Our step-by-step guide to buying and moving

By Carol S. Billups

Moving to Los Cabos makes for lots of excitement—and questions. If you’re preparing to make the move, know you’re not alone. From 1990 to 2000, the retirement-aged foreign community in Baja California Sur grew by 188 percent, according to a 2010 study by the International Community Foundation.

The most recent government census reported Los Cabos’ population to be 238,487, but the exact number of foreigners is unknown. Real estate brokers, though, estimate the number of buyers in 2014 planning to reside here full time is at least double that of prior years. With so much practice under our belts, we’re becoming very good at helping clients relocate. Here’s a brief guide to your move.

Step 1­: Get immigration advice

The rules and procedures for immigrating to México have undergone significant changes in the past two years, and more changes are expected. The first step should be learning about the required paperwork. The immigration department has a website, www.inm.gob.mx, that explains the procedures and paperwork, but it is in Spanish. Fortunately, there are a number of firms whose business is processing visas. As of press time, the procedure is different for retirees than for those requiring work permits. Work permits have to be processed at the Mexican consulate closest to your home in the United States or Canada. Consult with an expert.

Step 2: Find a place to live

The decision to buy or rent is complex. If you need a more affordable home, buying is actually the better option. Inventories of homes that would appeal to the average full-time resident are getting picked over, and soon prices in that range will likely start rising. One more piece of advice: Resort living can become tedious with time. Consider buying in a community such as Cabo del Mar Ocean & Ecopark Village; it was designed specifically for full-time residents. Although Cabo del Mar has all the amenities of a resort community, it also has features of interest to those living here full time, including a school on the grounds.

 Step 3: Get commitment to hire (if applicable)

If you are planning to work, you will probably need to prove that you have employment waiting for you (the rules are subject to change).
As with the previous steps, this should be handled well in advance. Schedule a preliminary trip several months prior to your desired move-in date. If you are buying or starting a business, you need several months’ lead time. I cannot stress this enough: Immigration rules change frequently. Get professional help.

 Step 4: Contract with mover

When moving to México, you don’t just need to get your belongings from point A to point B but rather you have to move them across an international border (two, if you’re coming from Canada).

The logistics are complicated but not impossible. You will want to consult the mover before deciding how much of your household to move; also be sure to ask about delays. Legally—as of press time—an owner must physically be in Los Cabos and registered with immigration before his or her belongings can cross the border. So, you may need to make arrangements for temporary housing.

 Step 5: Hold massive garage sale

Most properties here are sold furnished or semi-furnished due to the intricacies of moving possessions. You will want to weigh the cost of moving your current furniture versus using what is included in the sale. There are services that, for a fee, will come in and inventory your new home down to the last teaspoon. You may want to write that into your offer as a seller’s expense. You will almost certainly be having a number of garage sales in order to lighten the load. Should you need to furnish your new home, there are several local outfits that can help. See a complete list on www.loscabosguide.com.

Step 6: Import your vehicle

One last task is to import your vehicles legally. But, that process must be done north of the border. Again, there are experts who can lead you through the paperwork.

Although some of this might appear to be a bit daunting, being able to live your dream is worth every little bit of hassle.

Carol S. Billups is broker-owner of Cabo Realty Pros (www.caborealtypros.com) and is Los Cabos Magazine’s real estate expert.