The Cost of Living in La Paz, BCS

Hi Friend,

We hope this month’s newsletter finds you happy, safe and healthy. Our winter season here in Baja is drawing to a close, and many of our seasonal residents are making plans to head north for the summer. For us full-time residents, summer is a time to relax, recharge, and head to the beach to enjoy the warmer waters and reduced crowds.

The real estate market continues to move at a fast pace, with many properties selling within a few months or even a few weeks of coming on the market. In fact, we recently sold a property before we even had a chance to list it on the MLS. That’s right, it sold after 0 days on the market!

Since the inventory of available properties for sale remains very tight, last month we were happy to announce the launch of Villas del Centenario, a new, master-planned community of ocean view homes, located in the hills of El Centenario, overlooking the Sea of Cortez. The community has proven very popular with buyers so far, with six lots already under contract. We are now accepting advance lot reservations in all 3 phases of this new, gated community, and anticipate construction will begin this Fall 2021. See our article below for more details.

Beyond the details of purchasing property, some of the many questions we often get from our clients about buying property in La Paz have to do with how much it actually costs to live here. What will my utility costs be? How much is it for Internet connectivity? Is there garbage service at my property? What about groceries and other living expenses? This month, we answer those questions with our Cost of Living in La Paz blog post.

If you’ve recently moved to La Paz and are yearning for a taste of home, this month's Spotlight on El Centenario features Bon Appétit, a French-Canadian style brunch spot that has earned rave reviews for it’s fresh, homemade food, and the loyalty of many expats here.

Our state of Baja California Sur is currently at a Level 4 of activity for COVID. Masks are still required everywhere outside of your home, and social distancing and capacity restrictions are in place for businesses and public places. You can see updates, what activities and capacity limits are included in Level 4, and get the full details here.

We hope you enjoy this month’s 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 Tesoro is one of 6 models to be built in the new, master-planned community of Villas del Centenario, Casa Tesoro is a 2BR/2BA home with 130m2/1,400ft2 of interior living area and a large, 61m2/656ft2 of covered patio area. The soaring stone front entry welcomes visitors into an open living/kitchen/dining area featuring 10' ceilings and sliding glass doors that open onto the covered patio. Custom-built hardwood cabinetry, oversized tile, granite countertops and stainless appliances are all included. The master suite features dual vanities in the bath, marble tiled shower and walk-in closets, with doors that open onto the patio. Other features include a rooftop sunset terrace with shade pergola, a walk-in laundry room, and A/C units and ceiling fans in every room. Optional upgrades include a pool, spa, garage or garage/casita. The base price of the home is $170,000 USD, plus the price of the lot and any optional upgrades (lots start at $39,900 USD).

Click here for more info and floor plan for Casa Tesoro.

This is the only house available in the desirable El Centenario gated community of Haciendas Palo Verde! This 2BR/2BA + studio home features an open-concept floorplan, stainless appliances, granite countertops, tile floors, alder hardwood finishes, and ocean views from both the outdoor patio and rooftop terrace. 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. Listed at $219,000 USD.

See more pictures and get the details here.

This cute property offers two identical 1BR/1BA homes, each with full kitchen and a shared terrace with views of the La Paz Bay and city lights. Each unit is fully furnished and can stand alone, making this a great turnkey rental property or a vacation home that can be shared among family or friends. Both units feature 10 foot high ceilings with cupola, natural stone and tile accents, and nice natural light. Both units also have their own terrace and security bars on the doors and windows. The 1376m2 lot is located on a quiet street and has fencing on 3 sides, mature landscape, and plenty of room for a pool or additional garage/bodega. The property also has a shared laundry space and a shared covered parking area. Stairs to the roof can be easily added for a panoramic view. Listed at $174,900 USD.

See the complete listing here.

Villas del Centenario, the new master-planned community located in the hills of El Centenario overlooking the Sea of Cortez, has been taking presale lot reservations, with five lots already under contract. Six models are available to build on the community's 44 lots, or build your own custom home (available in Phase III only). This private community will feature gated security, internal paved roads, buried municipal utilities, fiber-optic high-speed Internet, common area with sport court, gym, BBQ area and pickleball court, and ocean views from most home sites. Construction is scheduled to begin in this Fall 2021. Lot reservations can be made now in all three phases with a 50% deposit on the lot premium, and presale pricing will end May 31st. Contact us now for more information at info@bajaliferealty.com or visit out web site here:

Learn more about Villas del Centenario here.

See all the floor plans for Villas del Centenario here.

How much does it cost to live in La Paz? This is one of the many questions we often get from our clients who are considering a move here from another country. The answer varies, of course, on your lifestyle, but we've written an overview of what to expect in terms of monthly and annual La Paz living expenses. If you are looking to buy property here in La Paz, you will need to plan for closing costs in addition to the purchase price of the property. Closing costs range from 3-4% to over 10% of the purchase price, depending on the cost and type of property (home or undeveloped lot). Regardless of the price of the property, if you are an expat and not a Mexican citizen, you will need to pay to initiate or transfer the fideicomiso, or bank trust, to your name. There will also be some costs associated with the services of an attorney and a notary for their time and work.

Read the rest of the article here.

Spotlight on El Centenario:
Bon Appétit Cafe

Looking for a taste of home in La Paz? This breakfast café in El Centenario serves up a delicious French Canadian brunch.

By Fern Corraini

What do the following things have in common? poutine, Leonard Cohen, maple syrup, Montreal smoked meat, Rocket Richard, Celine Dion, Bon Appétit Cafe. These are some of our favorite things from the belle province du Québec in Canada! And lucky for us, Bon Appétit Cafe is located right here in El Centenario. Chef Lucy and her partner, Nicole, the operators of this popular brunch eatery, opened Bon Appétit four years ago, and continue to serve up beautifully presented food that is always fresh, authentic and almost all made from scratch.

Read the rest of the article here.