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Hook
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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No doubt about it; tourism way down this year in San Carlos
Well, it's pretty much a fact now. The amount of people returning to San Carlos, Sonora this year is down again, and pretty significantly. The
downturn had been rather gradual since 2007 when the combination of bad news about Mexico and the economic conditions worldwide first hit. Remember
that we are only about 5 hours below the border by a mini freeway, so it's a bit easier than driving hwy 1. That kept the downturn at
bay..........until now.
If I had to guess, I'd say returning snowbirds are down at least 30% from last years dwindling numbers. But one of the biggest things we've noticed is
how many people have chosen to return to the States or Canada for the holidays. Normally, they stay here and their kids and grandkids come down to
visit and enjoy an escape from the cold. This year we are hearing that, in many cases, the kids are too afraid to come down anymore. So, many
snowbirds are instead meeting them in the Phoenix or Tucson areas. After the holidays, the snowbirds will return to San Carlos for the remainder of
the winter/spring.
The result of this downturn is manifesting itself in a number of business closures. The last restaurant that catered to gringo palettes (meat loaf,
fried chicken, mashed potatos, grits, etc.) is closing as is a joyeria that has been here for 18 years.
The downturn in housing prices has also finally begun. Those that HAVE to sell have reduced prices by up to 50%. Of course, there are many persons who
own here who really dont have to sell. Their properties are owned free and clear and they were built more than 10 years ago for probably 25-50% of
what it would cost to build now. They are just hoping a sucker comes along to buy at their ridiculous prices.
Some of you who live full time in Mexico like us; what have you noticed in your communities, in terms of visitors and the business climate?
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by Hook]
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mcfez
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Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
Well, it's pretty much a fact now. The amount of people returning to San Carlos, Sonora this year is down again, and pretty significantly. The
downturn had been rather gradual since 2007 when the combination of bad news about Mexico and the economic conditions worldwide first hit. Remember
that we are only about 5 hours below the border by a mini freeway, so it's a bit easier than driving hwy 1. That kept the downturn at
bay..........until now.
If I had to guess, I'd say returning snowbirds are down at least 30% from last years dwindling numbers. But one of the biggest things we've noticed is
how many people have chosen to return to the States or Canada for the holidays. Normally, they stay here and their kids and grandkids come down to
visit and enjoy an escape from the cold. This year we are hearing that, in many cases, the kids are too afraid to come down anymore. So, many
snowbirds are instead meeting them in the Phoenix or Tucson areas. After the holidays, the snowbirds will return to San Carlos for the remainder of
the winter/spring.
The result of this downturn is manifesting itself in a number of business closures. The last restaurant that catered to gringo palettes (meat loaf,
fried chicken, mashed potatos, grits, etc.) is closing as is a joyeria that has been here for 18 years.
The downturn in housing prices has also finally begun. Those that HAVE to sell have reduced prices by up to 50%. Of course, there are many persons who
own here who really dont have to sell. Their properties are owned free and clear and they were built more than 10 years ago for probably 25-50% of
what it would cost to build now. They are just hoping a sucker comes along to buy at their ridiculous prices.
Some of you who live full time in Mexico like us; what have you noticed in your communities, in terms of visitors and the business climate?
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by Hook] |
All I have to do with this report of yours ....is change the name of the town to San Felipe....(!). SF is so hard hit this past year. Several months
ago my wife and friends went into town to buy several T-Shirts for friends, the store saleslady broke into tears....saying "thank you-thank you"! They
are in bad shape in town and out in the Edidos.
You got the story very correct Hook!
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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krafty
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Think very similar here in Rosarito-our friends in this community, except for a handful, all say their kids/grands are too afraid to come here and
think we are all just nuts to live here. Ours still come, we are the lucky ones, but friends have all backed off. Very sad.
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Barry A.
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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I talked to friends of mine last night------they have been spending several months each winter in Mexico, mostly Baja, since about 1985 as trailer
snowbirds. As of last year they say, "no more".
Reason: after 55 years of traveling in Baja and the mainland, it has just become so mentally uncomfortable for them that it is not worth it, and
their traveling friends mostly feel the same way.
Barry
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sancho
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Walked down Revolution Ave., TJ a few months back,
maybe 40% of Businesses shut down. a favorite Restaurant Cafe Especial, that was there for decades, closed.
San Felipe, as mentioned, the land/lots at
El Dorado Ranch seem to be unsellable, anyone
from Eldo correct me if I'm wrong. The people
I know here in So. Orange County, who have in the past
frequented Rosarito/Ensenada for the Bike Ride,
staying at Gaviotos, So. of Rosarito, no one will
drive into Mex any longer, they may however fly down for a
week at the Cape. I now find myself not telling
the wife about occurances in Baja. Don't want
to spook her. Can't see things changing
for quite a while
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Santiago
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Posts: 3531
Registered: 8-27-2003
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
I now find myself not telling
the wife about occurances in Baja. Don't want
to spook her. Can't see things changing
for quite a while |
I believe this to be very common: the 'Baja' spouse is keeping the 'non-Baja' spouse a bit in the dark. Can't say I'm not a little guilty
myself....
Hook: you still able to field a softball team this year?
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tripledigitken
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Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
Walked down Revolution Ave., TJ a few months back,
maybe 40% of Businesses shut down. a favorite Restaurant Cafe Especial, that was there for decades, closed.
San Felipe, as mentioned, the land/lots at
El Dorado Ranch seem to be unsellable, anyone
from Eldo correct me if I'm wrong. The people
I know here in So. Orange County, who have in the past
frequented Rosarito/Ensenada for the Bike Ride,
staying at Gaviotos, So. of Rosarito, no one will
drive into Mex any longer, they may however fly down for a
week at the Cape. I now find myself not telling
the wife about occurances in Baja. Don't want
to spook her. Can't see things changing
for quite a while |
Sancho,
I can add some good news to your post. Cafe Especial did close on Revolution.........but reopened over in the Rio District. I have not been to try
it yet.
Ken
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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| Quote: | | Hook: you still able to field a softball team this year? |
Just barely, over the last few meetings, mostly due to those returning to the States/Canada for the holidays. We had to play "workups" once. But come
January, we will have more than two teams again. We stipulate no more than 10 in the field, so we rotate players in and out each inning. Everyone
bats, of course.
By mid January, we will have enough for three teams so each team sits out a half inning. We stopped advertising for players on the local message board
as we dont want to deal with more than 30 players, really.
It's become a huge success! I cant tell you how many times players AND WIVES have come up to me and thank me for starting the league. Some have
actually said it's what keeps them in town and not vacationing elsewhere. It's become quite a social gathering, especially for the non-playing wives
(we do have playing gals). We all go out for lunch and beers afterwards. As the "commissioner", I choose the establishment we will go to that day. I
spread it around town and, believe me, the businesses really appreciate seeing 15-20 people showing up for lunch. We've done organized trips to
Hermosillo and Obregon to see the teams in the Liga Pacifio play beisbol. It'a about the equivalent of AA minor league baseball in the States. We have
giant beach parties. On Wednesday, we are all going on a sunset cruise on a big trawler, kinda like our holiday party.
Except for being involved in the Hurricane Jimena relief effort over here, starting this league was the best thing I've done so far in retirement.
Think about it. When MLB stops in November is when our league starts up. When we finally stop playing in early April (due to not having enough to
field teams), MLB has started again.
For a complete baseball nut like me, life is VERY good..............
[Edited on 12-20-2010 by Hook]
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by sancho
Walked down Revolution Ave., TJ a few months back,
maybe 40% of Businesses shut down. a favorite Restaurant Cafe Especial, that was there for decades, closed.
San Felipe, as mentioned, the land/lots at
El Dorado Ranch seem to be unsellable, anyone
from Eldo correct me if I'm wrong. The people
I know here in So. Orange County, who have in the past
frequented Rosarito/Ensenada for the Bike Ride,
staying at Gaviotos, So. of Rosarito, no one will
drive into Mex any longer, they may however fly down for a
week at the Cape. I now find myself not telling
the wife about occurances in Baja. Don't want
to spook her. Can't see things changing
for quite a while |
El Dorado Ranch seem to be unsellable,
Very correct....and around SF. It's plain ol dead. But....this is the BEST time to make a deal in Baja if you want to lease/own. Name your deal and
you'll most likely get it! Offer half of what's being asked for...and go from there.
I noted that the outhouse business took a hit too. There are not many units stored on that lot anymore.....same with the concrete firm north of
town.....looks ghostly.
[Edited on 12-21-2010 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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gnukid
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Weird, in many areas of BCS its impacted with tourists. estamos bien
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David K
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impacted... sounds like a colonoscopy could be needed?
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stanburn
Nomad
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Location: Santiago, Colima, MX
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Down here in Manzanillo, it seems like numbers are down slightly. The benefit of living in a place that doesn't rely on foreign tourists is that
there haven't been a lot of closures. It doesn't help that there are almost $4 billion USD in construction projects going on here. Most of it is
tied to a regasification plant, conversion of the power plant to natural gas, port expansion and road improvements.
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CaboRon
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Location: The Valley of the Moon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by gnukid
Weird, in many areas of BCS its impacted with tourists. estamos bien |
That is a pretty broad statement ....
Care to name some of these impacted areas ?
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capt. mike
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Action on BBP seems to indicate a lot of activity to / on the mainland down to warmer coastal tropical climes like puerto Vallarta and the like.
also potosi, Miguel allende, Alamos and the like - true colonial places.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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Marc
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I have not changed my Mexico adventures in the past years. I gave the book "Gods Middle Finger" (a must read) to my wife before one of my Copper
Canyon trips. She wanted to come along and we had a great time. I tend to be in Baja during hot weather so there's not that many Gringos around
anyway. I was in Wisconsin a while back. They all think I am some kind of Indiana Jones hero.
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Donjulio
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Registered: 5-19-2009
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| Quote: |
El Dorado Ranch seem to be unsellable,
Very correct....and around SF. It's plain ol dead. But....this is the BEST time to make a deal in Baja if you want to lease/own. Name your deal and
you'll most likely get it! Offer half of what's being asked for...and go from there.
I noted that the outhouse business took a hit too. There are not many units stored on that lot anymore.....same with the concrete firm north of
town.....looks ghostly.
[Edited on 12-21-2010 by mcfez] |
Have to disagree with your idea that now is the time to buy. Now is definitely not the time to buy. Prices over the next few years will drop another
50 at least I believe.
Also SF has huge issues as nobody seems to be able to figure out what the real estate laws truly are. There are huge title problems here.
San Felipe is not as safe as people think because the stuff that is happening is not getting out to the public. IE - a recent rash of burglaries in
town while people were sleeping. The robbers pumped a gas mixture into the homes and although people could hear what was happening they were powerless
to do anything about it. It has been reported that more than 25 of these took place.
Good news is they caught the guy. Bad news is they let him go due to lack of evidence.
I won't mention the cartel influence here but will add some detail next week.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Donjulio
IE - a recent rash of burglaries in town while people were sleeping. The robbers pumped a gas mixture into the homes and although people could hear
what was happening they were powerless to do anything about it. It has been reported that more than 25 of these took place.
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They put the victims into suspended animation with a gas?? Over 25 times?
How factual is this? It's really bizarre. Seems something like this would make the news everywhere.
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mulegemichael
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compared to the last couple of years, seems like there are a lot of new faces here in mulege...most of the restaurants are busy and not a lot of
closed shops...i think the locals are muy felize..
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Donjulio
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Yeah I found it difficult to believe also until I talked to one of the DA's and several of the victims who were credible business owners. NOTE - this
was "in town" and only Mexican people were targeted.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Donjulio
Yeah I found it difficult to believe also until I talked to one of the DA's and several of the victims who were credible business owners. NOTE - this
was "in town" and only Mexican people were targeted. |
Hate to say it, but I'm having trouble with this one. Perhaps the local Rotary Club is spiking the punch at their meetings. Is Tim Leary living over
there?
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