Looking for input and solid information anyone can offer...

We have been here six months living near the lake in san Antonio. We've been very happy with our first house to get acclimated to the area. It is secure, peaceful, convenient and comfortable. However, we knew we would be wanting something larger at some point to bring down some furniture, personal items and to have room for guests and entertaining.

We have an opportunity for a longterm rental in Brisas de Chapala. It is everything we were hoping to find when we decided to move down. I would enjoy hearing any informed comments about the security situation in Brisas. We know a family from there was killed a few years back, but not on the property.

Thanks

I wish you luck, but in my memory, violence has happened in just about every neighborhood. It's happened in very upscale areas like La Floresta as well as on one of the better streets in Ajijic Centro. If security is a top priority, I would recommend one of the smaller, seriously gated communities.

I've been robbed in Atlanta and stuff happens everywhere, but was wondering particularly about that area. One should always learn what they can.

Thanks

We always live, in Ajijic and in Chapala, on a normal street with Mexican neighbors. I feel that communities, gated or not, that are concentrations of expats and weekending tapatios are most attractive to the bad guys. We never had any attempts at entry, etc. Neighbors look after one another and also take care to get rid of the bad guys from time to time.

It is a remote area. If you are talking about guests coming and leaving late, or the reverse, you/they will be exposed to a possible criminal element.

Beautiful place, but you can't exactly walk to the store.

Almost everything said above is on point.

Take reasonable precautions, don't flaunt "wealth," use common sense, etc.

I have been here 10-years, 7 in Vista Del Lago (Upscale gated, security guard at gate) and 3 years in Chapala Haciendas.

No burglary, robbery problems at all. Our house is I would say, lower middle-class style; well lit, unobtrusive security cameras (I like toys), decorative bars and nothing to indicate anything worth much inside.

Go for Broke.

We have two cars and don't care about walking to stores. Sorriano is five minutes away. There are many full time Mexicans families living there and from what I have heard from some others folks look out for each other. I got from the front door of the rental and walked in the front door of Total Body to get my massage in downtown Ajijic in 17 minutes the other day....not exactly remote. If you've live in Atlanta for many years that is around the corner.

easylife wrote:It is a remote area.  If you are talking about guests coming and leaving late, or the reverse, you/they will be exposed to a possible criminal element.

I have lived in Brisias, Roca Azul and Chapala Haciendas. Hardly remote and unless your drive includes a stop at a sleazy bar in Guadalajara, not much of a criminal element

and I would choose one in Chapala, rater than Guad.

Go for it. It seems that you had already made up your mind before you asked for our opinions.

I see no red light to the area in question. Life is adventure and assumes some element of risk. Make sure the perimeter is secure like having barred windows and doors. I would not hesitate to live there and, if the yard is fenced, a big old ugly dog would be a good idea.

elevator wrote:We have two cars and don't care about walking to stores. Sorriano is five minutes away.  

"Sorriano"?

Usually we know what we want long before we know that we know. Sometimes people only think they are undecided. Then they notice their replies to other people's objections and realize what they really want.
It is good for people to bring up what they consider negatives when asked for an opinion. It offers the opportunity for the questioner to consider all the things mentioned. Sometimes the objections are either based on false assumptions or not of concern to him.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Usually we know what we want long before we know that we know. Sometimes people only think they are undecided. Then they notice their replies to other people's objections and realize what they really want.
It is good for people to bring up what they consider negatives when asked for an opinion. It offers the opportunity for the questioner to consider all the things mentioned. Sometimes the objections are either based on false assumptions or not of concern to him.

Bingo, Lady O.  Sounds like the area will suit his desires very well.  The suggestions made were good ones, like having good security precautions.  I'd say a "big old ugly dog" might not be as desirable as a "good-looking healthy young well trained guard dog or two", but let us not quibble.

i have a mexican friend who owns 2 houses there, right near the entrance, and he has owned them for many years.
you must be in great shape if you plan on walking back uphill with a load of groceries from soriana. not just the carretera but that nice hill inside brisas.

Pedro wrote:i have a mexican friend who owns 2 houses there, right near the entrance, and he has owned them for many years.
you must be in great shape if you plan on walking back uphill with a load of groceries from soriana. not just the carretera  but that nice hill inside brisas.

Pedro, it really helps to read the posts before answering, to wit:

(Elevator) "We have two cars and don't care about walking to stores. Sorriano is five minutes away. "

gringal wrote:

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Usually we know what we want long before we know that we know. Sometimes people only think they are undecided. Then they notice their replies to other people's objections and realize what they really want.
It is good for people to bring up what they consider negatives when asked for an opinion. It offers the opportunity for the questioner to consider all the things mentioned. Sometimes the objections are either based on false assumptions or not of concern to him.

Bingo, Lady O.  Sounds like the area will suit his desires very well.  The suggestions made were good ones, like having good security precautions.  I'd say a "big old ugly dog" might not be as desirable as a "good-looking healthy young well trained guard dog or two", but let us not quibble.

You two are so rational and logical AND observant as compared to Pedro that it makes me wanna go back to bed......which I think I will do.    

slainte39 wrote:

gringal wrote:

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Usually we know what we want long before we know that we know. Sometimes people only think they are undecided. Then they notice their replies to other people's objections and realize what they really want.
It is good for people to bring up what they consider negatives when asked for an opinion. It offers the opportunity for the questioner to consider all the things mentioned. Sometimes the objections are either based on false assumptions or not of concern to him.

Bingo, Lady O.  Sounds like the area will suit his desires very well.  The suggestions made were good ones, like having good security precautions.  I'd say a "big old ugly dog" might not be as desirable as a "good-looking healthy young well trained guard dog or two", but let us not quibble.

You two are so rational and logical AND observant as compared to Pedro that it makes me wanna go back to bed......which I think I will do.    

Why, thank you.
Now, have a nice nap on a warm Sunday.

really vicious kitties.

Thanks for all the replies and yes we wanted to hear good things, but also wanted to hear about any legitimate security issues.

We rented in the Brisas for a year. Loved it! Beautiful lake and mountain
views. Friendly helpful neighbors ( a very nice mixture of American/Canadians-
Mexican families. The security issues were not a problem for us- we had
lovely bars on every window) but neighbors watch out for each other- they
know what or whose car belongs. We would have purchased a home there
but they did not allow goats and a pig- so , uhhh, we found ourselves a
bit further out, ie Aqua Esocondida. You will find it really is not that remote-
easy access to Chapala or Ajijic. It certainly fit our lifestyle- I understand
they now have a manned security 24 hours a day. One must stop at the
entrance to gain access to the Brisas. We also found the utilities/ internet
were consistent, even during the rainy season. If you would like to know
anything else about the fracc. please feel free to pm me. We loved it there
and still find ourselves driving through it , just for the great memories.

we will be living in. As I said above, if you have lived in Atlanta for years where every trip is a traffic cluster, this will be like living in Mayberry.

"I wonder if some people are big enough to apologize"
-- Pedro posted on April 10, 2015

I wonder too.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:"I wonder if some people are big enough to apologize"
-- Pedro posted on April 10, 2015

I wonder too.

wrong thread for this quote

There wasn't anyone murdered in Brisas de Chapala in the past few years that I'm aware of.  There was an incident at the motel called Chapala Haciendas(not the fracc) which is down the road from the neighborhoods nextdoor to the gas station.   When Brisas had their problems, they happened before the security booth was being manned.  The houses that were robbed were easy to walk into from the street, nothing obstructing an intruder, not even a wall in one case and the homeowner wasn't deterred from living there  or interested in making many changes after the home invasion.  I wasn't interested in being robbed myself so we added security to our home, never had a problem in over 5 years while other homes that are easy to get into continue to have problems across across the board.  Never seen a home yet that was hit that wasn't easy to get into or didn't have a flimsy door lock.