Toedippers no more... we've jumped in with both feet!

A month or so ago my wife and I asked folks on this blog for advice as we prepared to travel to Ajijic to look for a home. We were overwhelmed by the responses and – although we didn’t follow every bit of advice given – we were/are so appreciative – we thought you might want to hear what happened…

We arrived on the Sunday after the hurricane – thankful to see so little damage and to hear people were safe – including family we have in El Gruyo. For the week we stayed at the Hacienda del Lago (a beautiful spot we enjoyed very much – with the possible exception of roosters crowing next door starting about 4am).

Over the next 5 days we saw (what felt like) every property for sale from Jocotepec to Chapala. We looked in the village, on the hills, gated and un-gated, old and new. We saw a beautiful French villa and we even toured Palacio del Sol (some call it the Taj Mahal – craziest layout – not practical in the least – but what a view).

In the mornings we walked malecons, in the evenings we ate at great restaurants and enjoyed relaxing in the plaza. We even went to church 3 times in the week (not bad for an atheist).

If I may - a quick shout-out to Terry Vidal from Lake Chapala Society – who took time out of his day to talk to us about the area and give us a great sense of the communities both local and expat in lakeside.

For the first few days, my wife (who’s from Mexico originally) had her mother and sister and sister’s husband all along for the house tours and we received lots of advice on how best to spend our life savings…

…and, after all that, my wife and I are thrilled to share that on the Saturday of our return to Atlanta, we bought a house in Ajijic!!

It’s everything we’d hoped for: big enough for family to visit, walkable to the plaza and malecon, not on a bus route nor busy street, lots of Mexican charm – but modern enough to be (hopefully) low maintenance and it looks like our neighbors will be a mix of locals and expats - which was always our hope.

We don’t take possession until the New Year – so we’ll be anxiously awaiting that next visit to pick up the keys.

Again – thanks to all for the support and advice (even that which we did not follow) we are so looking forward to being part of this wonderful community….

James and Claudia

Congratulations! I hope your new home is all that you hope it will be! Being your wife is Mexican, you have a lot of insight that other expats do not. Welcome and enjoy! Bienvenidos!

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing this outcome. I look forward to hearing more about your adventures in the new year.

Welcome and Congrats!!!

Congratulations.

Welcome and come visit me at LCS.

Z

Well done! Which neighborhood did you choose?

May the time between now and possession pass quickly. Enjoy!

The house sounds perfect! Most of my family lives in Atlanta too, I love it that I can get on a direct flight to Atlanta from Gdl and be there in a few hours. The new international terminal in Atl and the newish and improved one in GDL makes that trip so much easier than it used to be. Welcome, and enjoy your new home.

David wrote:Well done!  Which neighborhood did you choose?

Probably the wrong answer - but I don't know....

we are a couple blocks up from the Carretera on Galeana - not sure what they call that neighborhood....


jj

Is the "up" meaning on the mountain side of the Carreterra?  Or are you on the lake side?  Just curious.  The lake side of Galeana is a great spot for walking to everything.

Welcome!

What is the name of that Barrio ? San Sebastian?

gringal wrote:Is the "up" meaning on the mountain side of the Carreterra?  Or are you on the lake side?  Just curious.  The lake side of Galeana is a great spot for walking to everything.

Welcome!

up means up the hill a couple blocks on the mountain side...
I'm afraid we'll have to risk crossing the carretara - good thing there' a stop light...

Congratulations, look forward to seeing you sometime when you get down here. That's a nice location, very convenient for getting everywhere.

toedippers wrote:

gringal wrote:Is the "up" meaning on the mountain side of the Carreterra?  Or are you on the lake side?  Just curious.  The lake side of Galeana is a great spot for walking to everything.

Welcome!

up means up the hill a couple blocks on the mountain side...
I'm afraid we'll have to risk crossing the carretara - good thing there' a stop light...

Bear in mind when crossing that many drivers here consider stop lights "a suggestion" and run them regularly.
Good luck!

Congrats!! It is a beautiful house... -Thomas

thomashellyer wrote:Congrats!! It is a beautiful house... -Thomas

thanks! we think so too....

td's