For buyers
Know what a home is really worth before you offer.
Before you make an offer, we show you what similar homes nearby actually sold for, so you’ll know if the price is fair.
How it works
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You tell us what matters most
Start with the few things you can’t do without: all on one level, an easy walk to the plaza, room for a dog. The questions take about ten minutes, and we only show you homes that have them, so you don’t waste time on homes that are lovely but wrong for you.
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We look at every home for sale, not just our listings
We keep track of every home for sale around the lake, so your list comes from all of them, chosen only for what suits you.
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We visit them with you
Mike usually leads this part. We notice the things photos can’t show: how the light is in the afternoon, how noisy the street is at night, whether the “short walk to the plaza” is all uphill, and how good the water pressure is upstairs. We point out what’s in the house itself, too: how it’s built, what the floors and counters are made of, and what’s standard here versus something special.
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We show you the numbers before you offer
What similar homes in the area sold for, what they were asking, and how long they took to sell. Also what the homes that never sold were asking. The decision is always yours. We just make sure you have the facts.
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The offer and the paperwork
We help with the written offer, the purchase agreement, your deposit and the notario (the official who handles the sale).
In Mexico, purchase contracts vary from one sale to the next, so we use one we know well: our office’s own contract. It’s written in Spanish and English side by side, so you can read exactly what you’re signing, and it gives you time for a professional home inspection before closing. You’ll know the home well before it’s yours.
Two things often surprise buyers here: how much the notario does, and the closing costs. Our guides explain both.
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And after you move in
Setting up utilities, paying your property tax, finding a good gardener or plumber. We live here too, so just ask. Even a year or two later.
Good to know before you start
You can own it outright
Lake Chapala isn’t near a border or the coast, so you don’t need the bank trust that buyers use in Puerto Vallarta or Cancún. Your own name goes on the deed, even if you’re not Mexican.
Read the guide →Plan for closing costs
Taxes and fees add to the price you agree on. Plan for them from the start, and ask for a written estimate early.
What it really costs →Dollars or pesos?
Homes here are priced in either dollars or pesos, and it makes a difference to what you pay. We’ll tell you which one a home is really priced in, and how the exchange rate could change things before you close.
Read more →How we work
We’re never pushy. You get the facts, our honest opinion, and as much time as you need. If the right answer is “not this home” or “not this year,” we’re happy to say so. We’d rather be the people you call next year than the people who sold you the wrong home today.
Everyone is welcome, and everyone gets the same care from us.