What are the expats like in Puerto Vallarta?
Armando Contreras - Galvan Real Estate and Services
The expats in Puerto Vallarta are a blast! They are totally supportive of each other while they all work to embrace their new lives “South of The Border.” There are challenges that expats face that are common in the expat experience, so they have formed many active expat support groups, both in person and online. Facebook has done a good job allowing users to create local online support communities.
(Expats in Puerto...
The expats in Puerto Vallarta are a blast! They are totally supportive of each other while they all work to embrace their new lives “South of The Border.” There are challenges that expats face that are common in the expat experience, so they have formed many active expat support groups, both in person and online. Facebook has done a good job allowing users to create local online support communities.
(Expats in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted January 30, 2016
Michael Keller - Guardian Insurance Mexico
In Puerto Vallarta, there is a really tight-knit community of expats. There is this one group called expats in Vallarta that have a happy hour every month. Depending on the time of the year, maybe between 20 and 200 expats get together, hang out, have some beers, and talk. We will have times where we meet up at Starbucks. There is another group called The Young Professionals Organization Vallarta and they schedule different activities.Expats in Puerto Vallarta do...
In Puerto Vallarta, there is a really tight-knit community of expats. There is this one group called expats in Vallarta that have a happy hour every month. Depending on the time of the year, maybe between 20 and 200 expats get together, hang out, have some beers, and talk. We will have times where we meet up at Starbucks. There is another group called The Young Professionals Organization Vallarta and they schedule different activities.Expats in Puerto Vallarta do community service. They help out because there are a lot of street dogs here and they help out with the free spay and neuter clinics.
You know that you can rely on these expats who have been here in Puerto Vallarta and know what it is like being new here so they will help you out if you are new. Unlike in Chicago, moving into a new neighborhood in Puerto Vallarta, the expats know that you've made the big jump to a completely foreign country and you may not have any idea what it is like or you may find that it is very different than what you are used to in Chicago.
Expats in Puerto Vallarta would see me and know that I'm from the States or from Chicago and would go out of their way to make sure that they offer assistance before I even ask for it. They know what it is like starting out; the fear, the hesitation, and the uncertainty that you can have about being in a foreign land. They want to make sure that your experience down here is a good one to begin with because they know that once you ride it out and get used to everything, you will really love Puerto Vallarta. They would not want to see you come down and leave because you are not getting any help or you don't know what you're doing. Expats in Puerto Vallarta definitely go out of their way upfront to make you feel at home and help you out with things.
(Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, a novel and then a movie by Robert James Waller about an expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 18, 2016
Sheryl Novak - SOLutions Mexico Furniture Store
When the expats come to Bucerías (a community in the general Puerto Vallarta area), they just have a lot of fun. They talk about being here when they’re not here, and when they’re here, they’re out and about not only supporting local businesses and enjoying Mexico, but also helping out in the community- something they’re very committed to.
There are so many fundraisers in Puerto Vallarta for different charities, and most...
When the expats come to Bucerías (a community in the general Puerto Vallarta area), they just have a lot of fun. They talk about being here when they’re not here, and when they’re here, they’re out and about not only supporting local businesses and enjoying Mexico, but also helping out in the community- something they’re very committed to.
There are so many fundraisers in Puerto Vallarta for different charities, and most of these fundraisers are founded by expats. The fundraisers that are started by locals here in the 
are also heavily supported by expats. Fundraisers are held through fashion shows, golf tournaments, raffles, and Christmas events. Everything you can think of to give back and thank the community for letting the expats be here and enjoy can be found here in Puerto Vallarta.
are also heavily supported by expats. Fundraisers are held through fashion shows, golf tournaments, raffles, and Christmas events. Everything you can think of to give back and thank the community for letting the expats be here and enjoy can be found here in Puerto Vallarta. When you come to Puerto Vallarta and you realize how lucky you are to be able to experience this beautiful country and the Bay of Banderas in particular, it makes you want to give back. You see how wonderful the people here are, how beautiful the place is, and it makes you want to be more a part of the community and really get involved. I see more expats volunteering here than I’ve ever seen anywhere else. It is amazing how much of a community it is in Puerto Vallarta.
(Poster for the American Legion Post 14, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Posted February 22, 2017
Ron Morgan - Ron Morgan Properties
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Expats in Puerto Vallarta blend into the society very well. There are no real issues despite having people from different walks of life. A huge amount of the income of Puerto Vallarta is brought in by wealthy expats. Then there are also the group of retirees who are living off a Social Security check. You could live off a US $1,000 a month Social Security check or you could live off a $50,000 a month oil check. It's possible to live any way you...
Expats in Puerto Vallarta blend into the society very well. There are no real issues despite having people from different walks of life. A huge amount of the income of Puerto Vallarta is brought in by wealthy expats. Then there are also the group of retirees who are living off a Social Security check. You could live off a US $1,000 a month Social Security check or you could live off a $50,000 a month oil check. It's possible to live any way you want in Puerto Vallarta. You'll find different social classes of people living right next to one another, which is a more realistic and interesting way to live than being secluded within walls or in gated communities.
The expat population in Puerto Vallarta has changed quite a lot. When I first came here, the expats were wealthier retirees who bought big houses and nice condos. Now, you're getting expats living on moderate incomes who are looking for a lifestyle that they can no longer afford within the US.
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Over the years, the expat demographic has changed a little bit because you have more accessibility on account of us now having a tremendous number of flights coming in this year. The landing rules have changed in August of this year.
People are flying in now because airline tickets and travel costs have dropped. There are more tourists coming in from the West Coast and Arizona on airlines such as Southwest, Alaska, and Virgin. We've always had many direct flights from Canada that fly out from various cities such as Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. We now have direct flights from London so you're also getting that mix of people. You can now fly for 40% less from Dallas or Houston on Southwest. With all of these, you have more consistent travel and whole different groups of people coming to visit Puerto Vallarta.
The airport is under construction now, which when done will probably add 20% more flights. I don't know the exact detail of how many people are coming in this year, but I know all the figures are up for airlines, hotels, and all the tourist businesses.
These tourists coming to visit Puerto Vallarta eventually become buyers of condos. Once they're here, they stay three to six months and then realize that they can live very comfortably and have a better lifestyle living in Puerto Vallarta year-round. Quite often that's how people start, by coming to visit.
There is a big diversity of expats in Puerto Vallarta where you've got the wealthy mixed with expats who are living on Social Security checks. I know wealthy oil people with untold amount of money who live here. Frankly, all expats live pretty much in the same way.
There are so many charitable organizations set up by expats in Puerto Vallarta. You can go to all the benefit parties and charitable events that you wish or you can just live a very simple life. It's up to you.
Most areas of town in Puerto Vallarta don't even require a car. I am within walking distance of my home. There are 15 buildings to show to my clients that are being built in the area that is a 15-minute walk from my office. These properties start at US $180,000 and go up to $1 million. You see the diversity among those who are going to buy a $180,000 property as opposed to those who are going to buy a $ million property.
(Home with a private access beach, near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, picture.)
Posted May 21, 2017