A friend’s devastating diagnosis was the event that moved Emily and Sam from simply dreaming about Mexico to taking steps to make it their reality. “It’s a cliché: Life is short. But the day comes when you really understand what that means,” Sam says. “We had just lost a close relative at 62. Then our […]
A friend’s devastating diagnosis was the event that moved Emily and Sam from simply dreaming about Mexico to taking steps to make it their reality.
“It’s a cliché: Life is short. But the day comes when you really understand what that means,” Sam says. “We had just lost a close relative at 62. Then our friend’s diagnosis at 54 confirmed that if there was something we dreamed of doing, it had to be now.”
On a whim, the U.S. couple downloaded the Buyer’s Guide from Taniel Chemsian Properties before their upcoming vacation to Puerto Vallarta. Read our interview with Emily and Sam to find out what happened next.
TCP: Many people download information. What prompted you to make an appointment to see properties?
E&S: By chance, the initial email we received with the Buyer’s Guide was from your agent Roberto Vazquez. We felt an immediate connection with his analytical approach, but he was also very focused on making us feel comfortable. He made us feel okay about starting the process even if we didn’t know for sure that we were ready to buy.
TCP: Why Puerto Vallarta? How did you know this was the right place for you?
E&S: It was a long journey of discovery! We’ve lived all over the United States through our school and work years. As a result, we weren’t sure which city should be a second home for us during retirement. Emily had been learning Spanish for about a decade and was falling in love with Mexico’s music and culture. Plus, she had dreamed her entire life of living where she could participate in ocean activities such as whale watching and baby sea turtle releases. Puerto Vallarta has everything: ocean, marine life, mountains. Arriving in Puerto Vallarta was like turning up the color in our lives. Everything was brighter and more vivid.
TCP: What specific challenges, fears, or doubts did you face when considering a move to Puerto Vallarta?
E&S: For starters, we have adult children in the U.S., so we didn’t want to go too far away. We also were concerned about the logistics of buying property in another country. We know the rules in the U.S., but we were not as confident that we could identify a great property and navigate the paperwork in Mexico.
TCP: What steps did your agent take to help guide you through the process?
E&S: The first thing Roberto did was set us up with access to the MLS portal so we could begin learning the market. We spent hours on there! At first, we were open to everything—modern, traditional, the Marina, Zona Romantica, Conchas Chinas, yes, yes. The only thing we knew for sure was that we wanted a beautiful view.
Our tour with Roberto helped narrow down our wish list. Focusing on the properties we marked as “favorites,” he helped us understand the unique flavor of each neighborhood and each property type. We quickly realized that South Shore was the best area for us. We chose a property a little south of town where we could enjoy a quieter home but easily get to town whenever we wanted more activity.
As for the contract and purchase process, Roberto reassured us that he would be there to guide us at every step of the way, and this kept everything manageable. He was very patient, explaining everything clearly and giving us plenty of time to get comfortable at each stage before moving onto the next.
TCP: What motivated you to finally take the leap and purchase your condo?
E&S: It really was a gut feel! The condo we bought was not the one we thought we’d like best when we were making our favorites list. However, when we saw it in person, we could see our family sitting around the table, enjoying being together and enjoying the beautiful view of the water. And, there was a conservation area right on the property where they protect sea turtle eggs for safe hatching. It was a sign!
TCP: Were there any surprises (good or bad) along the way, and how were they handled?
E&S: The availability of transportation was a great surprise. Living south of town, we were afraid it would be difficult to get groceries or get to restaurants. In fact, taxis are everywhere, and it’s so easy to get wherever we need to go.
Another good surprise was how quickly we started meeting people and having fun. Our condo building is an active community, and our new neighbors welcomed us warmly. We have also already hosted family members, and we have met up with several friends from the U.S. who happened to be in Puerto Vallarta on vacation. We are also grateful to consider Roberto and his wife, Marcela, as friends now!
One bad surprise: The condo fees turned out to be higher than originally listed on the MLS, and the new number made us concerned that additional expenses would continue to crop up. All other expenses were pretty much as expected, but the condo fees went up even higher following a board meeting that took place shortly after we closed. That’s something buyers should be ready for when setting their budgets.
TCP: What advice would you give to someone in the U.S. or Canada who is ready but afraid to make the move?
E&S: Take it one step at a time and enjoy the whole process. It’s so easy to let your mind race ahead and worry about what happens 10 steps down the road. We focused instead on staying relaxed and keeping it fun. If it feels right, go ahead and take the next step. If at any point it’s no longer fun, you can course-correct and adjust the plan.
TCP: What’s one unexpected joy you’ve found since making Puerto Vallarta your second home?
E&S: We had no idea how nice it would feel to be called “amigos” throughout the day. It seems like a small thing, but it raises your spirits to be, quite literally, greeted as friends by everyone you meet.
TCP: How has this move allowed you to truly “Live by Design”?
E&S: “Live by Design” can mean many things, but the definition that resonates most with us is the idea of designing your own path. This move has allowed us to create a completely new direction for the next phase of our lives—one that includes a few dreams that we thought we gave up when we settled down to raise children. It took some energy and initiative to make a change in our lives. We are so glad we did it now.
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