john68
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Building costs--BCS vs. mainland Mexico
Perhaps I'm wrong, but it's my impression that residential building costs in BCS are substantially higher than in resort areas on the
mainland--perhaps by as much as 2X or 3X. Say, San Miguel de Allende vs. Los Barriles, based on asking prices of newly-built houses, not beachfront
in the case of LB.
I realize almost everything in BCS is more expensive than on the mainland--higher transportation costs for building materials, no lumber to speak of,
higher wages, but 2X or 3X higher than the mainland? What am I missing?
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Hook
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I dont think you're missing anything.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
2-20-2016 at 10:44 PM |
El Jefe
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2X to 3X would be about right. My house which is less than 2000 sq ft cost well over 300k to build. Yes, there was a long dirt road to the site to
deal with, but still you are not saving any construction money building here vs the states.
But on the other hand, I could have never afforded a surf view anywhere as nice as this in So Cal.
So if living inexpensively is your goal, go to the mainland. If you want a beautiful desert meets the sea pristine beach and all that entails, that is
easy to fly to from the north, well here it is.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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El Jefe
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Quote: Originally posted by soulpatch  | | Quote: Originally posted by El Jefe |
So if living inexpensively is your goal, go to the mainland. If you want a beautiful desert meets the sea pristine beach and all that entails, that is
easy to fly to from the north, well here it is. |
ˇÓrale Jefe!
I have to say, mainland ain't all that cheap anymore..... you get anywhere near resort or "famous" spots construction and land costs have been going
up and you really have to hire a good builder..... there is just a phenomenal amount of construction that completely ignores weather patterns such as
the humidity and heat....go figure.
Still, you can get a lot for your dollar, especially now, if you work with the right people.
Great surf over here, too, though.
The landscape is just green vs. desert unless you stay up north or Mazatlan. |
Yep, I've had a little of that surf over your side of the sea, and I was not disappointed to say the least. And we do enjoy seeing some big green for
a change as well. All good. And after a recent trip to San Miguel Allende and Guanajuato I came to the conclusion that if I didn't have the surfing
disease I would seriously consider moving there. My wife would go for it in a heartbeat.
Further you go away from "civilization" the cheaper the land, but that comes with a shortage of experienced, capable builders. Your project may end up
costing as much as closer in where there is more competition and materials are easier to get. I think you are right. Nothing cheap anymore.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Hook
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If I was looking to buy in Mexico, at least based on what I am seeing in my town, I would NOT build.
We are in a period where many gringos who retired in the 90s are now moving out of Mexico to be closer to their health care plan. There was a major
influx in San Carlos, Sonora, back then. They had houses built for WAY cheaper (and bought land for WAY cheaper) than is available now. They can sell
their houses for extremely good prices (for a buyer) and still make a modest profit. And they are often very motivated to sell.
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Tioloco
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Hook has a good point. Many retiree areas are similar to San Carlos.
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Genecag
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Wow, seems high.! Does it include the land or just building?
We built a place in La Paz with land for about $85. Recently, I got quotes for a simple home for about $40/sqft
| Quote: Originally posted by El Jefe | 2X to 3X would be about right. My house which is less than 2000 sq ft cost well over 300k to build. Yes, there was a long dirt road to the site to
deal with, but still you are not saving any construction money building here vs the states.
But on the other hand, I could have never afforded a surf view anywhere as nice as this in So Cal.
So if living inexpensively is your goal, go to the mainland. If you want a beautiful desert meets the sea pristine beach and all that entails, that is
easy to fly to from the north, well here it is. |
Make it a Great Day!!
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MitchMan
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I have been out of the construction scene for over 10 years, so what I knew might be inapplicable...though I don't see how.
If you did much of your own contracting work, that is, procure your blue prints on your own according to a basic style of design and hire qualified
abanils to do the work (have the abanils supervise their helpers) for the different facets of construction, do construction requirement calculations
yourself and you buy all the materials yourself and have them delivered, provide your own security for the delivered materials, and generally oversee
the project from start to finish to make sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to do when they are supposed to do it. Oh yeah, get a
responsible accountant to make sure that you timely pay the proper taxes and insurances required in the circumstances, and, I think, you can save
nearly half the total cost of construction.
Back in 2005, you could do it that way for about $50 USD/sq ft of construction (exclusive of the cost of the land). Based on what I witnessed back
then, contractors were pocketing 50% of the cost per sq ft charged to you for doing the contracting, which, in most cases, did not include their ever
lifting a hammer or buttering a cinder block, and, they had 2 to four going projects at a time.
If you are an absentee owner and can't be present to do your own contracting, then you don't have a choice but to hire a contractor.
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