Decades ago, one of the monthly ladies’ magazines had a little column that was entitled “Put Your Head In Your Hands and Let Your Mind Roll By.” That has always been some of the best advice any one person can give to another. In the case of investing in real estate in Mexico, one only has to dream the dream – and then find it on a map of this magical country.
There are two kinds of people who ought to be investing in real estate in a little place called China, Nuevo Leon. The first group is avid fishermen (and fisher-women too). The second group is those who feel they need to remain near the border, possibly for health care reasons. We will discuss both groups’ needs here, but feel we must also include the group that just plain gets a kick out telling the folks back home that they have moved to “China.” That group needs no discussion, as they will find their way to China on their own and are guaranteed to have a marvelous time doing so.
Where is China, Nuevo Leon?
China, NL., is about 65 miles southwest of McAllen, TX, just off of an almost brand new four-lane highway, 121 miles west-southwest of Matamoros, and 126 miles south-southwest from Nuevo Laredo. It is also about 72 miles east of Monterrey, NL. The state provides an excellent online tourist map that even includes the locations of PEMEX stations. At the present time, the population of China is approximately 10,000 but, considering its proximity to La Presa El Cuchillo and to the southern border of Texas, this number should begin to grow rapidly in the near future.
Fishing in China, NL
Many of Mexico’s best bass fishing locations are man-made lakes that are named for the dams that created them, which is the basis for the name La Presa El Cuchillo – the world class bass fishing lake just outside of China, NL. This particular lake has the distinction of also being the largest reservoir for human drinking water in Latin America. The lake itself has only been open for sport fishing since 1994 but, since then, has distinguished itself as a favorite location for both national and international bass tournaments. Russ Bassdozer has an excellent article online that will be of great interest to those who love to bass fish and who are tempted to consider investing in Mexican real estate near the world class bass fishing lakes of north-central and north-eastern Mexico.
Health Care Concerns
There are millions of Americans who would love to try their hand at living in Mexico, at least part time, “if only” ….. some say that Mexico is too far away from home. Some worry about being far from home and not being able to use their Medicare or VA benefits in Mexico. Not to worry. The border between the U.S. and Mexico may be 1,969 miles long, but it is certainly not 1,969 miles wide and China, NL, is the perfect place for them. The road from China to McAllen is perfectly straight and it takes no more than an hour to cover the distance between them. McAllen is home to a brand new VA outpatient center. If more complex VA medical center care is necessary, it is available four hours away in San Antonio’s Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital. For those who use Medicare and private insurance, McAllen is now home to a variety of modern health care centers, including hospitals dedicated to specialties, such as cardiology and even a children’s hospital. For minor illnesses, it would be less expensive to see a local physician or combine a doctor’s visit with a trip into Monterrey, which is a modern health care center in and of itself.
Beware: Visitors from the North
For those who do decide to spend a few of their Mexican real estate investment dollars in China, NL, – even for part of the year – there is only one thing of which they must beware… and that is a constant stream of company coming to visit. China’s proximity to the border of the U.S., coupled with good roads, great fishing, the nearby cosmopolitan city of Monterrey, and cheap gas can mean only one thing – every friend and relative they have ever known in life will be coming down to visit before the end of your first year. A good dose of humor, plus a willingness to admit early that there is no way they can (nor should be expected to) provide a free vacation for that many people ought to resolve the issue to everyone’s satisfaction.
To learn more about China and all of Nuevo Leon, explore the links on Mexico Nuevo Leon.
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