baja20
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Registered: 8-29-2007
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Loreto Question
Hello all.
My wife and I made a trip at the spur of the moment to Loreto last month after seeing an article in our local paper and absolutely fell in love with
the Loreto area. We did stay at the Inn at Loreto Bay and had no prior knowledge of the Loreto Bay Homes. We enjoyed our stay so much we are seriously
thinking of purchasing a vacation/future retirement home in the Loreto area. Obviously the homes in Loreto Bay are very expensive and stacked on top
of each other. Do you have any suggestions of other areas where I may be able to get a little more land and house for my money? Any and all feedback
will be appreciated. We are planning a return trip in the next month to do additional exploration of the area.
Thank you
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oldhippie
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Hi baja20,
Odd that nobody has tried to answer your question. Perhaps because you didn't tell us the color of your skin nor your religion, like another newbie.
All the easily accessible coastal areas are overpriced. Perhaps Bahia de Los Angeles might work for you.
Tijuana is a good deal. that's where I live but, thankfully, most Americans don't like it. In fact most Mexicans don't either, but I do.
Like Baron von Rothschild supposedly said "When there's blood in the streets, buy real estate".
You may want to consider the mainland.
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baja20
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Thank you for your reply.
I really like the Loreto area. I was just curious if there were other options in the area.
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Crusoe
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Registered: 10-14-2006
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Baja20....Fresh clean water for drinking and bathing with, is in very short supply now in the Loreto area, as well as many other places in Baja. There
are alot real estate sales people both Mexican and "gringo" that will not tell you the honest scoop on the extreem water shortage that now exists.
The citys and Mexican Governments infrastructure for suppling these basic needs sewer/water is predicted to only get worse in the near future, as
there are large multipal developments on the drawing boards nowespecially in the Loreto area. Do your homework very thoroughly about investing money
in property in Mexico. Ask a salesperson....point blank.. if you were to buy into Loreto Bay Co. property,that if your residence ever ran out of
water.......would they (L.B.C.) reimberse you $100 per day and sign a legal and binding contract to that effect.... so you could continue to enjoy
your home/investment and a lifestyle they are promising they can deliver. And..... you need to read all the posts here on this forum discussing the
lack of a consistant and sustainable water supply, in alot of the more poular areas of Baja nowdays. Good luck and move slowly. ++C++
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baja20
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Thank you for your reply Crusoe
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Phil C
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Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: N. San Diego County/ Loreto Centro/Lopez Mateos
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Maybe "Question Loreto" would be a better way to put it.....
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Baja_Girl
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baja20,
there has been A LOT of posting over the last several months about Loreto Bay Company and the dilemma of dealing with the overall development of
Loreto.
If you love the real Loreto (and I am second to no one in my love for Loreto), do not encourage LBC to exploit this beautiful gem of a pueblo, do your
research, question everything and everyone...read Loreto Bay 2007 postings - that will be most educational.
Be careful.
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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There are options for buying a place in Loreto. Prices have gone way up, and many properties for sale sport price tags that make me gasp, but maybe
sale prices are below asking prices.
There are a few existing homes for sale. "American" style homes will be expensive. "Mexican" style homes may not meet your requirements, but can
possibly be remodeled, rebuilt or replaced. Lots are available as well, to build your own. But as for waterfront lots, there are few available, at
least with access to electricity.
Most of these options require you to "go it alone." There are many new real estate people in town since we bought (without an agent) and I can't sort
them out, but do know people who have had problems and there are horror stories so one must be careful. However, most folks we know have had only
minor problems, if that. Most of the Americans currently in Loreto have gone this route.
If you buy into a development like Loreto Bay, you are buying into their whole "vision." It's not as easy as buying a lot in an individual, existing
neighborhood and picturing your house there. What will your HOA fees be? You will also assume additional risk: if the development fails at any point,
you may not have the Loreto Municipality to pick up the slack of providing services. I would think the viability of owning a unit in LB would be
dependent on the financial well being of the corporation.
Also, consider your tolerances. Dogs that sleep all day and bark all night, and loud music all night are common in Mexican neighborhoods. If you think
that might be a problem, then maybe consider a place in Nopolo or the mostly gringo community on Loreto's north beach.
Finally, the large scale of proposed (and approved) development may be beyond the capabilities of local government, and beyond the capacities of local
resources. Some of us currently living in Loreto are concerned about the uncertain water situation, as well as the crime rate. These are other risks
to consider.
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
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Location: Baja California Sur
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Try hard to not let your emotions rule something like purchasing real estate. Rent a place for awhile and get the feel of an area, ask about a
million questions of all the other residents, make a lot of personal connections, never invest more than you can afford to walk away from, try to
understand what your requirements are for accessibility to health services, spend hours on this and other websites getting educated and informed, and
oh yeah, did I mention to go slowly.
You can not believe the number of places that someone bought because they thought it was their life dream to live in a tropical paradise, but their
tropical paradise turned into something else in the first year of living there. We absolutely love the baja but by the time we purchased a house we
had spent a lot of years traveling to different areas, spending a lot of time in those areas, educated ourselves as to the laws and customs, and we
are still babes in the woods.
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805gregg
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Location: Ojai, Ca
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How much experiance do you have in Baja? It might be wise to spend some time in the area you are considering before rushing to buy. I like Loreto also
but wonder what the future will be like when all these real estate devolpments are completed, will it lose its small town appeal? What next Mc
Donalds, Costo, Home depot? Will it still seam like Baja? Maybe take a trip to Cabo and see the other end of this over devolpment issue, Cabo has lost
all appeal to me.
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backninedan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 865
Registered: 3-8-2003
Location: Loreto
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Come down to Loreto in the winter months. The wind blows 5 days a week. The weather wasn't enough to keep me away and it may not bother you either.
Growth here has been much faster and uncontrolled than I could have imagined, we shall see if the horrible housing market and shakey stocks will slow
down the gringo influx.
With the growth we hope to get a few good things along with the crap. A new medical facility is being built, a super market is rumored to be under
way also. Maybe we will even get a decent pizza place, who knows?
I am taking a trip to central america in Dec. to check things out there. For now Loreto is fine, but it would be nice to have a door #2.
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rob
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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Hi,
Always an interesting question - whether Loreto or not. Don Alley on neigborhoods, Pescador on rentals to get a feel for an area and 805gregg on Baja
experience are all great answers given the absence of other detail.
If you are considering a Loreto purchase and the heat/humidity of Loreto in July did not put you off (arguably, August/Sep are worse) - you will
probably be OK.
If you prefer a expat neighborhood, you will love Loreto Bay. If you looking for small-town charm, you have about 90 days left.
Bueno suerte!
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wilderone
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If that was your first trip, then you need to do more exploration and you will answer your own question. You don't mention what lifestyle you hope to
be buying into. The LB units are essentially high density condos with nothing else exclusively your own that has no connection to an authentic Baja
town. You could buy a small house elsewhere and do some remodeling. Consider what you really want with such a purchase. Do you like privacy or want
to party? Two months out of the year or full time retiree? Any medical problems? Do you need a lot of other gringos around to hold your hand? And it
gets HOT. If you really like Baja so much, then you would enjoy other areas as well - why tie yourself to one location? You could find a rental 3-4
months each year in a different place - maybe even the mainland too which has some spectacular places to spend time. And you can't live in a bubble.
Local politics will affect you - storm cleanup, mayor election, proposed civic improvements, crooked policeman, who knows who, trash disposal policy.
Mulege is nice. Or check out Tripui. oooops. Shhhhh.
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jerry
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Registered: 10-10-2003
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Tripui is lease only you will never own the land under you and any improvements you make and the lease amount will be at the mercy of the owner every
10 years because no matter what the contract says the maxiam length of a lease im mexico is 10 years
jerry and judi
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Skeet/Loreto
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Baja 20:
It all depends on your Lifestyle. If you want Peace and control of your Life there is only one way I would go back to Baja:
A 36 Ft. Diesel Pulling a Panga. Go where the Sea of Cortez takes you, when and Where depending on the Weather and Water!
After 38 years on the Sea and at Loreto I could never go back but if you are to stay on Land there are many Places fairly close; La Purismo, Commondu,
San Nicolas, Mulege, Agua Verde to name a few.
I think that you will find that Loreto is allready Exploited and will never ever be as it Was.
You might also try the La Ventana Area-Close to La Paz, and do not overlook La Paz, it is a great place to live.
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cajhawk
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 11-16-2004
Location: Ramona, CA
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Be Happy to Help
Send me a u2u mail if you would like. I know of some homes that may be for sale in Nopolo and one in town.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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ah, the place is easy to love on a spur of the moment, blinded by the joys of vacation, basis.
as an area resident, I will second and third the advice that has been posted. the weather is a major issue. the real estate listings are few and
astronomically priced. the town is experiencing major growning pains and stressed. security for a vacation home is a huge issue. I think the next
few years will be very interesting but if I were a newbie, I'd definitely want to rent first and hold onto my wallet. unless you are very familiar
with Baja life, you will want to ease into this. yes, it may cost you if prices continue to skyrocket but it may also save you from a premature
uninformed decision.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Don Alley
Super Nomad
Posts: 1997
Registered: 12-4-2003
Location: Loreto
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rhintransit
...yes, it may cost you if prices continue to skyrocket but it may also save you from a premature uninformed decision. |
I think that prices will rise even more, in the long run, assuming (and I'm not so sure of this) that the big developments don't all fall apart.
However, I think RIGHT NOW there is a period of "irrational exuberance" among sellers in the real estate market, and there may be some better prices a
year from now. Just a wild guess, but what I'm suggesting is that renting and waiting for a better deal to buy could pay off.
The probem in Loreto right now is finding a place to rent, except for maybe at Loreto Bay.
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baja20
Newbie
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Thank you all for your replys. I really appreciate all the info
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
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uh, did we mention hurricaines? in my last reply I know I mentioned weather as a factor but I forgot to mention the joy of sitting somewhere in the
states watching hurricaine reports every summer.
do follow the Henrietta threads now for some interesting reading.
I consider part of the every day a new adventure package...but then I don't have two hundred thousand plus tied up in my house, which is what you
might have to pay right now to get into something. and forget flood and hurricaine insurance.
not trying to discourage you, just saying be sure you have a realistic idea of the area cause it's not inexpensive and may be harder to get out of IF
you decide to and prices level or drop. loads of us love it here. you may too, do your research.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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