17 replies to this topic

[Ryu]

This is the place where you can post your apartment hunting experience so others can follow in your foot steps and get tips on how to conduct an apartment search in TJ. I'll start.

When i first moved to TJ, I tried to do the mexican newspaper thing but due to lack of spanish skills and difficulties in finding locations, I'm not used to the turn right at Gigante and left at the pharmacy, etc I ended up just renting through Craigslist, which was a mistake as I'm paying a gringo price of $400 which at current exchange rate is almost 4400 pesos, quite a bit for my place. If you were in the same situation as I am, trust me, it's cheaper to find a renting agent, one with a fixed rate and not first month's rent, you'll make the money back within half a year and you'll get a nicer place.

But recently I went apartment hunting with my gf and we started with the Frontera and El Mexicano, a few good places but price was acceptable, I would have gotten an extra room at the price I'm paying now but with my house not an apartment. Anyways, we decided to just drive around instead and look for for rent signs. This I will tell right now is the ONLY way to look for apartments in TJ to find the best deal and don't waste time looking all over the place. Find a colonia you like, usually playas, agua caliente, otay, etc and just drive around. Carry a Nextel phone with you or have one of the Mexican calling cards and phone the owner once you see the place you like, they can usually come show you the place right away or are on the premises themselves.

What did we end up with? A nice two bedroom place between Centro and Independencia for $290 with a gorgeous outside outside exterior, it looks very old school Mexican or Spanish and has a lot of trees and flowers and stuff which the gf likes. The owner seems nice too. Best thing is I have a bunch of friends, some of which are on this board that live only 4 or 5 blocks from me.

Anyways, I hope this helps some people looking for their own place in TJ and please share your own experiences and tips. It would have save us some time during this apartment search if I knew then what I know now.

[Ryu]

Also although most of us are Americans, I would advise against renting with an American owner if your price conscious, sorry to the people who are on here who have places to rent. American still believe that anything below a 1000 is a great deal on a place which is true in the US but in TJ that should get you a nice large house or a mansion if you get really lucky. Go with a native Mexican owner and I believe you'll get a better price.

[TJDave]

Ryu,

So you're practically a neighbor now???... I thought you were moving the other way towards the other end of town... Now you really have to invite me over

[Ryu]

Will do, we were planning on you guys right after SDC, the place is alot bigger and we can accomadate more people although adequate seating is still a problem. SDC and his gf came over to our old place and just two more people made our dining room/TV room crowded. Max people we can invite to our old/current place is three people and that's with people stepping over each other. Anyways, let us settle down and then come over for a Bar-B-Que or come by any other time for a beer. Just don't invite the neighbor which lives above your dueno. The place has a low cieling and he might not be able to hold his head up in there, that's the only down side but for people who aren't too tall, it's not too bad.

[TJDave]

that's the only down side but for people who aren't too tall, it's not too bad.

Perfect for you then (j/k)


Shoot me a PM to let me know where it is... I'll come over for that beer on my way home

[bigloudj]

I want to be on the "Invited over to Ryu's place " list.
Let me know where your new place is and I will do a drive by for sure.
I also am still looking half assedly for a house.
Keep your eyes open
Congrats and best of luck

[BuenaOnda]

You are correct - the best way to locate a rental in Tijuana is first choosing the area where you want to live and then spend some time driving around the area. Look for signs that a place is for rent as well as stop at small local stores and ask. Nothing against gringos but it is true that many who own property in Tijuana catering to foreign tenants tend to charge higher rent. If you go through a realtor they will typically up the rent to make the owner happy as they are keeping the deposit you give them as their commission. Having a Nextel is a big plus as many of the "Se Renta" signs list a Nextel radio number.

[Ryu]

Bigloudj, I will let you know once we move in and I find out what the address is myself. :shock:

Right now I just know how to drive there.

[BajaGringo]

While it is true that many realtors may try to work you over - there are some good ones out there if you ask around. When I first moved here years ago I found a very good realtor who spent a lot of time with me and helped me to negotiate a very reasonable ocean-front rental in the Rosarito Beach area. I ended up paying about half what the other gringos were paying at the time...

[Tj 4 Rent]

Its true and very good advice. Renting from a Mexican owner will get you a better price.

Butt, be prepared to not receive as much landlord assistance.


What I mean by this is when you rent in Mexico (especially from a Mexican Owner) the maintenance of the residence is your responsibility.

Now of course this is not always true butt as a majority of the rentals I have been involved with (especially on the lower rental rate range) the owners don't do repairs.

Need a plumber you pay.

Need an electrician you pay.

You have to acquire your own regulator, gas tank and hoses.

You have to have your own stove and refrigerator.

Sometimes you have to get your own hot water heater. Sometimes there aren't even water lines for the hot water to run through.

I am an american and I have rentals here in Tj. I only rent to Americans because I can charge more and make a better profit. I thell them I am charging them more than they could get other rentals for butt I provide more services then other landlords too.

Like I meet my tenants at the border and show them how to get to their home every time they come home until they know the way and I help them get back to the border.

I help them or arrange for the services for them like cable tv, Internet, telephone etc...

Now, don't anyone get me wrong. I am not saying all Mexican landlords do the same thing and I am not even saying that it is wrong for the way they do it. I like the Mexican culture and style thats why I live here.

I am only justifying why I charge and get more for rentals than my competitioin.

On a final note I have been living in Mexico for 19 years solid and what RYU said is how I have found every residence I have ever lived in in Mexico. I drive or walk or ride buses and taxis around the area I want to live in and I look for signs, ask in tiendas and talk to people living in the area asking them for any information about rentals in that area.

[Tj 4 Rent]

What did we end up with? A nice two bedroom place between Centro and Independencia

Ryu, Do you and your girlfriend want to come over for spaghetti dinner tonight?

You must be within a couple blocks of the new house I just got near the corner of calle 9 where the pemex is and an oxxo and Palermo Pizza (Love their 3 pizzas for $10 deal incl. tip). The street where Calle 7 goes up into Colonia Independencia.

[Tcat]

It seems to me to be a mixed bag, just like NOB.

A young man rented the place next to me this month. (So with both rented, we're full ) He commented to me, and I had to agree, that rents vary wildly. He was happy to pay "more" than other places he saw. It wasn't about size... It was about the condition of the place. TJ4Rent mentioning you don't even get a water heater... good point about the low end stuff.

Personally, $100 $200 a month "more" buys a hell of a lot of peace of mind. The faucet in the bathroom went south. Fixed while I was out on a teaching gig. I wanted my own shower head. Wouldn't fit. Different neck. Done, and my shower head installed. Trash? It magically leaves on wed.

I have to go across the pond to work with my buddy and editor for a few months to finish a couple books (The 10 hr time zone difference is killing us). I have no concern that when I come back that my stuff will be gone. I *know* they will watch out for me.

Si, they are MX owners. And good people are not limited to the USA. Neither are bad people. :idea:

Like everything, you either do your homework, or hire it out. Your choice.

[Ryu]

TJ, you know you keep inviting me over and I keep declining, I'm starting to feel bad. But again no thanks, the gfs in Mexicali and I myself am just staying home today. It's no water day again here and I hate it when I can't take a shower. I'm also not looking forward to the move next week.

[Ryu]

Moving in TJ is a bitch and very different from the US. In the US, you would rent a Uhaul and call a few friends over to help you move stuff. If you kept a few beers cold and offered them some food at the end, they usually go home happy that they spent the day helping a good friend and also adding your phone number to people they can call when they move themselves. But it's different in TJ, first off, you can't rent a truck like in the states, you can only rent the movers with the trucks as they don't trust you to return the truck after you're finish using it. Now if you live on the first floor, the prices to move your stuff is relatively cheap. But if you lived on the fourth floor like I did, the price went sky high just to move a few things. I was quote $180 to $200 for my bed, a table, bed frame, two small bookcases, and a small couch. You figure after tip, that comes out to about $220 total. Luckily, I saw this rental truck right outside my old place, since I don't live there anymore, I can tell you it was the blue Infonivit buildings near the Padre Kino exit. Anyways his name was Robert and his phone number is 664-230-2709. He's a deported Mexican that speaks fluent English, is a nice guy and most important of all, I'm not missing any thing, which is always a good thing with movers. Anyways total cost was $50 for first trip (that's the truck and gas rental) and since they move things for me from the fourth floor I gave them $30 and $25 respectively (that was tip added already). A little high but I they worked hard and I offered the price. Anyways, I'm sure you could have offered them both $20 each for a two bedroom and they would have been happy with the salary. Anyways, total came out to be $105 which is a 50% saving from what the other Mudanza companies was offering my gf to move and we pack the guys truck with more stuff then we told the moving companies. If you need to move give him a call, he's freelance and is cheaper than the regular companies, Viajes Mudanza, tell him the asian guy who lived next to him sent you, he promised to give you a discount.

[bigloudj]

While it is true that many realtors may try to work you over - there are some good ones out there if you ask around. When I first moved here years ago I found a very good realtor who spent a lot of time with me and helped me to negotiate a very reasonable ocean-front rental in the Rosarito Beach area. I ended up paying about half what the other gringos were paying at the time...

So who is it ???
Contact info ??

[Ryu]

Not apartment hunting but a few more useful info one should know when they move to minimilize disruption to thier lives. Gas if I remember right takes about a week to get turned on if you get it piped into the house and the contract cost is like $130US I believe, it's been a year now, so the details isn't so good. But if you require the use of a cylinder, just go to the Star gas office in Pueblo Amigo or call Zeta gas (from the phone book)and set up a dropoff, it's better than waiting around and hoping you spot a truck which does happen quite often just not when you're at home. Big cylinders are like $395p and if you don't already have one they require a $400p deposit.

Water should not be a problem as it's usually always on. But phone and internet is a bother so make sure you do it early in order not to disrupt service, it takes a week AFTER you make the transfer before they can initialize it. Things you should have on hand to make sure you don't make several trips is your ID and some bill with the address of your new place on it, regardless of who's name it is in. Then also carry around $350p for the fee and head to your local telnor office. Use the phones inside, avoid talking to the Subscription person as they will just tell you to use the phone after a long wait. Get your order # then go to the subscription person. After which post the paper they give you outside your apartment complex and wait a week until they come. I hope that helps some people with moving experiences.

[Ryu]

One more thing regarding piped in gas, aside from the $130US fee there's also a $50US deposit as well.

[Chiquito]

Big bolt cutters and a good wrench can get it turned on faster.