Rosarito Beach Properties

Written by: Phil Friedman

Mexico has been reduced to a single, small, geographical piece of this earth. If there is a murder in Michoacan, then the presumption of the 24-hour news cycle has been that it is too dangerous to travel to Rosarito Beach even though it is thousands of miles away.

Weekly Fishing Column: Mexico is safer than you think

According to Arturo Martinez from the Mexican Tourism office, no tourists have been killed in the drug war violence throughout Mexico.

Still, on a recent CNN news report, U.S. citizens were warned not to travel to Mexico. Well what part of Mexico was CNN referring to? Mexico is a huge country and to say travel to Mexico is dangerous is not only inadequate information but very misleading.

Please do not misunderstand me. If you want to find trouble in Tijuana, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, I have no doubt that with the proper directions, you will find trouble and the dregs of society you seek.

If however, you use common sense, stay out of bad neighborhoods, do not travel at night etc., your journey to Mexico should be not only safe, but a memorable trip with lifetime memories.

Mexico is not standing still amid the criticism, unjust or not. If you have any trouble at all once you cross the border into Baja California Norte, all you have to do is dial 078 and press send on your cell phone. You will be connected with English speaking Mexican travel officials eager to help you, drive out to your location or assist you in anyway. I have personally tried this system on many occasions and never failed to get connected to the Mexican travel bureau.

If you have an emergency in Mexico, you can also dial 911 on your cell phone and you will immediately be connected with and English speaker ready to assist you.

For private boaters, Mexico has announced as search and rescue fleet. The commanders of these Ensenada-based vessels have been trained by the U.S. Coast Guard and speak excellent English. The sole purpose of the team is to help boaters in distress. Their vessels are capable of more than 50 knots and can quickly respond to rescue a distressed boater.

A recent visit by officials from Sportfishing Association of California resulted in the comment that they had great equipment, were well-trained and had friendly personnel. This will greatly increase the desire of yachts, sailboats, and fishermen to go south of the border again. The unit has a 24-hour Radio Watch on Marine Channel 16 and can also be reached by telephone from the United States by calling 011 52 646-1-72-40-00.

Holiday outings: Long Beach Sportfishing has two Fourth of July cruises departing at 7p.m. and returning at 10.

The cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children, 12 years old and under. Limit is four kids per adult. Information: 562-432-8993.

philip@976-TUNA.com

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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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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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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:

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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By Keith Darcé, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

TIJUANA — About 1 million adult Californians seek health care in Mexico each year – and that figure is likely growing as the recession expands the ranks of the uninsured who are drawn to cheaper care south of the border, said the lead researcher of the first major report on the topic released Tuesday.

The pharmacy business in Tijuana is still booming, despite crackdowns by the state to weed out illegitimate operators. - John Gibbins / Union-Tribune

These people live from the Bay Area to San Diego County. Most come to Mexico for prescription drugs and dental care, and a smaller number go for surgeries. Beyond finances, other factors prompting individuals to head south include language and cultural barriers.

Living within 15 miles of the border also greatly increases the likelihood of someone obtaining health services in Mexico.

Angela Tapia, 45, of San Ysidro crosses the border several times each year to see her gynecologist. She also had back surgery in Tijuana a decade ago.

“It’s cheaper to go there,” said Tapia, who doesn’t have health insurance. “When you go to those doctors, they give you time, they ask a lot of questions and they care about you.”

Roughly half of the cross-border patients are Mexican immigrants, a statistic that might challenge the popular notion of Mexicans burdening California’s hospitals and clinics by receiving all of their health care on this side of the border, said UCLA public health professor Steven Wallace, lead author of the new report.

“What this helps document is that (some) immigrants are facing barriers to receiving care in the United States, and they are turning to Mexico for that care,” said Wallace, who also serves as associate director of UCLA’s Center for Health Policy Research. “And it’s not just immigrants facing barriers here.”

Approximately half a million U.S. citizens living in California also seek health services in Mexico, Wallace and his UCLA colleagues found.

Altogether, about 4 percent of adult Californians traveled to Mexico for some type of medical care.

Wallace’s study was published Tuesday in Medical Care, a journal for the American Public Health Association.

He and his fellow researchers based their analysis on data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey, which questioned more than 55,000 random households across the state.

The wide-ranging survey, conducted once every two years, is funded by a coalition of agencies and groups including the state Department of Public Health, the National Cancer Institute and the California Endowment. Those done since 2001 have not asked about accessing health care south of the border.

Wallace’s group was the first to delve deeply into the statistics on medical treatment in Mexico. Previous research relied on anecdotal accounts or small localized populations.

The cross-border trend likely will intensify as the number of Mexican immigrants living in California increases and the recession costs more people their jobs and health insurance coverage, Wallace said.

Between 2001 and 2007, the population of Mexican immigrants in California grew by 756,000 to 4.6 million, according to the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C.

“The numbers that are bad in this study have only gotten worse,” said Margaret Laws, director of the California HealthCare Foundation’s Innovations for the Underserved program. “Under the current climate, they will continue to get worse.”

The UCLA researchers found that more than 13 percent of Mexican immigrants traveled to Mexico for care, with the largest number visiting dentists.

Such patients make up the diverse range of U.S. residents who visit the Bartell Dental Clinic on Avenida Revolucion in the heart of Tijuana’s tourist district, said Dr. William Bartell Jr.

“Probably 95 percent of my clientele are self-employed or their jobs don’t provide any dental insurance,” he said.

The clinic, which has a Web site that targets Americans, sees about 10 patients a day – nearly all from north of the border. That’s enough to keep three full-time and several part-time dentists busy, Bartell said.

Mexican immigrants who lived in California for less than 15 years were less likely to cross the border for care than those who had been in the country longer, the UCLA report said. Many shorter-term immigrants are undocumented, so they face risks every time they leave the United States and try to return.

Among all other Californians, the top health-related reason for going to Mexico was to purchase prescription drugs.

Much attention has been given to doctors performing cosmetic and weight-loss surgeries on Americans in Mexican cities such as Tijuana. But Wallace found that only 7 percent of the 464,000 non-Latino Californians who sought treatment across the border went there for medical procedures, including surgeries and treatments for serious illnesses like cancer.

Health insurers offering relatively low-cost coverage plans that allow Southern Californians to receive care on both sides of the border should be encouraged by the study’s findings, Wallace said.

In fact, several of the largest players in the cross-border insurance market have recorded steady growth in recent years.

Membership in Health Net’s U.S-Mexico plan has reached 40,000, up from 23,700 in late 2007, said Brad Kiefer, a spokesman for the health maintenance organization.

Sistemas Medicos Nacionales S.A., the only Mexican HMO licensed to operate in California, now has about 21,000 members in San Diego and Imperial counties, said Christina Suggett, the company’s chief operating officer.

Staff writer Sandra Dibble contributed to this report.

Keith Darcé: (619) 293-1020;

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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.

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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.

When you realize that Mexico Real Estate is your best investment for your retirement with a saving of up to 30-40% on your cost of living, you need to then explore not only what area of Mexico you will live or eventually live.

Living In Mexico

You will also need to explore which community fits your lifestyle. Who are your neighbors and what amenities fit you or even your family. After all, when you live in Mexico, friends and family don’t just come for dinner they come for the weekend. You become their Mexico vacation.

Other common questions are: how close are the markets? How accessible is health care? What is the status of the Home Owners Association? Is it well funded? Well run? Reasonable CC&R’S, and of course is it a safe investment.

This is when you realize that you need not only a long time established Broker with years of experience in Mexican Real Estate, but you need a Broker with years of living in the area and that is also part of the community. A good Brokerage will keep their agents trained and updated on the market, different communities and new developments, starting pre-sale or already delivering. A good Brokerage will make sure that every buyer or seller their agents takes on, they will be well represented and informed with the good or bad.

Most of all you need an experienced and knowledgeable Broker when choosing your Brokerage. Kathy & Max Katz have more than 19 years living and doing business in Mexico, they have become the most trusted names in Baja real estate as well as their Agents.

Contact a Baja Real Estate Group Agent today and see the difference yourself. A group of agents that exclusively represent Baja’s best real estate developments, who have inventory to sell in some of the best ocean front communities in the area. If you are currently working with an Agent, this is not intended for solicitation, just information. We gladly work with all Brokers and Agents.

Thinking about a long term Baja rental before you buy? Or just to explore what the Baja lifestyle is like on a long term basis? Contact us about our rent to own listings.

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