U.S. retirement trends have been tracked for the past fifteen years by the International Community Foundation, a research group out of National City, California.  Statistics on Mexico coastal communities has recently been released. 

In order to better understand some of the key trends and drivers for U.S. retirees in Mexico’s coastal areas, the Foundation conducted an online survey between June-November 2009, resulting in over 1,000 total responses. They targeted U.S. retirees over 50 years of age that are residing part-time or full-time in Mexican coastal communities including Puerto Vallarta, the Riviera Maya, Cabo San Lucas, Rosarito, La Paz, Loreto, Puerto Peñasco, and many smaller villages along Mexico’s extensive coastline.

Mexico continues to be a long-term retirement destination, especially in cities that already have a large retirement community.  For further interesting details, go here.

Here is the new 2011 result from International Living’s research. We continue to report these articles to emphasize how popular Mexico is for retirement.

 2011 Global Retirement Second Place Winner:  MEXICO

White sand beaches and turquoise-blue seas, with hammocks swaying nearby…centuries-old Spanish-colonial cities with winding, cobblestone streets and fountain-filled plazas…towering Mexico is rich in romance, as the one million-plus U.S. and Canadian expats who live there will tell you.

But expats don’t live by romance alone. Fortunately, Mexico also provides solid, modern-day comforts and conveniences. That secluded, away-from-it-all beach on the deserted, packed-sand road? You can get within a few miles of it on a modern highway—one of the many that criss-crosses Mexico. Those centuries-old cities with their colonial homes? Today their walls conceal telephone and high-speed Internet cables and their roofs sport satellite dishes and solar water heaters.

Likewise, health care is very much 21st century, with first-rate hospitals, clinics, and medical staff. (Don’t speak Spanish? Many doctors, especially in private clinics, speak English.) And the bill will likely run you half or less of what you’d pay at home.

In fact, life in Mexico can cost you up to 40% less than what you’d pay in the U.S. for a similar lifestyle. It’s also lived at a slower, more gracious pace. And that is what, finally, many expats seek. As expat Jill Jackson, who lives in Loreto, Baja California Sur, explains: “It lets me be the person I have always wanted to be.”

August 22, 2011       International Living Magazine

China is angry over US debt and says that America has to re-establish what it calls the “common-sense principle that one should live within one’s means.”  Good advice for anyone facing economic stress today with the decline of the US dollar. 

China has expressed strong concern at the downgrading of America’s triple A credit rating by Standard and Poor.  As the largest single creditor to the US, China has every right to demand that the US address its structural debt problems to ensure the safety of Chinese dollar assets.

With this increasing economic uncertainty, many in the US are considering relocation overseas and Mexico is a favorite choice with its simpler lifestyle, lower cost of living, and easy access to family back home.  We at Learn Vallarta can help you explore your options.

Some excerpts from Euronews/August 6, 2011

Are you considering moving to Puerto Vallarta part or fulltime?  Learn Vallarta can help answer many important questions.

What are the best neighborhoods?  Take one of our free Banderas Bay tours.

How do I choose a Mexican bank?  Check out our banking recommendations.    

What are my healthcare options?  Visit with our medical consultant.

How do I arrange for utilities, internet, cable, and phone systems?  Our personal assistant can help you.

What are my choices for renting or purchasing real estate?  Compare our listings of rental and real estate properties.

Read more….

In truth, no one knows exactly how many Baby Boomer American or Canadian retirees, entrepreneurs, and families are now traveling or making plans to relocate to Mexico. One thing’s for sure, it’s not a few, it’s not slowing down, and there seems to be no end in sight. There are now over 18,000 major American companies currently investing and operating in Mexico and it is estimated that over 1 million Americans are buying, building and or retiring here.  Always attracted by the tropical weather, beaches, warm turquoise water, and beckoning beach lifestyle, this time they are descending on magical Mexico for a compelling new impetus altogether:  the healthy Mexican economy!  Read full article here.

Puerto Vallarta continues to appear in the news in many publications and surveys as one of the best retirement locations in the world.  Here is an excerpt from Kathleen Peddicord, founder of Live and Invest Overseas, claiming that PV is their #1 pacific beach retirement haven:

Life on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua or the Azuero coast of Panama would be affordable and comfortable, but I wouldn’t describe it as luxury. If you’re looking for a more fully appointed Pacific coast lifestyle, my top recommendation as we move into 2011 is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

This is one of the best places I can think of to embrace a fully appointed Pacific beach retirement lifestyle right now. And the best part is that, here in P.V., not only can you plug into a fully developed retirement lifestyle…built, furnished, landscaped, and within minutes of the fairway or the yacht club if those pastimes interest you…but, unlike in southern California, you can also afford it.

Read the full article:  http://www.learnvallarta.com/articles.php?subaction=showfull&id=1294783916&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&