13 replies to this topic

[Seattle-28]

Hi my name is Teresa born in Baja California, raised in Whittier, California and currently live in Seattle, Washington for the past 10+ years but visit Mexico every summer. I have family in Tijuana and of course in Whittier and Norwalk, California.
I'm getting ready to move there in June and I am looking for a Rental House in Rosarito or Tijuana something within 20 minutes of the San Ysidro border crossing. If anyone knows of anything please let me know.

[bluejeans]

I saw this posted this morning.

From: mungoanne

There is a nice 2 bedroom one bath apartment available in my neighborhood by the beach in Playas, probably about $400 0r %450.
Contact me and I will give you directions. Just came up.

http://www.tijuanabl...topic.php?t=465

You'll have to go to that page to contact mungoanne

[Seattle-28]

I already sent her a message regarding this posting.

Thansk a bunch!

[bluejeans]

Probably a little soon to find something for June but wouldn't hurt to find a neighborhood.

[Seattle-28]

Thanks. I've been looking on Craigslist.com too. Hopefully I'll find something I like by May so I still have alot of time. You all keep an eye out there for me. I'd really appreciate it.

Teresa

[richsinc]

Seattle-28;

Try this site too, in Spanish but you should have no trouble even if not bi-ligual which I suspect you may be having been born in Baja:

http://www.bienesrai...trar.asp?tipo=2

It has houses and apartments to renta or venta.

I second the other recommendation here to check out a neighborhood and look for signs on the windows; many are not posted on a web-site.

I really like the area I am in Infonavit Rio by Pueblo Amigo; families, kids, schools, youth soccer, safe, friendly, 12 minute walk to border, etc.

[Seattle-28]

How many bedrooms are there where you live and what is the rent?

[richsinc]

you mean me Seattle?

In my complex, 10 year old housing project of cinder block construction, most units are privately owned and rented out from $250 (me) to $450 for 2 bedroom, 1 shower toilet sink, kitchen (which may or may not have stove/oven or fridge).

Rent depends on how much tile flooring, wood paneling, kitchen fixtures/appliances, etc. they put in.

There are also other apartments nearby; like a 3 bedroom in an elevator equipped bldg for $630

[Ekdogg]

Hey, Richsinc, thanks for posting that real estate site. There are some nice apartments listed there. I've noticed that most of them ask for a recommendation (aval) from someone in Tijuana. How did you handle that? Did your landlord ask for one?

[richsinc]

Ekdogg:

I moved in with a friend who had the lease already. My understanding is that if you do not have have a recommendation, which some landlords do not even ask for, then they want a larger deposit.

It's all it the perceptions/negotiations, I believe, as well as maybe proof of income, maybe, past rent receipts?, age, etc.. Wonder if a landlord insistant upon a recommendation would take one from another US national living in TJ or maybe his landlord? Interesting point.

Check out the other sites that Vagabundo posted too.

[Ekdogg]

In my experience, being a gringo goes a long way in a situation like that. They know we earn a lot more than your average Mexican, so they like having us as tenants.

[Tcat]

My Seattle buddy (and all others here).

I wasn't planning on being in TJ until July. However, I start paying rent in April. How it went down:

My first couple trips, not speaking spanish we're a disaster. I did find one place on Craig's list. I went with kilobucks of cash to pay for a full year in advance. When I looked at the place and they asked me if I liked it, I was taken to the office for all I can say was the Spanish Inquision.

Same questions over and over. Concerned I would be a quiet and no nonsense tenant. At one point I suggested typing my name into Google. (That brings up over 35 thousand references ;-)

so I left.

The next field trip after a San Deigo class I see the buses for Otay Mesa on 2nd and REV and the route taxi's on 3rd and REV. I go out by bus.

When I hit what I would call "downtown" Otay Mesa" in TJ I just walk, and walk. About 2 hours of this and I am hungry. I find a large taco truck in front of a church and get a marlin taco ($1.40) .... across the street is a for rent sign (like a lot of places). A lady is sweeping. I don't speak Spanish, she doesn't speak English (OK --- we each know maybe 200 words) ... through smile and gesture she shows me 2 places. The first is nice $400, the 2nd ($450) for my needs is drop dead delightful died and gone to heaven.

I give her my # and email and get her's. Back in the USA I call a friend who is MX/AM. We do a three way call and offer to sign Now if they will wait til April. (This was Jan). Pause.... I said in English I wasn't ready til June but Consula was so pleasent and the place was so nice I am willing to rent a place I am not ready to move into.... Pause.... OK.

Next point. I am a professor that travels the US. Can I pay you to open my mail and take my money and pay my bills? Si. $25 a month USD. Thank you. I want to be a good citizen and it is hard to pay a bill you cannot see.

Can I pay you 3 months in advance and just pay by the calander Qtr. for the same reason? Si with a laugh.

Letter of Intent with a deposit of $225 has been sent today. I will be visiting in March (southwest internet specials) to pay by US check and get the keys for April. They will have their money long before I move in the first light bulb.

No frig, no stove. All tile floor. HUGE tall ceiling (important to me since I create industrial video training among other things for work).

Other security issues and concerns I'm very happy to feel I have addressed.... They watch their own property, I put video cameras on my own rental inside and out and store/transmit movement via Internet

What's the saying? Trust and cut the cards?

I think the deal with having a local vouch for you is all about age. I never heard of 2-week deposit even in the USA. They had no idea I am a "heavy" in the computer industry since they don't have Internet in their home. It was all about my age and appearence that got that, (IMO). No I was not dressed "well". However a gortex jacket and birkenstocks does suggest $$$, doesn't it?

HTH

Tcat

[richsinc]

Ekdogg;

I am not sure just being a 'gringo' does it; after all the term 'gringo' is derogatory and I personally discourage it's use.

Same here as anywhere; depends on the other person's perception of you. I am sure many Mexican landlords have stories about 'gringos' not paying the rent and just going back to the US where basically the landlord can't touch them, even find them.

[Ekdogg]

Yes, I've asked people in Mexico not to refer to me using that term, and I've been involved in debates in other fora about whether or not it's derogatory. Many people in Latin America claim it's not. If you listen to Mexicans speak, you'll notice they use it all the time. Gabacho, which means "Frenchman" over here, is also common commonly used in Mexico to refer to an American. I use gringo tongue-in-cheek to refer to myself and my fellow Americans.

I guess you're right about us being able to cross back over to the States and skip out on the rent, but I do think it would probably still be more of a plus than a minus in the eyes of a prospective landlord to have one of us as a tenant because of the earning power we have.