100,000 Americans Call It Quits and Retire to Mexico Every Year.
A Castle with Blue Skies for half the Price
One million Americans have already purchased real estate in Mexico and now we know why!
We have updates for those of you who have followed our recent move from Los Angeles to Rosarito Beach, Baja, California, Mexico, in a previous edition of EscapeFromAmericaMagazine.
Other than hanging some large pieces of art and a few drapes in our 4,500 sq ft beachside castle (no mote, but as secure), we’re almost settled now and ready to meet new people and learn more about Baja California.
This morning, we dropped by the offices of Baja123 to say hello to our friends, the owners of Baja123, David and Kanoa Biondolillo, and they suggested we would enjoy meeting a friend of theirs, Douglas Welch, Corporate Director, Santa Barbara Luxury Living at Bajamar, located just 24 miles South of Rosarito near Ensenada, a city of 450,000 people, and only 50 miles from San Diego. Arrangements were quickly made by phone for a tour of the property and lunch at the Bajamar Hotel. We jumped at the opportunity to see the property and meet Douglas.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled into the palatial security gates of Bajamar and drove through their graciously appointed grounds, jogging and walking trails, three beautifully manicured nine-hole golf courses with an ocean view on every hole (we later learned the courses were often compared to Pebble Beach), and small boutique-type vacation homes and mansions along decorative stamped concrete streets. We both commented that we felt like we’d landed in a private paradise.
We found Douglas Welch in his office, replicated to match the interior of one of their oceanfront condominiums in their ‘community for the privileged’ in Santa Barbara at Bajamar. The office was fully appointed with travertine tile flooring and recessed architectural lighting system to rival the finest upscale homes anywhere in the world. Gracious and welcoming, Douglas was the perfect host by inviting us into his office and making us comfortable. We enjoyed an instantaneous friendship as Douglas introduced himself and his real passion, the beautiful property, Santa Barbara at Bajamar.
After our in-office meeting, Douglas provided us a grand tour of the property of Bajamar and we viewed the luxury homes and new developments currently underway in the area of over 1,800 acres. When we approached the Santa Barbara condominium complex which sits on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it took our breath away. We immediately admired the Spanish, early-California mission style architecture of the building with its white curved archways and wide open porches.
William and I were both anxious to tour one of the units and Douglas graciously offered to show us several of them. The units ranged in size from 2 bedroom/2 bath, 1,970 sq feet to the penthouse which offers 4,150 sq ft with 3 bedrooms/3 baths. Each unit offered terraces overlooking the ocean ranging from 290 sq ft to 910 sq ft. The prices ranged from around $400,000 to over $800,000 to purchase the units. They also offer fractional ownerships for eight weeks per year for around $90,000 for some of their units.
As we toured the fully-furnished units, we instantly knew that these luxury condominiums were built with attention to the finest detail. Each had state-of-the-art kitchens and baths with full granite countertops, travertine or ceramic tile flooring, wine storage refrigerators, divine bathtubs (I do love a great tub) with jet streams capable of full body massages, special soundproofing features in each room, and views of both the ocean and golf courses. And, it was so quiet. So incredibly quiet which was yet another luxury we found to be enchanting. Luxury living, ocean views, golf course views, and set in an area that felt much like countryside living.
Here are some of the questions Douglas answered for us about owning property in Mexico:
Question: “Can foreigners own property in Mexico?”
Answer: “Yes, through FIDEICOMISO, any foreigner or Mexican national may purchase property anywhere in Mexico. It’s a 50-year renewable Mexican Bank Trust and indefinitely renewable in 50-year increments. There are an estimated one million Americans who currently own property in Mexico.”
Question: “Can a buyer get title insurance and escrow on the property?”
Answer: “Yes. Title insurance policies are available from several US companies. And Santa Barbara at Bajamar also has agreements with Land America and Commonwealth Land Title Company to insure purchase and escrow needs.”
Question: “Can the Mexican government reclaim legal title to my property?”
Answer: “No. The purchaser holds legal title to lawfully own an interest in Mexican coastal land. Owners are entitled to the same rights as a Mexican national and all the benefits of a direct owner, including the ability to lease or transfer property rights to a third party or beneficiary, much as an owner can in the US.”
Question: “How much are property taxes?”
Answer: “The current property tax is 0.65% (just more than a half percent) of the assessed value as long as the property is used for residential use.”
Question: “Are there ample medical resources in Baja California?”
Answer: “Yes. There are 377 hospitals, 2,230 primary physicians, 349 specialists who are MDs, 638 dentists, 407 laboratories and 2,700 pharmacies in Baja. Health insurance is very modestly priced and MEDAVAC services are available throughout the state.”
Question: “Is Mexico a good place to retire?”
Answer: “Yes. Mexico’s Baja California was named “The World’s Top Retirement Haven” by International Living, 2007 Retirement Index, published September 2007.”
If you’re looking for a primary residence or a second home, contact our friend, David Biondolillo at Baja 123 for more information about purchasing a unit or buying a fractional ownership of a condominium in Santa Barbara Luxury Living at Bajamar. Better yet, plan a trip to Baja California and meet our friends, tour the condominium development and enjoy the local wine country nearby. There are 50 wineries to explore ranging from small family-owned wineries to large commercial winemakers who produce 95% of the wines for Mexico.
If you’re retired or preparing to retire, or you’re looking for a good investment that is only 45-minutes to the US border, then we recommend coming to Baja and experiencing the magic for yourself.
If you are ready to secure your piece of Paradise visit the Baja123 website and make your dreams a reality: CLICK HERE
Become a Strategic Media Partner with Escapeartist CLICK HERE
My God ,
What a white wash of the most dangerous country this side of Iraq. Murder,mayhem kidnapping and rape are everywhere in this drug war zone. Most of all the police forces are corupted by the drug cartels.
Even with Fidos on private property,homes have been lost over prior claims from shoddy paperwork.
Read and learn from these web sites : fulano files.com
borderbeat.com
or just google Mexico drug crime and get informed. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to sell you some land or just plain stupid. Do your research and maybe save your life.
Did you know that you spelled “moat” wrong? A “mote’ is a tiny piece of something, like dust.
Mexico is great on many levels…. but face it, some parts are dodgy.
This article is about the immediate border area.
Far too questionable for me to put money into.
It’s that simple. Perhaps Hispanics retiring from L.A. will have a different take.
And look at what this article centers on…. these hoary, 25 year old gringo yuppie developments STILL trying to gain traction. Bajamar has been there forever..and still trying to fill lots.
Hi,
I agree with your statement that the border towns of Mexico and USA are dangerous. Also, in Mexico many of the larger resort cities are dangerous and have shootout incidents now and again.
However, I moved to Cabo San Lucas at the tip of the Baja peninsula. When they say “Baja”, as in this article they mean the entire peninsula which includes the border areas. However, in Southern Baja and in Los Cabos (the end of the peninsula), we have quite a different experience. There are no drug wars, no gun battles,no dangerous druggies running around robbing people. We just have sun, sand and blue skies.
I’m developing a site just north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific coast that boasts a rural, rustic and a mellow environment. This location, like Cabo San Lucas, has only petty theft like any developing country and no worse than Buenos Aires. No guns, no druggies, no violence with breathtaking seascape and mountain views.
So don’t let the naysayers turn you off to a wonderful place of fun and great weather. My almost on the beach homes will be selling for between $250K – $300K. The smallest one will have over 1500 SF of under roof living space, 2 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, kitchen with island, spiral staircase, large windows and sliding doors everywhere, a large upstair terrace matched by the downstair terrace and less than 100 yard walk to the magnificent surfing beach of Cerritos. We have designed it so that it can be used as two apartments or as one home via intelligent design. And it will be all green, i.e., fully solar powered, recycled water, wiring for DC or AC current, etc.
Regards,
Mike
I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico. I will NEVER buy there. Renting, though, is fabulous. As another commentor has stated: It’s nice to be able to move quickly.
In my early twenties I spent time way down in the Puerto Angel area. Great place, and mostly friendly.
I did, however, see some ugliness. Foreign owned eateries, and coffee houses mysteriously (not) burned to the ground. Also, one ex-pat “fell” off stairs and died on rocky terrain . . . etc
Mexicans are beautiful people in so many ways, but they also are part of a culture that seems to not fear death in any way. There is peace, but there is also serious violence too. Hardcore stuff.
Rent, rent, rent. Establish good relationships with the locals by supporting there establishments. Donate to the locval schools. Help open a youth center . . . .
Above all else: don’t go down there and get all superior to the locals. Ugly Americans are met with ugliness.
To the person who said Mexico is “the most dangerous country this side of Iraq”… The US is far more dangerous than Mexico. This is a listing of murders per 100,000 in major American cities compared to Mexico City:
Detroit 37.4
Baltimore 36.9
Washington DC 31.4
Philadelphia 23.0
Chicago 18.0
Mexico City 8.1
In Chicago there are approx. 40 shootings per weekend. This was a recent headline from Chicago: At Least 52 Shot, 7 Dead over weekend: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/21/chicago-violence-at-least_n_619259.html).
The US media tries to make Mexico look bad so people don’t pay attention to how bad the US has gotten.
BTW, one of the best places in Mexico is Acapulco where I live. It is awesome and beautiful and super safe for foreigners in the tourist zone… way safer than any US major city. You can get condos at one place for $60,000 right on the beach with all new furnishings and US HDTV satellite TV and flat screen TV at AcaCondos: http://acacondos.com