Donna Davies
Donna Davies
Employed or Retired? Employed at Timothy Real Estate Group – Puerto Vallarta
Single, couple, family? Single
Where did you live previously? Los Angeles, California
When did you move to Vallarta? April 2004
What part of town do you live? Downtown Centro
Why did you decide to move? I wanted to live in Mexico since I was 17 years old, the first time I visited. It is mainly the Mexican people and their culture I love.
Where else did you consider? Cabo San Lucas
What were your considerations; My mother vacationed in PV for over 35 years, once or twice a year and she knew the town very well and she knew a lot of people socially in town so I felt it would be an easy transition for me here.
What was the main reason(s) you moved here? I love Mexico and I felt it was a better choice for me than anywhere else!
Top 3 things you have learned that you think might help someone moving to Vallarta now:
- Get rid of everything that you can at home, don’t bring it down, sell it or give it away, don’t store it.
- If you have to bring stuff down, get as many recommendations as you can on the shipping company and the truck and get the insurance. I can tell you who not to use and that is “Atochamex” in Torrance, California and the truck is “Casadores” they were both horrible.
- If you’re looking to buy a home work with an AMPI Real Estate Agent, there are other agents that sell real estate and are not approved by the national association of realtors. It’s best to deal with a professional.
Hi Donna,
We are looking to make a change and retire there., Have been doing a lot of research. Just got back from Ecuador and it was not for us. I plan to make a trip soon to look at property and see what the prices are for homes. We have 3 dogs we would bring so we feel it has to be a house versus a condo. We need more information on electric costs, moving, titles, safety etc, but feel we will learn more when we make a trip. My husband will have to stay home to watch dogs, his mom and my dog store. I will be travelling alone and will fly into PV. Is it safe for me to do this alone? Any suggestions for how to travel once there to see property? Was going to look at PV, Sayulia and Manzanillo. Those are the places I think we would like. Do you live there full time? Most people seem to go back home in the hot weather. We don’t want to have two homes. Heard you have to have air conditioning in summer which we do as well here in Florida but that the electric costs go way up with high usage and that once it goes up it stays that way for at least a year. Any other thoughts on that? I know crazy questions but trying to get a feel for cost of living. We would like to have 2 bedrooms 2 baths a pool and a great view, but don’t think a condo will work cause of dogs. We may be giving up security if we go with a home. Any thoughts are appreciated. Are you there full time? Thanks.
Pam