Blazing headlines appearing recently in both the Guadalajara and foreign press suggest that violent crime in the Lake Chapala area has escalated to such a degree that expatriate settlers are starting to pack their bags in preparation for a mass exodus. It’s an assessment that doesn’t seem to jive with conventional wisdom circulating on the local grapevine.
While day-to-day conversations and commentaries found on active social networks may indicate deep concerns over troubling events in recent weeks, the gist of public opinion reveals an overall attitude of, “Hell no, we won’t go.”
“I hear talk that lots of people are ready to move away, but I don’t know one single person who has decided to leave,” says gregarious long-time resident Lois Cugini, proprietress of Ajijic’s Opus boutique. While recognizing that local restaurants and others businesses have suffered as their foreign clients hunkered down in the safety of their homes over the past few weeks, she believes the tide is now turning.
“I sense that fears are starting to dissipate. I notice everyone getting out and about more, resuming normal routines.”
Adds Victoria Schmidt, a board member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary: “I’m aware of a few who are leaving, but they are people who were already sitting on the fence about settling permanently in Mexico.
“Personally, I don’t feel scared about my own safety so much as harbor anger about what has happened to my Mexican friends.”
Based on his regular contacts with U.S. and Canadian consular officials, Chapala Mayor Jesus Cabrera insists there is no evidence that foreign residents are bailing out wholesale. A number of local realtors concur with his view.
Absolut Fenix sales agent Cecilia Walters says she has not noticed a surge in properties going on the block. “We have seen some sellers dropping asking prices to align more with true market value. With the latest changes in dollar-peso parity rates, right now is a good time for buyers to cut to some great deals.”
Hector Escamilla from Century 21 AccessMexico reports that his office has picked up only a few new listings from foreign home owners of late. Like other realtors, he continues to tie down a reasonable number of sales, albeit admitting that Mexican buyers are now becoming his strong suit.
As lakeside sales manager for Arellano Corporation Group and a founding member of CSI Chapala, Linda Fossi manages to keep her finger on the pulse of both the real estate market and the local crime scene. “I know that a few people are relocating, but most of them are renters with no vested interest in our community,” she says. “Home owners, on the other hand, are determined to stick it out,” she adds, noting that she actually has 200 fewer sales listings than she did a couple of years back.
“We’re all changing our way of thinking and becoming a lot more proactive in fighting back against criminals. In the past few weeks alone we’ve had ten new people sign up to train as CSI volunteers.”
Speaking out in front of public officials this week, Lake Chapala Society president Howard Feldstein echoed the sentiments of many expats, declaring, “The police are doing a commendable job of making us feel safer. Every day we see reports of violence occurring in Seattle, in Toronto, as well as in Jalisco. It is important to remind friends, family and the press in the places we come from that we are living in dangerous times. We have to carry out our lives in ways that makes us feel comfortable wherever we are.”