The Stuff Nobody Tells You About Building a House in Mexico

There are a lot of little things about buying a house in another country that you don't have to think about when you purchase in the United States. Other people may have different experiences, but when I bought my apartment in the US, it came with cabinets and most of the closets (I had to build one in the bedroom). The windows came with screens and the staircase had railings.

My house in Mexico didn't come with those things.

It's both good and bad. The good was being able to pick out my own things, like the color of the cabinets, but the bad was the extra, unexpected costs. Despite the favorable exchange rate, those things add up. And when I say add up, I mean they really add up in ways that'll have you rethinking your entire budget.

The Closet Situation

The past few weeks have been spent looking at closet and kitchen designs—just going online and bookmarking closets and kitchens I liked. I started out thinking this would be simple. It was not simple.

I'm not what one would consider a fashionista, and I've been known to sort of ball my clothes up and throw them on a shelf. But the house has a walk-in closet that I have to pass through to get to the bathroom. I won't be able to hide my disorder behind doors, so I have to have a nice closet to help me organize.

Because I am me and like things a little different, I found a design that incorporates a vanity table. It'll give it that extra something that is my personality—a nice perk of customization. Now, will I use that vanity? Nope. It'll probably just become a little office space, if I'm being honest. But at least it'll look intentional.

The two other bedrooms will have reach-in closets—nothing special there. The downstairs game/meditation/bedroom, though, is a different story. They're building an entertainment center with closets on either side. Nice! At least that's what I keep telling myself as I watch the costs climb.

Did I mention the linen closet? Again, this is the bit of extra that is my personality showing through. Three doors—two for linens and a third with open space for the ironing board, cleaning supplies, etc. When it comes to customization, you can really think through how you will use the space and build accordingly. Reality may be very different once it's actually built, but you have to have something.

Kitchen Dreams and Drawer Realities

The kitchen is a whole other thing. To be honest, it's been fun! I'm vertically challenged, so as I was thinking through the kitchen cabinets, I asked myself, "Do I really need upper cabinets?"

I really don't.

I like open space, so I figured a couple of shelves over the counter for something like a coffee maker or containers would be sufficient. This decision alone probably saved me money, though I didn't realize it at the time.

Drawers. Drawers are my thing.

They're clean and sleek. You can stack your plates and glasses in an area that is easily accessible to my vertically challenged self and family. Pots and pans can be stacked too. Pull-out pantry? Great feature. I became obsessed with having a kitchen with drawers.

I do have some experience with kitchen drawers in my apartment. I keep my plates in drawers and some of my plastic containers. I have a pull-out drawer with space for oils and things, and they're so convenient. So this wasn't completely theoretical—I had proof of concept.

Me being me, I had to find designs with all kinds of specific things I wanted these drawers to include. "Oh, I need this one because it keeps the plates in place, and this one has a recycling bin, and I need a wine area, and..." The list kept growing.

This is where Ikea comes in—they have a fantastic design tool. Your girl loves technology, so I was a beast on this thing. Moving cabinets and zooming in like I was doing something important. But you know what? The design is mine, and I did a good job, if I do say so myself. It also helped me see the actual costs before committing, which was crucial for someone who likes to plan financially.

The Surprises Keep Coming

So, what's next? Furniture. And all the other little things I didn't think of.

Who knew houses in Mexico don't come with light fixtures? Light. Fixtures. The things that keep you from stumbling around in the dark. Nobody mentioned this in any of the "moving to Mexico" blogs I read. Ugh.

The Bottom Line

If you're thinking about buying property abroad, especially in Mexico, here's what I've learned: Take whatever budget you have for the house and add at least 30% for all the things you don't know you'll need. Those "little extras" like closets, kitchens, and yes, light fixtures, will eat into your savings faster than you can say "favorable exchange rate."

But here's the thing—despite the unexpected costs and the constant surprises, there's something satisfying about creating a space that's exactly what you want. Every drawer, every closet, every design choice is mine. No settling for someone else's weird cabinet configuration or wondering why they thought that closet layout made sense.

Would I do it again? Ask me after I've figured out the light fixture situation.