Furnished Rentals in Mexico – Why They Are Important

One of the things that makes moving to Mexico so exciting is having a new adventure. You’re moving to a new country, a new city, a new house, with new neighbors. And while I totally understand wanting to bring some creature comforts from back home, I also highly suggest coming to Mexico with only your clothes.

I cover these reasons in the post:

• Furnished Rentals in Mexico give you freedom
• You’ll Have A Wider Selection of Rentals
• But Don’t Assume- Ask What’s Included
• Buying Furniture in Mexico Isn’t What You Expect
• Nice Furniture in Mexico Is Expensive
• Why You Need Help To Guide You When Moving to Mexico

Furnished Rentals in Mexico Give You Freedom

When you start looking for a rental in Mexico it’ll likely be a different experience than you’re used to. Mexico doesn’t have a centralized system that lists all rentals like Zillow. In fact, some of the best rentals in Mexico aren’t found online. You usually find the best rentals by word of mouth or by seeing a “se renta” sign on the window facing the street. But perhaps the most notable difference about most rentals in Mexico is that most of them come furnished.

You see in Mexico, the culture is very different. A lot of the best rentals come fully furnished. And it’s truly a big benefit for you! All you have to do is pack your clothes and move in. That gives you a lot of freedom! That way, if you don’t like the neighborhood, the house, your neighbors, or you just want to move; you don’t have to worry about moving your furniture with you. That’s why finding furnished rentals in Mexico can be very liberating for you!

Check out this article and learn 6 reasons you should rent in Mexico.

You’ll Have A Wider Selection of Rentals

Not only is renting a furnished house in Mexico more common than in the U.S. , Canada or even some parts of Europe. But oftentimes, there is more options of furnished homes instead of unfurnished homes.

My friend and client, Jerry, asked me a few months ago to help him find an oceanfront condo in Playa del Carmen. He has 4 cats and wanted an unfurnished condo to make sure his cats don’t destroy the owner’s sofas and such. But you wouldn’t believe how hard it was for me to find something that was unfurnished with an oceanfront view. And Playa del Carmen isn’t a small town. It’s a city of about 300,000 people. There are hundreds of condos on the ocean. But most of them are furnished.

Needless to say, I found him a place. But it was actually more expensive than most furnished rentals near the ocean of the same specifications. Which is why I highly suggest renting a place that is already furnished. However, I should warn you: always ask what’s included in your furnished rental. Don’t assume anything

Always Ask What Is Included

When you are touring a rental, the homeowner may still be living there. Or maybe the previous tenant is still living there. Either way, sometimes you may tour a home that is fully furnished including silverware, appliances, sheets, bedding, curtains, etc. and assume that is how you’ll receive it when you move in. If the listing is in Spanish and it’s furnished, it’ll say “amueblada.”

But don’t assume anything.

Part of the convenience I am suggesting of moving into a fully furnished house in Mexico, is the fact that all you have to do is show up with your suitcases and that’s it. But what if you come to find out that the silverware isn’t going to be yours on day 1. Or that you don’t have a washer and dryer when you move in? Always ask for a detailed list of the things that will be included in your rental. Or at the very least, make sure you get the landlord to agree to leaving certain things, you absolutely need, behind.

Buying Furniture in Mexico

But what if you do need to buy some furniture? In the U.S. it’s pretty easy to furnish your house on a low budget with things off craigslist and buy nothing groups on Facebook. I remember when I rented my very first apartment in Austin, TX I furnished it with a couch I got on craigslist, lamps from goodwill, and a few other free items I found online. It cost me very little money.

However, in Mexico, it’s almost impossible to find furniture in good condition from a second-hand vendor, online, or for free. Most Mexican households hold on to their furniture for what seems like forever. The culture of “giving away” a piece of furniture simply because you’re remodeling your house just isn’t normal here.

If a family is getting rid of a couch, they’ll likely try to sell it or give it away to a family member. And if you need to furnish a rental in Mexico, you’ll probably have to bite the bullet and spend some extra money. Which is my number one reason you should try to only rent homes that come fully furnished. It’ll be one less headache you have to worry about when moving in or moving out.

Nice Furniture in Mexico Can Be Expensive

Something that might come as a surprise to you when you move to Mexico and start shopping for furniture is the sticker price. Some of the most basic furniture can have a hefty price! But, not always. You just have to know where to look for deals.

For example: at Sam’s Club I found a simple futon that folds out into a bed selling for $7,000 MXN (~$350 USD). However, the same type of futon on the U.S. Sam’s Website is selling for $400 USD.

You just have to know where to look for deals.

There are expensive furniture stores like Liverpool and Palacio del Hierro.

For example: This sectional at Liverpool costs $45,000 MXN (~$2300 USD). It’s only one piece of furniture. You aren’t getting the end tables or the coffee tables. In comparison, a similar sectional in the U.S. would cost you about $1,500 USD. Because what you are paying for when shopping at Liverpool is a wider selection of styles and higher quality fabrics.

How Do You Find Furnished Rentals in Mexico?

You can find a variety of great rentals in a few different places. This can be especially important before you move to Mexico to give you an idea of what you could afford when you do move. Here are a few different sources:

• Facebook Marketplace
• Vivanuncios.com.mx
• casas.trovit.com.mx
• Through independent real estate companies
• Facebook groups
• Word of mouth
• Looking for “se renta” signs in your favorite neighborhoods

Are you ready to start planning your move to Mexico? Take the guess work out of moving to a new country and check our our COMPLETE Mexico Relocation Guide. Find out how to rent a house in Mexico, and get immediate access to our recommended real estate agents, insurance brokers, and more! You’ll be surprised how much is included.