Returning Signs of Life in Baja Real Estate: Now’s the Time to Invest in the Coast
Some experts, like Marianne ‘Mimi’ Mills of Bajamar Premier Properties, are seeing returning signs of life in the recently booming Baja California real estate market. They say, ‘Now is the time to get in.’
Ensenada, Baja California – June 21, 2009
“It’s as beautiful here as it ever was…and just as safe. The great part is that Baja California is more affordable right now than it has been in years. This is good news for people looking to pay less for vacation or retirement housing in an idyllic location that’s on or close to the Pacific Ocean and an easy drive to San Diego,” comments Mimi Mills, owner of Bajamar Premier Properties (http://www.mlsbajamar.com/) located at the Bajamar Golf Resort and Hotel. Mills, who has lived in Ensenada for more than ____ years, has been heartened in recent weeks to see renewed interest by visitors in real estate investment in the area.
Mills acknowledges that the economy and overall real estate industry in Baja and particularly the coastal cities were hit hard by the downturn in the U.S. economy, as well as by sensationalistic media focused on isolated violence in some border areas and by the swine flu (which virtually bypassed Baja).
“The reality is that this is one of the only places on the West Coast were people can live in an almost perfect mild climate, even in an oceanfront home or condo, and pay a fraction of what it would cost in the United States,” says Mills. And, according to Mills, there appears to be a dawning recognition by baby boomers and those looking for good deals on real estate that now is the time to take advantage of bargains…and of something even more important.
Realtors Organize to Promote Ethics and Standards
In recent years, driven by more American expatriates moving to northern Baja, the real estate industry in the region has taken proactive steps to become more professional. No more, the ‘Wild West’ approach to real estate, where buyers took a leap of faith when they purchased lots or homes. Realtors like Mimi Mills, Diane Gibbs, Ross Buck and others have banded together in a chapter of the national organization called AMPI (Asociaciòn Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios) that, while not an actual realtor-licensing organization, provides oversight, guidance, ethics and standards for real estate agents and companies working in Baja.
So what can a wanna-be buyer expect to find and pay in looking for condominiums, townhomes, houses or oceanfront property in northern Baja? And how does one begin the daunting task of finding a retirement or vacation home in the Rosarito or Ensenada area?
Oceanfront or Golf Course Views? Affordable luxury in Baja
Maday Valdenegro, an associate with Bajamar Premier Properties, says that the first thing to do is make a check list. “People need to look at a realistic budget. What do they want to spend and what to they really need in a home: one or two bedrooms or more? How many bathrooms? What kind of storage space? And are they locked into having an ocean view or a mountain view, and so on,” she suggests. “Then they need to think about what they really want.”
And want can mean anything from high-end kitchens outfitted with gorgeous granite (a specialty of the area); a personal art gallery featuring works by some of Mexico’s finest artists (many of whom live in the area); built-in wine cellars that boast some of the world’s award-winning wines from Mexico’s premier wine country, the Valle de Guadalupe…just 20 minutes away; bathrooms with travertine and marble at half the cost of comparable work in the north, and picture windows that take in the breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean or the soft colors of a Baja sunset on coastal mountain ranges.
Just like in the States, location is everything…but location will cost a whole lot less in Baja, notes Valdenegro. “For instance, right now there are incredible deals available at all levels. There are houses that are literally on the edge of a bluff, overlooking migrating whales, that would be million-dollar-plus properties in the U.S. (and some even here, are) that are currently on the market for hundreds of thousands less.”
On the other hand, she points out, there are houses with private gardens and tranquil courtyards -- many located right on the edge of Bajamar’s famed, challenging 27-hole golf course -- with nearby amenities including a hotel, restaurant, tennis courts, biking and hiking paths, and more. These homes range vastly in size and footage, but, notes Mills, “Right now, we are seeing sales prices lower than they’ve been in five years…anywhere from $200,000 on up.”
Both realtors are adamant that potential buyers need to get to know Baja before they make the purchase plunge.
“I would say the same thing to buyers thinking of moving from Los Angeles to Chicago—go there, see what it is all about,” says Mills. “People need to have a feeling for the place they are considering living…it’s a big decision. We really urge our clients to spend a little time here, ask lots of questions – both of us and of people who already live here—and get a feeling for what ‘the good life in Baja’ is all about.“
To this end, Bajamar Premier Properties has created special stay-tour-play packages for those interesting in visiting Bajamar with the express purpose of considering real estate. Interested parties are urged to visit http://www.mlsbajamar.com/, email bajamarpremierprop@aol.com, or call from the US (619) 446-6734 and speak with Mimi, Maday or MaryCarmen Lopez.M
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