Sayulita Life’s Featured Business: MexEdge
Hi! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I moved from Charleston, SC, to Sayulita seven years ago with my wife Lindsay and our 11-year-old twins, Coco and Izzy. Before relocating, I spent over 25 years as a real estate developer in Charleston. Since coming to Sayulita, I’ve become an active member of the community, serving on the board of Grupo Pro Sayulita. I’ve also been involved in several low-density real estate projects here, and more recently, I founded MexEdge, a company that helps protect expats from currency risk when purchasing or building property in Mexico.
How did you first discover Sayulita?
A friend from Charleston told me about Sayulita while we were looking for the perfect place to move to in Mexico. Like so many others say, as soon as we arrived, we knew this was the place we wanted to live.
What made you decide to stay and start a life here?
It was the combination of everything—proximity to the beach and surf, the fact that there was a good school for our kids (CVIS), and the tight-knit community. It just felt like the right place for us.
What about Sayulita made you want to start your business here?
After developing a few real estate projects here, I realized the risks of currency fluctuation. I personally lost a significant amount when the peso dropped below 16.5 while I had two houses under construction. Many of my builder and developer friends were in the same situation, so I saw an opportunity to create a solution to a very common problem.
Tell us a little bit about MexEdge:
MexEdge helps expats protect themselves from currency risk when buying or building property in Mexico. The process of closing on a property here can take months, and exchange rates can fluctuate dramatically during that time. For example, if someone is buying a condo in Sayulita for 5 million pesos and the exchange rate is 20 to 1 (20 pesos to 1 USD), the condo will cost $250,000 USD. But if the exchange rate changes to 18 to 1 by the time they close, that same condo will cost $277,000 USD. MexEdge allows clients to lock in a guaranteed exchange rate from the start, so they know exactly what they’ll be paying at the end, regardless of market fluctuations. It effectively eliminates that risk.
What services do you provide?
We provide access to a secure online banking platform that lets clients lock in an exchange rate for a future date. The rate is guaranteed with just a small deposit to secure it. The platform is easy to use and provided by one of the largest cross-border payment companies in the world, owned by VISA. No client funds flow through MexEdge—transactions are done directly on the platform. A lot of people are familiar with Wise, and our platform works similarly, but the key difference is that Wise can’t lock in a guaranteed rate for the future.
What can a client expect when working with you?
Many of our clients aren’t familiar with currency exchange, so we spend a lot of time educating them on fluctuations and associated risks. We provide custom proformas for each client’s project, showing how exchange rate changes could impact their costs. We also guide them through every step of the process—from setting up their online account to making payments and wires, and anything else they need assistance with.
Any great client memories you can share?
I’ve had the privilege of working with some amazing people who supported us in the beginning, and I’m forever grateful for that. A lot of our clients are moving to Mexico for the first time, and it’s been great to bond with them over shared experiences. Moving here can be overwhelming—buying a home, establishing residency, opening a bank account, and getting an RFC (Mexican tax ID)—and I remember how challenging that was for me when I first arrived. I was fortunate to have a lot of people in the Sayulita community help me, and we try to pay that forward to our clients. It’s led to some wonderful friendships.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Yes—our fees are actually lower than what typical banks like Intercam or BBVA charge for standard currency conversions. So not only are we offering protection against currency risk, but we’re also providing a more cost-effective option.
