"The economy and society of Castile was diverse and complex, but the economic ideas of the ragtag colonists were very simple in the main. They were to acquire lands and the labor to work them; such landholding in Spain involved immense prestige as well as wealth."
That is how T.R. Fehrenbach in Fire and Blood describes the Spanish who came in the first wave of settlement in Mexico. Men intent on becoming wealthy through the acquisition of land and the labor of others.
I had just read that section of his book when I walked past this house in Pátzcuaro. You can either rent or buy it. I don't know the financal arrangements. But it has nine bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.
At least, that is what the sign says. I did not bother to look inside -- even though, it is probably about 400 years old.
Back in 2007, I started to look for houses exactly like this. I had this romantic notion that I would move to an ancient house in Mexico with as many staff members as there were bedrooms. And all of my family and friends would flock to Mexico to be part of my dream world.
Of course, it did not turn out like that. And, in talking wth other expatriates, variations on that theme seems to run through a lot of people's minds. In its rawest form, it maniffests itsef as the hacienda in perfect condition that costs only $25,000.
And now that I have let the buy-a-house demon out of Pandora's box, I need to keep some sense of reason. The lord-of-the-manor syndrome is liable to make a reappearance.
You will see what I mean at the start of next week as I parade my three options before you.
It should be a fun trip.
17 comments:
The nine cuartos on that house sign probably means nine rooms total, not nine bedrooms. It's more common to use the word habitación for bedroom. I could be mistaken, of course. It happens.
But I l like the notion of becoming Lord of the Manor, and I vote that you buy a big, nice place appropriate for that.
I'm a member of a close knit tribe of friends who vacation together a few times a year ... we are getting older. One of the ladies had the idea of an old hotel on the beach in Mexico for our retirement/dotage. Off to Yucatan I went, tasked with pricing out old hotels. In the end, it worked out that building new made the better plan. This winter I hope to look at some other Latin coastlines than Yucatan's. Yucatan's coast looks like it might be underwater in not so many years...
I wouldn't hold out a lot of hope for all the family swarming to stay with you. We've been here almost 7 years and still not one family visit, and from what I hear from other expats, our case is not uncommon.
I do look forward to seeing what you finally decide to buy though.
Something like the Duke of Plaza Toro?
Well at least with a Kindle you wont need a library.
Just think of all the people that could come done and "crash" for a week or two....or three.
In the off season you could turn the extra rooms into classrooms to teach ESL classes....
Or not.....
When I first started looking for a home in Mexico, I, too looked in Patzcuaro and Barra, among others...looking forward to your posts this week.
A Lord would need a silk robe, and... never mind.
Great idea. I love your real estate adventure posts and its several years before my retirement so maybe your fixed base of operation will actually be in place by then.
They're definitely not giving away houses in Mexico. At least not in places where Gringos might congregate. I've been idly "house hunting" (and I use the term very loosely) in DF for a while. For the places I'd like to live (Roma/Condesa/Coyoacán) you can easily spend more than $500K USD for a house, and that wouldn't even be one of the more expensive houses around. Just south of Coyoacán Centro is a neighborhood called Cuadrante de San Francisco. There you need to spend at least USD $1 million to get in, and could easily spend multiples of that for a house. And while these house are nice and spacious, they aren't mansions with extensive grounds and pools for the most part.
Good luck house hunting! Given the need to modify and update post-purchase, I think the hunt is usually the best part.
Saludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where we do find it kind of astonishing that our house is worth less than many houses in DF.
And so, very interesting.
I remember, while remodeling the first house built by a gringo in PV, that my client said he was going to put it on the market for $85,000 US. This was 1991. At the time I thought, who in the world would pay that much for a house in Puerto Vallarta. It was 3 brs. 3baths and an indoor pool. Oh how naive I was! I'd love to know what Casa Caracol, located in Gringo Gulch would see for now.
I may need your decorating touch in any of the houses I am looking at. But especially one of them.
Bargains are just not here. But, like you, I enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Housing as blood sport.
Probably no more than the four or five I have had in the past four years.
We have owned a house but once in our 43 years together. That was for a period of just over two years, in Mountain View, AR. Other than that, we have always rented. Less responsibility, less hassle. (We have been fortunate to have good landlords most of the time.)
We have been renting this same house, out here "in the sticks", for 6 1/2 years. I wonder why our Mexican neighbors often ask if we are contento aquí.
Saludos, Don Cuevas
There is a lot to be said for renting. And it is not completely off of my list.
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