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Campeche City, Mexico Real Estate: Rumblings of a Boom | Add Comment

    • Campeche City 12/12/2008
    I find your article interesting and feel the urge to comment. As an American living here for over 5 years, I am granting myself some expertise to comment... You state that we are on the edge of a boom and I might agree except for the fact that the city's infrastructure cannot even remotely handle what we have now. Waste water treatment is not heard of and the ground water is continuously becoming more and more contaminated each day. The power grid is fragil on a clear, sunny day, and we are all holding our breath for the next big hurricane, which according to the natives will be next year. There is no medical facilities that you would want spend a night or even an hour in. The climate is brutal and should you be swept away and purchase a colonial, pre or post renovation, you had better have great Spanish and the ability to find a good plumber, electrician and plaster/painting guy, as your new home will require constant maintenance with scraping, sealing and painting 2 to 4 times a year. (Think Murphy Brown and her painter Elvin) And that is IF you survive the renovation--double plus the time part of the estimate, and right out of the gate and add at least 40% to the bottom line of any quote given. And there was no mention of electricity and the price one pays. What no one will tell you here, is that depending on your location, depends on the rate you pay. And that CFE puts a limit on your usage and should you exceed that rate, the penalties can be staggering. We pay more than 3 times what we would in the US and even hit $1000 usd one month when an elderly mother came for an extended visit. Air Conditioning, in some areas, can only be run for a couple hours each night. A half mile from Centro is a an area where development started, 20 houses were built, but there was no power run to the houses. People bought and moved in and 8 months later were still driving over a neighborhood diablo--a power line on the side walk that people wired into directly. After 9 months and burned up compressors on refrigerators, fried TV's and computers, our friends moved out. The houses, 2 years later, finally have meters, but there is no more new construction due to lack of power.

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      • Campeche City 12/12/2008
      comment continued... Instead of saying that this is the next best thing, why would you not first suggest that people come and rent and try living here for a year. before dropping $300k in an unfriendly environment. Be here when it is 115 degrees with humidity in the 90's and not a hint of a breeze or cloud and the power fails for 2 days. Pay $100 usd a month for marginal internet service, 18 month minimal contract required. Understand that if you desire something as basic as cold, fresh milk, that you have to drive to Merida, 2 hours away, to get it. Know that few, VERY few, speak anything other than Spanish and that favors and help are few and far between. There are no craftsmen here. Schools are businesses and educating and children are far down the priority list. The ocean is polluted (remember the waste water situation) and the only way to enjoy it is by boat--so you have to go north or south 8 to 10 miles just to find and enjoy fresh water. If you doubt me, just stroll on our Malecon on a Wednesday evening, in front of the 2 tall, modern office buildings, with a prevailing ocean breeze and your nose will tell you where the sewage goes. You can, of course, join the Club Nautica--but that will run you a couple thousand dollars and monthly fees that increase annually, with buildings and staff and attitudes that have not changed in years. People have moved to Merida and within 3 months, usually around May, have simply packed up and left, due to the heat and humidity. The same is happening here. I have met many an American or Canadian English teacher, who set up house here and might last 6 moths. The fastest departure was 2 weeks--the longest, and entire school year--9 months. The expense, heat, and mind numbing backwardness sent several screaming for the border. Yes there are few ex-pats her. And yes, I know and love most parts of Mexico. We are here because this is where the work is. Should you want to live/retire in Mexico, there are far better places than here. Trust me.

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