Me and my boxes...my boxes and me.

We are *THIS* close. All the paperwork is ready and so it's just a matter of time before we sign the contract and move into our new place! Yipee!!! I don't remember the last time I've been so excited and eager to move and decorate and settle in. I realize that a lot has to do with the fact that I've been living out of my suitcase the last year and a half, so maybe this reaction has been influenced and skewed a little :P But still...excitement is in the air.


This is the nth time I've looked for an apartment now over the last 10 years...I can't even count. Of course, every country is different, and there are pros and cons to what's available depending on where you are in the world. For example, we didn't have an oven in Shanghai - don't ask me how I survived 4 years without one! We made do.


What surprised me the most about looking for a place in Mexico City was that every broker/owner touts the fact that the building has 24 hour security. In other parts of the world - this perk would imply that you can have anything delivered at any hour! In Mexico though, it's really all about safety. So at the end, everything is controlled with alarms and electric buzzers to enter the fortress that has become your apartment.


I don't know if it was just luck or what...but we found this place by total chance. Our little contemporary Mexican living space for now. At least until we can buy a place of our own at some point...







At the beginning of our hunt for our new space, our M.O. was the internet search on sites like Metros Cubicos and Aviso Oportuno. Really though, the easiest was to walk around (or drive around, if you have a car) and start calling the numbers you see hanging outside apartment buildings. This is how we got lucky!


I am also wondering how much paperwork is involved for foreigners who rent in Mexico City. I am thinking that maybe we had an advantage based on the fact that my gordo is Mexican, and therefore we had an easier time with all the documents...which isn't saying much actually, because we still had to prepare all sorts of "proofs" (if you will):

• Copia identificacion IFE fiador - this is the person who will back you up; co-signer I think is the word I am looking for.
• Copia escritura del fiador - deed of ownership; the co-signer must own property in Mexico City.
  
• Copia ultima boleta de preadial pagada - up-to-date real estate tax payment on said property.

I figure there is some relocating company that makes it easier for foreigners to deal with all the paperwork. The 2 websites I've found that seem to be the most helpful with real estate queries are Mexconnect and Solutions Abroad. In case any of you want to move here ;)


So with all this ilusion to move into our nueva casa...I just had to go through all my boxes that arrived from Shanghai and do a bit of organizing! So the morning was spent rummaging through about 25 boxes figuring out what should stay (meaning go into storage - at least until the Mexican winter) and what should go. Of course everything is important and I couldn't decide (these are all our earthly possessions afterall!), so all 25 boxes are moving in with us. :)