Retire in Lake Chapala
Live your best life
Testimonials
Read what other people have to say about Michaela & Ricardo. The Retire In Lake Chapala Team.
For several years I have been visiting Lake Chapala area to spend time with friends who have a home there, and exploring on my own or with other friends I had persuaded to enjoy the area with me.
Each visit convinced me more of the richness of the experience available at Lakeside, and of the opportunity to live a very rewarding life leading up to retirement.
When I had the good fortune to meet Michaela, I wasn’t sure of the kind of life I could have, since my needs were different than those of my resident friends. I tried to explain my position to her and that I didn't really know what I wanted, but within a few days, she was able to find me a home so perfect, so right for me, that it suddenly made all my other living and retirement decisions clear as well. A great home at a good price, and I was set, I thought.
However, Michaela was not done yet. The professionalism of her real estate service was absolutely perfect, but she was also able to help me negotiate many of the other smaller challenges involved in creating a home in a completely new environment. None of my past real estate experiences prepared me for this level of service and professionalism.
After my experience with Michaela, I would never allow one of my friends to consider real estate at Lakeside without at least talking to Michaela first. Aside from her professional skills, she is endlessly cheerful and positive. It has been a complete joy to work with her, reason I would highly recommend her to anyone else.
Thanks
Don, Happy Birds of Paradise Owner
Dear Michaela, Thanks for all the time effort, and energy that you have put into helping us identify the perfect home for us in Ajijic. We appreciate all the gracious welcoming and hosting you did. We'll tell everyone we meet that we have the best agent.
Doreen and John
I can’t really convey what an absolute delight it has been to work with and become friends with Michaela and her partner Ricardo! I got to know Ricardo through ExpatExchange.com where he answered many of my questions about Lakeside living and real estate. When my wife and I decided to come down and look at properties, Michaela and Ricardo told us to make a list, the bigger the better, of houses we were interested in. We made the list and told them which features were most important to us. In the weeks before we made our trip to Ajijic, Michaela and Ricardo checked out each of the properties on our list and narrowed it down to those that would best meet our criteria. During the week we were in Ajijic, we shared several meals together, we looked at houses, they took us on a tour of the area, and were wonderful and gracious hosts. Classy, professional, knowledgeable, and FUN! Oh, and yes, we did find the perfect house! Michaela and Ricardo were with us every step of the way, even during the time they were out of the country on vacation. They went the extra mile and exceeded all of our expectations, and we highly, highly recommend!
Larry and Martha Cockrell
Texas
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I again repeat our complete satisfaction with your work and the extra help of course. I think you went over and above for me and I so appreciate it.
You have made a big difference in my life. I know it sounds weird, "a Real Estate agent makes life difference", but it's true! You are so genuine and soothing, and an honest, kind soul. You bring out the best in me.
Pam
Again, thank you very much to you and Ricardo for your help. I would like to let you know that you are really a great agent with a great personality. We have worked with a lot of different agents in the USA and Mexico and you are one of the best and our favorite
Sam Recinos
Eugene, Oregon/Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Michaela is a winning and knowledgeable realtor, one who is deeply invested in the welfare of her clients. She understood our perspectives and goals—and helped to make our dreams a reality. As US citizens, buying a home abroad is a complicated process, but Michaela guided us expertly through every step, from property negotiations to the banking system. She has a wonderful eye for both the fine details and the big picture. Highly recommended. She is also a very lovely and charming person!
Rachel and Joe and Caroline
Tennessee, USA
Best Sales Agent Ever!
I was given the chore of selling my mom's home Lakeside. I put my confidence and trust in Michaela. She was honest and upfront about time frames, price etc. She sold the home in a special location at a wonderful price and was helpful above and beyond in every way during a difficult time for me. I could not have had a better agent to sell my mom's home . Thanks for being who you are Michaela!!
Pamela Fuller
Lake Chapala, Mexico
Dear Trudie, Eva and Michaela,
The three of you did an outstanding job of prepping, advertising, and promoting my VSA home. You also did a thorough job of navigating the legal bureaucracy and dealing with the various obstacles that arose once a buyer was found.
I truly appreciate your efforts, your professionalism, your creativity and your persistence. In short, you are a highly competent team!
Thank you very much for your excellent performance.
Ken Leone
Very informative and helpful. Listens and questions to make sure that she gets you appropriate viewings. They offer a great service showing/acquainting you with the Lakeside area.
Jim Burton
Goodyear, AZ
Thank you so much for all your professional guidance and amazing help in selling my fathers' house.....you were so wonderful!
All the best and continued success in paradise!
Toby
Toronto, Canada
You are one of the most special people I've met here, and I can count them on one hand. You've done so much for us!
Claudia and Steve
California
Today, we will begin to live our dream.
I am at a loss for the words to describe what your tireless efforts expended on our behalf mean to Charlotte and me. You chased our dream with us by visiting many properties at our request then relaying opinions and photos. When the correct property did come on the market you moved quickly to view then convey details that helped us make an informed decision and begin the purchase process.
You, Nelda, and the staff at Lake Chapala Real Estate, maintained an open channel of communication with excellent details of the processes and my performance obligations. So, when we arrived from Texas and (1) first met you face to face, and (2) first set foot on a property I had paid for but only seen in photographs, there were NO surprises. Four days later we met with the Notario and proceeded with a very comfortable closing. Ajijic is now our new home. We are so very happy to be here. And I cannot imagine any of this happening without the professionalism you brought into this series of events. So our special thanks to you and Ricardo for the service and friendship.
Sincerely,
Ron & Charlotte Huckabay
Texas
My husband and I had a wonderful day with Michaela during our trip to Ajijic to see if we’d like to retire there. Michaela showed us several lovely houses and gave us tours of some gated communities. She answered all our questions and was a delightful person to get to know. We now plan to move to Ajijic when we retire. I highly recommend using Michaela as your real estate agent.
Annette Williams Thompson
"Rhonda and I have moved more than seven times and worked with some outstanding real estate agents. None of them were as good as you."
David & Rhonda Marier
"I hope you know what a special, delightful, warm person you are! If we had no other experiences here, meeting you would have been worth the visit! Thank you so very much for showing us properties in the Lakeside area. You are a delightful person, and a very professional real estate agent. We all feel we can recommend you to others without reservation! Be assured that when we decide to buy, YOU will be our choice for real estate agent!"
Gail Hubbard
California
Michaela and Ricardo are both very gifted professionals with different skill sets .
Ricardo was understanding and always willing to get us into any house we were interested in. Ricardo even helped us move into our vacation home after we closed.
Michaela is very knowledgeable of the laws and rules with her experience. Michaela protected our interest at closing, and has a wonderful contact lists to help you find the help and services you will need.
as a couple, they really helped my wife and I work through the buying process.
John & Hannah Becker
Wisconsin
"Michaela and Ricardo were the best real estate professionals we have encountered in multiple moves in the U.S. The kindness and love referred to in their materials is really true. We looked at over a dozen homes before they collectively remembered one not on the multilist. It was absolutely perfect and allowed us to buy our dream home in Ajijic. They assisted with the necessary paperwork to make an offer and showed us the processes of legal requirements to purchase in Mexico. We would highly recommend their services to anyone searching for a home in Mexico. We also have our second set of friends Lakeside!"
Russell & Kimball
Oklahoma, USA
"Michaela, right after you came by with your gifts, my neighbors Sheridan and Gary stopped over to introduce themselves. I was so proud to toast our meeting with the very cool "welcome home" shot glasses and the smoothest tequila I have ever sampled! Once again, you and Ricardo have made my transition to Ajijic so warm and inviting, and I hope our friendship will last forever. You guys are the best! After our toast I went to dinner with my new neighbors and enjoyed more of the warm and friendly companionship that is Ajijic! I am so happy to have found this little village and the kindest of people, starting with you."
Love,
Bob & Rocky
"Having been a professional real estate investor for the past 20+ years I have worked with numerous real estate agents and their agencies. My recent experience closing a home purchase with the assistance of your team members Micheala, Ricarado and Marie (Lopez) has been the best experience to date in my life. All of them provided outstanding professional service that exceeded my expectations! I want to give extra special recognition though to Michaela, because I spent the most amount of time with her. Michaela is probably the most honest, knowledgeable, ethical and hardworking real estate agent I have ever worked with! It has been my pleasure to continue referring acquaintances of mine to your real estate agency with the comfort of knowing outstanding people like Michaela will take the best care of them in finding a home here at lakeside. Thank You!!!"
Rick P
Purchased May 2021