Post: #201

(10-27-2016 08:59 AM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  Do you think Condesa and Roma have an overhyped RE bubble? Gringos keeps raving about it, so it has me thinking they're driving the price up and it should come down later.

So right after I posted that I've been living in 'authentic' Iztapalapa, I moved to Condesa for three months to housesit for a Mexican friend while he's out of town. Although I've lived in colonia Roma twice, I've never lived in Condesa proper before. I can't comment on real estate sales prices, but rental prices are, in decreasing order: Polanco > Condesa > Roma. This doesn't mean that Roma is cheap; compared to the rest of the city, it is expensive. But for anyone earning US dollars, rents will look cheap here at the moment due to the exchange rate. Rental prices do seem to go up regularly and aggressively. Inflation in Mexico is higher than in the US. (However, there is a form of rent control where once you sign a contract, your yearly increases are capped at a low percent.) Five years ago I was paying $12,500 MXN for a sweet place in colonia Roma. That's the same rent for the place I'm housesitting now, which is very pleasant but not a luxury apartment. In general, the biggest rental price differences are probably not based so much on location as on whether you're talking old building or new construction. A doorman building that is new construction (and has parking, which they usually do) is always going to go for more. No getting around that. (Speaking of parking, I can't see the need for having a car unless you need it to get to work or plan to make weekend get-aways. Uber has taken the rough edge off of taxis.)

By the way, bordering neighborhoods like Escandón (just south of Condesa) are a little cheaper and have more of the older housing stock. On the other side of Reforma, San Rafael is another neighborhood that has cheaper housing but is a bit sketchier in some parts. Both of these neighborhoods have some upscale housing here and there but it doesn't predominate. If one is looking to impress, neighborhoods like Escandón and San Rafael will not do the trick, even if the place is awesome. Narvarte and la Del Valle are farther south and are neighborhoods that could also be considered.

A foreigner could make money helping other foreigners relocate and/or visit to Mexico City. With no disrespect intended towards Mexicans, I have to say that the ones I have known in tourism don't seem to understand what foreigners are looking for. (Note to self: why am I not in this business?) I doubt that the presence of foreigners is driving up prices here in Mexico City. There just aren't that many of us compared to the locals. You'll see them from time to time in Condesa at certain sidewalk restaurants or Starbucks but numerically it's a drop in the bucket.

Post: #202

^^ Fully agree. I lived in la Condechi (condesa) for a total of 6 months. If you want to stay in that area, take a walk around there during the day time and you will see a plethora of for rent and for sale signs. It's always good to have a native spanish speaker call them as a few of them see dollar signs when a gringo calls. I'd suggest a pad on Avenida Amsterdam if possible. Honeys would love to meet me there and they have gym(a little over priced) and a Superama within close proximity. Super lit at night and safe. I've walked around there drunk out of my mind at all times of the night. Also Condesa has more of a small town fill in a big city, more my style when I wasn't in the mood to see 50k mofos walking by.

I would not recommend renting monthly off airbnb. They will rape you good. I estimate that they increase prices by at least 50-75% in some cases. I found my pad by having a few chicas I banged go looking for me. The beauty of Mexican culture is that once a seniorita likes you she will go out of her way to help you and take pleasure in it (Usually lol). Reach out to Couch surfers also. Those people are weird, but super helpful.

But if you live in Condesa make sure you get the basic fresa starter pack = a puppy, skinny jeans, iphone 6 plus, starbucks coffee and a worship of all things European.

-CD

Post: #203

(10-28-2016 01:54 AM)coverdoc Wrote:  But if you live in Condesa make sure you get the basic fresa starter pack = a puppy, skinny jeans, iphone 6 plus, starbucks coffee and a worship of all things European.

-CD

Jajajajaa!!! Nailed it, I actually picked up one of the hottest girls I ever went on date with I picked up in Starbucks in Colonia Roma lmao. I own an iPhone 6 plus, drink starbucks and do prefer skinny jeans. Fuck am I fresita?

For real though the Starbucks' around Roma / Condesa are so easy to pickup chicks, I don't even daygame really and all these cute girls just sitting around reading (or pretending to be reading) their bullshit Paulo Coehlo just waiting for some gringo to talk to them.

Yes I am bringing my daschund back to Mexico, he's already been to Sayulita, Valle de Bravo and DF. Who needs tinder when u can take ur dog to the park, its like cheating. Nothing says you're part of the Latino 1% more then traveling in an airplane with your little shit dog haha. You guys down there in DF wanna borrow him for some park daygame i'll rent him out by the hour


Flyin on the 'reg

Would any of you guys be interested if I wrote a post on the process of traveling with your dog abroad, how to do it, paperwork etc? I do it all the time ...

Thread highjack over

Thanks for the great advice guys I really appreciate it, seriously.

Post: #204

Haha! Frankiecred, dog game recognized.

Post: #205

(10-28-2016 02:58 AM)frankiecred Wrote:  

(10-28-2016 01:54 AM)coverdoc Wrote:  But if you live in Condesa make sure you get the basic fresa starter pack = a puppy, skinny jeans, iphone 6 plus, starbucks coffee and a worship of all things European.

-CD

Jajajajaa!!! Nailed it, I actually picked up one of the hottest girls I ever went on date with I picked up in Starbucks in Colonia Roma lmao. I own an iPhone 6 plus, drink starbucks and do prefer skinny jeans. Fuck am I fresita?

For real though the Starbucks' around Roma / Condesa are so easy to pickup chicks, I don't even daygame really and all these cute girls just sitting around reading (or pretending to be reading) their bullshit Paulo Coehlo just waiting for some gringo to talk to them.

Yes I am bringing my daschund back to Mexico, he's already been to Sayulita, Valle de Bravo and DF. Who needs tinder when u can take ur dog to the park, its like cheating. Nothing says you're part of the Latino 1% more then traveling in an airplane with your little shit dog haha. You guys down there in DF wanna borrow him for some park daygame i'll rent him out by the hour


Flyin on the 'reg

Would any of you guys be interested if I wrote a post on the process of traveling with your dog abroad, how to do it, paperwork etc? I do it all the time ...

Thread highjack over

Thanks for the great advice guys I really appreciate it, seriously.

Haha bro it's the best kept secret of Condesa. You could go to Starbucks on señora and game a decent 7 every hour on the hour. None of those bitches are doing work either. Every girl I opened chatted me up and wasn't doing shit. A word of advice: Starbucks and Superama are the two places a gringo can clean up. Both overpriced, both saturated with fresa bitches who have nothing else to do. Drop the can you help me find or translate line and the second she ask where you are from just play don't fuck it up game.

Sorry to say man, eres una fresa.

Please please please post the dog game. I'm finishing up grad school in a few months and will have 6 months off so I'm coming back to DF to fully learn Spanish and party my ass off for cheap. I'm getting a Shih Tsu puppy the day I finish my last exam and he'll be my traveling buddy between DF and Europe. I'm interested in travel regulations with a pup so drop the sheet!!

-CD

Post: #206

(10-28-2016 01:54 AM)coverdoc Wrote:  It's always good to have a native spanish speaker call them as a few of them see dollar signs when a gringo calls.

Good point. Prices sometimes go up when they hear a foreign accent. Definitely something to be aware of.

Here are my tips on how to rent an apartment in Mexico City and some related issues for anyone considering relocating here. Renting a place in Mexico City is not as easy as you might hope (and not as easy as in other parts of Mexico, 'en provincia'). If you're imagining Mexico as a place without laws or rules, where you just walk in and plunk down your money, you may be unprepared for the level of bureaucracy you will have to negotiate here at times. It does become easier if you're not on a tight budget or if you have local contacts or a local job. Some additional issues may arise if you are on a six-month tourist visa rather than having 'residente' status.

It can be quite difficult to find medium/short-term rentals, anything under a year. Many landlords -- and especially their representatives -- will shut you down immediately if they sense that's what you're looking for. Six months would be a bare minimum, but they'll always prefer one year. It's better to say that you are permanently relocating. Possibly for legal considerations, some landlords prefer to keep their unit vacant for a year or more until their ideal tenant arrives. They can be maddeningly inflexible, especially if you are not dealing directly with the owner. One way around this is to offer to pay your whole stay in full, if you have the cash. Be careful with this option but it does exist and you may have to bring it up. This (or the offer to pay several months of security deposit) may make their set-in-stone requirements disappear.

To find out more about the aval/fiador (co-signer) that is commonly required in Mexico City, see my earlier post here.

If you're from the US, you may be wondering whether craigslist is a good way to find rentals in Mexico City. Mexicans in general do not know about or use craigslist. This means that many of the listings there will either be priced for foreigners (especially if the ad is in English) or may even be scams. Don't rule it out but don't expect much. For online listings, try something like vivanuncios (in Spanish).

If you're looking for shared housing, there's a site called compartodepa (el depa = departamento = apartment). I've also heard of dadaroom. I found a room once via compartodepa. Screen your roommate carefully.

As mentioned earlier in the thread, walking around the neighborhoods you are considering and looking for rental signs in apartment windows is a good strategy. (Occasionally the sign will refer to a different apartment or even a different location.) Also, talk to friends. They may know of unadvertised or about-to-come-on-the-market units. If they start by asking how much you are willing to spend, understand that they may be looking out for the other guy's interests, not yours.

In some parts of Mexico, there's something advertised as an 'apartment for foreigners' (departamento para extranjeros). These will cost more but will not be dumpy and they'll be open to short term rentals without a local co-signer and without having to prove income, etc.

Cheap studio or one-bedroom apartments are rare. Most of the existing housing stock was built with families in mind. In general, it is the newer luxury buildings where you will find one-bedroom apartments. Those will usually cost more than two-bedroom apartments in older buildings. As for older two-bedroom apartments, you may find that the bathroom or kitchen is off of one of the bedrooms, making it less than ideal for sharing with a roommate. Again, these were designed with families in mind, where lack of privacy is somehow considered a plus. There is a special type of studio apartment called a 'cuarto de azotea' (azotea = roof). These will be extremely small and may not have much of a kitchen, if any. They are literally on the roof.

In high-end buildings, doormen are a reality. They can receive packages for you, which is very practical at times. You won't have to worry about being home to take out the garbage at the exact moment that the garbage truck passes. The doorman won't bat much of an eye if you bring a different girl home every time (as opposed to some hotels that will frown at or prohibit guests in your room), but you may have to wake him up if you come in late. Don't be overly friendly with the doorman; it is better to maintain a professional distance, as Mexicans do with those who serve them.

Landlords are not terribly responsive in Mexico City. You may be expected to arrange for minor repairs yourself and be at home to wait for the plumber. (The landlord would not want to be in your apartment without you or leave a worker there.) Security deposits are sometimes not returned. Many Mexicans solve this problem by not paying the last month's rent.

Finding someone 'de confianza' to clean your apartment is harder than it looks. The going rate at the moment is between 200 and 300 pesos if you go direct, although that will vary by neighborhood and size of apartment. Someone who has a great 'chacha' (cleaning lady, housekeeper, offensive term to some) may not want to share them.

One more local custom: the 'socio-economic interview/investigation' (estudio socioeconómico). Some agencies (or the landlords they represent) will want to know what kind of person you are as part of your rental application. They will hire an investigator/interviewer to go to your current residence, see your place, interview your neighbors about you. They are trying to get a feel about what kind of person you are and whether you are who you say you are. You may or may not have to pay an extra fee for this. That neighbor who you once told to turn down his music? He'll give you a 2 out of 5.

Almost everything I've mentioned here is based on some mistake that I've made at one time or another or some misunderstanding that I've had. Hopefully you'll start out better informed than I was. Good luck and get a receipt.

Post: #207

I will be there most likely April 26th for a month, if anyone knows of an apartment available for rent, I would really appreciate any info. Interested in Condesa - Roma North - Z. Rosa triangle but would consider other areas too
Would also share a bigger place with a RF member, could be fun.

Post: #208

Currently in Mexico City and learned an important lesson:

In the US, I have an international plan where I can use telcel in Mexico without any charges. Last night I was in the polanco neighborhood when, to my shock, I lost ALL cell service. No bars, no 3G, no LTE. And the worst part was I was supposed to meet up with a tinder chica shortly.

I tried everything that had worked when I'd experience service hiccups in the USA: switch to airplane mode then back, switch to "no cellular data" then back, restart the phone. Still nothing!

So I had to navigate a taxi using landmarks back to my airbnb. Thank God I had enough pesos to pay a cab since I couldn't use uber.

Here's the solution that I happened upon at random: some carriers boot non-customers randomly, and you have to "roam" to restablish a signal. So turn on "data roaming" (which I have never used before), wait one minute as it connects back to your 3G or LTE network, then turn it off. Boom - you're reconnected to your service with no fear of roaming charges.

Wish I'd been able to figure that out last night. At least I made it back to my airbnb safely. This happened in a neighborhood surrounded by apple stores and Starbucks. If it'd happened in the barrio....

Post: #209

Nothing would have happened to you in a barrio, as long as you mind your biz you're cool.

As much as I hate apple, this is one reason I like iPhones...you can just find a wifi spot nearby and use iMessage since it doesn't need cell service.

Post: #210

I've been here for 3 days and it's going to be a bit depressing heading back to the US tomorrow. I don't think I've ever experienced such friendliness and kindness from the people in any other place that I've been to. This is why traveling is so good.

Post: #211

(03-18-2017 09:59 AM)markygras Wrote:  In the US, I have an international plan where I can use telcel in Mexico without any
charges. Last night I was in the polanco neighborhood when, to my shock, I lost ALL cell service.

Sorry to hear that. As Cattle Rustler said, you can hit up a wifi spot (Starbucks - as long they're open; the username is always [email protected] (without dot com). At the time of this writing, the password is panini20. It changes every few months. Supposedly there'll be wifi in the metro system later this year.)

Quote:Thank God I had enough pesos to pay a cab

If you don't have cash on you but you do have some back at your place, you can always pay the cabbie once you get to your destination. That's fairly common.

Post: #212

Also, this is one good thing WhatsApp, FB Messenger, and other data texting apps have over regular SMS texting. You can just use a nearby WiFi spot.

I remember meeting girls in the Metro 11 years ago and not having any signal in the underground platforms. I would need to go upstairs near the entrance and use my phone. Actually, I fucking remember some girls not having a phone and I would need to wait for their call from a public LADATEL (the ones with a card) because I got lost and couldn't find where they were. Then some of those bitches would call and let it ring 2x and hang up because they did not want to be charged for the call..or their phone credit would run out and they couldn't reply. Those were some fucking times.

Do they still have those public LADATEL phones?

I remember before the change phones came out I had to shell out 20-30 pesos for a calling card, on a call that was going to last 30 seconds....so I kept the bitch on the phone on purpose until 55 seconds then said bye and hung up.

Post: #213

To give a few other notes regarding my trip to Mexico City this weekend:

- as has been mentioned before in this thread, Mexico City is like the only place in the world where you can get better currency exchange rates at the airport rather than elsewhere. But there's a trick: When you leave the arrivals/baggage area, there's tons of currency exchange places on the lower level where you will initially be. Take the escalator upstairs to departures. MUCH better rates. I was seeing like 18.00 pesos per dollar downstairs - a 9 second elevator ride and I saw 18.80 (this weekend the official rate was 19.07).

- Everything is so cheap that you almost start to feel guilty. Uber rides from one side of the city to the other would cost $3 USD. Round trip bus rides to the pyramids of Teoticaun (45 min bus ride) was 100 mexican pesos - so about $5. At lunch I would order a glass of white wine with my meal (if I was in a cafe rather than getting street tacos). It'd come out to $2. The most expensive meal I had was a huge buffet at the Museum of Anthropology which came out to $10 USD. And it was like a vegas buffet. Basically it's really difficult to overspend there.

- When leaving via the airport, change out your money BEFORE going through customs/security. Once you're at the gates, there's only one exchange place, and there's a huge line.

- I experienced ZERO stomach problems while there. I drank bottled water (which is safe), always asked for a glass with no ice (the ice at restaurants will usually be made from tap water), and never saw any food that wasn't appetizing. It still pays to exercise some caution. While walking in Chapultec Park, I got a bottle of water from a street vendor. When I went to unscrew the cap, I didn't hear a click-click sound. So into the trash it went. (was potentially a reused bottle filled with tap). Also I bought one of those uv-light purification pens that you stir around in water. Was only $45 and I used it for the tap water that i needed for brushing my teeth/gargling.

- If you are 5'10 or taller, you will feel like a giant there. And you will get endless stares.

- Throughout my entire trip, children and teens would run up to me and ask to take a selfie with me. This happened like 19 times in 2 days. It was explained to me later that these are upper-middle class students who get extra credit in their English language class for having conversations with English-speaking tourists, and either capturing it on video or having at least a cell phone photo for proof.

- If you're staying in the city on a Friday night, go to the lucha libre show at Arena Mexico. It is an unforgettable experience. It's packed, $15 USD can get you up-close seats, and the show is amazing. The ring-girls are all dimes, the wrestlers do high flying acrobatics, are heavily roided-up, incorporate fire/flames, and in between matches there's dance performances (like serious performances, like a flamenco performance in the ring, square dancing girls on the entrance ramp, etc). Plus, for $4 USD, they sell these giant coca-cola cups where they pour two bottles of corona in it for you.

- I went to Mexico City almost exclusively to practice my language skills. I've been very dedicated at learning spanish for about 6 months and wanted to try immersion. If you're looking to pick up girls, Alameda Park is the place to go. It seemed like everyone there was making out.

- Interjet had an insane amount of leg room. More than any i'd ever seen on an economy flight before. Aeromexico serves free alcohol. They just kept giving us more and more wine during the flight. It was like everyone on the plane was getting hammered and the stewardess/stewards were cool with it.

Post: #214

Badass info in this thread.

How are the internet speeds in good neighborhoods like Condesa? Can you get decent service inside your apartment?

I ask because I'm in Texas and feel like a moron for not making the voyage to Mexico City. I should really spend some time there with the good exchange rate.

Post: #215

I was in Condesa and I had no problems with the Internet at my spot. Many neighborhoods also have that free InfinitumMovil Wifi that you can use if needed.

Post: #216

(03-19-2017 04:17 PM)markygras Wrote:  - Uber rides from one side of the city to the other would cost $3 USD.

That's a slight exaggeration, or perhaps it depends on what you mean by 'from one side of the city to another'. At the moment (holiday here today, so light traffic), Santa Fe to Pantitlán (west to east) is $9 USD and IPN Zacatenco to Perisur (north to south) is $11 USD. During rush hour, much higher rates would apply. But yes, cheap. (Metro may be faster, depending on the route.)

Quote:- I experienced ZERO stomach problems while there.

Fear of air pollution, street crime or getting sick keep away a lot of visitors. These were bigger issues 20 years ago than now but it takes a long time for the word to get out. Guidebooks are very conservative.

Quote:- If you are 5'10 or taller, you will feel like a giant there.

Remember to duck if you're standing up on the smaller street buses (peseros/peseras).

Quote:It was explained to me later that these are upper-middle class students who get extra credit in their English language class for having conversations with English-speaking tourists, and either capturing it on video or having at least a cell phone photo for proof.

That's one of my least favorite aspects of the touristy areas of Mexico City. I'm not a zoo animal. One of them reads you questions from a sheet (Do you like Mexican food?) while the other one records you to upload to YouTube. They understand not a word. I just pretend to not speak English if they ask.

Quote:- I went to Mexico City almost exclusively to practice my language skills.

Awesome. Besides Alameda, what did you do to practice / work on your Spanish?

(There are weekly language exchanges at meetup.com. For beginners and pre-intermediate, there are sometimes free mid-day small group classes at a language school in Condesa.)
[/quote]

(03-20-2017 12:18 AM)stefpdt Wrote:  How are the internet speeds in good neighborhoods like Condesa? Can you get decent service inside your apartment?

It depends on the package you get (or if you're renting short term, on the package your landlord has signed up for). 10Mbps for download speed is pretty standard as a basic package. That's fine for most uses, although the far slower upload speed may not be very good for Skype calls.

Post: #217

DELETE, double posted by accident

Post: #218

I only spent about 18 hours in Mexico city, but I spent about 5 hours walking around Mexico city aimlessly, expensive areas and shitty areas and in those 5 hours I don't even think I saw 5 girls that I thought were hot. The quality was lower than expected and I saw a ton of fat girls.

LatinoHeat, drop a Dog datasheet. Would be nice to see my dog contribute more. He's traveled quite a bit by plane but only domestic flights. Gracias in advance.

Post: #219

Anyone have suggestions for daygame spots in Mexico City? Living in Roma.

I'm finding, after one month, that low foot traffic combined with the fact most girls walking around here are 4's, is making daygame difficult.

Suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.

Post: #220

To answer my own question:

Someone mentioned Starbucks earlier in this thread.

The first real 7s and 8s I saw in Mexico City, I saw today on a Friday in Condesa. They either came in to Starbucks and left, were working at the Starbucks, or I could see through the window walking on Sonora.

Talked to this hot model girl, tall, beautiful, an 8.5 easily, while she was waiting for her order. The first real unquestionably gorgeous girl I've met in Mexico City. In retrospect I should have waited until she left, and then ran her down to talk to her, maybe that would have worked better.

So if you were to daygame and get some work done:

- Game the street between noon and 2 pm on Sonora, and surroundings in Condesa.
- Afterwards, camp out in Starbucks and get some work done, and open the girls sitting and working alone, as well as the girls waiting for their orders.
- Then after 4 pm, game the street again, as well as the streets Insurgentes, and Monterrey. A solid two more hours here, in addition to the lunchtime daygame, could yield numbers.

Post: #221

What would you guys say is the best place to stay in Mexico City?

Post: #222

(03-28-2017 01:21 PM)Diego1993 Wrote:  What would you guys say is the best place to stay in Mexico City?

It seems you didn't read through the thread my friend so I'll give you a quick run down of the best options.

Iztapalapa (Constitucion de 1917, cerro de la estrella in particular), Doctores, Tepito, Pantitlan, Ciudad Neza, Milpa Alta, Oceania, GAM, Ecatepec.

Post: #223

(03-20-2017 01:47 PM)ElFlaco Wrote:  (Metro may be faster, depending on the route.)

Yeah bro, but then you're just a "prole"

Post: #224

(03-30-2017 01:27 AM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(03-28-2017 01:21 PM)Diego1993 Wrote:  What would you guys say is the best place to stay in Mexico City?

It seems you didn't read through the thread my friend so I'll give you a quick run down of the best options.

Iztapalapa (Constitucion de 1917, cerro de la estrella in particular), Doctores, Tepito, Pantitlan, Ciudad Neza, Milpa Alta, Oceania, GAM, Ecatepec.

It's very so long difficult to find, but what about Roma and Condesa? Between there close to the park?

Post: #225

(03-30-2017 06:51 AM)Diego1993 Wrote:  

(03-30-2017 01:27 AM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  

(03-28-2017 01:21 PM)Diego1993 Wrote:  What would you guys say is the best place to stay in Mexico City?

It seems you didn't read through the thread my friend so I'll give you a quick run down of the best options.

Iztapalapa (Constitucion de 1917, cerro de la estrella in particular), Doctores, Tepito, Pantitlan, Ciudad Neza, Milpa Alta, Oceania, GAM, Ecatepec.

It's very so long difficult to find, but what about Roma and Condesa? Between there close to the park?

9 pages is brutal man I feel you, who even has time to read these threads in their entirety? I recommend Santa Fe.