Mexico Real Estate Blog

When we talk about Playacar, Playa del Carmen’s most upscale gated community, we tend to lump it together as one.  Or, when we do separate it, we make the natural divisions of Phase I (along the beachfront) and Phase II (around the golf course.)  This is precisely what we’ve done on this blog when we have our community spotlight on Playacar.

Yet, everyone who knows the community will also know that there’s a distinction within Phase II, which is defined by one single main road looping around the golf course.  There is:

1. the east stretch which is within a comfortable walk of the beach (just through Phase I)
2. the north stretch which is within walking distance of downtown and all its shops, and also very close to the beach
3. the “back” part along the highway, not really a walk away from either downtown or the beach (highlighted in translucent red on the map below)

The back part – I can just hear people scoffing; “Oh, that’s great you’re in Playacar, but you’re so far away from everything.”

But I say, “Hold the boat!  There’s more to this part of Playacar than you first imagine!”

Distinct Location Advantages

While it’s not within walking distance of either the beach or downtown, it still has these huge location factors in its favour:

• A nice, large mall around the corner, (marked in red on the map)
• A movie theater, bowling alley and supermarket at the mall
• A Sam’s Club and several inexpensive but nice Mexican-style restaurants likewise around the corner
• State-of-the-art private hospital around the corner
• A highway-side bike trail with a designated lane
• Direct access from the Cancun-Tulum highway for easy arrival

The mall, stores and restaurants are within a short walk.

With the designated-lane bike trails running throughout Playacar, it is also fast, easy and very safe to head down to the beach or downtown on your bike, within about 10 minutes.  The trails are shaded with tall trees to make riding comfortable even on hot days.

Most Advantages of Playacar

This area also offers all the benefits of the rest of Playacar, minus the walk to the beach:

• location next to the golf course
• nice, well designed homes and properties
• tree-lined streets
• security
• excellent property value

And the Price Factor …

Now, here’s the clincher; because these properties are just a little further from the beach and downtown (still only a short bike ride, as I said above) the prices tend to be noticeably lower.

For example, at the lower end of the spectrum, we find this beautiful, 2-bedroom condo in a nice complex for only $130,000 USD.  Or a large 3-bedroom unit for $265,000.

Sure, there are more expensive properties available, but in most cases you simply get more for your money than other parts of the same neighborhood, and the properties even compare well to downtown.

So …

If it’s important for you to be a 10 minute walk from the beach rather than a 10 minute bike ride, I’d say sure go for the pricier part of the neighborhood.  But if being right next to an important shopping and commercial center sounds nice, and you’d like to save a little more on that dream home, consider looking in Playacar’s “back yard.”

—
Doug Morgan was born in Dayton, Ohio and went to college at Buckeye State. Moving to Louisiana after college, he became President of his New York Stock Exchange company at the age of 28. His later career shifted to Florida and the investment business, where he was a financial advisor and branch manager for over 30 years. He bought his first condominium in Mexico in 2008 (from Top Mexico Real Estate), initially as a vacation home, but a year later he retired and moved full time to Playa del Carmen. Contact Doug at (512) 879-6546.

The TOP Mexico Real Estate Network; “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

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