5 mistakes veterans make when moving to Mexico

The good news is that none of these mistakes is dramatic. They are small, common and portable, and every single one has a simple prevention. The guide, Miguel's free bilingual guide, The Veteran's Guide to Mexico Relocation, lists them so you can sidestep what earlier movers learned the hard way.

Mistake one: buying before renting

Committing to a purchase in a place you have never actually lived. The guide's prevention: rent in your target area for about six months before you buy, so the neighborhood proves itself before your money does.

Mistake two: the wrong or no professionals

Mexico's buying and residency processes run on licensed professionals, and guessing your way through with friends and internet threads is how things go sideways. The guide's prevention: build a credentialed, local team early, including a licensed agent, a notary, a bank and a residency specialist, and verify every referral.

Mistake three: banking and money missteps

Closing your US account, forgetting US reporting obligations like the FBAR, or trying to run your whole life on a single bank card. The guide's prevention: keep your US account open as your anchor, report foreign accounts per US rules, and open a Mexican account only once your residency paperwork exists, using tools like Wise to move money cheaply.

Mistake four: bringing a vehicle the wrong way

Driving across the border without sorting Mexico's vehicle import and permit rules first. The guide's prevention: get the import rules, permits and timing right before you cross, because guessing at the border is expensive and hard to undo.

Mistake five: underestimating the loneliness curve

The first months in a new country are exciting, and then the familiar faces are far away. The guide's prevention: join an American Legion or VFW post early, before you need it, and build community the way you would build anything else, on purpose.

The takeaway

Mistakes are portable, and so is preparation. The guide walks through each of these in depth so you can move with your eyes open, and Miguel is there to keep the order straight for you, from your first call to your new address.