Some people worry too much

This started out as helping the guys that built my house do the work on a project in Melaque this winter. All were in agreement but then I realized the lot had no water and all the paper work and actual work might delay construction by a week or two if we waited for the snowbirds to arrive. I volunteered to price it all out and that progressed to I would try to deal with the government and the water contract, arrange the backhoe and buy all the parts. This is not a simple connection because first we need 60+ meters of 2" pipe run from a block away before we connect to the lot.

So bit by bit it has been coming together. All the property papers and ID were faxed down from Canada. Money has been sent to my bank up north and the Delegacion says I have everything I need except an address. 

The Presta Nombre, who is in Seattle for a couple more weeks, worried that I needed a Carta de Poder (Power of Attorney) or at least a letter of permission to set this up.  I asked the Delegacion and they say none needed with all the paperwork I have. Then we have an address vs. Ejido lot number issue. I have no idea where the Presta Nombre came up with the idea that the address has to be the Ejido lot number but that is pure fantasy. I drove up and down the street trying to make sense of the house numbering and it makes exactly zero sense. The fact is people make up their own addresses mostly without even looking at what is next door. The adjoining lots on the papers are 74 and 76 so I said why not call it 75.  I could have picked anything but the Presta Nombre thinks I can't guess because lot number has to be the address. So I'll drive over to the Emiliano Zapata Ejido (El Ranchito) to double check the lot number just to calm the worrier.  I should have chosen 175 and stuck with it. Addresses are used for water contracts and the electric company and Ejidos could care less. You are a lot number to them.

A little over half of the 60 meters

Trying to get city water

The picture is a little more than half of the 60 meters we need to run a water pipe. Friends have two lots to the left under that large tree and I'm trying to get water there before construction starts in November. It seems that if you don't have a 2" mainline in front of your property you have to install that as well. A water contract with San Patricio is 1800 pesos but only includes 6 meters of 1/2" pipe. The 60 meter run is going to cost about 2500 pesos for material, 1200 for a backhoe and whatever a plumber charges to lay the 2" pipe.

The biggest problem is communication with the lot owners. The Canadians are very slow on email responses and Ron left San Miguel for Seattle about a week ago and I haven't heard from him. I assume Ron drove but maybe they flew and will rent a car. The two hangups so far are money and full sized (legal) copies of all the lot papers. So I wait to see what they can do for copies if they have them all and for some money deposited to my account.

Living in a Fifth-Wheel

Well maybe - at least for short trips to the beach when I feel like getting away or working on the house. I located this one on the beach and they have offered to move it to my lot included in the reasonable purchase price. Haven't got my hands on it yet but will go down this week to talk to the owner, show him the property and route and leave a deposit. May be mid-next month before we move it. A friend checked it out a few days ago and says it's in good shape.

So now I get to learn all about big trailers and setting them up for a long stay in one place. Don't want weeds growing under so probably heavy plastic covered with gravel. Will have to run a new sewer line to the septic, run water line and electric, make a patio ... and a few plants and maybe a tree - yes a tree !! Hope I'm not getting ahead of myself but will know this week.

Fleetwood Prowler
Trailer for my Pinal Villa lot outside Melaque

Inexpensive house in Melaque - Yes possible

I got tired of looking at lots on the beach side of the highway in Melaque with prices of $40k and up and always listed in US dollars. The Realtors here are out of control and hopefully the current economy will put a plug in them. That's the main reason we bought our lots in Pinal Villa.

So Ron was down for a few weeks and a waiter we've known for a long time said he knew a place for about $450,000 pesos. After a few meetings with the owners the price went down to $370,000 which is about $28k US. Now this place is very Mexican but well built and has water, sewer, electric, walls around, lot size 10x20 and two rooms that with just a little work would be livable (maybe no work says Ron). I'm sure with $10k he could make this place very nice and another $10-15 could put on a second story. Ron should be down from Vallarta in about a week to finalize.

This place is still available.  Ron's wife didn't like it so they bought a couple of lots on the east side as of (3/15/2010)