What Makes a Perfect Lake Chapala home?

How do you find the perfect Lakeside home for you?

There are many variables to consider—especially here at Lakeside. Take your time and look at all of the possibilities before purchasing a home only to discover that it’s too big or too small or too old or too new, or in the wrong neighborhood or with too many steps or too much garden.

Before you call the realtor

Spend some time thinking about how you want your new house to look, work and live. Visualize this dream house, and think about how you want to live in retirement at Lake Chapala.

Make the right decision -- the first time

In this all-cash market, flipping homes is not the norm, and can be time-consuming and expensive.

• Many homes are on the market for two or three years before they sell.
• Closing costs are much higher than those back home., choosing the right house takes on additional meaning.
• Because homes are 100% paid for, most owners are not going to dramatically cut prices to encourage the sale.

  Are the outside amenities right for you?

• A south-facing terrace is perfect for comfort. The low south sun warms it in the winter.
• Be sure the outdoor living area is deep enough and covered to protect comfortable furniture.
• Don’t buy into the added expense of a pool or outdoor kitchen unless you know you will use them often.
• Fruit trees sound like a great idea; reality is that they are messy trees and produce vast amounts of fruit all at one time.

The perfect Lakeside home?

• Steps – Your knees won’t get any younger or more functional with time. Could you get into the house and to a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen if restricted by crutches for a sprained ankle?
• Staying comfortable without AC – avoid west windows. Look for homes with good north-south cross ventilation. If you can find north, south and east windows, that’s even better.
• In a climate where you’ll live outside most of the year, you don’t need a living room and a family room and a den. Opt for a small all-purpose room with a fireplace and which can be closed off in the cold six weeks.
• Do you need a dining room? Most folks here eat on the terrace. Set up large tables or a series of smaller ones on the terrace for entertaining – even for the holidays.
• How many bedrooms do you really need? Don’t search for a house with enough bedrooms for all of the kids and grandkids to come at once. Chances are they won’t, and if they do, spend the money on a B&B instead of acres of unneeded space in the house.

Give yourself plenty of time to create a checklist of what you really want and need. With hundreds of homes on the market, your list will help you focus and ensure you are paying for amenities that fit your lifestyle and feed your soul.

Want to Know more about the perfect home?

If you would like to read more about finding the perfect Lake Chapala home, read more in “Choosing Your Lakeside Dram House” in the March 2009 issue of Mexico Insights Living at Lake Chapala.

A subscriber recently wrote:

Hi Judy,

I have to tell you how useful your article on Buying a House in Ajijic was. I read it many times and printed it off to bring with me when we came to look for a home to buy. The south facing terrace, lack of stairs, enough garden for the dogs and walking distance to the village were features that we did not want to compromise on. …our agent understood just what we wanted (thanks to our list). A couple of days before we had to fly home, she took us to see a listing which met our needs. So here we are settling into our new home - with no regrets or misgivings.

Thank you for your article which helped us zero in on what we needed to look for.