Rosarito Beach Properties

Villanueva, far left; Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres, center in striped maroon sweater; and Bruce Howard, far right in yellow vest

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Seven members of a California Rotary club joined with about 20 local Rotarians and Rosarito residents Saturday in an event to demonstrate this tourist area is perfectly safe for visitors.

The event organized by Rotarians from Cambria, California was officially a beach maintenance session but Bruce Howard, past president of that club, said its main purpose was to help eliminate inaccurate perceptions that have developed in the U.S.

“We want to tell people that Baja is safe,” said Howard, who owns a vacation home in Rosarito. “We’re coming down, we love coming down and we feel safe and welcome and comfortable here.”

Howard said media coverage of the Mexican government’s aggressive crackdown on drug cartels, including some sensationalized stories, has created the impression among some in the U.S. that the area is unsafe for visitors. continue reading…

Bring Your Medicare to Mexico

Suzan Haskins
Latin America Editor, International Living
International Living Postcards—your daily escape

Which foreign country will be the first in which Americans can use Medicare and Medicaid benefits?

Mexico, of course.

It just makes sense. Mexico is right next door to the largest market of health care consumers in the world. Some health services in Mexico can cost 12 times less than what is charged in the U.S., experts say.

It’s no wonder that Americans (and yes, Canadians, too) cross the Mexican border in frequently increasing numbers to avail of the high-quality but low-cost health care Mexico provides, including reduced cost prescriptions. continue reading…

Drug cartels. Murders. The news is often bad out of Mexico. Peter Ferry journeys beyond the headlines.

Finally Some Good News on Travel in Mexico

Poor old Mexico. Talk about kicking a guy when he’s down! Just when the price of oil plummets, American jobs dry up, and the fear of drug violence cuts tourism in half, along comes swine flu to cut it in half again.

OK, it’s time for a little good news. In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control lifted its recommendation against travel to Mexico; the swine flu isn’t so bad after all, and it probably didn’t come here from Mexico in the first place.

And now a little more good news. Drug violence is not a threat to ordinary tourists like you and me. This is according to the Mexican government, the U.S. State Department and me. Let me give you a little background. continue reading…

Mexican Talavera tile roots date back to 15th century Spain. Many of the designs and patterns can be traced back to Chinese and Philippine origins while even older variations of this art form date back to 8th century Arab culture.

Mexican Hacienda Kitchen

During the middle ages, craftsmen in Italy began experimenting with glazes and as a result many new colors were developed. When the Italians introduced the unison of the Arab, Italian, and Asian motif during the 15th century to Spain the Talavera ceramic was born. In turn, following the Spanish colonization of Mexico, the Spaniards introduced the new ceramic and Mexican artisans adopted it.

During the 1920s and 30s, Spanish Colonial Revival was one of the most popular architectural styles in the Southwest. Colorful ceramic tile as well as clay tile roofs, roughly plastered walls, arched doorways, and wrought iron window grilles create some of the key elements of this style. Inspired by the Panama California Exposition of 1915 as well as travels in Spain and Mexico, many architects found southern California the ideal setting for this type of architecture. The similarity to Spain’s climate and landscape was the primary catalyst for using the Spanish Colonial Revival style to transform houses, stores, offices, and even cities throughout California, Arizona, New Mexico and Baja California Mexico. (www.missionviejobaja.com)

It’s often difficult to visualize what a particular pattern will look like once it is installed. In fact, the true beauty of Mexican Talavera can only be appreciated when the tiles are placed side by side and a pattern is created.

Visitors to 42037 Mision San Diego in Mision Viejo Baja are often impressed by the hundreds of colorful tiles, as well as the other architectural crafts, which fill this Spanish Colonial Revival style mansion. Tile is found in nearly every room of the house, either as baseboards, stair risers, fireplace surrounds, wall niches, or window seats.

If you want to appreciate a gorgeous New Ocean view Mexican hacienda style mansion only 35 minutes south of the border just call or email Miguel Sedano (619-200-7408) for an appointment.

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Spectacular Ocean Front Home For Rent in Las Gaviotas

Premium luxury 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom fully furnished home available for rent in Las Gaviotas. Take advantage lf the current Baja real estate opportunity to lease this spectacular ocean view home for a bargain price of only $2150 USD monthly for an annual contract (daily rates available).

This house has it all from a huge deck overlooking the whitewater surf, an open great room fully furnished, granite kitchen counters, nanny’s quarters and parking for 3 cars in the garage and covered car port. Want to bring along your 36 FT RV. This house can accommodate it inside the covered parking area with full hookups for your traveling guests. This home in Las Gaviotas is worth well more. Don’t forget the ocean front pool and new gymnasium. Take advantage of this limited time opportunity.

Full commission to the broker that gets it done.

For bookings call from the US: (619)-200-7408, or if you’re already in Mexico call: (661) 613-2332 continue reading…

By: Elizabeth Mclachlan

With the Internet becoming such a big resource, consumers often feel that they don’t need the expertise of a real estate agent. However, there is a reason why 80% of buyers and seller still turn to estate agents when buying or selling a house – in fact, here are 10 reasons why you should consider using a real estate agent when buying Mexico real estate:

Why You Should Use a Baja Real Estate Agent

You Can Benefit From an Agent’s Experience and Education
Real estate agents know the market, was trained to assist clients in selling and buying homes and know the procedures you need to follow. You will be a fool not to use their expertise.

An Agent Has Good Negotiating Skills
Negotiating is part of an agent’s job description and they know how to make a case for their clients. There skills ensure that you, the client, get the best deal.

An Agent Can Handle All the Paperwork
The endless paper work can be time-consuming not to mention daunting. Agents are trained to handle all paper work and assist you throughout the process. They also know the legal aspects of a contract. This saves you a lot of time to concentrate on the more important things.

An Agent Can Assist You With Price Guidance
Agents have knowledge of the market and will help you establish how much home you can afford as well as how much to sell you property for. Here you can once again trust their experience to guide you when making a decision.

An Agent Has Knowledge of the Neighborhood
Agents can answer all your questions regarding the neighborhood you want to buy in, the quality of the schools, the noise levels, traffic etc. They also know the prices that homes in the area sell for.

Advertising a Property is Expensive
If you decide on a DIY sale, be prepared to cover the advertising cost. When you work with an agent you are not only relying on their name to advertise your property but you are also using all their resources including For Sale/On Show banners and listings in newspapers and on the Internet.

Agents Sell Homes Faster
It has been proven that when you use an agent you will sell you home faster – and we all know that time is money in this industry.

An Agent Has an Objective Opinion
Having an agent around when you view a property means that you will always have an objective opinion. Agents see things differently and can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of a property. They also know exactly what to look for.

An Agent Can Make Recommendations
Agents know the best lenders, home inspectors and other references that you might need when you buy or sell a house.

An Agent Has Access to Additional Information
Agents have loads of information like how long a property has been on the market, the neighborhood and school system, the home’s best features etc. This can come in handy when you have difficulty choosing between different properties.

Considering the scenic landscape that Northern Baja California offers, you might want to have a look at real estate for sale in Rosarito especially in Palacio Del Mar, Calafia Condos, Las Gaviotas or Club Marena.

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So you finally find your dream beachfront home within one of the best Baja Communities and what’s better, at an amazing price. Here are a few tips that can help you gain the upper-hand when negotiating the price on that special Baja property.

House Search

1. Keep in mind that there are no perfect homes in the market unless you are prepared to pay the price for them, fix some details or better yet, construct your own.
2. Write down your necessities, features and things that you want, on that same list mark things down that you can live or do without. This will get rid of uncertainty, indecision and evade buyer’s guilt.
3. Act swiftly when you come across a good Baja real estate deal. Waiting will only craft more opportunities for contending offers.
4. Once you’ve found what you want, get a market analysis (CMA – comparable market analysis) of properties sold in the last three or six months, your Baja real estate Agent will be more than happy to help you get this information. The nearer the comparables are to the existing market the more precise your offer will be.
5. Resolve your financial reach – how high are you prepared to go and be at ease with the payments.
6. Write down your best offer, price and stipulations. Stay away from multiple offer situations by being the first to take the advantage and get it under contract. This isn’t the time to be undecided and play guessing games.

See more Baja real estate and Mexico real estate. Look here for a trusted Baja Real Estate Agent.

AMPI stands for Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals). It is pretty much the Mexican version of NAR. Its Agents like to keep themselves up to date on the local market and follow the same ethical standards as in the US.

Palacio Del Mar

Last Wednesday May 20 about 30 AMPI Professional Agents gather to tour Baja real estate along the Rosarito coast and refresh their knowledge on what is readily available on this market. The tour started at Whales Tale coffee shop inside Bajamar where Mona Key served complimentary coffee and donuts. After touring Bajamar Golf Course with Mimi Mills, the group continued north to La Mision, Plaza del Mar, Marena Cove and ended at Palacio del Mar where they were greeted by the Developers and the Sales Team.

Many of the AMPI Agents had not had the opportunity to visit Northern Baja’s first truly luxury oceanfront community development of Palacio del Mar; Palacio Del Mar is currently delivering condos and amenities. Palacio Del Mar amenities and services include a 25,000 ft2 Club House with an indoor granite pool, outdoor infinity pool, children’s pool, bistro, state-of-the-art gym and full service Spa.

As group entered Lobby which boasts a 16th foot high ceiling, Agents got to experience first hand the countless features and detail, from business center, the library, pool tables, to the Movie Theater and Shuttle Service (Shuttle Services only available for Palacio Del Mar Homeowners). There they met Ana Carrillo who heads-up the Palacio del Mar concierge services. Ana helps Homeowners schedule house cleaning services, US mail, restaurant reservations, wine tours and even vet visits for the Homeowner’s pets, just to name a few.

Miguel Sedano, Sales Associate for the Baja Real Estate Group stationed at Palacio Del Mar, has witness first hand the whole construction process, the attention to detail the developer and his crew have put into Palacio del Mar since it was just 10 acres of sand and a sales trailer. Practicality and planning meet luxury at every turn in Palacio Del Mar where the developer has added time and time again quality extras to the building such as fire sprinklers, double walls, and a back-up generator for all units; he also added a cooling system to the trash area so that it always stays at a 2 degrees Celsius complying with higher hygiene standards.

Most of the Agents agreed that Palacio del Mar it’s the most upscale Community currently being delivered in Baja, they look forward to bringing their clients for a personal tour. If you already working with an AMPI Agent make sure you schedule an appointment today. See first hand the luxury and quality that Palacio Del Mar. Call 1-800-678-7583 | 1 (619)-308-788

See pictures, floor plan and amenities on the Palacio del Mar official website.

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Since the early days in Baja, US Citizens have been buying residential Beach Front and Ocean View lots , building their dream Beach House, and for an increasing number, their retirement homes. Many of the older and more stable communities in Playas de Rosarito such as Las Gaviotas , Real Del Mar , San Antonio Del Mar and Mission Viejo and Punta Piedra all started out selling lots, most of which had very good building restrictions in place.

Boomers Buying Baja Lots

These Baja communities have established a reputation as a great place to live or buy a home. Over the last few years, with the increase in demand along the coast, many Americans had given up the idea of building and went with new condo construction. However, once again retirees are looking at their future and they are opting to cash in now for the perfect location and buying a lot while taking advantage of the current pricing advantage here in Baja.

In the 3 to 5 years as the real estate markets return to normal these lucky buyers will already have their future in place at today’s favorable prices. Currently to build a home in Baja would cost on average 45.00 to 70.00 per square foot for quality construction. Timing is typically between six and nine months from start to finish. Octavio Serrano of OCA a well known architect says that while the idea of building can be scary for many Americans, that the over all cost savings far out ways any head aches the client my have. And in the end they all say they would do it all over again. Permitting is much like the US where you first need to obtain an official topographic drawing, a building permit and then finally a completed work report. All of these can be handled by your architect.

Working with a good architect who is not only reputable, but also has Vision beyond what a clients needs are for today is KEY says Kathy Katz, owner of Baja Real Estate Group . Katz says that in many of these communities such as Las Gaviotas which started out offering lots Americans built there dream homes over the years, and when they came up for re-sale she always knew which ones would re sale the fastest strictly due to the architecture styling, she adds that you can change the color of the walls and tile, but the architecture stays with the home for ever. Just recently she has seen an increase in quality lots coming on to the market, where in the past they were either not available, or cost prohibitive.

For example a 2200 sq ft lot in Real Del Mar a Golf Course Community that once sold for 75-80 thousand, is listed today for $43,000. An ocean front 7500 sq ft lot in Punta Piedra a gated community is now available for $450,000, where once prices for the same size lot were approaching 1 million.

Can you imagine having your own lap pool with the waves crashing at you front door says Katz. In this market buyers are not only looking at cost of living and a life style, but they are looking at the values in the market, making this a time to act.

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In 1989 the partners of the Club Marena Development decided to take beautiful strip of the Baja coast in a well know cove, south of Rosarito, to create some of the most premium Baja Real Estate that the area had ever seen. The land was originally owned by the Cota family and was a popular camping spot from as far back as the 1940’s. Surfers from around the world would set up camp to sample the smooth pealing point waves. Surfing Legends the likes of Skip Fry, Corky Carrol and Jerry Lopez would dawn the point for pleasure and even a few completions.

Club Marena Villas

Marena’s decision to transform this idyllic piece of Baja into the Coast’s first true luxury development turned out to me a monumental one. Twenty-Seven luxury villas & one custom home-site were planned, for phase one, of what would become one of the coasts most successful residential resorts. An impressive clubhouse, a spectacular spa and an infinity edge pool were all part of the plan.

Each villa would have an idyllic layout for a seaside retreat. Drive into a private, two car garage with complete laundry facilities. Pull in and park in safety and comfort. Walk into a lush, well appointed personal courtyard and feel the Mediterranean essence of this Riviera style resort. The courtyards offer a special space for private puttering in your own garden. It is the perfect place for a private hot tub, koi pond or outdoor kitchen. Some of the villas have a casita with a third bedroom bordering the courtyard.

The charm of the architecture and the well planned layout of this location are exceptional and were unprecedented, at the time, in this sleepy village in the area south of Rosarito know as Bahia Descanso, “restful bay”. This area represented the premium Rosarito Real Estate and a unique geography on this section of the coast at the time of construction.

People who know the area are very cognizant of the unique micro-climate in this locality. Southern orientation with coastal hills keep the winds side shore, the weather patterns a little sunnier and the area more temperate than just 15 minutes up the coast.

The oceanfront master suite represents the dream we all have in coastal sleeping comfort. The sounds of the waves pour past the private balcony and into the spacious sleeping space accented with the warmth of a cozy fireplace.

The open floor plan of the lower level provides a spacious living space with great accommodations for home entertainment and adorned with another fireplace. A well designed kitchen opens up to the dining and living area. Walk though the space and onto the brick patio and your private wood sundeck. Outdoor living space is what the villas bring better than any condo and most homes in the area. This is what makes life in a Club Marena villa so special.

By 1992 this first phase of what would become one of the coasts most coveted developments would be completed. Villas Marena, as it was know back then, launched a new era of development on Baja’s Gold Coast. Baja had not yet scene this Riviera style of luxury architecture and planning combined with stylish oceanfront amenities. Many phases of development have followed and additional amenities have been added. However the unique character of the villas makes then one of the most desirable acquisitions in Rosarito real estate.

Browse for Club Marena Listings.

Larry French

Larry French is an Executive Sales Agent with Baja Real Estate Group with 10 years experience with web based and multimedia marketing. incorporated in Mexico for Real Estate and investment business for over 6 years. Active investor in Northern Baja with very successful portfolio. Certified member of AMPI/NAR Full-time resident of the Northern Baja area with visa and work permits.