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A Crash Course on Mexico

On a Focus on Mexico Program you’ll learn valuable information that is simply not available to tap into on your own. You’ll experience the real Mexico and find out what it would be like for you to live here. You’ll get the taste of Mexico and enjoy different cuisine at different restaurants every day and some include entertainment. You’ll get an Orientation of Lake Chapala and into Guadalajara. You’ll go on walking tours and you’ll get to see real estate on our ‘Behind the Walls’ Tour. Nothing will be left out. Your one-week 'focus' on Mexico covers it all. Join us on a Focus on Mexico Program today. Our Focus Relocation Advisors are on hand to assist you not just during the program, but through the entire transition of your move to Mexico. We even offer relocation support services...after the move...so you are looked after every step of the way and beyond.

Scroll down to see a sampling of what you will experience.

• Visit Guadalajara
• Educational Seminars
• Experience and Participation
• Food and Entertainment - wonderful restaurants
  
• Real Estate Tour
  
• Orientation of Lake Chapala
  

Expert Speakers

Our Expert speakers are specialists in their fields, so on each important topic you’ll get accurate and up-to-date information. Below you’ll find a sampling of the types of things you’ll learn on each topic and on our programs. You’ll get a full comprehensive seminar on each subject.

• Immigration - Visas, Bringing in Pets and your Furniture
• Working Papers and Doing Business in Mexico
• Health Care, Insurance and Alternative Medicine
• Legal System of Mexico
• Real Estate: Buying, Building or Renting
• Taxes – Mexico, US, Canada
• Non-Residency for Canadians
• Cost of Living in Lake Chapala – comparison to back home
• Money Matters: Banking, Currency Exchange, Investing in Mexico and Insurance
• Economy of Mexico
• Living in Mexico

“Immigration Laws in Mexico”

• Learn about the different types of Visas “Immigration in Mexico” and which one is right for you
  • Should you get your residency FM3 Visa or should you apply for the FM2, which will allow you to go to Immigrado Status?
  • Or is there an advantage, depending on your circumstances, to starting off on a Tourist Visa?
  • What are the rules on “bringing in your belongings and pets into Mexico?” And what are the timing restraints for getting your Visa and bringing things in?
  • Do pets need to be quarantined and how many can you bring? These are important questions.
• Working and Doing Business in Mexico
  • Find out if you can work and how to get working papers and what opportunities for working there might be. If you are going to work (maybe you aren’t quite ready to retire and simply must have something to do), this is a pretty nice place to live while working.
  • Find out about "starting a business in Mexico" and what are the issues surrounding starting your own business. You’ll learn what your obligations are and which areas are still restricted. (Note: Since 1994 when NAFTA was implemented, each year the regulations soften and there are only a few limitations left.)

“Health Care System in Mexico”

• Hear what it takes to become a doctor in Mexico and what qualifications and expertise you can expect so you can feel confident before you need medical services.
• Learn about the IMSS - National Health Care System in Mexico and how you can enroll. You’ll get both the good and bad sides and even how you can complement the IMSS system with another Maskaras Clinic Discount program to balance it out and give you what you need.
• Learn how you can qualify for International Private Health Care at a much lower cost, if living in Mexico.
• Find out about Prescription Medicine - availability and cost.
  
• Hear about the myriad of Health Care Alternative options. You’ll be amazed.

“Legal System in Mexico”

• Learn about the “legal system in Mexico” and how it compares to north of the border. You’ll get to know the rules and also how it really works; many times they are not the same.
  • You’ll get to understand the differences between a Notary and an Attorney and why only the Notary is able to do real estate transactions in Mexico.
  • You’ll find out if it is “safe to buy real estate in Mexico” and how to obtain a Direct Deed, just like north of the border. Or maybe your circumstances might be such that you’d be better off buying property through a Fideocomiso (Bank Trust). Yes, you have options. Find out who should go on the title and if you can name beneficiaries.
  • You will learn how to avoid capital gains tax (could be as high as 28%) when selling Real Estate (extremely important). We show you the way. This alone is worth the price of the program.
  • If you die, what happens to your estate? Do you need a Mexican Will? Does it override your Will back home? How does the whole thing work? What will my heirs have to deal with?
  • On a Focus program you will get all the answers and have a total understanding on how things work.

"Real Estate: Buying, Building or Renting"

• Learn from our Expert speakers, the differences in real estate from north of the border and find out what you should be looking for to ensure you make the best and safest investment with knowledge, not guesswork. We keep you out of trouble.
  
• You’ll discover which areas are the most popular to live in and which ones aren’t and why.
  
• On the Behind the Walls Tour we will look at existing re-sale homes and new developments so you can get a feel for prices and values.
  • To give you a sense of value, we show you a range of re-sale properties ranging in price from $100,000 to about $400,000 so you can get a sense of the local market. Since everyone is from somewhere different, this will help you compare real estate prices here compared to where you are from.
  • There is a wide variety of properties available in all price ranges (both new construction and existing homes), from just under $100,000 to over $500,000, although the largest amount of sales would be between $150,000 and $300,000 U.S.
    
  • You will also have the opportunity to visit some new developments from quality builders in the area. Construction is a little different here than most places north of the border, and this gives you a chance to see how homes are built in this area. We can advise you on new developments that offer the best investment opportunity and are in good locations.
    
  • As part of the program, we give you the local MLS book of all the local property listings (both re-sales and new construction projects) in the area so you can choose additional properties that you wish to see, specific to your individual needs. We can arrange for you to see any and all properties of interest in the area.  We can also advise you on the best areas to satisfy what your needs are. For instance, underground utilities, and other amenities like pressurized water and water purification systems so you can drink from the kitchen tap, etc.
    
  • However, we would like to point out most sincerely, that there is no push to buy real estate, or to buy one property over another. The decision is always yours, and the whole market is available for you to explore, as you choose.
  • Often people choose to stay over a couple of extra days to expand their search time and we can line up additional properties for you to see during this extension, if you choose. Some people even start looking before they come, researching the real estate on our site and MLS. In this case, it is invaluable to have someone on the ground here, so to speak, to advise on location and desirability of the neighborhood etc, and our Real Estate and Relocation team can help with this process as well.
    
  • Should you decide that Lake Chapala is for you and you choose to buy a home either during the program, or at a later date, your Focus team will be on hand to work with you to facilitate your purchase. We will also help you through the whole transition of moving, not just with the sale. Our Relocation services are invaluable for making a smooth transition. We look after everything from your initial investigation, your Focus program, your move to the Lakeside and ongoing. Although the Focus Program is NOT all about real estate, real estate is an important component as, if you decide you want to live here, you'll need to live somewhere. And we can work with you until you find the home of your dreams (be it during the program or on your next visit) and help you with the whole relocation process. Our program covers every aspect of making the move, not just the purchase of real estate. It's a big move to a different country and there is a lot to know. Is there any pressure to buy real estate?
    
  • In the interest of full disclosure, Focus does receive compensation if/when you purchase any home through us. This does not cost you any more and allows us to offer our programs and provide the Relocation Services and Focus Alumni Support Services you receive FREE after your program.
    
  • Focus Policy is to provide you with all the information and opportunities to make the move. You make your own decisions based on your needs and timing. We insist on 'no pressure'; simply assistance to provide you with everything you need to facilitate your move to a new life in Mexico.
    
• Since most rental properties are simply homes someone is renting out, the Behind the Walls Tour of homes for sale gives you a good idea of what rental homes would look like and we can advise on what the respective rental rates would run for these properties. Also, as part of the program, one of our seminars covers the do's and don'ts of renting, which is intended to give you sufficient information to make wise decisions. We are associated with a couple of rental agencies that we can recommend you to, if you wish.
  

“Taxes – Mexico, US, Canada”

• Find out under what circumstances, if any, you might have to pay taxes in Mexico.
• Hear what happens regarding filing Income Tax back home if you are living here.
• Americans - find out if you can buy your dream home in Mexico through your IRA.
• Americans - find out what amount of income you can earn through a job or business here in Mexico that is exempt from taxes back home.
• Learn whether you can write off interest and expenses on investment properties that you own in Mexico.

“Non-Residency for Canadians”

• Canadians will hear about Non-Residency and how you can choose the Non-Residency Tax System and thereby reduce your taxes on pensions down to 15% (possibly saving enough over time to actually pay for that dream home in the sunshine). Never pay capital gains tax again. For many Canadians, this has been a huge influencing factor in their decision. 

“Cost of Living in Lake Chapala” - compared to back home

• This talk is a real eye opener. Most people realize that Lake Chapala, Mexico, is a cheaper place to live (that’s part of the attraction), but the things you will hear in this seminar, you may have never even thought about. Our Expert Speaker puts a whole different twist on this topic and it is amazingly simple and obvious, once she goes through her demonstration. For many people, once they understand this, they realize they can actually retire sooner than they thought, when moving to Mexico.
• Another cost savings - if you live more than six months outside your passport country, you may qualify you for discounted premiums on International Private Health Insurance.
• Foreigners are invited to join the 'Senior Benefit Program' that offers a large list of discounts, including discounts on ETN buses (50%) in Mexico, discounts on museums and theaters, certain hospitals, doctors and lab tests, property taxes and much much more. Many people who have lived here for years are not even aware that this benefit is available to foreigners. You'll get all the information on the Alumni site 'Ask Focus' on where to go and how to apply for this benefit.
  

“Money Matters, Investing in Mexico, Insurance”

• Learn whether you should put money in a Mexican Bank.
• Learn how to manage your finances back home, from Mexico.
• Learn how to set up and pay bills online, securely.
• Learn how to save money on your Car Insurance (and what you absolutely MUST include on your insurance). And very important, learn what to do in the case of a car accident. We cover it all.
• Find out about investing in Mexico and even about the Mexican Stock Market.
• Find out how to use International Currency Exchange companies to save thousands of dollars on exchanging currency.
  

“Economy of Mexico”

• What is happening with the Economy of Mexico? Where is it going? Is it safe to invest in Mexico? These are just a few of the questions you’ll get answered.
• Our Expert Speaker on this topic is extremely knowledgeable and she tells you just the way it is, from Past Presidents' indiscretions to why it is highly unlikely that the Mexican peso would be devalued again.
• She explains the changes that have happened and continue to happen in Mexico and why it was a turning point in Mexico’s future when they joined NAPTA.

“Living in Mexico”

• Learn about the more than 50 English-speaking organizations you can access
• And the myriad of things to do here. You will be amazed.
• Find out which churches and spiritual centers are available.
• Visit grocery stores (both local and imported items, and even an open market – tiangus).
• See the wide range of exotic fruits and vegetables.
• See how people live and what they do, where they shop and how they fill their days and nights.
• Dine in different restaurants every day (all included) to experience the wide variety of cuisine available on the lakeside.
• Discover and be amazed at the cultural activities available, including live theater and concerts right here on the lakeside, and, of course, many more in Guadalajara.
• Share our personal experiences as we chat over dinners and throughout the program. Our Focus Team includes Americans, Canadians and Mexicans so we have a broad perspective and know how to fit the pieces together.

Our program is designed to give you valuable information to allow you to make an informed decision. It is also designed to keep you out of trouble so you can enjoy every single moment of your new life lakeside.

What you will experience