Ok, you’ve been in Mexico for a while now renting hotel rooms & Airbnbs and now you’re finally ready to settle down for a long-term home to rent. Whether you’re looking for an apartment, condo, or house, I got you covered! Here’s a small guide with tips on my top places to find your next home to rent in Mexico!
Disclaimer:
Remember to always be safe and think smart when looking for a new home and giving anybody money. Be aware of your surroundings and who you’re dealing with. Be a responsible adult. This message was brought to you by The Black Gringo. Now let’s get started!
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is my #1 go-to when searching for apartments to rent. There are multiple ways to search Marketplace for homes. Be aware some postings are not in the correct category, price, or location so you’d want to use a variety of search methods to find all the homes you’re looking for. The first method is using the search bar. Here are some sample search terms to use: “departamentos, departamentos en renta, casa en renta, townhouse..”. You’ll be greeted with numerous properties to click through. You can browse their pictures, read the description of the home, and contact the poster. Noticed I said “poster” as some listings are not posted by the owner. It may be a real estate agent. In Mexico, the real estate industry is regulated differently and you don’t need a license to become an “agent”. Some agents work with the landlord to find tenets with them. This is okay, just be mindful of this. Regardless, never leave a deposit without first inspecting the home.
Secondly, is your location filter. Click on your location and you’ll be met with a popup where you can set the city and kilometer radius of your search. This helps search for different properties only in a specific neighborhood or region.
Thirdly is using the “Property Rental” category. When you click it you’ll be met with another map but this one will display an overview of all rental options posted in your designated area. This option is very useful for pinpointing location and seeing your options by price. Remember to use all three options together (and separately) to see all the prospective homes. Some other filters you can utilize are minimum and maximum price, bedrooms, bathrooms, rental type, etc.
Remember, sometimes a property will be shown in one option but not another so be sure to search separately as well. For example, some properties may be searched for using keywords but are not in the “Rental Properties” category. Alternatively, they may be listed in the wrong location on the map. This is common in my city where properties are listed at the center of the city but are really in a different neighborhood. This is not necessarily a scam as the home may be listed as such for privacy or just lack of detail in the post. Also, owners/agents will often post their homes for $1. That’s usually just a tactic to draw people into their listing so make sure you get the real price and any other important information from the owner. Important questions to ask them are, “What is the minimum term length for the lease? What is the deposit and is it refundable? What utilities if any are included in the rent price?”
Facebook Groups
Outside of Facebook Marketplace we also have Facebook Groups. There are tons of groups dedicated to not only home rentals but also information for expats in Mexico. One of the first things you should do before moving to Mexico is to find your city Expat group (I’ll cover this along with other tips in a later post). Search for the expat group in your particular city like “Expats in Mexico City”. They’ll be other expats in the area that know about the housing market in your city along with other useful information specific to your city. You can make many new friends there as well!
Also, there are most likely housing-specific groups for your city and even neighborhood. For example, if you’re in Mexico City search for “Se renta Mexico City” or “Se renta Roma Mexico City” for groups that specialize in posting homes for rent.
For Rent Signs
A typical for rent sign in Mexico
While Facebook is a very useful (and my go-to) tool, many properties are never posted online. Luckily, there are for rent signs posted all over the city. The picture above is what they tend to look like. You may see variations in wording like “se renta”. Whenever you see them, take note of the number and call or message them for more information. They may use WhatsApp so make sure you have your WhatsApp set up just in case. They’ll speak Spanish so make sure you have a trustworthy Spanish speaker to help you or have your Google Translate on deck.
Bonus tip: Take a bike ride through a neighborhood you’re interested in and take note of all the for rent signs. You’ll get some exercise, housing prospects, and some sightseeing!
Find a Real Estate Agent/Agency
There are many real estate agents/agencies across Mexico. You can usually find them on Facebook posting homes or you navigate directly to their site/social media. They’ll have multiple homes for you to choose from based on budget and other requirements and will take you on tours to see the ones you’re interested in. You can contact them directly and some specialize in assisting English clients. Remember to always be safe and think smart before going anywhere, especially with a stranger!
While many agents/agencies are specific to their regional location, you can use a site like Inmueblas24 to find homes all across Mexico.
Bonus Tip: TikTok can be a useful tool too! My barber found her new home there. Real Estate agencies/agents post their homes on there as well.
Even if you haven’t made the decision to travel yet, taking a look at what’s out there can give you motivation & ideas to travel and explore a new place, especially when you can’t travel at the moment. Also, you’ll find that it’s very informative to take a peak in the housing market to get a feel for the style, prices, and types of homes in your future city. When you’re ready to find a new home, this guide will be sure to help. And if you’re searching now… Happy Hunting!
TBG
P.S. Once you find a home you’re interested in, there is a whole process in Mexico for signing your contract. I’ll have another post detailing that process in the near future. Stay tuned!
