Rosarito Beach Properties

Mexico Tops List of Favorite Boomer Top 5 Vacation Spots
By Megan Ray on August 8, 2013

Many older adults use retirement to visit certain countries they may not have had the chance to explore while they were working. While there are no bad choices when it comes to traveling during senior living, a recent survey from WatchBoom revealed the most popular destinations among baby boomers.

Mexico Tops List of Favorite Boomer Top 5 Vacation Spots

Mexico came in as the top spot, as it earned more than 1,100 votes from the surveyed boomers. Its popularity among the older population should not come as much of a surprise, according to The Huffington Post. For starters, it’s teeming with activity and is famous for having beautiful weather. It’s also affordable and easy to get to. A little further south, Costa Rica landed at the No. 4 spot

“Costa Rica doesn’t have the preponderance of all-inclusives, [but] it’s still a fantastic destination because of all the natural beauty,” Nina Meyer of the American Society of Travel Agents, told the news source. “The dollar value is still very good, [and it has] easy access.

Tropical destinations weren’t the only places to make the cut. Canada came in at No. 5, while Spain landed at No. 3, thanks in large part to how easy it is to get around while still speaking English.

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ROSARITO, BAJA CALIFORNIA, April 4, 2011 – Baja Real Estate Group, the leading Real Estate brokerage in the Rosarito area, has announced plans to merge with Bajamar Premier Properties, a firm with significant presence in the Ensenada region.

Two Baja Real Estate Firms Merge To Become Powerful Force In Northern Baja

According to Max Katz, owner of Baja Real Estate Group, the new company will be called Baja Real Estate Group but will operate two divisions, Beachside Realty in Rosarito and Baja Premiere Properties in Bajamar and Ensenada. A new office is already planned in the Guadalupe Valley, just north of Ensenada.

“Mimi Mills and associates have an outstanding reputation in the area,” said Max Katz, “and her long history throughout northern Baja will contribute greatly to the strength of our new organization.”

Bajamar Premier Properties began within the gated oceanfront golf community of Bajamar, since 2005 guiding American and Canadian expatriates through safe and successful transactions.

“Max and his wife Kathy Katz represent some of the most respected real estate developers in the region and, as we combine our forces, we will be able to serve more new developments and spread our expertise to those who need our services,” said Marianne “Mimi” Mills.

New residential developments currently represented by the Baja Real Estate Group include Calafia Resort and Villas in the area known as Calafia, 10 Miles south of Rosarito; Palacio del Mar in El Descanso, 20 miles south of Rosarito, and Naos, where sales recently began in the northern beach corridor of Rosarito continue reading…

By Kathleen Kirkwood

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. continue reading…

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…

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…

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO—Known for decades as one of the hot surfing spots on the West Coast, Rosarito on Sept. 27 will add another popular beach activity to its attractions with a sand sculpture contest.

Sand Sculpture

Baja Sand 2009 will be held from 10 to 6 p.m. that Sunday in front of the Rosarito Beach Hotel. The exhibition and amateur competition is a prelude to the first full-scale sand sculpting competition which is scheduled for May 2 of 2010.

Half of the profits from the 2010 event will be donated to the Rosarito Boys & Girls Club.

“We’re very excited about this inaugural event and think it’s a perfect fit for this city with its miles of beautiful coastline and tradition of artistic creations,” said Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres.

Registration and further information is available at info@rosarito.org, rosaritotur@baja.gob.mx or by calling 661-612-0200 or 661-612-0396 in Mexico or 619-730-1871 in the United States.

The creation of elaborate sand sculptures is a popular event on beaches throughout the world, including an annual competition in Imperial Beach which attracts some of the best global teams and hundreds of thousands of fascinated spectators.

Raul Aragon, Rosarito’s delegate from the Baja State Secretary of Tourism office, an organizer of the event, said that planning has been going on for month to make Baja Sand 2009 a memorable and successful attraction.

The event will follow by one day the 30th-year edition of the Rosarito-Ensenada 50-Mile Fun Bike Ride, which attracts thousands of riders, and the same day as the Rosarito chamber of restaurants annual steak and lobster festival.

“It will create an incredible fun-filled weekend here,” Aragon said. “Both longtime fans of sand sculpting and those who have never seen this incredible activity before will have an amazing day.”

Although this event is an amateur competition Archisand, one of the top teams in the world, is being brought in to give an exhibition the day of the contest.

Archisand, a team of architects and craftsmen, was founded by in 1989 by Greg LeBon. It has won the 10-man division of the U.S. Open at Imperial Beach six of the past nine years. More than 300,000 people attend that annual competition.

“People will be amazed at what Archisand and create from simple sand,” Aragon said. “It truly does qualify as exceptional sculpture.”

To help amateurs prepare for this year’s competition, Rosarito sand sculptor Raul Ocegera will give workshops this Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 1 on the beach in front of the hotel.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Ron Raposa
619-948-3740
ronraposa@hotmail.com

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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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Click here for more Las Gaviotas Real Estate.

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.

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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.