SHORT AND LONG TERM RENTALS SERVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES

Short-Term Rental

May be useful when:

• Exploring a destination

• Arriving for the first time

• Testing a neighbourhood

• Staying for one season

• Searching for long-term housing locally

Common advantages:

• Furnished

• Flexible

• Easier to arrange remotely

• Utilities may be included

Common trade-offs:

• Higher monthly cost

• Seasonal pricing

• Less stability

• Limited ability to personalize the property

Long-Term Rental

May be useful when:

• You know the area

• You are planning an extended stay

• You want a lower monthly cost

• You want greater housing stability

Possible requirements:

• Formal lease

• Deposit

• First month’s rent

• Proof of income

• References

• Guarantor or alternative guarantee

• Legal-policy or screening process

• Minimum term

Requirements vary. Ask rather than assume.

The Five Rental Checks

Before committing, verify:

1. The Person

Who are you dealing with, and have you confirmed their identity?

2. The Property

Does it exist, and have you seen the actual property?

3. The Authority

Does the person own it or have documented authority to rent it?

4. The Agreement

Do you understand the lease, costs, responsibilities and exit terms?

5. The Payment

Is the payment traceable, documented and going to the verified person or business?

EXAMINE ONE RENTAL LIKE A RESIDENT

Choose one rental you saved yesterday. Look beyond the photos and ask:

About the Price

• What currency is the rent quoted in?

• Is the price monthly?

• Is it short-term or long-term?

• Does the price change by season?

• Is tax included, if applicable?

• Are there maintenance or administration fees?

• How much is the deposit?

• Is advance rent required?

About the Property

• Is it furnished?

• What is actually included?

• Is there air conditioning?

• Are there screens?

• Is there hot water?

• Is there a washing machine?

• How is water supplied?

• Is the property suitable for pets?

• Is there evidence of humidity, leaks or existing damage?

About the Monthly Expenses

• Is electricity included?

• Is water included?

• Is gas included?

• Is internet included?

• Who pays for pool or garden maintenance?

• Can the landlord provide examples of previous bills?

About the Agreement

• What is the minimum term?

• What identification or financial information is required?

• Is a guarantor required?

• Is there a legal-policy or screening fee?

• How can the lease be ended?

• Under what conditions is the deposit returned?

• Who handles repairs?

• Are pets included in the written agreement?

About Verification

• Who owns the property?

• Who is advertising it?

• If it is an agent, what authority do they have?

• Can the property be viewed in person?

• Can they provide a live video tour?

• Does the payment-account name match the verified party?

• Will you receive a signed agreement and receipt?

BUILD YOUR PERSONAL RENTAL CHECKLIST

Today, you will create the checklist you can use when you begin contacting landlords, agents or property managers.

You are not sending money or applying for a rental today.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Your Steps

1. Open the Notes app on your phone.

2. Open your Can I Really Move to Mexico? folder.

3. Create a new note.

4. Copy and paste the prompt below into your note.

5. Use one listing from Day 5 to identify which questions it does and does not answer.

6. Save the checklist for future rental conversations.

Copy and Paste This Into Your New Note

DAY 6 — MY RENTAL CHECKLIST

The type of rental I would probably choose first is:

Short-term / Long-term / I’m not sure yet

This feels like the best starting point because:

Find one possible rental and paste the link here:

The monthly rent is:

Before renting it, I would need to confirm:

• What is included in the rent
• The deposit and payment terms
• The exact location and neighbourhood
• Internet, water and air conditioning
• Pet rules, if applicable
• The lease and cancellation terms

The three questions I would ask are:

1.

2.

3.

Before sending money, I will:

☐ Verify the person and their authority to rent the property
☐ View it in person or through a live video tour
☐ Compare it with similar rentals
☐ Get the terms and promises in writing
☐ Use a traceable payment method and obtain a receipt

One warning sign that would make me walk away is:

My safest plan for finding my first home in Mexico is:

RENTAL LISTINGS

*** remember that most websites will have the option to translate to Enlgish at the top of the search bar ***

Official Rental-Fraud Guidance

Mexico’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection recommends:

• Verifying the landlord’s identity

• Confirming the person’s relationship to the property

• Viewing the property in person or by live video

• Questioning unusually low prices

• Avoiding advance payments without a clear agreement

• Protecting personal information

• Using traceable payments

Mexican government rental-scam guidance

Condusef also warns against sending deposits before verifying the person and property:

Condusef: Protect yourself from rental fraud

Written Agreements

Profeco’s general rental guidance identifies important lease details, including:

• Names of the parties

• Property address

• Description and condition

• Rental amount

• Guarantee or deposit

• Residential use

• Lease term

• Additional responsibilities

Profeco: Process for renting a home or apartment

Rental law can vary by jurisdiction, and private residential disputes may require a qualified Mexican lawyer rather than a consumer complaint process.

Simple Online Verification

Try:

• Search the listing’s exact wording in quotation marks

• Use a reverse-image search on the property photos

• Search the phone number and email address

• Search the person or company name with:

  • fraude

  • estafa

  • opiniones

  • reseñas

• Compare the same property across platforms

• Confirm that map imagery matches the exterior and surroundings

• Ask for a live video showing specific features and the view outside

• Connect on local Facebook groups in the area and ask if anyone has dealt with this person, or has references. In Mexico it is very normal for these kinds of posts to get personalized referrals and recommendations.

These checks can reveal warning signs, but none of them independently proves that a rental is legitimate.

Today, you learned how to look beyond a rental listing and created a checklist you can use when you are genuinely ready to search.

You do not need to secure a home yet.

You need to know how to ask better questions and recognize when something does not feel right.

Tomorrow, we will explore the legal foundation of your stay:

Would you be entering Mexico as a visitor—or should you investigate temporary or permanent residency?