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tr0y
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-29-2016
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Semi - Retiring to Baja
Hi All -
New here and I am sure this has been asked way to many times but here it goes again. I am a bit younger ( 45 ) than most looking to retire but I have
just hit the wall with corporate life and am ready to be dome for a while.
I am originally from coastal central CA, think 100 miles north of LA, and living in the midwest for work, don't like the cold, the crappy bland food
and just miss the beach.
I spent years in Mexico on and off going to motorcycle races, still ride a lot, surf when I am near the ocean etc ... My Spanish sucks but I am
working on it.
I have a reasonable set of savings / investment just under 1 MM US, to provide me with a somewhat passive income.
Now with a bit of background out of the way, trying to get an idea on either buying or renting and what kind of income people are living happily on.
Question 1 - Any advice on renting or buying ?
Question 2 - I would like to be within 100 - 150 miles of the San Ysidro crossing as I have friends up and down the CA coast, any thoughts beyond live
in TJ, Rosarito or Ensenada ?
Question 3 - Is there fast internet access to be had or is that just going to be the cities ?
Question 4 - Biggest surprise or culture shock from the US to Mexico ?
Question 5 - Ballpark yearly cost of living to live modestly ?
Thanks in advance
T
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Welcome
1. Rent (before you decide to buy, then think rent again) - Gives you the opportunity to check out various places
2. Ensenada - Spend some time in each city looking for what you want/need
3. Yes - We have fiber optic internet through Telnor
4. The drivers and potholes - and no Trader Joe's
5. Really depends on what you like to do and how you like to like to live
I suggest you make a list of everything you think you would like to have in a retirement scenario.......then narrow that list down to what you really
need. Take that list with you when you check out places to live........we did and found Ensenada to be perfect for our needs. Close to border,
cultural events, shopping, medical and the Guadalupe Valle for great food and wine. If you want more info on Ensenada, please send me a u2u.
[Edited on 1-29-2016 by bajaguy]
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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1MM savings...
you don't have enough to retire at 45 in the areas you have chosen
you be broke in 7 years and no one hires old people...
you'll be "out of touch" with the "real" world
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7084
Registered: 8-5-2011
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Hop in the car, stop at the border and get a 180 day tourist permit (FMM), get a hotel room in Ensenada for a couple of weeks, drive around, figure it
out.
This will give you an idea of housing costs:
http://tijuana.craigslist.com.mx/search/apa?lang=en&cc=u...
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 18365
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan  | 1MM savings...
you don't have enough to retire at 45 in the areas you have chosen
you be broke in 7 years and no one hires old people...
you'll be "out of touch" with the "real" world
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You think 52 is old?
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan | 1MM savings...
you don't have enough to retire at 45 in the areas you have chosen
you be broke in 7 years and no one hires old people...
you'll be "out of touch" with the "real" world
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i'm reading or the other of you wrong. how much is 1 MM US?
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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mjs
Nomad
Posts: 309
Registered: 2-20-2013
Location: Off grid in San Felipe
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| Quote: Originally posted by Bob and Susan | 1MM savings...
you don't have enough to retire at 45 in the areas you have chosen
you be broke in 7 years and no one hires old people...
you'll be "out of touch" with the "real" world
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So you're saying it costs $143,000 / year to live in Baja?  The locals are
doing much better than I thought! 
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tr0y
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-29-2016
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Yes ... I have have just under 1,000,000 US in funds I can touch without penalty, right now that has been earning between 40 and 70K per year without
touching principal. I own some real estate that I would liquidate, and I figure I could do a couple months a year of consulting as long as I could
find a decent internet connection for another 30 to 40K in income.
This is a five year plan to be done so hopefully by then i'll have maybe 1.25MM banked and reasonably well invested.
I live modestly, I buy a new motorcycle every 3 to 5 years and I have a 2015 F350 so I figure I won't need a new truck for at least 10 years maybe
more if I am lucky, I am very mechanical, engineer by training, and put myself through college as a mechanic and construction worker.
My really my question is how well are people living on 50 to 75K a year in Baja ? Clearly that is above the average wage of most locals, was wondering
how the ex-pats are doing there on that range of income ?
Thanks
T
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bajatrailrider
Super Nomad
Posts: 2432
Registered: 1-24-2015
Location: Mexico
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Mood: Happy
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You will be fine with that money,if you don't pay tourist $ money to live here.I pay less then 20$ property tax,on each lot.Water bill 8.00$
month.Electric never over 60$ two month.You say you like dirt bike riding,its at its best here.Ensanada south.I retired early,never look back.Rent
first or get travel trailer,find that sweet spot before you buy.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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absolutely you can live well here in Baja on that kind of money. if your consulting works out, you can live nicely on that alone, and still save
money.
I own my home, and when I'm not traveling, my biggest expense, my social security easily covers any expenses locally.
biggest decision is rent or buy. I highly recommend renting.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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tr0y
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-29-2016
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Thanks Trail Rider,
I do ride quite a bit, used to race D37, BITD and other stuff and the Baja races. So I have been there quite a bit but never took the plunge to dive
in and live. I've seen quite a bit of Baja but usually through dust, silt and with the throttle pinned. Never really stopped to just relax and take it
all in.
I am pretty good about not being a tourist, I have traveled a lot of the world and end up off the beaten path and seeing things most don't and almost
never pay the tourist rate.
One of my concerns is a bad KTM habit  that will keep anyone broke.
Thanks
T
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Vehicles
Leave your F-350 parked or use it to take your bike somewhere
Motorcycles and F-350's are not good daily drivers in most towns (after you see the locals drive and dodging potholes you will know why)
Get yourself a used Jeep Wrangler for a daily driver for trips to and in town. Small, easy to maneuver and park.
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tr0y
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-29-2016
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haha thanks copy that ... we have used them for chase trucks and yes the roads are not nice
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boe4fun
Super Nomad
Posts: 1040
Registered: 1-22-2006
Location: Margaritaville
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Mood: Circling the drain........
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Hola Troy, If you're not concerned about being too far from the border check out Bahia Asuncion in BCS. (Go to Shari's website - she's all over this
board). It's about 575 miles south of the international border at San Ysidro. We bought a small beach lot there a few years back and just love the
place. Buena suerte....
Two dirt roads diverged in Baja and I, I took the one less graveled by......
Soy ignorante, apático y ambivalente. No lo sé y no me importa, ni modo.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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In Baja you couldn't spend that kind of $ if you tried!
That is unless you buy a boat and then that's not even close to lasting you! 
Rent, drink good wines, as stated, buy another "everyday" car, and under no circumstances tell anyone of your financial situation.
Hopefully you didn't even use your real name on this board.
Consider further South and let your friends come to you, it's not the other side of the planet!
[Edited on 1-29-2016 by Howard]
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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If you own your own home in Baja, it costs about $500-$600 USD per month to live for basic needs if you are inclined to live semi economically. These
amounts do include everything like food, utilities, TV, internet, property tax, immigration visa costs, phone (use Skype calling a lot), clothing,
incidentals, gasoline, local basic health ins (Popularis), auto ins, auto and household R&M, etc., but do NOT include your specific medical needs,
travel away from home, and your specific entertainment (which includes restaurant expenditures).
You could live "fat" on $20,000 USD/yr. As a millionaire with an income range of $40-$70K/yr., you should be able to save money and even build your
equity without even thinking about it...unless you have expensive medical needs or choose to live extravagantly.
Suggest you heed Howard's excellent common sense advice.
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DawnPatrol
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 11-19-2013
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Give a look at Socorro, or Soccorito. 8 miles south of San Quintin. A community of retired US pats and Mexicans right on the beach.
Baja 1000 route up in the hills right behind the community. We run our Polaris' up there all the time. Miles and miles of trails.
Surfing right there or up near SQ
A few houses for sale pretty cheap, I think there are lots where you can initially park your travel trailer, then build later.
I have a couple friends that have lived there for over 20 years.
Good internet, they have phones, electricity, Majic Jack, etc etc
225 miles south of the border.
SQ has all necessities
U2U me if you want to inquire with one of my friends down there. they will give you the scoop.
Alan from San Diego
With your money you are definitely good to go
[Edited on 1-29-2016 by DawnPatrol]
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micah202
Super Nomad
Posts: 1615
Registered: 1-19-2011
Location: vancouver,BC
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....just take a leave,, get a nice bike,,go travel into mex,central america a while. think what yer wanna do next.
......''5 cents please'' <;-}}
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tr0y
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-29-2016
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Thanks all, no real medical needs, knock on wood, I just don't want to work to 65 in the US and miss a great time. I have done well but by no means a
1%er. I am just a SoCal beach kid that misses little towns, tacos, riding my motorcycle, surfing and playing some golf ...
I have no one to impress, and would rather just live out my days having fun than stressing over quarterly sales figures and shareholder value.
Thanks for the info ... 5 years and counting and I will hopefully be there full time.
Cheers
T
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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I bet you will be surprised at how little it takes to live on ...then you decide what the "extras" can be.
It is really important to rent before you buy and rent for a while.....places tend to grow on you or not after a time.
so many places we thought we might relocate to and then with time decided they were not up to par.
good luck and keep us posted as to how it all pans out!
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