through all day selling everything you can think of and even holding all out performances with a full band. No lie, they set up in the middle of the street. Just this week, we were awaken by blasting xylophones at around 8 in the morning. They were playing for our next door neighbor, whom always gives them money.
I understand everyone has to make a living, but I too have a right to be comfortable in my home. No one should be bothered with a concert on their doorsteps. I even noticed a cop pull up and give them some change. If cops would only do their job.
Most neighbors try to solve this problem by closing off entire streets. Literally a gate is placed at each end of the street to keep the traffic to local residents. This can be an option for you and something you can look into when house hunting.
Recently, we have noticed an increasing trend of nacos moving into the area. I am speaking about the self-proclaimed "I am better than everyone" nouveau rich individuals. We had a bad experience with some that moved into our complex.
We spoke directly with them and even had the property manager talk to them. It did not help, it just made matters worse. Fed up, I confronted the "father" of the child in the hallway. Only then did the noise stop.
I do not recommend that you confront individuals because you never know how they will react. As a matter of fact, I got the cops called on me more than once by them.
Make-shift businesses will also pop up all over the neighborhood at weird times during the day. You will be barraged with noise from these places or have restless nights because of all-night parties.
Somethings are more important than others
I’ll touch on a particular one you can elude. Try to avoid Alcaldias that border the State of Mexico. I hate to judge people based on where they are from, but most individuals that cross from the State of Mexico do so with nothing good in mind.
Crime will be imported to your area. The least severe being car vandalism, which happens during the day or night. And of course you can also fall victim to more brutal crimes, such as murder.
Schools should not be a priority when looking for a place to rent in Mexico City. You can have bad schools in a good neighborhood just the same as good schools in bad neighborhoods.
You may end up enrolling your child in a school that is on the other side of town from where you live anyways. We started our days at 5 in the morning with a commute to our daughter's school located all the way in the Narvarte Poniente. One good thing is that we didn't have to worry about the traffic until our way back.
A real head-scratcher for me is the need for a fiador to rent in Mexico City. It is similar to a co-signer back home except here they only share the risk, not the benefits. Still, you can get around this situation by paying cash for rent in advance or by offering more deposits.
Practice common sense in your search
The condition of the apartment or house you are looking into, as well as of the surrounding areas, should be a deciding factor. Don’t take someone’s word that the place is “top-notch” while noticing a trapo hanging from a window.
Just the same, don't pay your rent without getting a receipt. Read your contract very well. Landlords will try to pass costs on to you or try to bully you because they don't expect you to be informed. You have to be at least 2 months behind on rent before any kind of action to evict you can be taken and residential contracts have to be for at least a year.
In general terms, a rental contract can’t be terminated by either side without giving notice. However, how long that notice needs to be depends on the type of contract and the details you agreed to.
It can be 15 days or 30 days, it all depends on your contract. If your landlord doesn’t ask you to renew your lease or give notice at the end of it, it’s assumed the contract is renewed automatically under the existing terms. This includes the price, no adjustment for inflation.
You should also do an inventory rundown with the landlord, documenting any noticeable damages. If there are no problems with the place you rented in Mexico City at the end of your contract, you can use the deposits to stay a bit longer.
When in doubt, you can ask an abogado civil all of your questions. Most do not charge for the initial visit. Here is a good civil attorney firm.
Many other unknowns when renting in Mexico City
Nobody ever realizes how easy they have it until they don't. If we only knew we could have avoided senseless arguments. Our days can become night the minute we have no water, run out of gas or have no light.
Research well so your comfort won't be compromised. This is important because you are sure to encounter some type of inconvenience. You might also still have questions about all I talked about in this post. Hopefully you looked into my tips and will not be at a disadvantage.
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