Why We Bought a Villa in Mérida Without Ever Visiting First

And Why We Don’t Regret It for a Second.

Most people who move to Mérida follow a pretty standard path: they come for a visit, fall in love with the culture and the calm, then rent for a year so they can test out different neighborhoods before deciding where to live.

We… did the complete opposite.

Last year, around March, Mérida wasn’t even on our radar. It was one of those places we kept hearing whisperings about—safe, affordable, beautiful, family-oriented—but we didn’t know anyone personally who had made the move. Still, something about this city kept tugging at us.

And within a month of finding out it even existed… we owned a villa.

Yes. Sight unseen.
Yes. Without ever setting foot in the city.
And yes—we would do it again.

Why We Took the Leap

Rob is a realtor, which means he researches real estate the way most people scroll TikTok. He dove deep into Mérida’s growth patterns, infrastructure projects, emerging neighborhoods, and long-term trends. Everything pointed in the same direction: this city wasn’t just growing—it was thriving.

Originally, our plan wasn’t to move. We purchased the villa with the intention of using it as a vacation home and maybe renting it out occasionally. It felt like a fun, bold investment that aligned with the lifestyle we wanted to build as a family.

But the more research Rob did, and the more we learned about the safety, the pace of life, and the family-first culture of Mérida, the more it started to feel like… maybe we weren’t just buying a vacation home. Maybe we were buying a future.

When Everything Changed

A few months later, we made the decision that completely flipped our lives upside down (and right-side up): we were going to move to Mérida permanently.

It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t on our five-year roadmap. But once the idea entered our minds, it refused to leave. And when we finally visited the city for the very first time, everything clicked into place.

The heat. The slow mornings. The friendly smiles. The kids running around freely without anyone batting an eye. The calm. The sense of community. It felt like the life we had been craving but didn’t know how to find.

Suddenly, the villa we bought as a vacation property became our first home in México.

Do We Regret Buying Before Visiting?

Not at all.

Is it our forever home?
No.

But real estate in Mérida is one of those things you simply don’t lose on. Our villa is in a growing area, and it has already proven to be an excellent investment. Our long-term plan is to build a different home elsewhere in the city and use the villa as a rental property.

So while it wasn’t purchased with permanent living in mind, it served its purpose perfectly: it brought us here. It gave us a soft landing. And it became the first step in a much bigger vision for our family.

What You Should Consider If You’re Thinking of Moving to Mérida

I won’t tell you to do what we did and buy a home before visiting (most people probably shouldn’t!). But I will tell you that if Mérida has been whispering to you the way it whispered to us, it’s worth exploring.

Every family’s needs are different—neighbourhoods, schools, lifestyle, budget—but this city has a way of meeting you where you are.

If you’re unsure where to begin, or trying to decide whether renting or buying makes sense for your situation, we can help.

Book a consultation at thenestmerida.com

Let’s talk through your lifestyle, your goals, and whether Mérida is the right fit for your family. We’ve lived this journey ourselves—bold decisions, big moves, unexpected pivots and all—and now we help others do the same with clarity and confidence.

Your dream life might be closer than you think.