Baja Mexico Real Estate Becoming Popular

By Taylor White

Baja Mexico property has become a popular option as many people purchase second homes or utilize this region as a destination for tourism. However property investing here is affordable and plentiful.
Baja Mexico property is growing in value and continues to be one of the best locations to buy in Mexico. For those who visited the region in the past, and who are returning to call it home, real estate in Baja is still relatively affordable and readily available, though the continued increase in population here has led to numerous reductions in available inventory. Options in property here range from highly affordable to luxurious and expensive. In some areas, the property is the most expensive in the country.
Baja, more formally known as Baja California, is one of 31 states in the country of Mexico. It is on the northernmost and westernmost area of Mexico, on the Baja Peninsula. With a population of 3.1 million people, the region is large and growing. It sits right on the Pacific Ocean, near to the United States, making it an easy destination to get to for Americans. About 75 percent of the state's population lives in the capitol city of Mexicali, or in Ensenada or Tijuana. Each of these areas as well as San Felipe, Playas de Rosarito and Tecate are important to the property market here.
The most valuable of all property is on the coastline. Many people who buy here do so to take advantage of the warm, peaceful Pacific Ocean. Baja real estate for sale in this area offers a wide number of property options, but most are single family homes, townhomes or apartments, with apartments being the most common option for those who are buying from overseas. In addition to this, just outside the larger cities, and in areas such as San Felipe and Tecate, larger homesteads are available. Some of these pose the most value potential depending on their location.
That looking for Baja rentals will find apartments the most commonly available property here, however renting a home, is also possible. Baja Mexico property listings provide a range of options in price ranges, with the most basic facilities being the least expensive. The more remote the location is, the lower the price. However, Baja property for sale continues to build and grow, with some areas seeing a price per square foot of as high as US $2000 in areas where it cost $20 a square foot just 20 years ago. Those buying Baja property are likely to see their investment grow over time, though there is no telling when prices will even out.

www.bajainvestment.com

Expatriates Express Confidence in Baja California

By Ron Raposa

About 70 community leaders in Baja California’s expatriate community recently attended the first summit of the "Baja Image Committee." It was organized for foreign residents who want to promote a positive and accurate portrait of the region.

The two-day summit, entitled “Building Baja’s Tomorrows Today,” was held June 8th and 9th at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Mexico, which provided free lodging and meals for those attending.

The event was a response to requests from many of the thousands of expats who live in the region. Many have expressed a desire to do more to help convey an accurate picture of life in Baja California, especially to people living in the United States.

The summit featured testimonials from many of those residents, including some who said reports of scattered drug-related violence in recent years had made some friends and relatives reluctant to visit.

Those concerns are considered a large factor in the decline in tourism and visitors over the past several years, although a strong rebound was noted this past Easter and Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of the summer season.

The summit included a panel discussion, as well as presentations on methods of gathering and distributing accurate and positive information, plus using social networks.

Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee and a former Rosarito mayor, said that “always telling the truth” is critical for such efforts to succeed. It is essential that government officials work hard to correct any problems that do exist, he added.

Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos and Arturo Martinez, director of visitor assistance, told of government efforts to make visitors more comfortable and welcome, including the 078 assistance number which is in operation 24 hours day seven days a week.

Steven Kashkett, U.S. Consul General for Baja California, also attended to give an off-the-record briefing.

Rosarito resident Ken Bell, who leads the expatriate committee of the Baja Image Committee, pointed out that much work remains after the summit to accomplish goals that have been established.

Bell, as well as Rosarito’s tourism delegate Cesar Rivera, were summit moderators.

Other speakers included Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who has established a "Rediscover Rosarito" project that he said can be applied to all of Baja California. “You’re all your own TV networks,” Payne said, referring to the access that everyone has to post videos on YouTube and similar sites.

Chris Hill, of the "Live Mexico" campaign, and representatives of Allison & Partners public relations also spoke.

Expatriate residents from Rosarito, Ensenada, San Felipe and Tijuana who attended the summit are expected to share information and strategies for promoting a full, accurate and positive regional image with others in coming months.

www.bajainvestment.com

Mexico Attracts US Retirees Despite Crime Wave

Some 40,000 people have been killed in Mexico over the past five years as the Latin American country's police and military battle powerful drug cartels that are also fighting with each other over smuggling routes. In spite of the dire headlines, hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens vacation in Mexico every year and many of them, especially those who are retired, have opted to buy property and live there. The warm weather and the lower cost of living are big draws.

News from Mexico these days tends to be bad.

Shootouts and grisly murders dominate media reports.

MEJORÓ LA OCUPACIÓN HOTELERA POR MEMORIAL DAY

MEJORÓ LA OCUPACIÓN HOTELERA POR MEMORIAL DAY



TIJUANA.- Domingo 29 de mayo de 2011.- Una mejora en la ocupación hotelera se registró en los principales destinos de la entidad durante este fin de semana de Memorial Day, comparativamente con el año pasado, así lo dio a conocer el Secretario de Turismo del Estado, Juan Tintos Funcke.

Explicó que este repunte fue más evidente en los destinos de playa, de tal suerte que en el Puerto de Ensenada se alcanzó una ocupación hotelera del 95 por ciento para este sábado, en tanto que el año anterior se registró para el mismo día un 89 por ciento. En promedio para los días viernes y sábado en el Puerto logró incrementarse del 67 por ciento registrado en 2010 a un 74 por ciento para este año, lo anterior basados en una muestra de 12 hoteles y 1 mil 5 habitaciones.

En lo que corresponde a San Felipe el registro de ocupación para el día sábado alcanzó el 87 por ciento mientras que el año anterior fue del 83 por ciento para el mismo día, sin embargo el aumento fue más notorio para el día viernes en que se registró el 50 por ciento de ocupación, 13 puntos más que el año pasado, lo que contribuyó a que el promedio para ambos días se elevara del 60 por ciento en 2010 al 69 por ciento en 2011. La muestra de hoteles en San Felipe consta de 13 establecimientos con 651 habitaciones.

Por último en el caso de Playas de Rosarito se registró para el día sábado una ocupación del 73 por ciento lo que se traduce en un aumento de 15 puntos con relación al año anterior en que la ocupación fue del 58 por ciento. El promedio para los días viernes y sábado fue del 50 por ciento, ocho puntos más que año pasado, considerando la muestra de 15 hoteles y 1 mil 390 habitaciones.

El titular de la SECTURE mencionó que a pesar de los cambios bruscos en las condiciones climatológicas se logró este aumento en la ocupación hotelera, al mismo tiempo que agregó que este año por instrucciones del Gobernador del Estado, José Guadalupe Osuna Millán, se está haciendo un mayor esfuerzo en materia de promoción tanto para el mercado nacional como en el caso del extranjero.

¨Por ningún motivo podemos decir que se trata de una recuperación, aunque sí podemos ver buenas señales al registrarse una mejoría en los indicadores¨, aclaró el funcionario estatal.

Indicó que se debe reconocer el trabajo realizado por el sector turístico estatal en su conjunto; el sector hotelero, los restauranteros y comerciantes, que ha puesto en marcha diversas acciones para ser más competitivos con tarifas especiales y paquetes, así como estrategias para vincular los eventos, entre artísticos, culturales y los relacionados con la Ruta del Vino, con el hospedaje en los diferentes destinos.

De la misma manera reconoció la labor de coordinación que se ha venido realizando entre los diversos organismos como son los Comités de Turismo y Convenciones, Proturismo, así como los Fideicomisos Públicos de Promoción Turística de las diferentes ciudades.

Finalmente el Secretario de Turismo del Estado informó que de igual forma se espera una importante afluencia turística para la próxima semana, particularmente en el Puerto de Ensenada, con la realización de la mundialmente famosa carrera fuera de camino Baja 500, en la cual se espera una participación que supere los 250 equipos provenientes de los Estados Unidos y otros países.

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