Click HERE to watch video
Why Retire In Mexico?

Ecovillage Mexicommunity

Ecovillage Mexicommunity is a project to develop affordable, ecological housing designed for people of all ages. The primary characteristics of this effort are:

The initial project will be built in the Mexican State of Oaxaca on one or both available parcels of land located within short driving distance from the Capital City of Oaxaca (population about 250,000).

One available site is near the village of Site One. It consists of 75 acres of mostly flat land that has excellent year-round access to abundant water supplies. It is located about 15 minutes from the City of Oaxaca by car.

The second site is near the village of Site Two. It is about one-third the size of the other and has essentially the same topographic and natural resource characteristics. It is located about 30minutes from the City of Oaxaca by car.

Affordability

The target price of the homes is $120,000. These properties should more than hold their value. They are expected to appreciate substantially. Recent property appreciation has been approximately 10-15 percent per year. To maintain affordability and discourage speculators, we will consider limiting appreciation to increases in the cost of living.

The cost of living in Mexico is conservatively estimated to be less than 50 percent of that in the United States or Canada due to the lower cost of housing construction ($50 per square foot compared to $100 to $300), the reduced need for energy for heating and cooling, the ability to generate electricity with photoelectric panels and heat water with solar heaters, the markedly lower cost of property taxes (less than $30 per month) and the lower cost of food, healthcare, transportation and labor.

Exclusive of the purchase cost of the home, daily living costs can be less than $20 per day.

Mortgage interests rates in Mexico, are currently 12 percent or more. We do not recommend financing the purchase of this home. Rather, we strongly suggest purchase of the home.

We believe that it’s important to maintain the affordability of the home. Property prices in Mexico in recent years have appreciated 10-15 percent. At this rate of appreciation, property prices will double in less than 5 years. The members of each community will develop a policy that permits a reasonable balance between appreciation and affordability. We are currently researching this issue.

Energy

Living in Oaxaca will markedly reduce or eliminate the expenditures to heat and cool the living environment due to the favorable climate:
HYPERLINK "http://oaxacalive.com/weather.htm" http://oaxacalive.com/weather.htm
Temperatures rarely are uncomfortably hot or cold, and passive solar heating and cooling strategies maintain the living environment in a comfortable range year-round. In the event that heating is required to ‘remove the chill’ in the early morning occasionally, readily available electric space heaters are appropriate, especially since they will be powered by solar-generated electricity.

Currently, the cost of fuel for automobiles is subsidized. When gasoline costs climbed to more than $4 in the US, the cost in Oaxaca was about $2.50 a gallon. (also, see ‘transportation’ below). The use of energy efficient automobiles will markedly reduce or eliminate the need for gasoline.

Community Design

Healthcare

Food Production

Site One will eventually consist of six neighborhoods while Site Two will consist of 2. Each site is located on property that is currently used for agricultural production in areas, which have adequate water resources. To complement this water supply, each community will employ a carefully designed system of wastewater management.

Community gardens will be an important part of each site. These gardens will serve a dual purpose – food production and daily, productive physical activity. Paid laborers from the nearby community will complement the efforts of residents.

Transportation

Car That Runs on Air

Why Retire In Mexico?