BajaNomad

Utilities?

phoenix2121 - 11-7-2008 at 09:01 AM

What do you guys pay for utilities? I've heard they were relatively cheap, and then I talked to a realtor who said that I should expect to pay $100-$300 just for power. Is this correct?

vandenberg - 11-7-2008 at 09:06 AM

Very much depends on usage here, since the system is tiered.
Cheap, if you manage to stay within the first tier, little above average in the second tier, and "pay through the nose" if you reach the third one, which is easy to do in a larger home.

And propane ( commercial stove and 40 gl waterheater ) runs around $ 50.00 a month.

[Edited on 11-7-2008 by vandenberg]

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 09:21 AM

It also has a lot to do where you live. In some parts of Baja you will need some level of air conditioning in the summer and in others none. What part of Baja are you looking at???

phoenix2121 - 11-7-2008 at 09:54 AM

I found a great place at the south end of Rosarito, I'll be flying in to visit and check it out next week.

http://www.pristinebaja.com/baja_home_133a.html

It seems great, $650 and a nice place. 2bed/2bath 1,600 sq feet, ocean view, and a rooftop terrace with a built in fire pit. But once the realtor told me that, it had me second guessing my price range. If I'm going to pay a ton for utilities, I'm going to need a cheaper place.

El Jefe - 11-7-2008 at 09:55 AM

$35,000 US for electricity, but that should last a while. At least 15 years for the batteries and who knows about the rest. ;)

phoenix2121 - 11-7-2008 at 10:04 AM

I'm utterly confused by that reply! But thanks for the effort.

vandenberg - 11-7-2008 at 10:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by phoenix2121
I'm utterly confused by that reply! But thanks for the effort.


Phoenix, Welcome to the board.
Don't let those kind of replies deter you from participating.:no:
El Jefe is likely referring to being "off grid" and having to go solar, which could set you back some coin.
Lots of Nomads from the area you mention who should be able to give you a close idea.

CaboRon - 11-7-2008 at 10:38 AM

Phoenix,

A friend of mine, who only uses AC in the bedroom to sleep, just showed me her last CFE (electric) bill ... 7,500 pesos for two months. That's over seven hundred dollars US.

CaboRon

Dave - 11-7-2008 at 10:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Very much depends on usage here, since the system is tiered.
Cheap, if you manage to stay within the first tier, little above average in the second tier, and "pay through the nose" if you reach the third one, which is easy to do in a larger home.

And propane ( commercial stove and 40 gl waterheater ) runs around $ 50.00 a month.

[Edited on 11-7-2008 by vandenberg]


Anyone who has a fridge and TV won't stay within the first tier. I think it's 100kwh per billing period (two months).

Expect $75 per month for modest usage. Around $20-25 for gas. Phone is $25. Add internet for $35.

If you are conservative you should get by with less than $150 per month. I know some who live quite well on half that. Of course not in a $650 per month home. :rolleyes:

Phoenix

Dave - 11-7-2008 at 10:49 AM

BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 11:03 AM

You will NOT need any air conditioning there and based on living several years in a similar sized home in the area I would estimate your CFE (electric) bill to run you in the range of $70 -80 USD every two months. Telnor (phone) with Infinitum (DSL) will run you from $50-80 USD monthly based on bandwidth you choose.

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 11:06 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.


Man - you drink a lot of bottled water or have a large household. The wife and I go through maybe two 5 gallon containers a week and we get them filled for about 65 cents each.

phoenix2121 - 11-7-2008 at 11:07 AM

You guys are awesome, thanks so much!

I just got off the phone with the guy renting the place, and he says that I'll have to purchase a stove/refrigerator... is this common in a rental unit? Most places in the states provide those for you. I'm not against purchasing one, it just seemed odd.

Also, it turns out there is no furnace... I know the average low in the winter is around 50 degrees, so I guess just make use of the fireplace, or maybe some space heaters?

gnukid - 11-7-2008 at 11:11 AM

Its very common to have to provide stove and fridge... they have places to buy them used to be delivered for about $150 each. New can run $300/each for the apartment style. It does seem odd though... mexico.

Dave - 11-7-2008 at 11:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
BTW, I know the area you're considering well. Be prepared for poor water quality/quantity and budget an additional $15-20 per month for potable water.


Man - you drink a lot of bottled water or have a large household. The wife and I go through maybe two 5 gallon containers a week and we get them filled for about 65 cents each.


With frequent water outages I average 4-5gal containers per week. Maybe in Rosarito you can fill them for .65 but down here it costs $1.

Dave - 11-7-2008 at 11:26 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by phoenix2121
You guys are awesome, thanks so much!

I just got off the phone with the guy renting the place, and he says that I'll have to purchase a stove/refrigerator... is this common in a rental unit? Most places in the states provide those for you. I'm not against purchasing one, it just seemed odd.

Also, it turns out there is no furnace... I know the average low in the winter is around 50 degrees, so I guess just make use of the fireplace, or maybe some space heaters?


It is NOT common. These are either new units that have not been fitted out or the last tenant took the appliances. For a rental HE should purchase the appliances.

Lack of a furnace IS common. What most do is a propane heater connected to a 10gal bottle. You can move it where/when you need. I know, I know, but I wouldn't be concerned about CO2. These houses leak like sieves.

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 12:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Dave
With frequent water outages I average 4-5gal containers per week. Maybe in Rosarito you can fill them for .65 but down here it costs $1.


I have found several places that will fill the five gallon bottles for 7 pesos each. Actually that works out to less than 60 cents each right now. As far as the water outages - your place doesn't have a pila?

phoenix2121 - 11-7-2008 at 12:01 PM

Thanks Dave, but it looks like I'm stuck purchasing the two. I'm alright with it I suppose, it just sounded funny. Units are pretty new, and have never been rented long-term is what I'm told.

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 12:14 PM

As far as a fridge and stove, I have seen some that don't have either but most seem to have at least a stove. The first home I rented in Baja didn't have either one but the landlord made a rent concession to me for a couple of months to help out with that. Might be worth trying to negotiate...

schwlind - 11-7-2008 at 12:32 PM

We're located in San Antonio Del Mar (south of Ensenada) and are completely off grid.

Granted it was about 5 years ago, but we bought a Trace Inverter (4500), 4 120w Kyrocera solar panels, 16 6 volt batteries, and all the other stuff you need to put it all together... we figure we spent about 11,000 to 12,000 for everything. Earlier this year there was a horrific wind storm and we lost our panels... but replaced them with 4 BP panels... for a total cost of another $5,000... the output now is far greater and we are very pleased.

Since we are only there occasionally what we have now works great... no doubt when we are there full time, we'll have to upgrade...

I never realized electricity in Baja was so expensive... but then what do I know... our all electric house in FL costs us from 180 to 375 per month depending upon the season...

Dave - 11-7-2008 at 12:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by phoenix2121
Thanks Dave, but it looks like I'm stuck purchasing the two. I'm alright with it I suppose, it just sounded funny. Units are pretty new, and have never been rented long-term is what I'm told.


IMO, $650 is too expensive. Offer $500 and you buy the appliances. You might not get a long term lease but I'll bet he'll deal. I know those homes. They were built on spec. I'm sure he'd want them occupied. There are deals out there. You don't have to grab the first that comes up.

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 12:55 PM

Dave is right, landlords are definitely willing to deal right now with current occupancy rate.

fishingmako - 11-7-2008 at 07:51 PM

You should be able to get rental rate 15-to20% less than they are asking especially now, make sure you get a agreement as too how long the price will be for, and negotiate the appliances etc.
You better check out the price of fire wood this is not the US it can be rather expensive to run a fire place in Mexico.

good luck

BajaGringo - 11-7-2008 at 08:07 PM

Firewood is expensive if you buy it at the market. I have gotten a pretty good deal from vendors selling loads off their pickup truck. They will negotiate a better price if you assure them that you will be a regular customer and the bonus is that they will even stack it for you.

fishingmako - 11-7-2008 at 08:26 PM

I'll have to look at that closer, good to know.
Thanks for the info.

woody with a view - 11-7-2008 at 08:28 PM

Quote:

Lack of a furnace IS common. What most do is a propane heater connected to a 10gal bottle. You can move it where/when you need. I know, I know, but I wouldn't be concerned about CO2. These houses leak like sieves.


check out the bottom of the front door in the pictures!!!!

buy a big wool blanket for those cold, wet nights. or just spend $10 on a "door sweep". three screws into the bottom of the door and your rodent problem will be drastically reduced.

BajaNuts - 11-7-2008 at 08:42 PM

I don't know the specific area of this house, but I would venture to guess anywhere in Baja is subject to all sorts of creepy-crawly and slithery critters! Having found them in my room on several occasions with a much smaller opening (the hole in my door was about 1/2" square at the corner of a sliding glass door)...I would suggest door sweeps, BEFORE you move in.

fishingmako - 11-7-2008 at 08:52 PM

I guess the subject changed a bit here, but since we are on it, I have caught 4 massive RATS, I mean huge, 2 plus pounds each, I am not exagerating, they were coming in my pump room, and there are a lot of them right now, be alert they are trying to get inside for the winter, believe me Rats are extremly intelligent, Mice are not, also Rats will smell in a few days Mice do not smell.

phoenix2121 - 11-9-2008 at 12:53 AM

Thanks for the great information guys! Now, I'm off to read the thread about where to find the best tacos! :)

k-rico - 11-9-2008 at 06:32 AM

I bought one of these for heating my house in charming, quaint Tijuana. They work great and are bulletproof. I have it hooked up to an outside 20 gallon tank. Just got a fresh tank and fired it up yesterday for the first time this winter. I don't use it at night while asleep, kevlar PJs are very warm.;D



It's not vented so read the instructions carefully.

http://www.stpaulmercantile.com/procomQ.htm


[Edited on 11-9-2008 by k-rico]