I. LAKESIDES FOREIGN COMMUNITY
(a) Approximately 10,000 full time residents
(b) 3,500 more in season (October to April)
II. LAKESIDE ACTIVITIES
(1) SOCIAL GROUPS
(a)
Duplicate Bridge
(b)
Garden Club or Guild
(c)
Culinary Arts Group
(d)
The Writers Group
(e)
Needle Pushers
(f)
Daughters of American Revolution
(g)
Genealogy Club
(h)
Computer Club
(i)
Chess Club
(2) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
(a)
Senior Citizen Assistance Program
(b)
School for the Deaf
(c)
Village Children’s Library
(d)
Handicapped Children
(e)
Humane Society
(f)
Save the lake
(g)
The Mexican Red Cross
(3) OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
(a)
American Legion
(b)
Masonic Lodge
(c)
Shriners
(d)
Lake Chapala Society
(e)
Alcoholics Anonymous
(4) CLASSES
(a)
Art
(b)
Handicrafts
(c)
Music
(d)
Drama
(e)
Computers
(f)
Writing
(g)
Spanish
(5) OTHER ACTIVITIES
(a)
Tennis
(b)
Volley Ball
(c)
Golf
(d)
Walking & Jogging
(e)
Horseback Riding
(f)
Tai-Chi
(g)
Boating & Fishing
(h)
Mountain Hiking
(i)
Concerts & Little Theater
(j)
Art Galleries
(k)
Museums
III. LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY
(a) Over 2700 members
(b) Library with over 20,000 volumes
(c) Magazine Section
(d) Reading Room
(e) Talking Books (Largest selection outside
U.S.)
(f) Approximately 2000 VHS Movies
(g) Wheel Chairs, Crutches, Canes, Walkers
to loan
(h) Free Blood Pressure & Skin Cancer
check
(i) Ham Radio available for emergency contacts
IV. SAFETY
(a) Extremely low crime rate
(b) One of the safest places in the world
V. HEALTH CARE
(1) LOCATIONS
(a)
Clinic de Ajijic
(b)
Clinic Mascaras (Riberas del Pilar)
(c)
Clinic San Jose de la Ribera (Chapala)
(d)
Mexican Red Cross
(e)
Many excellent Dental Clinics in the area
(2) STAFFING
(a)
Most have bi-lingual doctors & nurses on staff
(3) GREATER MEDICAL CONCERNS
(a)
Large, modern medical facilities in Guadalajara
(b)
Ambulance service readily available
(c)
Air Ambulance service available to the U.S.
VI. CONSULAR SERVICES
(1) AMERICAN CONSULATE
(a)
Calle Progreso 175, Guadalajara
(b)
Open 8:00 a.m. to Noon, Monday thru Friday
(2) CANADIAN CONSULATE
(a)
Fiesta Americana Hotel, Guadalajara
(b)
Open 9:00 a.m. to Noon, Monday thru Friday
VI. CHURCHES
(a) Many Catholic churches locally with
English services
(b) St. Andrews Angelic Episcopal Church
(c) Non-Denominational Church
(d) El Lago Community Church
(e) Lakeside Fellowship Non-Denominational
Congregation
(f) Various Baptist Churches
VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND MAIL
(1) TELEPHONE SERVICES
(a)
Standard telephone service available
(b)
Cellular phone service available
(c)
FAX service available
(d) “Call-Back” service
available
(e)
VOIP (Voice Over Internet Provider)
(2) MAIL
(a)
Mexican regular mail, which is VERY slow
(b)
Mail Boxes Etc. Expensive, but much faster
(c)
Lake Chapala Society Mail Service
VIII. INTERNET SERVICES
(1) DIAL-UP SERVICE
(a)
Prodigy through Telmex
(b)
Laguna
(2) HIGH-SPEED….CABLE INTERNET
(a)
DSL available through Telmex
(b)
High-Speed Wireless, Laguna or Mexico Wireless
IX. IMMIGRATION
(1) FMT (TOURIST VISA)
(a)
Good for 6 months
(b)
Is renewed by leaving and re-entering the country
(2) FM-3 VISA
(a)
Live at least part-time in Mexico
(b)
Prove min. $1000.00 monthly income, $500 each additional person
(c)
Income requirements lower if home owner
(d)
Can bring in personal goods (1 time) no charge
(e)
Can drive foreign-plated car
(f)
Must “Re-New” Visa annually
(g)
Can work with proper “Working Papers”
(3) FM-2 VISA
(a)
Designed for “Permanent Resident”
(b)
After 5 years, imigrado status may be applied for
(c)
All benefits of Mexican National, except voting
X. BRINGING IN YOUR VEHICLE
(a) FM-T/FM-3 allowed to drive foreign plated
vehicles
(b) Vehicle license good as long as Visa
is current
(c) Vehicle permit obtained at border
(d) Always carry copy of Visa in vehicle
XI. INSURANCE IN MEXICO
(a) Health, Home, Auto insurance available
(b) Both American and Mexican Insurance
available
XII. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
(1) Your “Stateside” Bank
(a)
Most “gringos” operate with ATM cards
(b)
LLOYD (an Investment House) works like a bank but has no checking accounts. (Has
better interest)
(c)
Few places accept credit cards…it’s a peso economy
XIII. RENTING IN MEXICO
(a) Long and short term rentals available
(Becoming harder to find During Snowbird season. Oct. to April)
(b) Homes come furnished or unfurnished
(c) Most rentals come with gardener
(d) Long term rentals less costly
XIV. OWNING PROPERTY IN MEXICO
(1) TRUST DEED OWNERSHIP (not recommended)
(a)
Bank holds trust deed for owner
(b)
Deed is not part of bank’s assets
(c)
Owner may name anyone as beneficiary
(d)
Upon demise of owner, deed does not enter probate
(e)
Trust good for 50 years, then renewable
(f)
Annual fee raises sharply & charged by bank
(g)
Trust deed established by Notario
(2) DIRECT DEED OWNERSHHIP
(a)
Mexican deed is “History” of home
(b)
Deed is same as in states except in Spanish
(c)
No annual fee for Direct deed
(d)
Beneficiary must be spouse, parent or off-spring
(e)
Mexican Will is strongly recommended in Mexico
XV. NOTARY (NOTARIO)
(a) Notarios in Mexico MUST have a Law degree
(b) They must be appointed by government
(c) Notarios are higher than a lawyer with
more experience
(d) Legal transactions are completed by
Notario
XVI. CAPITAL GAINS
(a) Capital gains are charged by purchase
appraisal
(b) Capital gains are paid by seller
(c) Check with agency as laws are changing
constantly
XVII. TAXES IN MEXICO
(1) PROPERTY TAXES
(a)
Property taxes in Mexico are extremely low
(b)
Discount if over 65
(c)
Typical tax on $150,000.00 home……$100.00 annually
(2) INCOME TAXES
(a)
If you work in Mexico, you pay Mexican income tax
(b)
If American, you’re responsible for US Income Tax on US income
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