Search results matching tags 'Investing' and '2008'

Price Reduced!! Beautiful 3 Bedroom Penthouse

435836 — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:23:00 GMT

Still looking for the perfect Christmas present? - Price Reduced to just $209,000 usd - Margaritas II is a new development of privately owned condominium homes perfectly located just a 7 minute walk from the beach and 5 minutes to all the excitement of 5th Avenue, this the perfect spot for both vacation and long term renters alike.

Casa Gus, is a fully furnished 3 Bedroom, 3 Bath Penthouse, decorated in welcoming warm tones, natural fibers, and soft lighting. The quality of the local craftsmanship is evident in all the exquisite wood finishing of the doors, cabinetry, and the staircase. On the main level, the master bedroom offers a king sized bed, en-suite bath, plenty of closet space, air conditioning, and soft window treatments. The second bedroom on the main level, also with a king sized bed, is similarly appointed. The open living area offers a comfortable relaxing environment with a dining area for 6 people. Large sliding glass doors lead out to the terrace which overlooks the sparkling pool and gardens. The kitchen is well laid out, fully equipped and has ample cabinet space. This unit is also fitted with a full size washer and dryer.

Upstairs is perhaps the most dramatic feature of this beautiful penthouse. The large roof top terrace has been partially enclosed and topped with a traditional palapa roof creating a third bedroom with its own half bathroom. The owners have left plenty of room to take in the sun and enjoy a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi under the stars. Want to feel like you are truly on top of the world? Climb up to the observation deck and take in the vistas of Playa del Carmen and out to the Caribbean.

Those of you who have been actively following the Playa del Carmen Real Estate market will know that finding a three bedroom condo is very difficult. Finding a three bedroom condominium in desirable downtown Playa del Carmen under $250K is nearly unheard of! This beautiful, modern Penthouse already has a following of vacation renters. Professionally maintained and marketed, Casa Gus is a money maker, ready go to work for you.

Click on this link for more photos and Property information

Looking for more Real Estate in Playa del Carmen? Visit our website www.BuyPlaya.com.

Playa del Carmen Construction Update - November 2008

435836 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:00:00 GMT

The high season for vacation rentals is nearly upon us and several developers are putting the finishing touches on their projects while some seem to be a bit behind. This entry should be of as much interest to those of you who have booked one of these condominiums for your holiday vacation as to those of you who have invested in these properties. Some of you have asked why we show some of the same properties in every installment. The reason is two-fold. First we show the properties where many of our customers have invested. The other properties are shown by request from our readers. If there is a project you would like to see represented in these updates, just let me know!

The star of the show this year, Azul Fives in Xcalacoco, is exceding all expectations. We toured the property again this week with Buyers looking to pick up an additional unit and we were just blown away. Take a look for yourself! Are we looking forward to Phase 2 of this resort project? Yes, yes we are.

Akoya, in the Pakal enclave of Playacar Phase 2, has reached completion and looks great inside and out. This is a developer we have been very pleased with and will follow with interest in the future. The quality of the finished product is excellent and the level of professionalism shown by their sales and administrative teams is refreshing.

Several downtown projects by the Akoya developer are coming together quickly in the Shangrila/Coco Beach area of Playa del Carmen. Haab, Deva and Arena are all either complete or close to completion. Well priced units are still available.

Deva Condominiums

Haab Condominiums

Arena

Just a few hundred meters away, right on Playa del Carmen's beautiful Coco Beach, The Elements and Casa del Mar are also nearing completion, putting finishing touches on exterior elements, pools and landscaping.

The Elements on Coco Beach

Casa del Mar on Coco Beach

From the same developer as Casa del Mar, Rioja is a reasonably priced residencial development at the quiet, far side of Playacar Phase 2. It is a mix of townhomes and condominiums. This is a nice option for a young family making the move to Playa del Carmen. The area is safe and quiet yet just a few minutes drive to downtown Playa and the beach!

And finally, by request, El Faro Condominiums in downtown Playa del Carmen. It seems they have completed many of the units in some sections but parts of the complex remain unfinished. Fingers crossed, the common areas will be completed and any heavy (loud) construction will be done by the Christmas/New Years holidays.

So there you have it. This is where we are in mid-November 2008. What would you like to see for the next update?

Blog Action Day - A Real Estate Throwdown on Ambergris Caye!!!

435836 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:00:00 GMT

After thinking long and hard about poverty, the subject of Blog Action Day 2008, I find myself with more questions than answers. First and foremost is "What IS poverty?" and secondly "Who makes that determination?” Can we categorize poverty solely in economic terms? It certainly seems that our American politicians, on both sides of the fence, liberally pander to our populace living in so-called poverty in their efforts to curry favor and win votes. It would seem that they would certainly have a vested interest in where and how that poverty threshold is set. Currently, in the United States, anyone under the age of 65 with an income under $10,787.00 is said to be living below the poverty line. A family of four must have a combined income of under $21,027.00 to claim the title. These numbers are adjusted annually for inflation and in short determined by finding the total cost for the essentials a human needs to live a "tolerable life". As every country in the world has their own unique standard of living. Each has their own poverty line, their own pandering politicians and their own methods to determine where that line is drawn. But is this really how the rest of us should look at poverty? Is economics the only factor to be considered? Does total household income tell the whole story? Surely, there are other factors to be considered if we, the people, are to play a part in combating the causes and effects of poverty.

As a member if the real estate and development industry I often feel conflicted about our connection with poverty. In that, I mean that I clearly see that although growth and development brings jobs and money spending consumers to a region, these geographic areas of are rarely those where help is most needed. Beach towns that become hot-spots for tourism can rarely support the explosive growth that comes with the interest of foreign investment. People flock to these coastal areas from all over Mexico to fill the hundreds of thousands of jobs created by the mega resorts and condominium developers. So far, along the Riviera Maya, it seems that our "demand" for laborers is keeping pace with the "supply" of migrant workers. There is little or no unemployment here. The working class may appear poor by our American standards but they are keeping roofs over their heads, clean clothes on their backs and food on the table. They enjoy the conveniences of a stable source of water, proper sewage and garbage removal, safe public schools to educate their children and police protection; the essentials one needs to live a "tolerable life".

However, this is not the case everywhere. Sometimes, the outside perception of a region's growth is askew. Sometimes, due to economic shifts and even normal market fluctuation, investment in seemingly popular areas tapers off. What happens when the "supply" of workers far exceeds the "demand"? Such is the case on Ambergris Caye, a small island off the coast of Belize. With its currency tied 2 to 1 to the American dollar, Belize feels every bit of the economic crisis in the United States. With much of the island's investment money coming from the US, it doesn't take an analyst to figure out what the market conditions have done to the rates of development and building on Ambergris. Ambergris is still growing, just not fast enough to keep up with the migration of hopeful souls who travel from the interior of Belize, Guatemala and even Mexico in search of a better life. They arrive, often having spent their last penny, only to find that the “Promised Land” is not exactly what they expected. Jobs are hard to come by, housing costs are astronomical and there is insufficient infrastructure in place to support all these families. In a half hearted effort to accommodate the working and non-working poor on Ambergris, an area on the island, just north of the tourist “Mecca” San Pedro, was "given" to these families on which to build their homes. In all fairness, they were told in no uncertain terms that no services would be provided to this "neighborhood". No water, no sewer, no garbage collection...nothing. They simply were being provided with a place to build shelter and live. Nothing more.

And so it is. Years later San Mateo is exactly as you would expect: a filthy, unsanitary blot on an island that demands and collects top dollars from tourists from all over the globe. Sandwiched between the desirable town of San Pedro and upscale villas and condominium complexes to the north, one can only wonder how long the residents will be "allowed" to inhabit this area. Already it seems, the powers that be are conspiring against the residents of San Mateo. Efforts to bring in clean fill to combat the almost constant flooding in the area have been blocked. Rumor has it that certain developers have lined the pockets of local politicians and service providers, thwarting the attempts of caring, local citizens to clean up San Mateo and create safe and sanitary living conditions for these families. The recent death of a young child, presumably due to the festering, disease infested water around her home sounded an alarm and elicited a public out-cry for governmental help and funds to ameliorate the deplorable conditions in this neighborhood. Months later, nothing has been done and everyone seems to have slipped back into complacency. Still, there is no source of clean water, so sewer system, no garbage removal service; nothing to sustain a "tolerable life". The wheels of change move slowly on this island.

The following pictures can tell the story better than my words. I took these photographs a few months ago while visiting the Holy Cross Anglican School. My friend Laurie chastened me a bit as I was framing up my shots, reminding me that the families of San Pedro were poor but not without pride. She asked me to consider that they might be embarrassed to have their living conditions plastered on the world wide web for all to see and, presumably, judge. So, until now, I have refrained from doing so. I do think, however, that this is an appropriate format and so I post them, not to exploit but with repect, to hopefully raise awareness. I have a strong suspicion that a vast majority of the visitors to Ambergris never venture outside of San Pedro and have never met their northern neighbors in San Mateo. I'm going to change that today. THIS IS MY BLOG ACTION.

I admittedly, do not know the whole story. I know that there are behind the scenes details and history that I am not privy too. I may not "have all my facts straight". Here is what I CAN say without a shadow of a doubt. PEOPLE LIKE TO FEEL WARM AND FUZZY ABOUT THIER INVESTMENT CHOICES. What do I mean by this you might ask? I'll make it simple. John and Jane America visit San Pedro and fall in love with the island lifestyle. They dream of owning their own little piece of paradise and begin the process of investigating real estate options on the island. While doing their homework on the internet, as almost everyone does in this day and age, they find many websites, articles and BLOGS about life and real estate on Ambergris Caye. Some of these articles will belabor the evils that seem to plague to our industry: disregard for the environment, suspect business practices etc... Others will talk about certain concerned citizens who have given back to the island they love; investors, builders, developers who have made a difference in the lives of the residents of Ambergris Caye. Who do you think John and Jane America are going to buy from? The philanthropic developer who donates his time and money to make life better for his less fortunate neighbors or the guy who gives gold watches to the owners of the island's service providers in order to buy their loyalty and restrict their operations.

And so, investors and developers on Ambergris Caye I throw out down the gauntlet. This is a Real Estate Throwdown! Use your influence; use your contacts, your resources and your money to fix San Mateo. I'm in the business. I KNOW how much money you're making. Answer my challenge I will do everything in my power to make sure that I use every weapon in my online arsenal to make sure your efforts are recognized and publicized. Use your powers for good and I will do the same. We bloggers have the World Wide Web in our pocket. Laurie, Collette, Cindy, Sharon...they've all got my back on this issue and we are a powerful pack of women with a remarkable web presence!! What do you want our web to say about you?

Construction Update - September 2008

435836 — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:04:00 GMT

In anticipation of high season and the promised delivery dates of many projects, builders have been kicking it into overdrive to meet their deadlines. Lots of progress to show in this photo report. As always, click on the name of the project to see even more current photos, specific sales and pricing information.

The Elements - Last year's biggest seller is feeling the pressure from the U.S. economic slump. Sales have slowed but the well funded developer is pressing ahead and they are on schedule to deliver in time for this high season. This property promises to be a very popular vacation rental option.

Casa del Mar , also located on Coco beach, just south of the Elements, is also moving along well.

Deva - Chunky on the outside, cool and funky on the inside. This well priced property is just a few moments walk from Coco Beach and is selling well. We were very impressed with the units and the view from the rooftop infinity pool is lovely.

Arena is just next door to Deva and nearly complete.

Haab - Moving along quickly this stylish project has been very popular this year.

Akoya - This well priced, attractive project in the desirable gated neighborhood, Pakal, is nearing completion. With its golf course location and a membership to the exclusive Hacienda Real Club and Spa to sweeten the deal, these condos have been moving quickly.

Azul Fives is this year's big winner and already booking up for the winter holidays. Lucky investors who got in at the first round of pricing are looking forward to taking delivery. There are still a few well-priced units to be had. With the residences and pools almost completed, construction is now well underway on the resort's beach club and restaurants.

That's all for now. Keep emailing me your requests and we will do our best to get around to them all!

Bric International - Growth and Expansion

435836 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:59:00 GMT

This is a recent update from Marcus Roehmer of BRIC International regarding tremendous new additions to their already impressive portfolio of Vacation Rentals and an amazing new residential development in Belize.

"We are proud to inform you of two significant contracts secured by BRIC International in recent weeks.

In Playa del Carmen, we have secured a preferred vendor contract with Origo Developers, developers of THE ELEMENTS in Playa del Carmen, THE ELEMENTS in Puerto Aventuras and Vaiven in Playacar Phase II.

The Elements – Playa del Carmen will be delivering its first units beginning September of this year. We expect to be adding 50-75 of these units to our full time vacation rental inventory!

Vaiven Playacar – will begin delivery in 2009 and represents almost 250 units!

The Elements – Puerto Aventuras will begin construction this year. A Super High-End project directly on the ocean will add another 100+ units to available inventory.

(For sales information, please contact Mr. Rob Kinnon of BRIC International)

BRIC International has also secured a contract with Orchid Bay, a 115 acre master planned development on the waters in Northern Belize. This project will be managed by Mr. Tony Moreno of BRIC International.

21 beach casitas are being delivered Q4 of this year and should be available for Holiday rentals. An additional 150 custom homes, townhouses and condos will follow in 2009 and beyond. You can see more on this project at:

www.orchidbaybelize.com and www.orchidbaybeachclub.com

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and help as this significant growth certainly would not have been possible with your assistance."

Sincerely,

Marcus Roehmer, Partner
BRIC International

Playa del Carmen Construction Update - May 2008

435836 — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:08:00 GMT

As requested by "Life's a Beach" Readers......

Far and away our most popular and fastest selling investment property of the year, The Fives is teaming with activity as the enormous free-form pool that meanders throughout the property gets dug in and poured. Many of the towers have been completed and are getting a fresh coat of paint and windows fitted. We spent several hours onsite today with buyers looking to snap up the few remaining units. Due to the recent purchase of a neighboring parcel, The Fives beach frontage has been dramatically increased and is, as always, spectacular.

In Playacar Phase 2, a large swath of land has been selectively cleared and dug in preparation for the new project from Origo, Vaiven del Viento. This is the first phase of the ambitious Vaiven project consisting of 149 2 and 3 bedroom luxury condominium residences set on over 9000 square meters of property. Features of this project include underground parking facilities, a cinema lounge, a fully equipped gym, Yoga, dance and Tai Chi Solariums, an onsite infirmary and a children's playground. A majority of the mature tropical trees have been preserved on the property and the developers plan to make use of sustainable resources for their building materials and impliment a rainwater catch system to irrigate the massive gardens and green spaces on the property. Delivery is scheduled for Fall 2009.

Playacar Phase 1 has quite a bit of construction going on including this enormous 2 villa project going up quickly next to Casa Vista. Reported to boast a whopping 8 bedrooms each, these new ocean-view homes will certainly be a great vacation rental option for large groups or families traveling together. I should mention that this is the most professional and well managed worksite we have ever seen in Mexico. Notice the hard hats and reflective vests. The clean and orderly appearance of the jobsite, the covered lunch area and laundry facilities make the standards of this builder unique in this region. Bravo. We look forward to seeing the final results!

Back in downtown Playa del Carmen, just one block from the beach, Acanto Condominiums are ready to begin construction. The lot, located next to the popular Acanto Hotel on calle 16, has already been cleared. These luxury 1, 2 and 3 bedroom condominiums have been designed by the same award winning architect who created the Villas Sacbe, Porto Playa, El Taj and most recently, Maya Villas. In keeping with the design of the hotel, these condos will have a romantic appeal with influences from the far East. Prices for full ownership include gym menbership and start in the low $300,000s.

Just next door on Avenida 1, the construction of Maya Villas is progressing rapidly. Today, the crews were putting a smooth finish on the exterior and painting. Some palapa is already in place over the spacious terraces. Delivery of these units in time to capture high season rentals seems very likely. This is a beautiful project with just a few units left to sell.

The construction of El Faro Residences is moving along quickly with its well funded crew. The model unit is ready to show and several of the buildings have been completed. The interiors remain to be finished but it appears that this controversial project will successfully reach completion and delivery.

OK, that's all for this month. Feel free to contact me and let me know if you would like a photo update of a particular property added to June's roster.

Grand Opening - Origo Offices in Playa del Carmen

435836 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:17:00 GMT

Yesterday evening, Rob and I were invited to the grand opening party for the offices of Origo, the prolific developers of the fabulous condominium projects "The Elements, Playa del Carmen', "Vaiven" in Playacar and coming soon...."The Elements, Puerto Aventuras". The offices are located, conveniently, just down the street from our house on 10th Avenue in the Tendenza Building. The offices, which are beautiful and completely reflect the style that these developers are knon for, have been built for the use of local Brokers and Agents working with clients and customers. Access to this chic new space is going to be another one of the great sales tools that Origo provides for us in support of our sales efforts. Bravo!

For more information about Origo and their current projects Vaiven and The Elements, contact us through our website www.BuyPlaya.com.

April 2008 - PDC Construction Update - Issue 1

435836 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:12:00 GMT

In response to numerous inquiries from friends and customers, today I will be starting a series, reoccurring monthly, of construction updates via actual photos of projects going up in and around Playa del Carmen! Many of you have already purchased pre-construction property here in the area and are now back at home, no doubt, wondering what the heck is going on with your money! Well, here you go! At the beginning of every month, I will visit various properties in progress, take pictures and report back. And the best thing.....I take requests! That's right! Even if you are NOT one of our customers, (and shame on you for not coming to us) if you have made an investment here in Playa, let me know and I will be happy to go and snap some photos at the beginning of the month. Hopefully, this will be a good way to not only reassure you, the investor, but also your family and friends who may think that you had too many "Panty Rippers" while you were here on vacation, have clearly lost your mind and might as well have thrown your money into a giant cenote! For those of you still working through the process and trying to make a decision, I hope this helps you feel more in touch with the real estate market in Playa del Carmen and the many options available!

Sabbia - Ave. 20 at Calle 34

Sabbia - May not look like much right now while they are digging and putting in the VERY IMPORTANT substructure but not to worry. There are tons of workmen bustling around the site and everything is moving along well. This is the slowest part of the process to show progress. All good here!

Oasis 12 - Ave. 15 and Calle 12

Oasis 12 - This project is flying along. Lots of people onsite. Their showroom is already complete. This should be a very attractive project, completed on-time if not sooner!

Arena - Coco Beach Area

Arena Condominiums - Done, just cleaning up a bit. Most, if not all, of the units have been delivered. A very nice project, well done.

Costa Turquesa - Coco Beach North

Costa Turquesa - This is a seriously HUGE project! The developers are very experienced and have plenty of money behind them. Lots of activity onsite and one of the condo towers appears to be nearing completion. Once that is complete and the showroom is open, right on beautiful Coco Beach...look out. Sales will start flying!!

The Elements - Coco Beach

The Elements - After what seemed like an eternity of drilling and ground work, (which we like to see FYI) The Elements has finally sprung skyward. The site is teeming with workers and the project is moving right along, it seems, on schedule. If The Elements turns out to be half as beautiful as the plans portray, it will be a real feather in your "investor cap".

Casa del Mar - Coco Beach

Casa del Mar - Moving right along, next door to The Elements. Well priced but no ocean-front condos remaining. Good purchase for those lucky Buyers who got in early!! Lots of workers onsite, everyone is hustling to get open before the next high season!!

Capri II - Ave. 10 and Calle 38

Capri II - Done and most units sold and delivered. Good location, not much from the outside but inside, the units are actually quite lovely.

The Building Loft I - Ave. 10 and Calle 28

The Building Loft I - Putting on the finishing touches, cleaning up and ready to go! The Winery had been open for some time and doing a brisk business. One unit left to sell in Phase 1? The Building Loft 2 is just starting on Ave. 10 and Calle 26. Lots of digging and groundwork for the supports and underground parking.

So, that's what I've got to show for this 1st monthly update. I hope this has been and will be helpful. Let me know what you would like to see michelekinnon@gmail.com and I'll be sure to get it up here. Updates will come in the first week of every month. Bookmark this site www.LifesaBeachBlog.com for easy reference or sign up for an automatic RSS feed if you don't mind suffering through all the entries about raising our children, travelling and the demanding social schedule here in Playa. OK, there's actually some good stuff there...so sign up!!

Marina Mia - Free Upgrades !!

435836 — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:51:00 GMT

IMPORTANT AUCTION ANNOUNCEMENT

Marina Mia Condominiums – Auction Date: March 29, 2008 - Free Upgrades!

Dear Auction Participant:

We would like to announce a few exciting additions to the Marina Mia auction offering.

1. The developer is pleased to announce that all purchasers of units in Tower II will be able to select an upgraded kitchen package from Bertolini at no additional charge. Renderings of the new kitchens will be available shortly for all interested parties in the coming weeks. The Bertolini website can be found at http://webprg.evviva.com.br/evviva/2007/ing/default.asp

2. All penthouses will now have spas built by Caldera Spas on them. Pictures of the spas are available at www.calderaspas.com, the spas that will be installed are from the Utopia series.

3. The developer would like to remind everyone that a one-year builder warranty will be issued to all purchasers upon possession of their units.

Remember the purchase of a Bidder’s Information Packet is a requirement to bid at the auction. They are available from the sales office at Marina Mia as well as from our website. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Sheldon Good & Company

Chan Chemuyil Price Increase - March 1, 2008

435836 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 17:17:00 GMT

This just in from Bill Mabra and BG Realty in Chemuyil.

Greetings from sunny and warm CHEMUYIL MEXICO!

VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

March 1, 2008 Chan Chemuyil homes will have a price increase from $39,900usd to $49,900usd

Now before everyone gets their (you know whats) in a wad--we are going to this price so that we can INCLUDE many things that everyone pays separately for right now.

The new price will include ALL closing costs ($5000usd) and also will include the following items:

-Water heater installed and hot water line run to the kitchen

-Gas tank, gas lines installed and gas tank filled and ready for connection to stove and connected to water heater

-Electric conversion to 220v

-Water deposit paid and city water turned on

-Electric deposit paid and electricity turned on

-Home cleaned, repaired if necessary, and power-washed

-Screens installed for all windows

When you add everything up we are only really having about a $2500 to $3000 price increase and now when someone buys they only have to purchase furniture, appliances, and AC if they want it to move in. This is truly a MOVE IN price as a person could literally move in when we are done.

SPREAD THE WORD---March 1, 2008 the new price goes into effect

Any contract in, either in person or via scanned/emailed and dated PRIOR to March 1, 2008 will obviously be honored. Any contract dated March 1, 2008 or later will be at the new price without exception.

Until next time . . .

Kind Regards,

Bill Mabra

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