Americans Go Ga-ga For Baja [California] (Bargain Oceanfront Mexican Properties Alert)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 10/15/06 | Michael Martinez

[goldstategop]

LA MISION, Mexico -- Every weekend, Carmen Tetelboin joins the Baja boom.

After work on Fridays, the Los Angeles resident drives four hours across the border to Baja California, where life is so good and living so cheap, it beats the other California, she contends.

Owning a condo on the coast, she and her husband are part of an American colony exploding during the past five years along 75 miles of pristine beaches, cliffs and towns south of Tijuana. What's drawing them are oceanfront homes at a fraction of the multimillion-dollar prices on the U.S. side.

A native of Chile who is bilingual and a U.S. citizen, Tetelboin jokingly calls this swath of Americans "gringolandia."

[goldstategop]

[Love Boat Theme] "The living is cool, the air is sweet, the sea is blue, the sight is wondrous - all your cares floated away to heaven, where the living is true... in Baja!"

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[lesser_satan]

Sound like a good deal, until a commie gets elected and natioanlizes everything.

[Bringbackthedraft]

I guess turn about is fair play?

[xcamel]

Been there, done that, got one, in Lapaz, it's not exactly all it's cracked up to be, but it's nice when you can get there.

[familyop]

The beaches on the east side of Mexico are nice, too.

[goldstategop]

Basically, you buy a real estate trust from a Mexican bank that holds the property for you for up to 50 years... and can be passed onto your heirs. Its gorgeous scenery and you get a multimillion dollar ocean view for a fraction of the price in California. And the cost of living is cheap in Mexico.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[Wolverine]

Owning a condo on the coast, she and her husband are part of an American colony

 

Until the Mexican Government expropriates it.

[goldstategop]

There's always that risk. Still the Mexicans are getting American dollars and taxes remitted to their treasury. So why wouldn't they welcome Americans? As much we detest illegal aliens, there's something good to be said for open borders: Mexico is a great investment opportunity. Too good to pass up.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[Hildy]

You can't OWN oceanfront property...they can always come and take it away...so if you're a gambler, go for it. We have friends who have a great place and they love it.

[goldstategop]

Every one still speaks English. You'd never know you left America. LOL

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[goldstategop]

Foreigners can't own property in Mexico. But a fictitious Mexican citizen can own it for them.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[xcamel]

the Fidi is held by a bank, not a "fake person"

[xcamel]

Now I could go for that - and kick out aeromexico etc etc and get some real flights other than to Cabo

[SoCalPol]

Living here in San Diego we hear more the reality of what is going on.

A couple who are neighbors in my apt. bldg. have a condo in Baja. They moved out of the condo to the Apt. here because as they say, they don't want to be there when the revolution comes.

On the various local news stations here over the years have had horror stories of Mex. Gov. taking over property from Americans.

In the past some months in Baja ther have been more beheadings.

[goldstategop]

Corporate persons are citizens... so yes, they are Mexican citizens even if not living and so its a perfectly legal arrangement under Mexican law.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[goldstategop]

Tijuana is an eyesore. But if you drive 50 to 75 miles beyond that, you're looking at sun-kissed country of unsurpassed beauty... little population and largely free of crime. No wonder Americans are cottoning down to the Unknown Baja.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II

[isthisnickcool]

There has been some pretty nasty stuff happening on the border for many years. Things you are not hearing about in the media.

[SoCalPol]

I live approx 15 miles north from the largest and busiest border crossing in the world. Tell me about it.

The open border and don't bother me with the illegals crowd are no different from the cut and run Liberals.

[tiki]

My husband's uncle has had a place there for over ten yrs. He can only lease the land and he can't build a permanent structure but they love it down there.