Job Discussion Forums

browniea · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

You are all probably getting tired of me...sorry for all of the questions!

I was wondering, what is the best way to find housing? Should I try to have something set up before I go or should I just play it by ear and figure it out when I get down there?

My school will set up something for the first week or so while i'm figuring things out.

I'm thinking about a homestay because it could be cheaper, but I really don't want to do it. But my friend will be joining me in 6 months, and i'd like to live with her so i'll have to move around. Do you recommend getting a homestay until she comes and then we get an apartment?

Ok thanks. Oh and I will be in Guadalajara.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I think homestay might be fine for the first 2 to 4 weeks while you get your bearings, but after that...

MELEE · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject:

I don't think its correct to assume that a homestay will be cheaper. Most people who rent out rooms in Mexico, do it for the money, not the cultural experience. If you add in board you may end up paying a lot more than renting a small place.

Young Mexicans (particularly unmarried men) who move away from their family to find work usually rent a room. In most cities its not hard to find a number of boarding houses that rent out furnished rooms with shared or private baths. Some may have shared cooking facilities as well, but most of these single men don't cook but eat every meal (or two meals) at little mom and pop restaurants.

I definately would not try to go to the trouble of renting a place before you arrive, especially if the school has a temporary landing place for you. In my experience, in most parts of Mexico people place for rent have signs in the windows, so you just walk around in the parts of town you are looking to live in and knock on doors when you see these signs. Be sure to mention that you are looking for a place to everyone you meet as word of mouth is the way most things get done. Especially ask in the corner shops. If you see a neighborhood that strikes your fancy, pop into a shop, buy a soda, and ask the owner if they know of any places to rent around there.

Unless you're really not picky, be sure to look at several places before you take one. There can be a lot of variety in quality for the same price, so even though the first place you see seems okay, its a good idea to look around and see what's out there.

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

Good advice above, just wanted to add one thing about deposits. Here in SLP and I'm sure in other parts of Mexico, teachers have been asked to pay deposits of 2 even 3 months rent. Seeing as it's common practice not to refund your deposit, insist on 1 month and don't count on getting all of it back.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I've seen both sides of this coin. Do you know how many 'teachers' I've seen blow town with no notice leaving embarrassingly high long distance phone bills, and a sudden vacancy? The landlord has no choice but to clear those bills or the unit will not be rentable again. The outstanding bills remain against the house in Mexico (as those of you living here know).

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject:

It must depend on the area. In Morelia, Michoacan I tried to get a phone line. Telmex said, that address has an outstanding bill of X, the line can be connected as soon as it is paid... It was quiet a lot, in the Landlord's daughter's name. We talked to the landlord and his daughter and their attitude was if you want a phone, you have to pay it. Needless to say, we made due with our cell phone.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Same here. If you want a phone, you pay the outstanding debt the last person left behind. It happened to me too and I did the same thing with using a cell phone, and computer access was with cable internet. If you have ever made the mistake of signing for someone as a reference and they skip town, Telmex will haunt you for a very long time trying to track them down. Lessons learned from experience.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Really? I went to TelMex with one of the previous tenants phone bills and told them that the occupant had left, and that I wanted a new account.
They didn't give me any static and I had a working phone line in about two or three days.

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

The place where I live (Tlaquepaque) it is hard to find a furnished room. Guadalajar is a little bit better what is around 20 minutes from here by bus but even there it is not easy to find. Most of the furnished places want you to rent it for at least half a year and be aware that often the money for the gas, electricity and water is not included.

Best to look is in the newspaper I guess, like the informador in Gdl or look on the following website http://www.mexplaza.com.mx who sometimes have places for rent. The rent in Tlaquepaque lays around 1500 till 2000 for an unfurnished apartment. Only ones seen a furnished apartment.

I have a place that I rent out. It is a house and has three rooms that I rent out seperatly. Rooms are big and have a double bed or two single beds a closeth, a table and chair and Cable TV. Everything is new because we just finished doing it up.

You share the patio, the kitchen, the garden, the living room and bathroom. The location is two blocks from the center of Tlaquepaque.
It is totaly furnished

Let me know if you are interested.

Wouter