Oh the transient life of an expat, I think I could write a book of all our mishaps on housing throughout the years… From being almost trialed by Hong Kong villagers for parking on the wrong spot to smuggling a bully breed in an apartment complex in Newport Beach California, to the joys of handling a roach infestation in a Paris flat… reality is, any flat you rent will come along a full list of buts and ifs that are hard to guess when you visit them. But now, we’re wise, we’re experts, we can find the needle on the haystack, we know the world and above all, we’re almost “local” I know extensively well Mexico City and I know exactly where I want to live, my budget is a bit more allowing and I speak the language.
34 apartment visits later I start to feel a bit less confident… what is it that I’m missing when I talk to the agents? What makes you come inside a flat and say, This is it, this is my flat? Most importantly for me, what will constitute that A house will become MY home?
Aside your budget, your taste, your interests I feel there are some key factors that might help you on your quest, I don’t have any answers, but I do have some questions that made our search slightly more targeted, and if all else fails, my engineer husband is happy to share his Moderate Score Analysis with you…
Location, location, location. Mexico City is an intricate net of neighbourhoods all with their own feeling and rhythm, choose yours wisely.
• Will you be able to find mind-liked people where you live?
• Will they recycle?
• Will your children or dogs be able to roam around freely?
• Will your choice of food/restaurants/bars be readily available?
• How far away will you be from your job? A 2-hour commute might not be worth the balcony.
Landlord, language is no barrier to have chemistry with someone, and this one is a HUGE one for us. Our two past landlords didn’t speak much English but they implicitly understood that we wanted to care for their place and were always very pleasant to us. We just met our new landlady and the click was immediate, I’ll tell you more in 6 months, but I feel that we have found a great person.
• Do I feel I can trust this person/agency?
• Do I feel they’re pushing me or are they giving me the space to make the decision on my own?
Safety, Not trying to fill any stereotypes but safety is a matter of concern and should be a factor on your choice. Mexico is not Singapore, so always consider that cheap and cheerful might not be the best choice here. Also, very important in Mexico: Earthquakes, they happen and they can be devastating. Make sure the building has passed all the Proteccion Civil requirements.
• Where is the emergency staircase?
• Do I see people walking on the streets?
• Are there any signs or fixes from the past earthquakes?
• Does the neighbourhood has lighting on the street?
The Crowd You probably don't have a lot of friends in Mexico so it'd be nice to make some acquaintances close to you (again distances in Mexico are crazy, you better have your tribe closer). Cool thing in Mexico is that the neighborhoods have very distinct vibes, from hipstery Juarez, to family oriented Santa Fe, to chic Polanco, to lively Roma/Condesa to local Coyoacan... look for the neighbourhood that will help you find your expat family!
Work/Life Balance Good news, Mexico LOVE their families and their parties, while they might work very hard they also put a lot of emphasis on their personal lives. Do remember always that Mexico is large so try and live as close to your offices as you can. Same goes for your children's school, the closer the better.
Remember to visit your new abode several times before sealing the deal, ideally at different times and at different dates, office hours or school pick up times might be a deal breaker... also don't forget to check all services and lastly, just before signing your lease check if there are any unpaid bills, Once this is done, get the furniture going, you found your home!
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