Real Estate Bargains in Baja California

by Sophia Sta. Cruz


I am sure that many of us who flipped through a home magazine, walked pass mansions in Beverly Hills, or got a peak at celebrity homes in television have wished to own homes as large, comfortable and luxurious as those. However, the main problem most people encounter when trying to fulfill these dreams is the lack of money necessary to make the purchase of these amazing homes and rest houses. But many people are now discovering that there is a certain nearby place to the United States that have recently allowed foreigners to own lands and other real estate properties on their soil. This place is no other than the culturally and naturally endowed peninsula of Baja California in Mexico.

Recently, my husband and I finalized our purchase of a wonderful oceanfront house in La Paz which is located in Baja California Sur. The house is intended to be a vacation home for our family of five since we often come to Baja California anyway whenever we wanted to getaway from the city and work. It would be a perfect getaway during holidays, the kids' summer vacation, and weekends.

I think many people know that Baja is a great vacation destination because of several important reasons. For one, it is a very beautiful peninsula which is blessed with many natural wonders. There are miles and miles of white sand beaches lining the perfect blue waves of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. One will never run out of recreational activities to do in Baja California as swimming, shopping, bar hopping, diving, whale watching, trekking, camping and sports fishing are just a few of the activities available in the peninsula. The culture and history of the area is also very rich and interesting, something different that many foreigners quickly get attracted to. What more, the cities in the peninsula of Baja California are developed enough to be able to provide a peaceful and safe atmosphere, plenty of business opportunities, and all the necessary living facilities such as hospitals and schools that its citizens will need.

The cherry on top of the cake however, is the fact that Baja California is so very near to the United States which makes owning real estate property in it very convenient. The municipality of Tijuana for instance, which is located at the north-westernmost region of the Baja peninsula, is just a ten to fifteen minute drive from downtown San Diego, California. Aside from being so near the United States, there are also plenty of transportation facilities such as airports and harbors located all over the peninsula so that people from all over the world can easily travel to and from Baja.

When we first came across the house during one of our vacations in Baja, all of us instantly fell in love with it. It is a three-storey structure that features a kind of old-world Mexican architecture. There is a small yet very colorful garden at the front where flowering cacti surround a brightly painted For Sale sign. On a scheduled tour of the house, we saw that the interior was very airy and sunny and takes advantage of the Mediterranean climate of the peninsula. There were four bedrooms, a living room, a small lounge area, a kitchen, dining area and a small breakfast/sun room. On the left side of the house, just a few meters away, is a beach opening up to the Sea of Cortez. The backyard was very large, with enough space to have a pool, playground and barbecue area built if we decide to buy the house.

Surprisingly, when we inquired about the price the house was going for, we found out that is was way cheaper than if we decide to buy one in the United States. For something that stands just near the border of La Paz city, is practically brand new, and that has an amazing ocean view, the price that they were asking for was very, very reasonable. Clearly, the only question left was whether or not we could purchase that real estate property considering the fact that we are American citizens and the property is in Baja California, Mexico.

About two years ago we had no idea that American citizens like ourselves could purchase and own real estate property in Baja California, (or that we could afford one at that). After seeing the house in La Paz however, we quickly researched regarding the possibility of foreigners owning Baja real estate property. Our research led us to a Baja real estate firm and found out much to our delight that yes, we could buy and own the house in La Paz according to Mexican real estate laws. For a small fee, the firm provided us with the information and guidance that we needed in order to make the purchase of the house and lot reality. True enough, after a couple of months, the purchase was completed and we are now the proud owners of an oceanfront house in La Paz, Baja California.