Wanting all those conveniences does not sound crazy at all to me. I have a family and these are the main reasons we did not choose Colombia and Merida instead. We haven’t pulled the trigger yet but we have done an exploratory trip and plan to return next yr for another trip.
That's awesome. Great idea to do an exploratory trip or two. We did not, but had been traveling around Mexico for years wanting to buy for years. Once we saw Merida, it was just the most obvious choice for us. Thanks for your comment, and good luck in your journey!
So we're required to have a certain amount of outdoor space to indoor space, but we also added a second level that has an additional living room, kitchen, patio, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. I'd recommend watching the full walkthrough video (I'll link below) because you'll get a feel for the space and it doesn't take long to watch. That said the total interior space is around 4,500 square feet, although it feels bigger because of the big windows connecting the interior to the pool area and courtyard. The price before furniture, so the purchase of the original home and the renovation totaled around $500,000. It's an amazing place! ruclips.net/video/1F2Id5LB9NM/видео.html
I thought we were the only ones crazy enough to be thinking about moving to Thailand, or Medellin, or Costa Rica, I looked at all those places, and somehow we both ended up liking Merida over all those other places and I don’t know exactly why? But everybody likes to have Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, etc... We are spoiled creatures that want to change our lives to a certain degree, maybe we just want a US but less expensive and safer.
You're definitely not the only ones! We ended up there for several reasons, but distance to family and friends makes things easier. Two 2-hour plane rides is a pretty easy day of travel. Good luck again with your trip!
It's not total gringo logic (Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, etc.). I live in Cancun but I'm from Mexico city and Cancun and Merida are small towns from my perspective.
Great info and frankly a bit inspiring. Your positive outlook is great and incorporating giving back to the community is the way to go. Anyone calling u a colonizer needs to move out of their moms basement.
Thanks so much for your kind words, JPS. I'd be lying if I said my skin was thick enough for it to not get to me sometimes, but after being online the last few years (putting out content) I have at least gotten to the point where I just kind of mutter... "Really?!" under my breath lol. Much appreciated, and have a great holiday!!!
I wish it *were* only people living in their moms' basements. However, the fact that so many people (Americans and Canadians but also people from other parts of Mexico!) are moving to Merida -- either full- or part-time -- is driving up real estate prices, even as wages are not rising, and that's hard for the natives. We have been snowbirds in Merida for 4 years now (in La Mejorada 4 blocks from Chen Bech mercado), and every year we see more houses being restored/gentrified in our neighborhood. Our landlords tell us it's hard for local people -- many from families who worked for the railroad that once came here -- to find places to live anymore. In sum, we ignore the realities of our choices at our peril, even as we make those choices for all the reasons Alexander describes and more.
US citizens can be very embarrassed to ADMIT that they LIKE being near WALMART, SAM'S, COSTCO, AUTOZONE, KFC etc It's something familiar for them so it makes the transition easier, I get it OR you can certainly find the same things you want in markets with different names in other countries. I am in Brasil and there is nothing I can't find here as in the US. Much of the culture here is from the US, I am talking about TV shows you watched as a kid, food, etc FYI- Walmart was here in Brasil some years ago and went broke and left ! I have free govt healthcare and a private plan where I pay $6 to see a GP In fact the groceries and food here are much healthier than in the US, as the quality of life in 100% better, isn't that the MOST important thing ? Is Portugal with a 75% discount ! Brasilians are great people too, but don't tell anyone !
Thanks so much for this comment. There's a lot to unpack, but you're absolutely right. I also think that a lot of Americans that get embarrassed about stuff like that will go there, and then take one look around and realize they're no the majority of the customer base, meaning locals enjoy it just as much as they do! No joke about the groceries either, I feel like I'm actually eating food when I travel... and that $6 doctor's visit sounds amazing! Thanks again, and enjoy your journey!
@@AlexanderFromKC I wonder if these US based companies get their vegs, fruits, meat out of MX or by truck from the US ? Is the quality the same unhealthy junk sold in the US ? A major plus I have here in Brasil is that Brasil is self sufficient , produces all their food. One thing I have noticed that some fruits rot very fast if left out, that tells me they don't use pesticdes like in the US- that is a good thing.
@@AlexanderFromKC I am reminded about the couple from the US were murdered by the CARTEL for their nice new SUV not too long ago. Living the high US life in any foreign country INCREASES the risk to your safety. I'd sure be keeping a low profile and not be flashy. So many people are afraid of Brasil due to the crime but it's a whole different source than living in a country full of CARTEL and drugs who actually run the place. Is living in an area KNOWN to be a place where the CARTELS have family livivng there and an agreement not to cause gangwars in the streets safe ? I guarantee you that they are working in the dark corners of Merida unabated out of sight. SAFETY in Merida could change tomorrow
Not exactly. While there are definitely advantages to having money, there are plenty of people that move to different countries because they can improve their lifestyle. That's really the whole idea behind the "digital nomad" lifestyle. I see what you're saying though, it does help.
Welcome back! This video is a bit long, but I wanted to go over and explain as much information as I could!
Great Video Alex... really great information.
Thanks so much, Bic! Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you Alex for sharing your experiences in Merida. Definitely Merida is a good place to live.
It really is! And I'm glad you're enjoying the content!
Wanting all those conveniences does not sound crazy at all to me. I have a family and these are the main reasons we did not choose Colombia and Merida instead. We haven’t pulled the trigger yet but we have done an exploratory trip and plan to return next yr for another trip.
That's awesome. Great idea to do an exploratory trip or two. We did not, but had been traveling around Mexico for years wanting to buy for years. Once we saw Merida, it was just the most obvious choice for us. Thanks for your comment, and good luck in your journey!
We chose to be close to Merida, but have a condo in the works because we don’t want to do the maintenance.
I absolutely agree with this. If we decided to have a second place on the ocean, it'd be a condo.
Dogg how many sq foot is the house if it’s like 3k I can asume that it must of cost like 1.2M
So we're required to have a certain amount of outdoor space to indoor space, but we also added a second level that has an additional living room, kitchen, patio, 2 bedrooms, and 2 bathrooms. I'd recommend watching the full walkthrough video (I'll link below) because you'll get a feel for the space and it doesn't take long to watch. That said the total interior space is around 4,500 square feet, although it feels bigger because of the big windows connecting the interior to the pool area and courtyard. The price before furniture, so the purchase of the original home and the renovation totaled around $500,000. It's an amazing place!
ruclips.net/video/1F2Id5LB9NM/видео.html
I thought we were the only ones crazy enough to be thinking about moving to Thailand, or Medellin, or Costa Rica, I looked at all those places, and somehow we both ended up liking Merida over all those other places and I don’t know exactly why?
But everybody likes to have Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, etc... We are spoiled creatures that want to change our lives to a certain degree, maybe we just want a US but less expensive and safer.
You're definitely not the only ones! We ended up there for several reasons, but distance to family and friends makes things easier. Two 2-hour plane rides is a pretty easy day of travel. Good luck again with your trip!
They don't have Costo, Walmart in those other countries?
It's not total gringo logic (Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club, etc.).
I live in Cancun but I'm from Mexico city and Cancun and Merida are small towns from my perspective.
Fair enough. Almost every city in the world is small compared to Mexico City! lol
Great info and frankly a bit inspiring. Your positive outlook is great and incorporating giving back to the community is the way to go. Anyone calling u a colonizer needs to move out of their moms basement.
Thanks so much for your kind words, JPS. I'd be lying if I said my skin was thick enough for it to not get to me sometimes, but after being online the last few years (putting out content) I have at least gotten to the point where I just kind of mutter... "Really?!" under my breath lol. Much appreciated, and have a great holiday!!!
I wish it *were* only people living in their moms' basements. However, the fact that so many people (Americans and Canadians but also people from other parts of Mexico!) are moving to Merida -- either full- or part-time -- is driving up real estate prices, even as wages are not rising, and that's hard for the natives. We have been snowbirds in Merida for 4 years now (in La Mejorada 4 blocks from Chen Bech mercado), and every year we see more houses being restored/gentrified in our neighborhood. Our landlords tell us it's hard for local people -- many from families who worked for the railroad that once came here -- to find places to live anymore. In sum, we ignore the realities of our choices at our peril, even as we make those choices for all the reasons Alexander describes and more.
US citizens can be very embarrassed to ADMIT that they LIKE being near WALMART, SAM'S, COSTCO, AUTOZONE, KFC etc
It's something familiar for them so it makes the transition easier, I get it
OR you can certainly find the same things you want in markets with different names in other countries.
I am in Brasil and there is nothing I can't find here as in the US.
Much of the culture here is from the US, I am talking about TV shows you watched as a kid, food, etc
FYI- Walmart was here in Brasil some years ago and went broke and left !
I have free govt healthcare and a private plan where I pay $6 to see a GP
In fact the groceries and food here are much healthier than in the US, as the quality of life in 100% better, isn't that the MOST important thing ?
Is Portugal with a 75% discount !
Brasilians are great people too, but don't tell anyone !
Thanks so much for this comment. There's a lot to unpack, but you're absolutely right. I also think that a lot of Americans that get embarrassed about stuff like that will go there, and then take one look around and realize they're no the majority of the customer base, meaning locals enjoy it just as much as they do! No joke about the groceries either, I feel like I'm actually eating food when I travel... and that $6 doctor's visit sounds amazing! Thanks again, and enjoy your journey!
@@AlexanderFromKC I wonder if these US based companies get their vegs, fruits, meat out of MX or by truck from the US ? Is the quality the same unhealthy junk sold in the US ?
A major plus I have here in Brasil is that Brasil is self sufficient , produces all their food. One thing I have noticed that some fruits rot very fast if left out, that tells me they don't use pesticdes like in the US- that is a good thing.
@@AlexanderFromKC I am reminded about the couple from the US were murdered by the CARTEL for their nice new SUV not too long ago.
Living the high US life in any foreign country INCREASES the risk to your safety.
I'd sure be keeping a low profile and not be flashy.
So many people are afraid of Brasil due to the crime but it's a whole different source than living in a country full of CARTEL and drugs who actually run the place.
Is living in an area KNOWN to be a place where the CARTELS have family livivng there and an agreement not to cause gangwars in the streets safe ? I guarantee you that they are working in the dark corners of Merida unabated out of sight. SAFETY in Merida could change tomorrow
Because if you have enough money so you can move to another country!!!!!! If not then it's not possible...... Money does that .!
Not exactly. While there are definitely advantages to having money, there are plenty of people that move to different countries because they can improve their lifestyle. That's really the whole idea behind the "digital nomad" lifestyle. I see what you're saying though, it does help.