Life's a Beach | Expat Life in Playa del Carmen : Buyer Information

TAO Living Residences For Sale in Bahia Príncipe

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 11:02:00 GMT

Sophisticated Style

Bahia Príncipe, Quintana Roo - Introducing Tao Inspired Living Community! A community built upon the values of connection, inspiration, creativity and compassion. Tao is committed to the betterment of our local ecology, traditional cultures and global community.

Nestled in the 717-acre Bahia Principe Residential Complex and Golf Resort, five minutes from the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean, and surrounded by the world class Robert Trent Jones II 36-hole golf course, Tao Inspired Living offers spacious Residences, Townhomes and Condominiums, as well as, a Wellness Center and Retreat (boutique hotel).
The Tao Wellness Center in adjacent to the living community claims a natural sanctuary with absolute respect for the surrounding environment. The holistic program is led by the internationally recognized best- selling author, Jonathan Ellerby Ph.D. with over 20 years of holistic healing, spiritual counseling, integrative medicine and corporate consulting.

All of the condominium options include 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms keeping in mind the visual connection between the indoor living and outdoor living areas providing additional space. These spacious condos offer well-appointed kitchens with a breakfast bar and an open living area. The Tao Inspired Living Residences offer 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms on two levels allowing an efficient use of space. The first floor features a master bedroom with ensuite bath, an equipped kitchen, spacious living room overlooking the terrace and private pool. The second floor offers 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with an additional terrace.

Tao Inspired Living Community offers focus on inner peace programs, fitness, nutrition, creative arts, Gourmet health food restaurant and Cafe, Eco-Boutique focusing on the finest quality products for your daily needs and wellness interests, a private Beach Club and the Robert Trent Jones II 36-hole championship golf course.

For more information regarding this opportunity please contact us today.

Click here for more pictures and property information

Great Price for Gaviotas II in Playa del Carmen

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Just a few blocks to the beach!

• 128 sq. m., 2 bath, 2 bdrm 3 story - $183,000 USD - Great Condo, Great Price!

Downtown, Playa del Carmen -
If you are looking for a great Condo in downtown Playa del Carmen, look no further! Now available in Las Gaviotas II is a ground level 2 bedroom and 2.5 bathroom Condominium. This condo is a fantastic vacation home with great rental history potential. Now is the time to invest in this property and enjoy your ROI opportunity.

You will enjoy a very charming fully equipped kitchen, an open living floor plan decorated and furnished with a modern Caribbean approach. This unit comes fully furnished including sheets, towels and kitchen utensils. This condo has been updated with fresh paint, an automatic re-start dehumidifier, new countertops and faucets. The entire unit is air conditioned as well as having a ceiling fan in each room. This is an amazing turn-key opportunity.

Las Gaviotas II has a beautifully landscaped pool area with Palapa for entertaining guests. The pool is well maintained and perfect for sunbathing and enjoying a cocktail.

Las Gaviotas II is located just 4 blocks from the beautiful Caribbean beaches and turquoise waters of the ocean. You will find yourself close to major grocery stores, restaurants, shopping, cafés, night life and entertainment.

For more information about this property, please contact us today.

Click here for more property information

Tampa - Progresso Ferry Service Considered (Questionnaire)

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:56:00 GMT

Greetings "Life's a Beach" readers!

What follows is a message from Tamara Magnusson (tamarainprogreso[at]gmail.com) who is once again seeking information from the US and Canadian ex-pats and snowbirds in Mexico and Central America. Plans to initiate a ferry service from Tampa to Progresso are back on the table at United Caribbean Lines and they are looking for our input to help them move forward with this ambitious investment.

To help United Caribbean Lines make an informed plan to bring this ferry service to the Yucatan, please copy and paste the questionnaire below into an e-mail and send to BNIERENBERG@AOL.COM. Don't forget to share this blog post with your expat friends so that they too can weigh in on this exciting development.

"The past year has not brought a lot of forward momentum with the ferry project in spite of the interest of three different ferry companies and many false start dates. The scandals which precipitated personnel changes at the Progresso Port Authority certainly didn't help the situation either, however, things have been happening behind the scenes and from what I understand a number of feasibility studies have been done in the Tampa area showing the ferry project is viable but the inability to do a feasibility study within the expatriate community continues to be a stumbling block especially with investors.

Having learned from the mistakes of the previous ferry services in the area and responses from the previous expat surveys, the original plans have been modified. Super high speed ferries are now being considered to shorten the crossing time, frequent user plans, and even free vehicle bonuses are being considered. A year round weekly crossing schedule with frequency based on use patterns and peak seasons will be offered. As this service will take some years to become profitable investor backing will be the key to success.

I know many of you have already completed one or both of the previous surveys, but United Caribbean Lines is asking for our input once again. The results will directly influence investors and the more responses the better so please forward this email and ask everyone you know who may travel this direction to answer the questions and forward their responses to United Caribbean Lines. If you have access to expatriate websites, blogs or travel groups please have all your members respond and forward the questions on to any other websites and blogs you use anywhere in Central America. Even if you have no interest in using the ferry service please respond because part of the purpose is to try to establish how many expats live in the Yucatan and Central America.

If you are comfortable letting UCL know how to reach you they would like to extend some special courtesies, goodies, discounts and upgrades for helping them, when the ferry service begins. Just put your email address and mailing address in Central America on your answers to the questionnaire so UCL can reach you with the offers when they get started. "

Questionnaire for Ex-Pats living in Central America for new Ferry Service of United Caribbean Lines

1.       Where in Mexico/Central America is your current home?

2.       How many family members reside in your Mexico/Central American home?

3.       Do you maintain a second home in the U.S. or Canada?

4.        When you travel to go to the U.S or Canada to visit friends family etc. What is your destination?

5.       How many times a year do you make this trip?

6.       If you have more than one place you travel to in the U.S or Canada please list those additional destinations

7.       How often to you travel to these secondary destinations each calendar year

8.       When you go do you drive or fly? If both what is the approx. % for each?

9.       Do you have pets? Do you take them when you return to the U.S or Canada?

10.   When you return to the U.S. or Canada do you shop for supplies etc. For your home in Mexico/Central America?

11.   When you travel from your home in Mexico/Central America to the U.S. or Canada are there times of the year you do most of the travel? If so, when?

12.   Do friends and family come to Mexico/Central America each year to visit you? If so how often?

13.   Do you own an RV in Mexico/Central America?

                   a.       Would you take it on the ferry?

14.   What would be the most important reasons you would take the ferry to Florida?

Please number the following reasons in order of importance for using the ferry.   Number 1 being the most important, and Number 10 the least.

1.      Go back to other homes in U.S. and or Canada ____

2.      Visit family and friends ____

3.      Shopping ____

4.      Vacationing in Florida ___

5.      I can take my car or RV ___

6.      Go to Florida to use airports for further travel ___

7.      Go to Florida to get on a cruise ____

8.      Just to get away for a short trip ____

9.      Travel for medical purposes ___

10. Other ( please name ) ______

      Additional comments or things you would like us to know to help serve you better with our new ferry service

New Clothing Optional Resort to Open in Puerto Morelos

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:42:00 GMT

April 6, 2012
Joe Pike - Travel Agent Central

Original Resorts, a Mexican hospitality brand, continued its strategic plan to expand with the opening of its new clothing-optional resort, Desire Pearl Resort & Spa on March 30.

Original Resorts opened the first clothing-optional hotel of the group, Desire Resort & Spa, in the Riviera Maya. This new five-star hotel complex, located on a beautiful beach in Puerto Morelos, just a few minutes outside of Cancun, is an exclusive couples only-hotel, marking the brand's fifth resort in Mexico.

Rodrigo de la Pena, president of Original Resorts, announced that after his successful negotiations with the owners of the hotel, previously known as Ceiba del Mar, the property will be operated by Original Resorts Group to offer the region's second clothing-optional resort.

The decision to transform this hotel into Desire Pearl comes from a high demand for unique clothing-optional resorts that, until now, only Desire Resort & Spa was able to offer.

Desire Pearl Resort & Spa includes 32 Oceanfront Rooms, 13 Junior Suites, 36 Master Suites, and seven Penthouse Passion Suites. Clients can enjoy the hotel's grand pool, the 80-person private Jacuzzi, a tennis court, a holistic spa and a pier with docking facilities, among other luxurious amenities.

For information about real estate in Puerto Morelos and all along the Riviera Maya, contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com.

A Quick Cost of Living Update

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:17:00 GMT

I haven't done one of these in awhile but when Rob asked me to give a very rough monthly budget for a couple who are thinking of buying a condo in Playa del Carmen, I figured it was overdue. Lots of things drag up the cost of living in Playa del Carmen.

Real Estate is expensive.
Rent, depending on the area, can be expensive.
Electricity is expensive!

What is NOT expensive here is food. As a matter of fact, the better you eat...the more fruits, vegetables, legumes and grains in your daily diet...the less expensive it is. Packaged, processed, convenience foods tend to run a little higher but all the good fresh stuff that is good for you is dirt cheap.

I shop for produce on Wednesdays because that is the day it goes on sale. Today, I shopped at Soriana in the Centro Maya and this is what I came home with:

1 head of garlic
1 kilo of beets
.5 kilos of broccoli
1.25 Kilos of white onions
.25 kilos of red onions
1 bunch of cilantro
1 bag of spinach
1 kilo of limes
1.5 kilos of red delicious apples
2.5 kilos of valencia oranges
3 kilos of cucumbers
1.5 kilos of bananas
1.25 kilos of roma tomatoes
2.5 kilos of carrots

My total bill...... $201.50 pesos.

At today's exchange, that's $15.56 usd.

This is a very good thing.

Annual Meeting with U.S. Consular Agent Samantha Mason

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:19:00 GMT

U.S. Consular Agent, Samantha Mason, will present another in her series of informational seminars in Puerto Aventuras on February 7, 2012. Held annually, these gatherings have become a valuable resource for foreigners who have relocated to the Riviera Maya, either full or part-time.

The annual meeting will be held in the PA Colonos Meeting Room. Doors will open at 9:00 o'clock with a half an hour for meet and greet before the presentation begins at 9:30. Topics to be discussed will include a detailed explanation of the most recent changes made to the laws regulating U.S. plated cars in Mexico, including the 2012 reintroduction of an annual import sticker.

Those who own foreign plated cars, or are considering bringing one into Mexico, are encouraged to attend this meeting. Other topics on the agenda include a detailed explanation of services offered by the U.S. Consulate Office in Playa del Carmen, the recommended protocol to use when stopped by police, how and where to pay your traffic ticket and what to do if you become the victim of a crime. The meeting is open to all interested parties.

Acanto Boutique Hotel is Now Open!

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:28:00 GMT

Great Hotels of the World has announced one of its new member properties, Acanto Boutique Hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico has just completed a $5 million refurbishment following a two year rebuild. Acanto Boutique Hotel has rebuilt the entire hotel with 14 added bedrooms, making it fully equipped with 21 luxurious one, two and three bedroom mega suites.

The suites are fully furnished with deluxe marble flooring and granite counters, along with solid wood cabinets and plasma televisions. They will now also have their own fitted kitchens and private outdoor areas with hammocks, where guests can enjoy the climate and relax within the privacy of their own terrace. The hotel will feature brand new leisure facilities, including an intimate spa, offering an array of treatments, seven new rooftop Jacuzzis and the possibility for guests to host barbecues on the terrace. A total of 21 underground parking spaces have now been added to the property, ensuring greater convenience for its guests.

Acanto Boutique Hotel has added a café and a wine bar to further add to the services provided. With a prime location, being just one block away from the beach and half a block from Playa Del Carmen’s bustling 5th Avenue, Acanto Boutique Hotel now offers guests privileged access to the Playa del Carmen Beach Club and discounted rates at the fitness centre, located only one block away.

Matthew Schilowitz, director of sales at Acanto Boutique Hotel commented: “Acanto Boutique Hotel has undergone rapid improvement, putting our hotel in a unique position.“We have all worked extremely hard to incorporate a variety of new features and facilities and we only hope to move forward in improving and bettering Acanto Boutique Hotel in every way we can for our guests.”

Acanto Boutique Hotel was one of the first boutique hotels in the area from 2004 and has been recommended by Frommers and Master Card global premium division. The hotel also has a selection of residences.

Source: Breaking Travel News

For information about condominium sales at Acanto and other Mexico investment opportunities, contact Rob Kinnon.

Oceanfront Condo for Sale in Playacar Phase 1

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:43:00 GMT

Great Price for an Oceanfront Condo!

NEW! Condo for sale in Playacar Phase 1 - Xaman Ha Condominiums are on the beach just 300 meters south of the ferry dock to Cozumel in Playa del Carmen. This 3 bedroom unit is on the ground floor and offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Ocean from both the living room and master bedroom. Recently upgraded with a new kitchen containing custom cabinets, granite counter tops, and all new appliances, this condominium is very popular with vacation renters.

Down by the water is the large pool area with lots of room to sunbathe. An elevated shade pavilion between the pool and the beach gives a perfect vantage point for viewing both while comfortably out of the sun. Owners and guests of this condominium enjoy access to the enormous pool, entertainment palapa and reserved parking. The complex is located just a short 5 minute walk from all the excitement of Playa del Carmen's 5th Ave. with its boutiques and international restaurants.

This beautiful condominium is offered fully furnished and equipped and ready for immediate occupancy. Professional property management services are already in place. Please contact us for more information. Contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com for information on this and similar opportunities in Playa del Carmen real estate.

Property information

Affordable 3 Bedroom Home for Sale!

Rob Kinnon — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:15:00 GMT

Playa del Carmen - Don't overlook this charming three bedroom home for sale in Playa del Carmen. If you have been renting a house or condo and have been searching for an affordable home for your family, this could be just the opportunity you have been looking for. This lovely home is being sold by a family who after many happy and successful years in Playa del Carmen has decided to move to Canada. (Brrr.) They have sold their business and are now ready to say goodbye to this lovely house and make the big move north!

The house is located on the west side of the highway in the Ejido in a quiet and safe local neighborhood. It is close to both Constituyentes and Ave. 115 providing quick access to downtown Playa and all routes north and south of town. The mall, Plaza las Americas, and the new Super Walmart are both just a few minutes away as are dozens of wonderful local restaurants.

This single story home has an spacious open floor plan with a modern kitchen, dining area and living room. The home has three bedrooms, the master having its own ensuite bath. Outside there is a patio and garden with enough space to keep a kitchen garden and perhaps a few chickens for fresh eggs. The current owners have added a fixed gas tank on the roof, a hot water tank and a water pressure pump for added comfort.

With 120 meters of construction and plenty of outdoor living space in the walled in garden, this is the perfect house to raise a family with room to grow. A second level could easily be added to create more space as your family expands! Electronic gates control access to the property and there is secure parking for two cars inside the lot.

If you have been living in Playa for a few years, you know that good long term rentals are becoming harder and harder to find and increasingly expensive. This home is being sold for just $139,000 USD. To purchase a three bedroom home in Playacar will cost twice as much. This could be just the opportunity you have been waiting for. Give us a call at 984-115-4611 and schedule a few minutes to come and see the house, check out the location and see if it is a fit for you and your family.

Oceanview Condo for Sale in Playa del Carmen - REDUCED

Rob Kinnon — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:09:00 GMT

Announcing a price reduction on this stunning oceanview condo for sale in Playa del Carmen. This spacious unit has 1,505 sq.ft. of interior living space and a 172 sqft private terrace overlooking the beach and the Caribbean. The condominium has 2 bedrooms, each with ensuite bath and is offered for sale fully furnished and ready for immediate occupancy.

The unit is fitted with hurricane and sound proof glass windows and sliders to protect this valuable investment. No detail has been overlooked to ensure years of comfort and enjoyment for you and your guests.

This exclusive residence is located on the beach and within steps to the fabulous restaurants and shops of Playa's world famous 5th Avenue. World class golf, sport fishing, dramatic ruins and all the attractions of the Riviera Maya are within minutes of this luxurious location.

This unit has a strong rental history and a detailed proforma is available upon request. Please contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com for a private viewing.

For more real estate listings in Playa del Carmen, visit www.BuyPlaya.com.

Playa del Carmen Real Estate - 4 Unit Building on Calle 40

Rob Kinnon — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 22:53:00 GMT

4 Units with 6 Bedrooms and 6 Baths - $1,200,000 USD

Calle 40, Playa del Carmen - This building is located in a prime location, just off 5th Avenue. The four condominium units include two penthouses with two bedrooms and private rooftop terraces. There is a large one bedroom apartment and a studio, all with access to the pool and the garden.

This valuable investment property is located on Calle 40, in the heart of the most up and coming area of Playa del Carmen, just a few blocks from the pedestrian area of 5th Avenue and just one block from Calle 38. This neighborhood is becoming THE destination for fine dining. Cocina 38, Baremar, Cava Veinte 33, Piola, ComoComo, La Cueva del Chango and many other fabulous Playa del Carmen restaurants can be found just around the corner from this incredible investment property.

Situated a block and a half from Shangri La Beach, one of the best beaches in Playa del Carmen, these units are perfect for attracting both long term and vacation renters.

This well maintained building is currently fully occupied and will be sold furnished.This is a great opportunity for someone looking to invest in the area and provides a chic place to live with three units to rent out for income.

For more information please Rob@BuyPlaya.com or call 984-115-4611.

Click here for more pictures and Property information.

Travels in the Yucatan - More Merida Real Estate Adventures

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:48:00 GMT

After resting up from our long but fun day in Tizimin, we jumped right back into real estate recon mode on Monday morning. Having considerably narrowed down not only our selected neighborhoods but also the physical characteristics of the properties we wanted to view, the showings were far more productive. Rob went to meet with the owner of a lovely boutique hotel for sale, completely renovated, fully occupied, very well reviewed on TripAdvisor and priced well below comparable properties that we had seen listed. This was more for our investors than ourselves but certainly gave one a good vision of just how much is possible in some of these raw spaces. In the right property, a good sense of style and a little elbow grease can be rewarded with amazing results. (Sorry no pics of this one. It's a secret)

After an early lunch at the Gran Hotel we continued on and visited several single family homes and a recently retired hostel and finished up our day with a fabulous sushi dinner at Campay a bit further north on Prolongacion Paseo Monteo. It has been so long since I've seen proper sushi, I wanted it all! We settled on some gyoza, a few fancy rolls and an enormous sashimi platter. Heaven!

Good night Merida.

Back to: Day 1 - Travels in the Yucatan

Travels in the Yucatan - Exploring Colonial Ruins

Rob Kinnon — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 05:40:00 GMT

As this trip was planned to be for work as well as pleasure, we did our best to get the work out of the way first. In all honesty, even the kids have grown accustomed to and now find the fun in poking around old ruins...even the ruins of Colonial Merida! It was interesting to see what we would find behind the grand facades and elegant entries. Considering our price point, we were looking for the most part at buildings that were quite dilapidated and would require both imagination and renovation. Some of the best building we toured were those that had been virtually untouched since they were first built. In other words, no one had gone in and screwed them up yet with awful new tile and drop ceilings. Uugh.

Our real estate focus on this trip had a two pronged approach: we would we looking for well located historic homes, requiring a full overhaul that could then be either flipped or held as income generating vacation rentals AND buildings in any condition that could be converted for use as a hostel, guest house or small hotel. Suffice it to say we started out with a lot on our plate. After driving around and acquainting ourselves with the historic centro and the popular surrounding neighborhoods, we were able to cull our list to just a handful of the most viable options. This was my favorite of the day.

The real estate agent we were working with recommended lunch at Los Almendros, one of the most traditional local restaurants serving authentic Yucatecan cuisine such as queso relleno, sopa de lima, lomitas, pavo en escabeche, salbutes, panuchos and more. I was pleased to see that we were the only gringos in the place despite the desirable location on the pretty Parque Mejorada which commemorates the 6 “niños heroes” who lost their lives defending the Chapultapec Castle in Mexico City during the Mexican-American War of 1847. While the dining rooms are bright and lacking in much charm, the food and the service are both top notch. Rob and I split an order of panuchos and tried out the spicy pavo en relleno negro and the juicy cochinita pibil.

After lunch we returned to Casa Esplendid to catch up on email, relax by the pool and generally get our bearings for the evening. Lunch will still sitting pretty well with us all so we opted for a stroll through the Gran Plaza and in and out of the nearby shops. The kids each grabbed a sweet sorbet while Rob and I sat and enjoyed some coffee, reviewed our viewings from the day and watched the zocalo come to life.

After coffee in the park, Rob and I were looking for a light dinner so we ended up stopping in to the restaurant at Hotel Casa Lucia located close by the park of the same name. They had some good Italian and middle eastern menu options which kept us all happy. The coup de gras was the incredible chocolate cake the children ordered for dessert.......

.......which I gladly helped them finish when we returned home. Hey, it's my vacation too, right?

Go to: Day 3 - Parque Centenario and the Merida Zoo

Price Reduced on Casa Manana in Club Real

Rob Kinnon — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Announcing a price reduction on Casa Manana Now Just $299,000 usd!

This is a beautiful, fully furnished 2-story Mexican Colonial villa for sale located in the exclusive golf course community of Playacar and inside a secondary gated neighborhood called Club Real. The ensuite upstairs master bedroom with balcony and dressing area stretches the entire width of the house and provides a wide overview of the back yard. The 2nd bedroom upstairs in front is also ensuite with a balcony overlooking the front yard. The upstairs 3rd bedroom may also serve as an office complete with telephone, TV cable and high speed wireless Internet connections. All bedrooms have connections for Cablemas cable TV. The main floor has an open floor plan with a half bath, laundry room with washer and dryer and lots of windows looking out over the lovely fenced back yard and tropical gardens. There are fans and air-conditioning units throughout the home and the house is wired for telephone, cable TV and high speed internet access.

Built in 1999, this house has 2400 square feet (221.93 m2) of living space and is situated on a lush green 449.42 m2 lot. This house is located on a quiet cul-de-sac just a 2-minute walk to the pool, a 5-minute walk to the tennis courts, and a short drive to the most beautiful beaches in the world. Guests living in Playacar Phase 2 receive VIP access to the Reef Beach Club and reduced greens fees at Playacar's world class Golf Club.

This is one of the best deals we have to offer for Playa del Carmen real estate. Contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com today for a private tour of this lovely home.

Ultra Modern Villa For Sale in the Campestre

Rob Kinnon — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:00:00 GMT

3 Bedroom Luxury Villa for sale in Playa del Carmen - $335,000 USD

Located in the quiet suburban neighborhood known as the Campestre, just across the highway from Playacar Phase 2, this newly constructed ultra modern home awaits. The home is nearly completed with only finish work left to be done. The Campestre is an exclusive residential neighborhood only 3 minutes from the Central Maya shopping mall and 10 minutes from central Playa del Carmen. This a traditional Mexican neighborhood which surrounds a quiet central park with a quaint church and ball courts. This is an ideal location for a family with children. This unique home has a private pool and beautiful jungle views from the rooftop terrace.

For more information and to arrange a viewing please contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com or call 518-250-1269 US/Canada 984-115-4611 MX.