Back to Feed
Long Read

Apartment Hunting in Neza: Don't Let Scammers Steal Your Rent Money

@Grace Miller2/8/2026blog

okay, so you wanna crash in ciudad nezahualcóyotl without getting fleeced? let me tell you, it's like navigating a minefield blindfolded. i'm a diy busker, meaning i sleep where i can play guitar without getting arrested, so i've learned some sketchy maneuvers. first off, the rent here is brutal - average one-bedroom goes for 4,200-6,500 mexican pesos monthly, but those 'too-good-to-be-true' 3k listings? red flags like a matador's cape. crime stats? yeah, the area's got higher-than-average theft reports, but honestly, it's more about avoiding certain colonias than the whole city being a warzone.


current weather? imagine breathing soup - thick, humid, and clinging to your skin like regret. but hey, drive 45 minutes south and you're in the sierra del chichinautzin mountains where air actually exists. or hop a 30-minute flight to puebla for tacos that'll make you weep.

now, listen close to this street wisdom:
> 'drunk advice from some dude at el chavo's bar: if the landlord says 'deposit negotiable', it's not. they'll triple it when you sign. always ask for written receipts, even for the damn toilet paper.'

> 'overheard at the mercado: that new agency 'neza dream homes'? classic bait-and-switch. show you a palace, then switch you to a cockroach palace when you're desperate. check this reddit thread for real horror stories.'

here's my battle-tested playbook:
- *verify ownership: demand the deed. if they balk, bounce. this legal aid group helps check property records.
- inspect plumbing at 2am: pipes leak at night, not noon. bring a flashlight.
- avoid cash deals: any landlord wanting cash is dodgy. yelp lists local banks for wire transfers.
- stalk the neighborhood*: stay 3 days. are there stray bullets? suspicious vans? tripadvisor's neza section has hidden gems like parque ecológico.


a local grandma practically yelled at me: 'if the key smells like cigarettes and the lock looks like it was opened with a butter knife? run.' also, that 'furnished' apartment? probably comes with bedbugs. always bring a flashlight to inspect corners. found my current spot through this facebook group - verified owner, no deposit shenanigans. just my guitar, a leaky faucet, and the sweet sound of not getting scammed.


p.s. if you see an apartment near the mercado benito juárez with 'amazing views', they mean the dump across the street. views of mountains require paying twice as much. trust me, i've been busking here for 3 years and learned the hard way.

You might also be interested in:

About the author: Grace Miller

Student of life, taking notes for everyone else.

Loading discussion...