The Minges Place
I will say right from the beginning that this is not the place for you - even though you have agreed that you could do some work on it, it didn't feel good, it had that musty smell that never seems to bode well and it just looked kind of neglected. You would not want the furniture even if it was included in the price and we found out that it had been a rental.
The pictures tell the story:
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| Front Entrance - nice door but look at the state of the tiles. |
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| Looking to patio from dining area. |
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| Living Room |
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| Fridge is rather old and look at the rusty hinge |
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| Nice stairway down to the bedrooms but there is some water damage on the tiles down there by the patio door?? |
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| Looks OK but didn't even both to look inside because I don't think the place warrants deeper inspection |
Talking of inspection, apparently the place has been inspected and the inspector has to come back and fix where he dug up in the postage stamp back yard - at least it appears as though he must have inspected the septic tank.
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| second bedroom, really crappy bed and couches |
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| water damage on the wall and uncovered plug socket |
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| The bathroom has some decent tile work |
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| narrow and a bit dark but has 2 sinks |
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| Master Bedroom with big window over garden |
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| Master Bathroom is quite nice |
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| Walk In Closet - no comment. |
I stopped taking photos because you really won't want this place. Oh yes, it was also broken into a couple of months ago - I found this out when I asked about the pipe pushing back the bathroom window at the front, where you saw the photo earlier. Apparently they broke in through the top but had tried to get in through that window with a crowbar or something - remember the chipped paint. Anyhow just another bad omen about the place.
Casa Janet
Oh typical of Mexico even though the people showing the house aren't Mexican - we got there at 3:30 because we only spent 15 minutes at Minges :( we drove around the area because we didn't see anyone there, and hung out walking around and sitting on the kerb until 4:30 Just as we gave up, started the car to drive home, a lady came out of the house - she was there all the time but there was no car in the street, the door in the street wall was not open, she didn't come out to look for us at 4:00
Any how the area is quite nice - next door to the right is a clean lot that has a little pond and ducks, all fenced in by someone. To the other side is a big Mexican house that has been a rental and has been empty for a couple of years (there is no longer even an electric meter, it has been removed so that they don't have to pay the monthly meter fee) - apparently the owner's brother in Guadalupe is 'maintaining' it but not too well. Since the price for Janet is only $139,000 any small security concern (could enclose the gap between the carport and the top of the wall to the neighbor very cheaply) is very easily addressed. If you go through the realtor it is 149 but the owner is selling it herself with the help of a friend for only 139 and it is completely furnished. You would only have to buy a bed for you mom and the furniture is good quality - up to USA standards because the owner is from Canada or USA can't remember.
To the back of the house is a very big place and it is very well maintained. The area is also a good blend of Mexicans (the wealthier ones from Guadalajara) and expats - which is very good for you.
Your neighbors to the right and you can just see the top of the big house at the back.
House to the left - I think that it is going to be for sale or something as well (hopefully). A bit unsightly but not that bad.
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| The neighborhood and across the street. |
Living and dining area with nice couches and a nice little dining table.
This is a gas heater for if you need it during the cooler evenings - it is nice in that it is connected into the main gas tank with a very long hose - no need for a separate small gas tank. It is turned to the wall at the moment because the cat keeps playing with the pilot light ;) Gerald says that there is a gas line in the bedrooms so you could move the heater to another room if you wanted.
nice clean modern kitchen with lots of space, plenty of cupboards and work surface. There is room to put an island in the middle if you want but you would have to walk round it to get to the laundry/utility room etc.
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| Master bedroom - very nice, with ensuite |
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| walk in closet - sorry about the quality, I moved the camera before it had finished ha ha |
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| shower in Master bedroom |
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| Master bathroom |
Neither of the bathrooms has a tub - it is very rare to have a bath in Mexico but the showers are nice.
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| second bedroom, it is quite big enough for a queen or maybe even a king bed and probably a bit of furniture. |
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| second bathroom - very nice - it is just outside the 2nd bedroom because this is also the guest bathroom |
The house has a very good water purification system so there is no need to buy those huge jugs of water !
There is a tiny alley like space around the back of the house, room for bits and pieces and ladder or whatever, about 5 feet wide if I remember rightly - main reason for this is so that house is not part of the boundary wall and more light is allowed into the house.
They had someone view the house on Friday and someone else viewed it this morning as well - looking quite popular and I completely understand why, especially at this price. They have tv and internet as well as a phone line, so really it is pretty much ready to move right in and it is very clean - I would personally feel very happy about moving in just as it is right now.
My only concern is that it is not a big house - it has everything that you need but very little outside area. In the front is a single carport but it is nice and wide and there is an area that currently has a load of potted plants in there but it is probably about 10 to 12 feet square and is paved. However, that being said it would be possible to put up a mirador and with the cost of labor and materials here that would be very doable especially on a house of this price.
