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Brad Billingsley and his wife Linda

Brad Billingsley could have been waiting for his tee time at an Arizona golf course.

Instead, the former Lafayette resident and his wife Linda were in a lagoon off Cabo San Lucas, snapping photos of gray whales bobbing next to their small charter boat.

“Every day, it’s an adventure here,” Brad Billingsley said. “It’s added 20 years to my life.”

Brad, 62, and Linda Billingsley, 61, are among the “silver surge” of baby boomers seeking alternative retirement nests in Mexico, according to a recent report by the International Community Foundation.

It’s not certain how many U.S. retirees are living in Mexico — a 2004 study puts it between 500,000 and 600,000 — but the foundation and other researchers say the number is bound to increase as more boomers settle into their golden years and find Mexico an affordable alternative. Almost half the retirees living in coastal areas are getting by comfortably on less than $1,000 per month, said the report, which cites the growth of real estate projects targeted at retirees as proof that expatriates are flocking south of the border.

The Billingsleys had seriously considered a retirement community with a golf course in central Arizona. But they lacked the enthusiasm for fairway living that seemed to consume retirees there. “Their entire lives were involved with golf,” Brad Billingsley said.

In 2007, the couple became expatriates and settled into a $300,000, two-bedroom beachfront condominium in Rosarito Beach, in Baja California.

They’ve made the most out of their retirement dollars, Brad Billingsley said. The cost of living — from groceries to health care — is low in their beachfront town and there’s plenty to do, such as driving down the coast to Cabo, walking on the beach and shopping at the local mercado.

The couple lived in the Bay Area for 60 years, much of it in Walnut Creek and Lafayette.

Sometimes they miss their old haunts, especially bookstores, Brad Billingsley said. But like most expatriates surveyed in the foundation report, they return often to the states. The Billingsleys make a trip across the border to San Diego every few weeks.

Affordability, quality of life, weather and proximity to the U.S. were top reasons retirees chose Mexico, according to the survey of 842 expatriates conducted by the foundation.

“After the market crash of 2008, we wanted to better understand what was going on with retirees in Mexico,” said Richard Kiy, president and chief executive officer of the foundation, a Southern California-based nonprofit that works to increase charitable giving and volunteerism across U.S. borders. In an 88-question survey of retirees 50 and older, the foundation found that expatriates had weathered the economic storm well.

A survey snapshot: Retirees’ biggest complaint is litter, while their favorite pastime is walking on the beach. More than three-quarters own a home. Almost 44 percent get by comfortably on less than $1,000 per month, and 61 percent are married — slightly less than the U.S. average of 65 percent for the same age group.

The foundation’s 17-page report, released in March, deals with demographics and day-to-day basics such as public safety concerns and household expenses of retirees in coastal areas such as Cancun, Rosarito Beach, Rocky Point and Puerto. Four follow-up studies over the next few months will tackle topics that include the impact on Mexico’s environment, health care accessibility, real estate and civic involvement by U.S. retirees.

Crime concerns affect mostly tourists

A weakening American economy, U.S. State Department travel alerts and worries about the H1N1 virus have hurt tourist travel numbers to Mexico over the past year, but the country still remains an attractive haven for retirees, said Anne McEnany, co-author of the report and the foundation’s senior adviser for environment and conservation.

Reports of narcotics-related violence, especially in border cities like Tijuana and Nogales, gave many retirees jitters initially, McEnany said. After they’ve settled into their new homes, anxiety fades away.

“They said they felt completely safe and that the media was over-hyping the narco-violence,” McEnany said. The impact was on friends and family, who changed their minds about visiting, she said.

“I’m really saddened to see coverage of (Mexican) crime in the media,” said Doug Gray, 60, a retired public safety officer from Livermore.

He and his wife Cyndi recently purchased a condominium in Manzanillo, a port city between Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco. They say they feel as safe — if not safer — walking around the mercados and boulevards as they did in Livermore.

Cyndi Gray said her best moment in Manzanillo was sitting on little plastic chairs at a cafe, watching waves roll in from the Pacific, sipping margaritas and eating coconut shrimp.

“We really love the pace,” she said. “It’s a slower pace and you can sit down there and get into the groove. I can unplug.”

The Grays have yet to live there full-time; Cyndi, 48, is still working.

Ellen Fields, another expat from California, lives in Merida, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Her adopted city is about 22 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico — close, but not part of the coastal regions surveyed by the foundation. It has a reputation for being safe and hasn’t been affected by crime associated with border cities. “The Yucatán is not touched by that,” Fields said, adding, “I’ve never felt unsafe here.”

A self-described “dot-bomb refugee,” Fields and her husband James run yucatanliving.com, a Web site for expatriates. They moved to Merida from San Luis Obispo in 2002 and never looked back.

Ellen Fields says she’s enchanted by the Old World feel of the markets and people. “People in Yucatán are very welcoming. It’s a very gracious culture,” she said. “You walk down the street here and people say hello to you.”

One of the things she misses about California: “Mountains. It’s flat as a pancake here.”

Fields recommends living and working in Mexico, but warns that it takes a lot of planning. “You can’t come down here expecting someone to hire you,” Fields said. And learn the language, she advises.

Although Fields isn’t quite fluent, she says she can now hold a conversation without thinking about it.

About 48 percent of those surveyed in the foundation’s report were fluent or spoke intermediate-level Spanish, McEnany said. Even though many service businesses in Mexico have English speaking staffers, there’s no substitute for learning the language, she said.

Retirees may settle in only to find they can’t interact.

“They do the hobby thing and then after about a year they get bored,” McEnany said. “They are interested in getting involved in the community but they don’t have the language skills.”

One pitfall of expatriate living comes when communities “tend to circle around themselves” and don’t reach out to their adopted country, McEnany said. In addition, English-oriented businesses and the proliferation of big-box outlets like Walmart, Sam’s Club and Costco around near retirement hubs have made it even easier for Americans to isolate themselves from Mexican culture.

In the survey, about 88 percent of respondents said they feel somewhat or fully integrated into their new country. Nevertheless, most retirees continue to “see themselves as visitors in someone else’s country,” McEnany said.

The foundation is keenly interested in what U.S. retirees are doing with their time. Its chief goal is to assist American donors in charitably supporting communities abroad. The largest group of foundation donors consists of American expatriates in northwest Mexico.

Bob Hansen, 52, of Alameda said he’s aiming to retire in Manzanillo because of the community there. Like most retirees in the foundation survey, he visited several times before deciding to buy. Three years ago, he purchased a fixer-upper on the beach for $64,000.

Hansen has made many friends there and loves the lifestyle. “I have a huge pool of friends there,” he said.

He met one close Mexican friend after anchoring his sailboat close to a small village called Colimilla, near Manzanillo. A fisherman helped guide him to shore and afterward they cooled off with a cola.

“I could hardly speak Spanish and he didn’t speak English well either, but we had a connection of the souls,” Hansen said. “After the drinks, we got in his old truck and he drove all over the area showing me all the beautiful places in the area.”

Hansen purchased his home the next year and he stayed with his new friend in a nearby village while the sale cleared.

“I ended up being introduced to some of the kindest and warmest people on earth in that wonderful time I stayed in this village,” Hansen said.

Quality of life a top draw

Kathie Parker, formerly of Oakland, can attest to that. A third-generation Californian who moved in 2008 to Merida, Parker said she doesn’t miss the stress of living in the Bay Area.

“I never plan to move back to California,” she said.

Parker, 60, is a retired masseuse and moved with her partner Holly Smith in June 2008. They sold their home in Oakland and purchased a three-bedroom, three-bath home with a pool for less than $200,000.

But she insists that quality of life was her top concern. “I didn’t just choose this place because it was cheap,” Parker said. “I wanted to live here.”

She visits and talks daily with Yucatecan friends in Merida and is taking Spanish classes. Along with a group of other expats, she participated last year in a U.S. National Day of Service. They raised enough money to buy chairs and tables for a local school library.

“There are a lot of (Americans) who live here who want to make it as American as they possibly can,” Parker said. “We moved to Mexico to be with Mexicans. The people here are wonderful. You just have to try.”

If you have any questions you would like to ask Brad Billingsley you can send him an email at bradbillingsleyy@yahoo.com.

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Just Reduced Upgraded Baja Condo For Sale in Calafia Condos

The kitchen has excellent ocean views, and is large enough for several to cook together. The kitchen has a stylish Italian glass tile back splash, and custom dark stained maple cabinets to compliment. Also, the stainless steel appliances include a dishwasher, refrigerator and a flat top stove. The granite counter top island is the center piece of the kitchen and has plenty of space for bar seating.

The dining is set next to tall bay view windows and is large enough for a table of eight. Also, the living area is a part of this great room, with access to the terrace, white water ocean views, and plenty of space for comfortable seating and entertaining.

The master bedroom has tall windows for large views, and a glass patio door leading to the patio.

The master bathroom has double sinks unique to this home, maple cabinets, and a nice tiled trim for accents in the shower.

Calafia, tower 2, has an excellent lobby with wireless internet access for business meetings, that also doubles as a meeting place for neighbors during special events and holidays. This lobby also has the gym, Jacuzzis, steam room, and sauna, and a nice display of oil on canvas of nearby wine region of Valle de Guadalupe.

Summary

• Market Status: Unsold/Available
• Listing Type: For Sale
• Price: $299,000.00 USD
• Category: Condos
• Community: Calafia Condos

Details

• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 2
• Closest town: Rosarito
• Transport: Bus , Taxi
• Market: Rosarito Real Estate

Features

• Pool:Yes
• BBQ area:Yes
• Central heating:Yes
• Elevator:Yes
• Pets allowed:Yes
• Furnishings:Furnished
• Sandy Beach Access: Yes

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Location Map

Location of Unit 301 in Tower II at Calafia Condos (KML File for Google Earth®).

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For Sale: Villa 305 at Calafia Condos

This beautiful villa comes fully furnished, with wrought iron dining table and decor for that special Baja touch. Full appliances like a gas range with stove, microwave, refrigerator and washer. The kitchen features a granite counter top with wrought iron stools. The living room faces the ocean and it has floor to ceiling windows which exit to the back patio, perfect for a grill or a barbecue to enjoy the beautiful Baja weather. It also has a beautiful framed fireplace.

The Master bedroom features an ocean view and beautiful wrought iron furnishings.  The second room faces the front of the house and it has sliding door closets. Both bathrooms are fully equipped and have beautiful Baja tile. This villa has a covered garage for one car.

Calafia Condos Resort & Villas features a diversity of amenities like a semi-private sandy beach tucked away in a cove, ocean-view pool, multiple spas and sundeck, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, 24-hour manned security, gated complex, meeting room, cean front club house, indoor Jacuzzis, barbecue area, sauna, gym, steam room, cable TV and many other.

A must have Baja real estate!

Summary

• Market Status: Unsold/Available
• Listing Type: For Sale
• Price: $200,000 USD – Firm Price Cash Offer
• Category: Villas
• Community: Calafia Condos
• County/Municipality: Popotla

Details

• Bedrooms: 2
• Living area: 1200ft²
• Bathroom: 2
• Parking: 1
• Stories: 1
• Closest town: Rosarito Beach
• Transport: Bus, Taxi
• Home Owner Assn. Fees: 170 USD
• Market: Rosarito Real Estate

Features

• Pool: Yes
• Fireplace: Yes
• BBQ area: Yes
• Lock up garage: Yes
• Close to shops: Yes
• Pets allowed: Yes
• Furnishings: Furnished

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Location Map of Villa 305 in Calafia Condos (KML File for Google Earth®)

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Rosarito Real Estate – Two Developments with Construction Well Under Way

Costal Baja has long been a preferred choice of retirement, relocation or vacation for Americans who want the lower cost beach front living experience, and the closeness to the US. This brought a growing number of real estate developers to Northern Baja, and construction of resort communities designed for expatriates were being developed all along the coast.

Since the slowdown of the real estate market in the US, several construction projects in Baja slowed down or completely stopped in the past year; as a result of this some of developers refunded the investment partially or completely, others transferred the property to another development, but still a number of investors were left with out money and property.

With all of these less than reassuring stories you are left with uncertainty and doubt. What then, are you to do if have your heart set in purchasing a home in Baja?

As with everything, the best advice any one can give, is to do your homework. When interested on investing on pre-construction and pre-sale developments, a few of the questions to be answered should be the following:

• Who is the developer heading the project?
• How many years have they been in business?
• What other projects have they finished and what is the quality they have presented?

Proper research to answer these questions along with a reputable Mexican real estate broker with experience in pre-construction and pre-sale can bring pace of mind to what otherwise could be a daunting experience.

Two of the developments along Baja’s coast which have continued construction through these tough times, are Calafia Condos Resort and Villas and Palacio del Mar ; the first a well known community in expansion, the second a new development promising luxury at every turn.

Grupo PES, with more than 25 years of experience is one of México’s leading real estate development companies; they have completed projects both beautiful and elegant in central Mexico such as Villas del Lago Residencial, six apartment towers within an old hacienda complex. Residencial Insurgentes 116, a 14 story 76 unit high rise in Mexico City, is also one of their recent developments completed in 2006.

Their current Baja real estate project, Palacio del Mar, located just 10 minutes from downtown Rosarito, has not stalled construction since it began on spring 2006. As a manner of giving peace of mind to prospect buyers, it should be noted that Palacio has escrow. This complex has been designed to provide a lifestyle of unparalleled luxury surrounded by the breathtaking landscape of Baja. This complex offers a 25000 sq. ft. club house and a granite bottom indoor pool as well as a movie theater and business center among many more amenities.

Calafia Condos and Villas, a long established community that Grupo Gor and his partners began in the early 1990’s with the construction of the first tower, since then it has grown to a complex of 2 condos towers and 35 villas, all of which sold out and were delivered with title. The current construction is for the third condo tower, one of the fast moving projects on the coast, as part of the expansion of this community which now includes a new ocean front club house, ocean front pool and a gymnasium; this expansion is also said to bring a conference room, game room and putting green to the many amenities this resort community already offers.

Slowly but surely, the economy will recover, and with this will come a new development boom in Baja with its share of success and discouraging stories. None of that though will take away from the beauty of the region and the peace and nourishment it can bring to resident and visitor alike. Information is the best tool everybody has at their disposal as well as the choice to seek and make use of it.

Unit 1103 Balcony view in Tower II at Calafia Condos

Travertine counter tops and ceramic tile on floors and bathrooms are among the upgraded features this oceanfront condo offers. The master bedroom has a private balcony that offers side to side panoramic views, even from the bed itself! Also, the master bedroom connects to the living room balcony through a glass door, offering elite convenience and access. The master bathroom features a panoramic window that lets you have a glimpse of the master bedroom and the ocean itself!

The kitchen holds clear ocean view from any point, fine appliances and travertine counter tops throughout, preparing meals has never been more enjoyably. The living room and dining areas are tastefully furnished and optimized for small reunions and to take advantage of the beautiful sunsets Baja offers. Electric drapes will soothe down the ambiance tone and the flip of a switch.

This unit its among the best Baja real estate deals you will find in the Gold coast. Nestled inside one of the finest and most well established communities in Baja California, Calafia Condos and Villas offers a range of amenities and security features at affordable prices. Developed in such a way that allows you to experience the beauty of both the Pacific and Baja, residents enjoy gorgeous sunrises and sunsets all year long. Breathtaking wall to wall views, granite kitchens, travertine bathrooms, Mexican tile flooring and an array of community appointments allow for residents to simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Schedule a showing with us, call (619)-309-9537 or (619)- 200-7408 see more information on this Baja Condo for sale at Calafia Condos.

Summary

• Market Status: Unsold/Available
• Listing Type: For Sale
• Price: $364,000 USD
• Category: Condos
• Community: Calafia Condos

Details

• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 2
• Parking: 1
• Stories: 1
• Closest town: Rosarito Beach
• Transport: Bus, Taxi
• Home Owner Assn. Fees: $170 USD
• Market: Rosarito Real Estate

Features

• Pool: Yes
• BBQ area: Yes
• Close to shops: Yes
• Elevator: Yes
• Pets allowed: Yes
• Furnishings: Furnished

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Location of Unit 1103 in Tower II at Calafia Condos

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How Americans are Stretching Their Money South of the Border in Baja California, Mexico

ROSARITO, BAJA CALIFORNIA. MEXICO – Many Americans with reduced and fixed incomes are looking outside of the US for retirement and economic relief in these tough times, finding it just south of the border. Baja California, Mexico is leading the trend to cater to retirees, by offering services that appeal to the growing number of foreign residents. These services include assisted living, property and personal care among others at significantly lower prices than in the US.

US store names like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Smart and Final, Applebee’s and Ashley Furniture are some of which are becoming more common in strip malls around the area. State of the art medical facilities equal to those on the US have been and are being constructed in order to provide quality medical care services to the growing number of foreign residents, the only difference being the lower cost.

The area between Rosarito and Ensenada just 45 minutes south of the border has become the preferred area, for new Baja real estate where developers are also getting on board by bringing amenities to these new homeowners. Calafia Condos & Villas is one of these developments, where their new tower offers more amenities and social atmosphere for people with an active lifestyle. Plus, it is pet friendly. Some of these amenities include a club house with a TV room, game room, computer area, large gym, outdoor and a private Jacuzzi. These amenities are becoming standard for new communities. Palacio Del Mar, Luxury Ocean Front Condos & Villas, has built the first 25,000 square ft ocean front club house, that will not only have an ocean front infinity pool, spa, saunas, gym and bistro, they also offer an indoor granite bottom pool.

A current resident of Northern Baja, Karen Erstad says “I purchased a second home in Las Gaviotas , (an established Northern Baja community), over 10 years ago with the intent to someday live my retirement years by the Ocean”. When she decided on early retirement and make her move, her family and friends thought she was not on her right mind. Even though she would be only a 2 hour drive away, their primary concern was medical care and the question of who would look after her.

Some doctors in this Rosarito-Ensenada area are willing and do still make house calls; there are also excellent medical facilities throughout the state. Serena Senior Care is a corporation dedicated to improve the quality of life for senior residents in Baja; among their services are nursing assistance and doctor visits, which gives family members’ peace of mind. In addition, ocean front developments in Baja are largely inhabited by expatriates making them very tight communities, who look out for one another.

Karen continues by adding “I can also put my own concerns at ease, by moving to Mexico I can live the same lifestyle if not a better one as if I were still working”.

Karen is one of many Americans discovering the benefits and lower cost of in-home services that the Northern Baja region offers; furthermore, with the increased purchasing power of the US dollar against the Mexican peso they can lower their monthly expenses considerably, here is an example:

• Grocery bill around 250 dollars a month for a small family.
• Cost of a movie for two people from less than 11 dollars including popcorn.
• Doctor’s visits starting at around 20 dollars.
• Internet Access and Cable TV from 60 dollars.
• Property taxes average 300.00 dollars and up per year.
• Game of golf starting at 35 dollars
• Private bilingual school around 175 dollars monthly tuition
• Hair Salon hair cut and color can start at around 27 dollars
• Eating out
• McDonalds, less than 4.50 for a super size combo
• Chinese food, less than 4.50 for a “lunch” (enough for 2 people)
• Traditional Mexican food, complete meals from around 4 dollars.
• 5 star meal starts at 20 dollars per person.

Most of these coastal Baja developments, like Calafia Condos & Villas are also located just 10 to 15 minutes from the newest hospital in the area. Downtown shopping, and a 45 minute drive to the wine country, where on Wednesdays and Saturdays they offer an organic farmers market. Living in these communities Americans have the same lifestyle as they currently have back at their homeland but for much less.

Max Katz owner of Baja Real Estate Group says “Due to the entire housing inventory on the coast, developers set themselves apart by offering more amenities, services and discounts”. He continues saying, “Not only the newer developments are following the trends, even long time established communities such as Las Gaviotas, an ocean front community that has been a model of success for retirees over the last 35 years, are upgrading to larger gyms, creating social committees and having weekly golf and tennis tournaments”.

Clearly, relocating to Northern Baja California has become a solution for Baby Boomers and American retirees against the economic crisis. Especially for those who would like to remain closer to their families and amenities in the US. For others, is just good business.

Written by Alejandra Esquivel

Original Source: How Americans are Stretching Their Money South of the Border in Baja California Mexico