My friends are hard headed Dutchmen, born and raised in Holland. Still Dutch citizens even tho’ they lived in the US for 30 years with no plans to go back to Holland. When they moved to Cuernavaca about 8 years ago, they said “come on down, it's very safe there are guards everywhere”. To which my husband replied “if it was really safe you wouldn't need so many guards”.
Things have only gotten worse since then, don't know how much worse it would have to get to moved them out of there. They still have tons of company, mostly from Holland, I think.
I think I remember they said the property they bought was like a long term lease from the government.
I think I remember they said the property they bought was like a long term lease from the government. I recall something about that from reading about Mexican immigration rules. Essentially, foreigners can't own their own property free and clear, like native Mexicans can.