This afternoon I went to the beach with my wife to gather some logs that got washed up ashore from some distant storm. While I was chopping the bark off one of the two stumps that I found in the arroyo (dry riverbed), a man called out to me from the beachfront property across from where I was minding my own business. He told me in no uncertain terms that I was in his yard. According to him, I was trespassing. I politely informed him that I was in the arroyo and on the beach. Both were public property.
Meanwhile, a lady happened to be walking by when we were having our very loud discussion. She commented to me that she had already removed several times the wooden “Private Property” sign that the man had put up at the edge of “his yard.” She echoed my sentiments that the claimed property was public domain. It was clear to me that it was not the first time that he had this issue with his neighbors. And, such an over-reaction from him and his wife, who eventually came out and turned out to be better at yelling, could only stem from years of fending off complaints. (He moved here 20 years ago.)
Cross-examination
In order to avoid further conflict, I asked him where his alleged property line was so that I could move my stumps (the logs, not my legs, which are still intact). But then, his wife kept on going after I had already taken the logs over the border (in a manner of speaking). This was not good for my blood pressure and veered away from my ultimate goal of living zen.
So now, I am compelled to point out a few facts:
1. The riverbed is federal property for obvious reasons. One is that whatever construction is on the land will be washed away by a strong storm and will be left full of debris. How the place looked when we were there was a case in point. If you owned a nice beachfront property, would you really leave your front yard looking like a dump?
2. If some real estate company scammed you into buying a riverbed, better review the law. I recommend the “Ley de Aguas Nacionales” for some bedtime reading.
3. Respect is earned. You don’t get that by screaming like a shrew and making illogical statements.
Closing Argument
In closing, I would like to say that perhaps buying a piece of property in this paradise also bought you social standing that you otherwise would never have had in your home country. However, achieving purchasing power in Mexico does not buy you class. Migrating to another country means integrating into the local community. This includes reading up on local laws and attempting to speak the local language. If you are just creating a miniature version of your home country minus the financial limitations and legal restrictions, then you might want to think about going back to where you came from.
Buying Property in Mexico’s Restricted Zone
Mexico Real Estate Law – An Overview
Real Estate Draft (website not secure)
