Happy Holidays from Baja Life Realty

Hi Friend,

Happy holidays, we hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are enjoying the holiday season. There was plenty to celebrate here, between local charities collecting toys and donations for local children, to the Christmas parade on the La Paz malecón, and getting together with neighbors and friends here to share the holidays. Even when we are far from our families up north, the friendly community here makes it a little bit easier to enjoy the holidays, especially when the weather has been so nice!

It's also that time of year when the whale sharks make their return to La Paz, and whale shark tours are once again open for business. If you have not yet experienced this bucket list adventure, or even if you have, be sure to put this once-in-a-lifetime tour on your list. It's an amazing experience you will be telling your friends and family about for a long time to come.

This past month, we've had several new listings come on the market for sale, so if you're thinking about making the move in 2024 to Baja, there are a wide variety of properties now to choose from. Check out the listings below and be sure to follow the links to see all the pictures and details. There are more properties to see on our web site here. And if you fill out the form on that page, you will get any new listings, as well as changes in price and status of properties, delivered right to your inbox.

We were thrilled and honored to participate in San Juan Social Club's annual Christmas party for local special needs children this year. The event was held at the same site where the new pickleball courts, which opened in November, were built, and hosted by the owners, J Ricardo Juarez and his family. Many members donated toys, the event was decorated beautifully, and the party was attended by Santa himself as well as the Grinch!

Are you wondering if and how you would move your belongings to Mexico if you do purchase a home here? Our good friend Brighton West, host of the YouTube channel Almost Retired in Mexico, is back with a video to answer your questions. Brighton's videos have become a favorite resource for many expats who have moved here or are considering moving. They are well worth checking out!

We wish you a very happy and peaceful New Year, and hope to see you here in La Paz in 2024.

Sincerely,
The Baja Life Realty Team

Your Baja dream home in Haciendas Palo Verde! Casa Katrina is a 2BR/2.5BA home plus 1BR/1BA casita on a 1,718 m2 lot in the highly sought after gated community of Haciendas Palo Verde. The large, fully landscaped lot offers the perfect blend of comfort, views, and privacy. Inside and out, every detail of this property has been lovingly designed and maintained. Don't wait, make your appointment now to view Casa Katrina today! Ask for an available inventory. Listed at $619,000 USD. MLS# 23-4456.

See pictures and more details here.

Contact: info@bajaliferealty.com

Casa de Oso is a true hacienda home with 2 master suites on one side of the house and an open living/dining/kitchen on the other side, all surrounding a private open air courtyard with beautiful pool and outdoor dining area. The 125 m2 (1,345 ft2) house includes amazing Mexican craftsmanship including Talavera tile throughout, a boveda brick inlaid ceiling in the living area, Saltillo interior and cantera exterior tile, and other custom touches that make this house unique. The 940 m2 lot is located at the end of a private and quiet cul-de-sac, and a rooftop terrace with shade pergola offer amazing ocean and sunset views. The home is delivered fully furnished, come take a tour today! Listed at $469,000 USD. MLS#: 23-4457.

See a video tour of this home here.

View more pictures and listing details here.

To schedule a tour, contact: ian@bajaliferealty.com.

Discover Casa Dos, an exquisite 2-bedroom haven in El Centenario, seamlessly blending modern elegance with coastal comfort. Meticulously crafted with polished concrete seastone counters and handmade wooden cabinetry, this turn-key residence is a visual delight. The rooftop oasis offers panoramic views of La Paz and the ocean, featuring a fire pit and a gas-lined kitchen area. The private pool, ample storage, and strategically placed windows create a perfect balance of luxury and practicality. The beach has a private access path and is barely 50 steps away. Listed at $445,000 USD.
MLS# 23-4636.

View more pictures and the listing details here.
To schedule a tour, contact: gordon@bajaliferealty.com.

Swimming with La Paz's iconic whale sharks is one of those must-do tours that is really worth your time and investment. And it's easy! If you can swim and snorkel, you can participate in this grand adventure. There are several tour operators that are certified to take you to swim with the whale sharks. Don't worry, they are gentle giants that, although they can grow to 40+ feet as adults, feed on plankton, not tourists. Tour operators must be approved and have permits to enter the protected area where the whale sharks swim. Tours typically leave from the La Paz malecón, and it's a short 20-30 minute boat ride to the area where they swim. Even if you've been before, it's an absolutely magical experience you'll want to repeat again and again. Trust us on this one. For tour operator recommendations, email us at info@bajaliferealty.com.

In our experience, part of the adventure of moving to Mexico was leaving our old life behind and embracing our new life here. We bought our first home here fully furnished, so it was easy to just arrive and then shop on our own time schedule for things for our home. After all, shopping here is part of the fun of establishing your new home. However, there are always some personal things and furniture you just can't or don't want to part with. When that's the case, how do you get your belongings here? Can you bring your furniture and other items across the border? How much is too much? Which items are prohibited? Will you have to pay import fees? In this video, our good friend Brighton West, who hosts the YouTube channel, Almost Retired in Mexico, has some great advice on whether, and how, to bring your stuff with you when you move to La Paz.

We often get asked about opportunities to give back here in La Paz. It's not surprising that, because this special place gives us so much, new residents want to support local communities. This holiday season, several organizations and individuals stepped up to bring the joy of the holidays to local families. San Juan Club Deportivo, the home of the new Centenario/Chametla area pickleball courts, hosted a party for local children with special needs. Many club members donated toys, which the club owners and staff gift wrapped, then decorated their event space. Santa and The Grinch both made an appearance, and the event was a big success. Extra toys left over were donated to more local families in time for the holiday. Others like El Centenario resident, Lupita Ascenscio and her family, owners of Los Claros Fish Centenario restaurant, collected toys and donations to distribute to local families. It was great to see so many folks pitching in to help everyone celebrate the holidays. On December 23rd, there was a parade of vehicles decorated for Christmas along the La Paz malecón, which was also decorated for the holidays. We may not get snow, but La Paz residents know how to celebrate the season in style!