As beachfront lot prices spiral into the stratosphere, ordinary Americans, in the face of the current recession, are watching their retirement resources dwindle and wondering if there is going to be a place left, even in Mexico, for them. This is the good news! There really is a Mexico for “real people,” and there really is the perfect place for everyone if they just know how to go about looking for it.

Retired teachers are perfect candidates to consider retiring in Mexico and investing in the future of real estate there. There are several branches of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) located throughout Mexico, the U.S., and even Canada. In addition, each state has a number of other prestigious colleges and universities. Almost all of these schools have attained international recognition in a variety of fields and draw huge numbers of foreign students and professionals at every level, including graduate and post-graduate research. What this does is provide those who understand the academic world and its needs with a perfect opportunity to invest in property near these schools and reap the benefits far into the future.

What kind of near-university property should teachers be on the lookout for? The same kind they would look for in their home countries. Graduate, post-graduate, commuter, and foreign students all need housing, so inexpensive rental property is a great idea, especially if marketed to foreign study students back home by using the fact that it is retired-teacher-owned. Near-university property is perfect for opening English language schools, tutoring, an English language library, or even preschools and daycare centers where children can be exposed to English. But that isn’t all. Big universities are always in desperate need of parking, so even the lowly parking lot would be a great investment for retired teachers. Finally, looking ahead, university expansion is always in the works. This means that the school may someday purchase that little piece of investment property at quite a handsome profit.

If retired teachers want to continue to work, at least part-time, then good property choices would also include buying in the area of some of the better known English language schools in Mexico. These schools do not generally pay well for classroom teachers, but they do provide English tutors to corporate executives and those rates of pay are excellent. One of the most well respected of these kinds of schools is Centro de Idiomas del Sureste, in Merida, Yucatan. Or – perhaps a retired teacher wants to design and teach their own class. There are actually schools in Mexico (visit Life Long Learning) that provide just that kind of opportunity.

If you are a teacher and interested in any of these ideas, read more about University City, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mexico City, then visit their website and the website of one of their satellite campuses, UADY in Merida, Yucatan. If your Spanish is not perfect, Babelfish provides free translations.

All teachers have dreams of what they would love to do, especially when they retire. Mexico has dreams too and is more than willing to provide all of the opportunity necessary to make teachers’ dreams come true.