If you’re curious what day-to-day life actually looks like in Lake Chapala as young American expats, this is the real version, not the highlight reel. No “laptop on the beach” fantasy. Just a normal workday where we’re balancing relocation clients, real estate, Airbnb property management, and building Entrepreneur Expat from Mexico.
For us, mornings don’t start with traffic and stress. They start with movement. On this particular Tuesday, we came into the office a little later because we had to check on one of our Airbnb properties nearby. Guests had just checked out, and new guests were arriving the same day. In this area, short-term rentals can perform really well if they’re set up correctly, but the difference between “a house that sits empty” and “a property that cash flows” is almost always systems and execution.
That specific Airbnb we checked on is a great example. We helped get it into the top 5% of listings in the entire area in just a couple of weeks, and that’s exactly why property owners here reach out. Lake Chapala has steady tourism, but many owners live in Guadalajara, the U.S., or Canada and don’t want to manage cleaners, messaging, pricing, guest issues, and maintenance from far away. So we step in and make it run smoothly.
After that quick check, it was straight into the office.
Our office is right along the main highway between Jocotepec and Chapala, and that location is intentional. A lot of expats assume Ajijic is the only place to be. We love Ajijic and Chapala, and we’re there constantly, but we’ve been watching the expansion shift west toward Jocotepec. More Americans and Canadians are discovering it, and the real estate deals can still be better over there.
One of the things we love about being in a local plaza is how real life it feels. We’re next door to a market that can even deliver Costco and Sam’s Club orders. There’s a bazaar nearby, and one of our favorite coffee shops is right there too. It makes business feel less like “a corporate grind” and more like life. You can work, meet people, build relationships, and still be human.
And that’s the biggest shift we’ve noticed about doing business in Mexico.
Business in Mexico is more personal (and more in-person)
Even though Justin and I have been running online businesses for 15 years, Mexico has reminded us that business doesn’t only happen through screens. A lot of people here prefer in-person relationships. Handshakes. Conversations. Referrals. Trust built over time. That’s how we’ve built our network of immigration facilitators, attorneys, and real estate professionals to support our clients.
Yes, speaking Spanish helps a lot. It opens doors and helps you avoid being overcharged. But even beyond language, the culture leans “relationship-first.” If you show up, treat people well, and build trust, you move faster.
Justin also pointed out something that surprises many Americans: in some ways, there’s simply less red tape. In the U.S., permits and compliance can drag on for months. Here, we’ve seen people start small businesses in as little as 30 days. It’s not that Mexico has no process. It’s that the process often feels less suffocating.
At the same time, Mexico has its own kind of complexity. Some “small” tasks can be strangely complicated compared to the U.S. Opening bank accounts, dealing with paperwork, or navigating certain official processes can feel inefficient. Buying property is also different. The notary plays a huge role, and so much is handled in person. It’s old-school in that way.
So the truth is, Mexico can be both faster and slower depending on what you’re doing.
You’ll negotiate more than you’re used to (and it can save you a lot)
Another “day-in-the-life” reality: you negotiate everything.
We negotiated furniture for the office. We negotiated parts of our lease. We got certain utilities included that we would have paid for otherwise. Over time, those negotiations add up to real savings. In Mexico, negotiation isn’t seen as rude the way some Americans fear it might be. It’s normal. It’s expected. And if you approach it respectfully, you’ll often get better outcomes.
That’s part of why business here can feel so freeing. The system isn’t always rigid. There’s more flexibility, and there’s often a workaround if you have the right local knowledge.
A quick detour can turn into an opportunity
On the way to check out a property in Chapala, we had one of those classic Mexico moments: we weren’t even looking for a house for sale, but we spotted one in the community.
There was a sign out front that basically screamed “motivated seller.” The house looked like it had been sitting, needed maintenance, and probably wasn’t getting much attention. That’s common in this area. Many owners have properties they rarely use, and some end up wanting to sell, rent, or turn the home into a short-term rental.
So we snapped a photo, noted the details, and filed it away as a possible opportunity. Sometimes the best deals here aren’t found on a slick website. They’re found by being present.
And that’s really what this day shows.
Living in Lake Chapala as young American expats is not about “getting away from life.” It’s about building a different life. One where your environment supports you, your business has room to grow, and you can build something real without feeling like you’re suffocating under constant pressure.
If you’re thinking about Mexico, or you want a clearer idea of what it’s actually like here day-to-day, start with these:
👉 Free Moving to Mexico Guide:
https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/mexico
👉 Free Moving Abroad Checklist:
https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/abroad
And if you want hands-on help with residency, relocation strategy, or building a base in Mexico (including real estate and lifestyle planning):
👉 Apply for white-glove relocation services:
https://www.entrepreneurexpat.com/consult
