I am a single woman who has been visiting Baja Norte for the last fifty years, its been my lifes dream to make the move and now I am free to do so, I will have to cross the border everyday to work for a couple of years, and have talked to many people who do just that. I would just like to know that there are other women out there that do the same thing or am I really just dreaming????
I am a single woman that is also planning to return to live in Baja (tho much more south). It is also my dream and I am working towards it all the time. I know there are a lot of people living near the border in Mexico that do commute to work in the states. I think it is when one stops dreaming that they should start worrying. There are lots of other sites (type Baja Living, etc into google and hit search) that may connect you with people doing that same thing. I have also seen many nice looking houses and apartments for rent, right on the beach on some Baja real estate site recently...so in my humble opinion..go for your dream! and how great that you have come to that place in life to see it happen.
Thanks so much for your input. Your right, now that I can make the move I need to just do it before something else stands in my way. I just need that little kick in the rear and I'm sure I'll be on my way.Good luck on your journey also. Always Baja dreamin
Hello Bajadreamin, As a woman who loves Baja and is currently building a house there I say, "Go for your dream"! However, in order to make your dream a reality you will need to be prepared to do a few things. First of all, you can't just move to Mexico. You will need to get an FM3 (at least) to rent or own and live there legally. This isn't really difficult, but there is paperwork involved. I used an immigration broker who helped me get all of the paperwork together. Also, if you will be crossing the border daily to go to work you might want to get a Sentri pass to make the crossing faster. Before you move you need to visit where you want to live and do a bit of research to make the move easier. I don't want to dampen your desire to move, but I think you will enjoy the move more if you are prepared and have no ugly surprises. Good luck with your move.
thanks for your reply Grace, I do intend on getting a sentry pass and a FM3, I have done my homework and I have family living in southern Ca, its just a little scary going for it all alone....
Thanks Dave , but I will have to be closer to the border as I will be commuting daily for work in San Yisdro, and I will be renting for 6 months or so just to get the feel of things.....
There are lots of people happily living in Rosarito and making the commute to San Diego. Why not come down and rent for a while to see how you feel about it? Rents are low because tourism is down and you'll learn a lot with no investment except the cost of an FM3 (or FM2) and the cost of a Sentri pass. An FM3 costs about half what am FM2 costs, and you can, in fact, own property with an FM3. The value of an FM2 comes when you sell property because it cuts capital gains. Should you want to become imigrado, you must have an FM2 for 5 years before imigrado is possible.
If you don't buy property immediately, an FM3 is all you would need. You can get the FM3 at the Mexican consulate in San Diego; fill out the paper work yourself (it's one page, back and front). Call the consulate and ask what documents they require. It has been our experience that they do not want all the documentation the law says they can require, so you might as well just have what they want. At the consulate, you pay only the government fee for an FM3--no preparer fee--and they will take your picture at a shop in the same building. It is, by far, the simplest and cheapest way to get legal documentation.
Most likely, after 2 months Bajadreamin is no longer looking for a response to her message. That is fortunate, as pstreet1's response is mostly wrong. This is in spite of the fact that she holds herself out to be a Mexico expert.
Pstreet1 is incorrect. Since May 2010 Mexican consulates in the US no longer issue FM-3's. You now have to obtain them in Mexico. Furthermore her rambling about an FM2 is ridiculous, since Bajadreamin says she needs to cross the border to work everyday. A person on track for immigrado status with an FM2 cannot be outside of Mexico for more than 18 months in a 5 year period. Everyday you cross into the US counts as a day outside of Mexico. So an FM2 would be a futile effort. A fact Psteet1 seems to be totally unaware of.
Now for the reality. Living in Mexico and crossing into the US everyday to work is the worst idea. For the 20 miles you have to travel back and forth to and from Rosarito, you can count on wasting about 4 hours per day. Even with Sentri, there is a line and now there are inspections going southbound into Mexico.
4 hours for a 40-mile daily commute works out to an average of 10 mile per hour and 4 wasted hours per day. It would be a dumb idea even if the rent was free in Mexico. Nobody living in Mexico will tell you this. They want you to be as miserable as they are.
Hey Val, I think Jim needs his head polished. Do you have a towel? I hear that next year the income tax on the imputed rental use of your EDR house is going to be more than your Social Security payments.
But God forbid, don't tell anybody about it. It's a big secret. Maybe somebody will buy your home and you can get back to the USA.
Well I'm back, PC problems... but I really enjoy what everyone has to say without me, And I do think I will just go for it. I have talked to alot of people who cross the border on a daily basis and I guess if you want to be there bad enough you just get used to it. And I have that longing in my heart that just won't go away, so Baja here I come!!!!!!!!!
No I'm not worried about the safety issue, I've sat in line for hours just like everyone and I have to say for some strange reason it has never really bothered me, and if something should happen, then it happens... I just have to make this happen. I plan going down around Christmas, checking out the rentals and then making the move in may... so anymore possitive input would be greatly appreceated.
We are moving down in January to the Rosarito area. Need to find a place once we get there. Neither of us has been to Baja so we are Baja dreamin' too.
Go father south just passed San Quinti stay a the desert inn in Santa Maria, baja norte. It is right on the beach, 42.00 a night for two.
as you go south past San Quintin, go to El Soccoro, there are about 28 houses for sale. There is one you can rent for 4oo.0 per month. nice place on 1/2 ac. for sale also 80,000
The lady who owns the place is Sue Moore. The blue and white house accross street is Rocky Johnson he handles the rent and well work with you on a sale if you like it. This home you can buy and the land comes with it by means of a Fedelcomeso. Bank Trust Its like a Mexican Hawaii
Reinventwen, I would really like to talk to you after your move hope we can stay in touch, I don't know that I would move somewhere I've never been , but I'm sure you will love it there.
