0 sats \ 5 replies \ @elvismercury 22 Sep 2023 \ on: Bitcoiner/nomad left Europe for Mexico 7 years ago - AMA bitcoin
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Any issues getting a long-term visa? When I wanted to this in Spain years ago there was a mountain of bullshit, and I think you needed something like $70k in the bank, which I did not have :(
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How do you find a place to live? How do you pay that rent, from your Western bank?
It's not too difficult to get a visa. Depending on which one you get, you need some proof of income. During covid there was a special program that was even easier, I could use that option because I'd been in Mexico before 2020. Hired a lawyer, it was a breeze, no proof of nada. Cost me around 1100 us.
You also have little 'less official' options in Mexico of course 8-), I hear they work pretty well. There's also scammers active though.
About accomodation:
You pay rent in cash almost everywhere. I'm still looking for a better route to get cash pesos, through western bank you pay at least 1.5%.
I wrote before:
While travelling I mostly use booking.com, but they're going downhill. Their reviews are more realistic then Airbnb and I got good discount because I've used them a lot.
Long time stays, well, talking to others or renting on booking/airbnb for a few days and then talk to the owner. In Mexico I've also rented just from a paper sign behind the window of a family house. It's quite common and fun to do it like that. Never had any issues.
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In the 2000s I did an Argentina version of what you're doing, and getting accommodation was such a PITA -- there were some services in the middle to help match-make but they took such a massive cut. The "rent from some larger org, then arrange something with the owner on the side" is still the best way, apparently.
I don't mind middlemen, but I do like them to provide some value and not just rent-seek.
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To me, just talking with people (locals or other expats) is the best. Markets are more chaotic in Latam, a lot of options are not listed online, that means there are good deals to be found.
George Gammon has made this a business with real estate in Medellin. He finds and buys bargain properties via informal connections, improves them and sells them to expats online.
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There's such a massive opportunity in LatAm for people with super fluent Spanish and a deep understanding of the local circumstances (which are often rife with corruption, requiring bribery to get required legal permits, services, etc. to happen in a timely fashion, or at all) to serve as an interface with gringos.
This is what I meant by the middlemen I'm happy to pay for -- by all means, help me get my internet up and running in less than six months! I'm no longer in a position to occupy this niche, sadly.
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100%.
Here there's actually not so much corruption, but what you said about understanding the local situation is spot on. Not everyone can do this. You have to be patient and smile a lot, invest in connections.
Anyone interested in these opportunities, happy to share my ideas.
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