[Boomer]

A lot of American retirees bought 99 year leases on the coast of Baja Mexico (non citizens can’t buy property; only lease or rent it) then when there was nice finished row of luxury homes, built by the retirees, with a million dollar view of the Pacific ocean the Mexicans came in and evicted them all and took them over. I suspect the influential politicians, cartel honchos, and other connected Mexicans took them over.

There’s not a single chance in hell I would risk living in any Hispanic speaking country.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

A lot of American retirees bought 99 year leases on the coast of Baja Mexico (non citizens can’t buy property; only lease or rent it)

Actually, foreigners can buy property in Mexico.

See: A Guide For Foreigners Seeking to Buy Property in Mexico

The Mexican Constitution had previously banned foreign nationals from owning property within the restricted border zones. This was intended to protect Mexican soil from foreign invasion. The Foreign Investment Law of 1973 was a constitutional amendment which changed this allowing foreigners to now purchase real estate free outright except inside the “restricted zone’; consisting of all lands within 100km (64 miles) from an international border and 50km (32 miles) from the coastline at high tide. For properties within this zone, foreigners need to use a bank trust called a fideicomiso. All real estate transactions involving these trusts are governed by federal law. Merida and all coastal properties fall into the restricted category. Outside the zone, you can own property with a title issued in your name.

[cherry]

the America as we once knew it may not be our cup of tea anymore, but there are still pockets of great people..

govts in this world can not be trusted to protect immigrants/visitors/retirees....

[Noumenon]

All of South America is a no-trust society. There is no security in property. Anyone who thinks n they can move there and keep what they have is delusional and/or sadly misinformwd.

[Zhang Fei]

That was the result of the overturning of an eminent domain action against the land’s former owners by the Mexican high court. The new owners, who had leased to the Americans, had to hand the land back to the original owners. The American lessees gambled that the eminent domain action would stand. Unfortunately, they lost their bets:

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/01/world/americans-find-their-beachfront-dreams-washed-out-in-mexico.html
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/oct/25/business/fi-41581