Do you see the three, top-floor plant pots? I guess that's where I'll be sitting for my morning coffees soon. To get a better view from that space, you can look at this entry from a week and a half ago.
I think we take for granted the easy access we have to the world now. For example, I can listen to a radio station over 3G from so far away that real radio waves could never make it. Furthermore, as I type, Jay is watching a special, live television program from Colombo, Sri Lanka on Rupavahini. Even reading ordinary news articles from other than local newspapers used to be difficult or, in many cases, impossible.
Yet, it's been easy for me to keep up on events in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I'm interested in that city mostly as a possible destination for future 'winter real estate'. In other words, it'd be great to have a retirement condo in a warm place as a refuge for escaping from Vancouver's winter rain. Here's a picture taken during last year's visit.
I've learned that big work has been initiated on the malacon, the seaside concrete boardwalk running along the beach-side. I can often squint to see progress on the development via a live webcam image as seen below. It may or may not be pointing south along the construction site at the moment. Every time you view this page, the most recent image will be shown.
It's the holiday long weekend but the rain has returned. The extent of our travel consisted of a trip to the Superstore in Coquitlam for groceries. So as well as the typical errands of a Saturday, I had more than enough time for Internet browsing. I've been in a Jimmy Buffet kind of mood for the entire wet winter (which just won't quit). In fact, it may have started before last spring's trip to Mexico.
You know what they say about real estate: location, location, location. I had no idea that so many folks from up and down the left coast own places further south along it. The picture is on the hillside in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Snuggled along the hillside, and within a short walk to the beach, is this apartment complex. I would love to have a place here to escape to as we approach an early retirement. Unfortunately, just as with prices along the entire coast, there have been no reductions stemming from the global economic slowdown of recent years. As I said to a Realtor, I wish I had been in the market back before the 1990's. As always, I'm at least a day late, a dollar short, and a beer behind.
Could it be the recent time spent at the beach in San Juan del Sur, Nicargaua? Or maybe it's the fact the weather here today is more typical of a rainy February. For whatever reason, I am finding myself dreaming of continued escape through the means of a little Internet research.
Click to open this Google Street View location on Mexican Highway 200.
If you follow this blog at all, you may be familiar with my recent infatuation with Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Coconut trees just seem agreeable to me. Of course I've nothing against a Douglas fir. To me the future will have to include spending summers and autumns in British Columbia but winters and springs somewhere more tropical.
Puerto Vallarta offers familiar amenities like a Costco and a Walmart Supercenter. I do think it has successfully managed to retain its small town feel though. It also offers abundant lifestyle opportunities. Yet, I really long for rustic rather than luxury. The real estate market in Puerto Vallarta has not yet come to terms with the realities of the current economy. The properties we could afford there are not cute and authentic, but simply down-market. So, I have figured we must explore the area south of there during an upcoming vacation.
I've become a little fascinated with the town of La Manzanilla, Mexico from today's research.
I came to find your email address via Facebook. That's perhaps the first time I've followed a linked advertisement there!
We've recently started thinking about buying an inexpensive condo apartment in Puerto Vallarta. We live in Vancouver and most recently visited PV in May of last year. We are in our mid-50's and have a little bit of saved cash which could go into a retirement apartment for future winters.
I expect the market isn't as affected there as in many warm-weather US spots. Being no mortgage meltdown, I know many owners are willing to 'wait out' this period of declining prices in the US sun-belt. Still, the market must be less active than several years ago. Eventually, sellers will probably have to encounter a little more reality when they cannot sell at the 2007 bubble prices.
We do not desire anything posh or large. We are simple folks with a modest lifestyle. We are looking for a small, simple apartment in the centro area of PV proper. I absolutely hate the McBox-type apartments out by the marina and hotel zone. We have travelled the world and are perfectly happy 'roughing it' a bit. The charm of PV comes from the real Mexican-style, vintage buildings on the slope behind the Romantic Zone. As we are not seeking any mortgage, we must stay within the budget price range. (Have you seen what $70,000 buys in a place like Palm Springs, California nowadays! Quite a lot!) We especially want to be within walking distance of the town, the river, and beach. I wish there were resources where I could read up on all the old town developments from the 80s and 90s. I would imagine that there are no cheap listings to the south, but we did see how easy it would be to live anywhere along Route 200 as far south as Mismaloya.
Anyway, we'd love to hear from you about what you think of current market conditions and the availability of the type of property in which we're interested. We're not desperate to get into the market immediately and wish to pick the best time over the next several years.
We look forward to your suggestions and thank you for your time.
Dennis S. Hurd
I just got an email from friends. They'll be getting in a plane and leaving rainy Vancouver for two weeks away. They're headed to Puerto Vallarta! I don't know whether to wish them well or be very jealous! I guess it will be nice to be able to share my interest with someone who's been there.
I could easily make it a habit to go to the beach and watch the sun slide over the Pacific every evening! I took this picture when we were in Mexico in the spring.
That city is one of my favourite spots. In fact, I frequently find myself checking for a retirement condo. Unfortunately, the real estate market there may have slowed, but prices didn't decline much. As most foreign buyers had paid cash, there are few delinquent mortgages. It seems that those with property seem willing to hang on to it and wait for better days. Damn! I'd love to jet up and down the Pacific coast throughout those golden years, especially if they could start in just a few more!
Having had this summer off and knowing I'm going to be in Europe for another month after this, have really got me thinking a lot about retirement. All this planning may be a wee bit premature, yet I even signed up for the AARP magazine this week. I've heard that organization has become a bit more international in approach and, honestly, I hope there's more information than about US Social Security and Medicare in them!
I still feel pretty certain we'll be playing the role of those Canadians who winter in a warmer climes. If monarch butterflies can manage it, then why not, I say? I won't get much of a pension at age 55, but I don't want to gamble waiting around to start retirement. One could easily end up in poor health, or even worse! No, better get while the gettin's good.
The biggest thing to contemplate is our destination. Should we stick close down the coast in Mexico or venture half way around the world to Sri Lanka during winters? Both options have clear advantages and disadvantages. Also, given the extra few years to plan, should we consider the burden of buying real estate now? The direction of the markets during the next four years is anything but obvious. Perhaps a few years of being landlords could pay off the incurring maintenance costs. Yet after that, would we be get fifteen years of suitable use out of the property? Or might we simply be better off renting on a seasonal basis, rather than owning?
There seem to be many more questions than in a usual blog entry. And on a day in Vancouver when it is as hot or hotter than any winter spot!
I could defintely picture living November to March in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This photograph was taken during our trip in May.
I can hardly believe it myself! It is the height of summer at the moment. So, why am I checking with real estate agents in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? Whereas there are housing markets in Las Vegas and Phoenix which have completely fallen apart, my overriding interest is in a place where prices are down only 20% off their peak highs. Could it be that the AARP website just published a listing of the top ten international destinations? It lists PV as number one for American retirees! Hey, that was MY idea!
Damn, even though the value of our apartment here in Vancouver has fared very well over the last few years, I may never be able to afford anything with a view of the ocean in Mexico. I wonder what these modest apartments near the river cost? Click on the picture to load Google Street View and look around yourself.
