New year, new neighborhood

Hi Friend,
Well, we did it, 2021 is finally here! We hope the new year finds you safe, happy and healthy. Here in La Paz, the weather is pretty darned near perfect: with low 70sF/20sC during the day and nights that are chilly but clear, perfect for stargazing from your rooftop patio. We love taking advantage of the clear nights to watch the spectacular full moonrises over the bay and the twinkling of the La Paz city lights as they come on at sunset.

The real estate market remains steady and strong, with homes continuing to sell fairly quickly and close to asking price. Don’t worry, there are still some great deals to be had and new properties coming on the market. In fact, if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for our Listings Notifier to get notified early of new listings and changes in price to properties on the BCS MLS.

Ocean views are almost always a priority for our buyers. After all, when you’re buying your Baja dream home, you want to be able to see the ocean or at least be close to it. This month, we bring you several properties with stunning ocean views in different price ranges. See our listings below for details.

The popular Vista Colinas community in El Centenario is now completely sold out. We launched this neighborhood with our building partner, Baja Custom Homes, last February, and it proved to be very popular with buyers due to its combination of modern finishes, ocean views and more. Many of our clients have been asking us, "what's next?" That's why we are excited to announce a new master planned community coming soon: Villas del Centenario. Launching in February, this new construction neighborhood located in the hills above El Centenario will offer a variety of pre-designed home plans, as well as custom-built homes, on 1,500+ M2 lots, most with gorgeous ocean views. Lot reservations will be available beginning in February, contact us at info@bajaliferealty.com for more information.

Our state of Baja California Sur remains at the “orange” level of activity for COVID. Masks are required everywhere outside of your home, and social distancing and capacity restrictions are in place for businesses and public places. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still safely appreciate all the beauty that this amazing area has to offer. We’ve captured just a few ideas in our Day Tripping in Baja California Sur blog post, where we feature six outdoor activities and trips within a half day’s drive or less from La Paz.

Looking to avoid the crowds at the grocery store? Our Spotlight on El Centenario this month features three family owned businesses that offer fresh, locally produced food, farm-raised eggs and chicken, home-made cheeses, and El Centenario's renowned “heavenly bacon”.

We hope you enjoy the newsletter. As always, contact us with questions. We are always happy to help other expats discover and enjoy all that La Paz has to offer.

Regards,
Jim & Rebecca MacDonald
Baja Life Realty

Casa Flores
Back on the market: the lowest priced home in the best El Centenario neighborhood! This 2BR/2BA + studio home located in the private gated community of Haciendas Palo Verde features an open-concept floorplan, stainless appliances, granite countertops, tile floors, alder hardwood finishes, and ocean views from both the outdoor terrace and rooftop patio. The home is situated on nearly 0.4 acres with mature landscape and plenty of room for a pool. The separate 3rd bedroom is ideal as an art studio or office. Community amenities include paved roads, a clubhouse with gym and lap pool, underground utilities including fiber optic internet and gated, 24-hour security. Just minutes to shopping at Walmart, Home Depot, Sam's Club and an easy drive to downtown La Paz.

Casa Bonita
Gorgeous 3BR, 3.5 bath home on a large 1500 M2 lot available in the premier gated community of Haciendas Palo Verde. The former model for this sought-after community, this home is lovingly maintained and includes 2 master suites, plus a separate guest casita suite. Inside, the spacious interior features a huge open kitchen with granite countertops, custom cabinetry and stainless appliances. The living area has 11' ceilings with crown molding, a soaring cupola, and includes living, dining, office, separate laundry room and a half bath. Huge sliding doors open onto the stone terrace, where an infinity edge pool invites you to relax and enjoy the ocean view. Climb the stairs to the rooftop sundeck, and enjoy stunning, expansive views of the Bay of La Paz and the city lights beyond. The house is immaculate and hardly lived-in; it shows like a new house! The house is fully furnished except for a few personal items.

Casa Tranquila

Beautiful 2BR/2BA home with stunning ocean views at an amazing price! Nestled on a quiet street in the hills of El Centenario, this home offers sweeping views of the Bay of La Paz from the large, natural stone terrace. Inside, this fully furnished home features high ceilings, decorative crown molding and a traditional cupola for a spacious, elegant feel. The kitchen opens to the living area and includes granite counters and modern appliances. Two master suites feature separate baths with tumbled stone counters and decorative tile accents. The living area and both bedrooms open onto the large shaded terrace with a sparkling pool, BBQ area and pizza oven. The 1,605 m2 property is fenced on three sides, and includes a garage/laundry and separate storage for ATVs.

Villas del Centenario
New El Centenario Neighborhood Coming Soon
With Vista Colinas nearing completion, we knew we would soon need another neighborhood where we could continue to offer our clients quality, new construction homes with ocean views. That’s why we are excited to announce a new community coming soon: Villas del Centenario. Located in the hills of El Centenario overlooking the Bay of La Paz, this master planned community will offer a variety of homes, from the 2 and 3 bedroom plans that made Vista Colinas so popular, to custom-built homes, all on large, 1500+ m2 lots. Phase I is scheduled to begin construction in April 2021, and reservations on lots in all 3 phases will be available at presale prices starting in February. For more info and lot reservations, contact us at info@bajaliferealty.com.

La Paz Area Day Trips
Six easy daytime excursions within a few hours' drive from La Paz.
One of the many things we love about living in La Paz, BCS, is that it is a good-sized city with plenty to offer in terms of local sights and activities. While many of these have been limited due to the COVID pandemic, it’s still possible (for now) to get outside and explore much of what this great place has to offer, as long as you take the proper precautions. That means wearing your mask in any public place (it is now required everywhere outside your home), practice social distancing, and be respectful of the people you do encounter who are trying to make a living during these difficult times. With those guidelines in mind, following are six easy day trips within a couple hours’ drive or less from La Paz.

Whale Watching in Puerto Chale, San Carlos or Lopez Mateo

Have you ever petted a baby whale? Believe it or not, you can do it here in Baja. From December through March, the whales come south to Magdalena Bay on the Pacific side of the peninsula to raise their calves. When the calves reach a certain age, the mama whales start bringing them up to the boats to socialize with humans! We’re not sure why the whales are so friendly here; we like to think they are just embracing the welcoming spirit of Baja.

Read the rest of the article here.

Spotlight on El Centenario
Where to Buy Locally Produced Eggs, Chicken, Cheese and Heavenly Bacon
One of the best perks of living in El Centenario is that we’re able to take advantage of food items produced right here in our pueblo. What a rare treat it is to know who produces your food and have confidence that it is fresh, natural and conscientiously produced. Following are three local sources we love where you can buy fresh, farm-raised chicken and eggs, house-made cheeses and other dairy products, and hand-cured bacon.

Lacteos Lulu (The Cheese Lady)
This much-beloved cheese shop is the oldest business in El Centenario. Here, the Espinozas have been making their delicious handcrafted dairy products since the sixties. Today, locals stop by this friendly shop to purchase a wide variety of house-made cheeses, from the familiar queso fresco and panela to salty seco. In addition to fantastic cheeses, Lacteos Lulu also sells fresh butter, yogurt and milk straight from the cow.

Read the rest of the article here.

Jim and Rebecca have been so incredibly helpful with our first house purchase in Mexico. It's definitely been a challenge with Mexican laws and government shutdowns during COVID. But after months of working together from Oregon, we closed on our house just days before our targeted move-in date. The house is a fixer upper and Jim has been great about connecting us with contractors to get everything up and running - and with advice for navigating the "setting up life in Mexico" process. It's so different here, but the sun always shines and our new home is on the beach with a view of the lights from La Paz each night.
— Kat and Brighton West