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It is a shame some "entitled" expat's are forcing restaurant's to make business decision's about breaking the law and allowing dog's in their restaurants. I think maybe if we print signs and distribute to restaurants saying this is a pet free premise or zone the expats will take the hint. Otherwise the restaurant could simply point to the sign. If a majority of restaurants do this the dog owners cannot discriminate against one. I think most restaurant owners are afraid to confront the dog owners and they should not have this burden put on them. I know their have been many posts on this forum about the dog problem but it is getting worse. Anyone else have a good idea?

One aspect to check into is how many owners are not paying fracc fees owed. This is a real problem with fraccs and condos in Mexico as the laws and tools management have here to collect from the "morosos" are very weak.

The major concern would be for unstable ground, as it is a common problem in that subdivision. Many lots are on rather unstable rubble and 'fill', with a tendency to shift. We looked at a home there, which needed "a bit of TLC". It was severely cracked and tilted. We thought it time to move on to another area. We were also concerned about the prospect of being so 'car-dependent' for every little thing, and by not having the ambiance of a nearby plaza, or various 'tiendas', etc. That is when we decided upon Chapala centro. You know us, and the rest of the story: A happy decade!

Oh, lord, here we go again. Check the area. Talk to the neighbors. No, the rules aren't restrictive; most are common sense. The majority of us who live here like it. This area is really hopping with a lot of construction and "gentrification." It's not a gated community, but that's never been a guarantee of protection. Use common sense and take precautions like you would anywhere. The water is supplied by the fracc's own well. We sometimes have a problem with a leak that needs to be fixed, but our water supply is pretty consistent. Willie mentioned land stability and he's absolutely correct. While some homes, like ours, were built on solid lava rock, others were built on the equivalent of shifting sands. Like anywhere, quality land in one spot doesn't guarantee the same for another. GET A HOME INSPECTION regardless of where you choose. No, it's not perfect, but it's nice to be away from the traffic and noise of Chapala and Ajijic.

Thank you everyone so much for taking the time to give advice on this. I really really appreciate it and will take into consideration everything that was said.

We read Rony's writing on Chapala Haciendas when we were looking for a house. How much has it changed since May 2015 when he wrote it? "The fact that you are asking the question (about wanting to live at the Haciendas) is already answering it...... and it has been asked quite often (which must mean something, no?). This is not going to help the sale of my chocolate, but ...... if I think of Chapala Haciendas I think of : lose Pittbulls that for the longest time have caused a lot of fear and harm there, I think of criminal activity (over the last 10 years, it is a looong list, but people tend to have a short memory) and easy escape routes (for potential criminals, almost immediately on a good escape route to Guadalajara), the police taking the longest time to get there (you will find posts about that here on the webboard), I think of a lot of bickering among the people who manage the Haciendas...... I have a lot of friends living there and personally, I would not even like to spend the night there. If your car breaks down,....... public transport is a problem too. If a bus passes by (even the 2nd class one), the driver might not even want to stop. Granted, lately, it seems that the criminal activity has been less of a problem, but it also appears that our region is entering another episode with a lot of turmoil. And I do envy the people there for living so close to nature and in a more quiet environment....... but not at any price. Yes, crime happens anywhere, but ... "priorities" is the key word.. To summarize.... Prices are pretty low there (compared to other fraccionamientos) and not without a reason. Check with people, who don't have any personal interest in defending it (or are able to rise above it) and use common sense (referring to the points I mentioned above). This is the personal conclusion from someone, who doesn't have a dog in this fight and has been following up the Haciendas for the last 10 years (through friends living there and the local media). And check with Mexicans. Through my employment project, I have sent a lot of people there and crime is their concern, going there to work (and returning home after 6 pm). And believe me, Mexicans know..... (they might not tell their employer directly) And to all the people living there, who will be angry with me now....... you can only really improve a situation, if you first admit the shortages and problems. You will be your own worst ennemy by ignoring it..... but, so be it. It is what it is and people will only believe what they want to believe. Did I answer your question ? Rony"

This thread from Al Berca, RVGringo, Wookie, Mudgirl and mine on Thursday at 3:50pm were all on finiquito.

We bought then sold 1 home here, and since purchased another. Each transaction included a new measurement of the houses by Chapala government. At the time of our sale, the property was measured slightly more than when we bought it (we had added a bodega) and we had to pay the back taxes. My guess is that the new measurement is required by the Notario.

And security

Might also want to do your due diligence on soil stability, water supply/quality...most of the normal day to day living expectations....from an old realtor.

We paid our ayudante of many years $40,000 MX when we moved...he was surprised and VERY grateful. It was the right thing to do. Also paid our cleaning lady...I thought she was going to cry....it was the right thing to do.

They did the "new analysis" by satellite in Mazatlan a few years ago and assessed us a huge increase in predial. I took copies of Google Earth plus actual photos to catastro and disputed their assessment.....turned out the satellite showed a large shadow from an adjoining building and they interpreted that shadow as a building. Be sure to check out their photos!

Why in the world would you think a car with CDMX plates is "probably" a chocolate? Customs import document? Liability insurance only? Your points are totally confused. I lived in Mexico City for 8 years, owned a car for a good portion of that time, never paid a 600 peso annual fee, and don't understand your reasoning. There is no such thing as a "tarifa circular"--maybe you are thinking of the annual smog revision sticker, but cars under a certain age are not required to have that. Can you please send me a link to an article that backs up your many points?

Let me guess... the Telcel store that you were dealing with is next to a second hand store. I also bought a phone from them that died. Avoid. Period. The one around the corner from them (beside Alex' Restaurant and opposite Chopsticks Restaurant) is the place to go. Ana Romero is impeccably honest and I highly recommend her. She even tried to fix the dud that the other place sold me.

Gracias, this is the first thing that has made sense to me. I had a 1-yr. plan in the US and could forget about my phone but it always worked when I needed it. Silly me to think I could expect the same service here. Wouldn't the shop owners KNOW that they can't pay for 1 year? Why did they lead me to believe I was paid up for a year if you can't do that? So, in other words, even if you PAY up front for a year, you still have to go in every month to renew it??? Sounds crazy to me, they did not explain that. And the couple always have sort of a "fishy" vibe about them when I go in there, they did NOT explain to me that I need to come in every month. If I had known that I wouldn't have bought a 1 yr. plan. I did have 2-month saldos on my last phone. And they did tell me that "everyone" gets those saldo messages from Telmex even if they are paid up?? WTF???

It's all about the plan you have. Make sure you understand same, otherwise, no matter how much money you have paid in advance, you could loose it all after a set period of time, like in one or two months with the basic amigo plan.

bmh, gracias, but maybe you did not understand my problem. I paid for a year so I would not have to keep paying every month. So why would I keep getting messages that tell me I have no saldo? I think the scam is that the SHOP never put the $$ in my account, that would be the scam. When I go back, I think they put 1 month in, it works once, but the problem always returns. And shouldn't they have given me a receipt for the purchase and the 1 year deposit? I am not blaming telcel but both shop owners for lying to me.

I just used Bestlab in Riberas for the first time at the recommendation of a neighbor who was very pleased with them. They are very thorough, especially at intake to make sure you are getting the correct tests for why you are there and have packages of tests that are available that are more thorough and less money than a battery of individual tests you request. The thoroughness of the intake procedure (fluent English, but mixed English and Spanish in my case) made me feel much more comfortable that they were going to do the tests correctly and I would not have to pay all over again at a different lab, which has occurred a few times in the past. Pricing was the same as other labs for the same work. I just had a full liver panel done (Perfil Hepatico) that contained two more tests than requested and was much less money than the individual tests I requested (at the instructions of my doctor.) Needless to say, my doctor was delighted to see the additional tests and accused me of watching too much Gray's Anatomy to know to ask for the additional tests. <g> They e-mail the results to you and your doctor (if requested) immediately. They are in the old Parker Insurance building, in between the new clinic and Tienda Pilar, in that same shopping center. Bestlab Laboratorio Clinico Hidalgo 248A col. Riveras del Pilar Chapala Jalisco, Mex. Cp. 45906 Tels: (376)6881174, 3310969173 Best Lab bestlab.chapala@hotmail.com

"Best Lab" in Ribera del Pilar. Excellent and fast results. Owner was the head chemist at Chopo.