Recently, we’ve discovered an exciting new opportunity in beautiful, ecological beachfront lots for sale on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula called “Playa Kuka.” Before we talk about the Yucatan properties at Playa Kuka, let’s talk a little about the context of the properties – the surroundings in which they are set.

Flamingos at Rio Lagartos, Near Playa Kuka

Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

If you have heard of Rio Lagartos on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, you know that this is a magical place.  Most tourists know it for its wild flamingo breeding grounds and natural habitat.  Visitors arrive by means of a rustic boat ride through the reserve to arrive at a place where the natural, green landscape is filled with the splendid pink of the flamingos wading in the water.  The good news is that living on one of the beachfront lots, you will have good road access!

Yet, the flamingos are most certainly not all there is to Rio Lagartos.  There are more than 250 species of waterfowl which nest and breed in the estuary around which the reserve is centered.  Rio Lagartos covers an area of 31,750 acres.  There is a very large variety of flora and fauna, including mangrove growths and many species of birds, reptiles and fish.

The Fishing Village at Rio Lagartos

The Town

On the east end of the estuary, there is a classic Mexican fishing village called El Cuyo.  This village is quaint with colorful homes and the waterfront is lined with fishermen’s boats, which head out early every morning for the daily catch. These people live in the same relaxation close contact with nature that they have for centuries.

The Beaches

In the reserve, there is a total of 50 miles of beachfront; the beaches have soft sand, they are wide and they offer a beauty that can only be fully appreciated in the untouched natural surroundings, and unspoiled lifestyle of the relaxed fishermen.

It is on these beaches where Playa Kuka, one of the more unique opportunities in Yucatan properties, is located, and you can find lots 10 acres in size with 100 feet of beachfront for surprisingly low prices!  Here you can have your ecological dream home built and live in luxury and harmony with nature!

The beaches where your future dream home could be

Rio Lagartos is a magical, natural place full of rustic roads, surrounded by vegetation, birds and wildlife. Live here will definitely be relaxation in a way most of us have only ever imagined!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A View of the Caribbean Beach from El Taj

Imagine owning a condo – full ownership, fully titled – in one of the best hotels in all of Mexico … and imagine the investment potential if this condo-hotel were awarded by one of the world’s leading travel sites?

The good news is that you don’t have to imagine.  This has actually just become a real possibility with El Taj condo hotel in Playa del Carmen! Recently, based on user ratings and comments, Trip Advisor has awarded El Taj with the #2 place among the Top 25 Hotels in Mexico.

El Taj is located in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen, directly on the one of the worlds’ most beautiful beaches, steps away from the shopping and dining of Fifth Avenue, Playa del Carmen’s trendiest street.

First of all, the user ratings speak very well of this hotel; of about 280 users, who have actually been to and stayed in El Taj, 230 rated the hotel with a full 5 stars, or “Excellent.”

El Taj - #2 Hotel in Mexico - Traveler's Choice Awards

Users point to features like the splendid views of the beach and the ocean, the excellent service, the beautiful, oriental-inspired design with Bali-inspired décor and the walking distance to all the tourism activity of Fifth Avenue as reasons for their high rating of the hotel.

El Taj also receive the 12th place award for Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Mexico and the 22nd place for the Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in Mexico.

All of this leads to two important points.  The first is that it would be one of the best hotels in

Playa del Carmen's Beachfront Downtown, one of El Taj's most important features!

which to own Playa del Carmen real estate for your own vacationing.  In addition to the high praises from the users, other features include:

• Direct access to some of the world’s best beaches
• A beach club
• Underground parking with an elevator
• Design by Jack Perlman (award winning architect)
• Kitchens fully equipped with best quality appliances

The other point to consider is the investment potential.  The attention drawn to El Taj from the recent Trip Advisor award is expected to give the hotel a significant boost on top of its current success.  This is good news for anyone looking for a Playa del Carmen condo for sale for either purely for investment income on that property or for a bit of cash to balance expenses while they are not using the property.

Take a look at our listing for this property here – El Taj condo hotel – and consider investing in Mexico’s top condo-hotel!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

The 6^th January is “Dia de los ReyesMagos” (King’s Day), Epiphany Day.  Children love this day as it’s when they receive a present (from the kings as opposed to Santa Claus), have a piñata, eat the sweet bread “Rosca de Reyes” and drink hot chocolate.  A government agency “CROC”, provided all of the above to the children of Mahahual and the part of Mahahual’s “malecon” (promenade) where it was held was crammed with children having fun.

We have a new Costa Maya real estate listing in “Las Casitas”, New Mahahual, the area near the Costa Maya cruise ship port.  It’s a three bedroom, 2 bathroom home, with a swimming pool in the back garden for only US$120,000.  Check out the listing: MLS: CMY-HO0-2548

Vacation Rentals of Costa Maya homes has been busy over the holiday season with enquiries still coming in for the rest of the high season.  If you do have any plans to come and visit Majahual/Mahahual or the Costa Maya area over the next few months, check out our Costa Maya rentals.  This gives you the perfect chance for you to experience Caribbean beach living before you invest in your own property.

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

The “Mahahualenas”, a group of ladies who do charitable works in our Costa Maya real estate region, organized the children’s Christmas party again this year and it was a huge success as usual.  This year it was held at the football field in the town centre.  Santa came, photos were taken, presents were given out and piñatas were hit, sweets being scattered everywhere.  At one point, in my role as translator, I was squashed under the piñata with kids at my feet grabbing sweets and squealing in delight!

The first road in town is now being paved, formerly a sandy track.  Businesses along the road are pleased as there’ll be no more continuous cleaning of their fronts due to the dust blown up from passing traffic as before.  In the south the road has been graded so that the potholes have been filled; a huge relief to homeowners and vacation rental guests along that part of the coast.

Real Estate in Costa Maya at the moment is slow, but steady.  It’s a buyer’s market for sure, with people taking the advantage of the huge discounts being offered by some property owners.  Recently two discounted “casitas” houses in New Mahahual were discounted further and then sold immediately afterwards.  In my last blog the listing CMY-LTW-1517 in South Mahahual, reduced to only US$175,000 for 30m of prime beachfront, was snapped up.

Check out the listings to see there’s a variety of properties on offer to suit all budgets in Costa Maya at the moment.  From as little as US$21,000 for a lot in New Mahahual, close to the beach (listing 2537), US$35,000 for commercial/residential property in Xcalak (listing 1701) and US$90,000 for 20 metres of Caribbean beach front property (listing 2531).

There seems to be an equal amount of real estate investors from Mexico and abroad at the moment.  The Mexicans know exactly what happened with tourist locations such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen to the north and don’t want to miss another opportunity to own beachfront property before it’s all gone.  The foreign investors tend to be looking for a slower pace of life, where people have time to be with friends and family and enjoy the natural beauty of this area; scuba diving, snorkeling or simply chilling on a Caribbean beach with a book.

If you haven’t visited Mahahual, Costa Maya, already, now’s your chance to explore and the only cold thing you’ll have here is a beer!

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

As we start up the first week of 2012, we wanted to share some more of the  25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya project, we are excited to share with you the seventh beach – Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen.  To start we want to remind you of two points; one is that we have already released 6 TOP BEACHES for your enjoyment!  Each one has High-Definition videos, beautiful pictures, descriptions and maps!  The other point is that there are still 18 more to go, with the same spectacular features, plus some will have a hidden treasure.  If you visit any of the beaches, you can also check in and leave tips in Foursquare.

All of these exciting features allow you to enjoy these 7 beaches (plus the 18 to come) from home, to help you forget about the cold for a while.  More importantly, they will allow you to pick out which one(s) you like the most and make plans to spend a day on each one on your next visit to Playa del Carmen.

Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen is one of the top beaches because of its great location and its up-and-coming hip atmosphere.  It’s pretty much at the end of where all the current action of downtown Playa del Carmen is taking place, with a long stretch of quiet, developed beaches to the other side.  The beach is currently a nice balance of being a happening place while still being close to the quieter areas of town.

Yet, the most significant thing that’s happening in Coco Beach is that the quiet beaches to the north are currently seeing upscale condo and hotel development.  This means that Coco Beach will soon be a very central “meeting point” between the original downtown area and the newer tourism growing in the north end of the Playa del Carmen real estate area.

Coco Beach is already a hip and happening place.  There’s a nice restaurant on the beach, a pizza shop nearby and nice, upscale condos in the residential community.  It’s also a nice romantic place to enjoy a bottle of wine as a couple in the evening.

We’re sure that once you’ve been to Coco Beach, you’ll won’t be content with vacations anymore – and if it’s not Coco Beach, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with one of the other top beaches as your future home …

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

When most buyers think of Mexico beachfront for sale, they think of a Mexico condo for sale, or sometimes a home, directly overlooking the ocean with the sand at their front door.  While there is very good reason for this appeal (who wouldn’t want to live like this?) in most cases it is worth considering a property a couple of blocks back from the beach itself.  The following are a number of factors to consider when making this choice.

Price – In established beachfront communities that have already become popular with tourists, properties directly on the beachfront tend to have elevated prices.  Buyers on a more limited budget may find that excellent homes or condos are available for a significantly lower price only 3 or 4 blocks away.  Playa del Carmen real estate is a good example of a place where people can buy a property slightly back from the beach and still enjoy a pleasant, 5 to 10 minute walk to the water, while enjoying virtually all the same benefits.

Convenience – Sometimes properties back from the beach actually offer even more convenient access to surrounding services. This factor depends on each buyer’s needs.

Weather – Some locations, such as the north shore of the Yucatan, will have a tropical storm now and then during certain seasons of the year.  While there is very little risk, some people feel more comfortable buying a block or two back from the water, which is actually considered the prime location in some communities.

Availability – On the other hand, if a buyer is considering a less developed area, the properties available may only be on the beachfront or one row back.  Prices in these areas tend to be low anyway, and it may not make any sense trying to get a better deal on a property back from the beach.

Rental Appeal – Some owners count on renting out to other vacationers to generate income when they are not using their property.  Often in this case location directly on the beachfront holds higher appeal.

When making their choice, each buyer should consider their needs together with these factors to determine if it is better for them to buy directly on the beachfront or a couple of blocks back.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely”

On November 1, we released the first of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya.  Today, I wanted to show you the fifth of these beaches, Xcalacoco Beach in Playa del Carmen.  Xcalacoco Beach is a beautiful stretch of beaches complementing the new resort and condo developments which are located on this beach. On this beach, you can relax in the warm sun, warm your feet in the soft, white sand, and watch sailboats go by – all adding up to complete relaxation.  A cold drink might be in order, or maybe just a lounge chair in view of a rustic old dock.  Xcalacoco is the meeting point of isolated old beaches of the Playa del Carmen real estate region and the newest in resorts, condo developments and gated communities. The beach is located just north of town, about a mile or two from the first downtown area beaches. Visit our Xcalacoco Beach page and see:

• Videos – These include a video postcard designed especially for your relaxation, as well as some detailed high definition views of Xcalacoco.

• Pictures – You will want to see and share these beautiful scenes from Xcalacoco Beach; the only thing which could be better is actually to be here!

• Descriptions – Read more about the beach – what there is to do, what the atmosphere is like, etc.

• Map – Find out where the beach is; after all, once you get the chance to come down here, you’ll want to experience it for yourself.

If you get a chance to escape the ever more frigid weather of the north and come down to Xcalacoco beach, you may also wish to make a check-in at Foursquare and let everyone else know what it’s all about. Also, feel free to visit our Top Beaches page to enjoy the first 4 beaches!  Watch for our next beach in 2 days (Friday, November 11th) by following this blog or checking our 25 TOP Beaches page! In the meantime, enjoy Xcalacoco!

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Among the many attractive options in Mexico real estate, by far the favorite is Mexico beachfront for sale.  Mexico has large amounts of coastline and many areas of long, beautiful beaches.  For this reason, there is also a wide variety of choices in areas to consider for buyers interested beachfront real estate for sale.  The following is an overview of the general regions, giving some examples of famous destinations, and alternatives that may be less known, bet offer good possibilities.

Baja California – The Baja California peninsula is popular because it is so close to the south western area of the United States, and even access by plane offers flights as short as an hour or two to many North American cities.  The area also offers a beautiful combination of desert, mountains and ocean.  Los Cabos and La Paz are among the favorites in the southern part of the Peninsula, while Rosarito near Tijuana and Rocky Point near Arizona offer options a close drive to the U.S. border.

Pacific Coast – Sunsets over wide beaches, mountains and sub-tropical jungle tend to be defining points in the landscape.  Puerto Vallarta, one of the earliest expat communities to form in Mexico, combines these features with its old-town charm and modern city conveniences as the regions’s most popular tourist destination.  Mexico condos for sale overlooking the beach or with views of the mountains and old town are a favorite.

Places like Mazatlan and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo each offer a distinct combination of the modern and the traditional.  In the south Pacific region, beaches in the state of Oaxaca, like Puerto Escondido, are just beginning to attract tourism, international investment and real estate development.

Yucatan Peninsula – With the creation of Cancun 40 years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula has emerged not only as the most important tourist region in Mexico, but in all of Latin America.  In addition to the modern high-rise lifestyle in Cancun, there is the small-city European atmosphere of Playa del Carmen, the nature and environment focused community of Tulum, the small but close-knit expat communities of Costa Maya to the south, or Progreso on the north shore and the high-potential up-and-coming area of Campeche of the Gulf of Mexico.

Beachfront in Mexico is varied and diverse.  The hard part isn’t finding what you want, but choosing between the excellent options available.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

As the first week of November brought you below-freezing temperatures, nightly frosts and – in some places like Calgary – even snow, we were pleased to bring you the first three of our 25 Top Beaches series – Xcacel, Tulum North and Shangri-La. Have you been enjoying them?  We’ve sure been enjoying getting them ready for you, picking out the best beach areas, preparing pictures and videos, and making sure you know what they offer and where they are here in our Playa del Carmen real estate territory.

( click here to see Video )

As we start week 2, we bring you the fourth of the series, Xaman-Ha beach in Playa del Carmen.  This is the second in-town beach, after Shangri-La which is located pretty much at the north end of the main action of downtown Playa del Carmen.  Xaman-Ha beach takes us down to the south end of town, the upscale, gated community of Playacar.

The beach takes its name from the ancient Mayan name of Playa del Carmen, “Xaman-Ha,” which means “the place of the water.”  The ruins of the original religious site are located just inside of Playacar, surrounded by green vegetation, preserving the original natural jungle of the surrounding area.  Playacar is a combination of beautiful, upscale homes and a very green community with plenty of trees and natural spaces.  The bike trail running through the community is shaded by the trees making it very comfortable.  Some of the homes are in the beachfront area, known as Phase 1, and others surround one of Playa del Carmen’s finest golf courses in Phase 2.  The community also offers very nice condos.

In all cases, Playacar is located a walk or a short bike ride away from Xaman-Ha beach.  This beach is part of the area that was recently re-widened and is now very spacious and open – an ideal place to enjoy the warm sun and comfortable water.  Since Xaman-Ha is located in the Playacar neighborhood, it is quiet and exclusive – an ideal place to relax; yet is still only a short walk from the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen where you can enjoy bars, restaurants cafes and much more either directly on or very close to the beachfront.

Take a look at our page for Xaman-Ha beach.  Watch the videos, see the pictures.  Share with a friend, and let yourself dream about what life would be like here. Just remember, though, there’s no need to dream too long, when it could be a reality …

You can watch for our next Top Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 9, either on this blog, or on our Top Beaches site.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Tired of winter yet?  As we begin November the nights get longer, colder, and the sunshine just doesn’t warm you up enough during the day …

Yes, I know – it’s not winter, yet.  It’s still only fall.  But that just makes it all that much worse, knowing that the real cold is still to come.

So instead of imagining the cold, soft, white snow still to come, why not imagine the warm, soft, white sand of Shangri-la beach in Playa del Carmen?

Welcome to beach #3 of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya!  Shangri-la beach is located right in the Playa del Carmen real estate market  just a short walk from downtown, but with its palapas (thatched-roof shades and cabins), many palm trees and green surroundings, it feels like it could be out it the jungle.  Walking distance to Playa del Carmen’s most well-loved restaurants and shopping areas on Fifth Avenue, the rustic yet upscale boutique resort on this beach makes it an quiet, relaxing oasis within the city.

As with our other beaches, we invite to visit our page for Shangri-la beach, view relaxing videos, browse photos, check where it is on the map and more.  If you make it down to Playa del Carmen this winter, we also invite to participate in some exciting on-site activities by means of your iPhone or Blackberry.  In the meantime, enjoy the photos and videos we’ve put together for you to balance out the ever-colder days and routine of the work day!

Also, don’t forget to check out the first two beaches – Xcacel and Tulum North – on the 25 Top Beaches main page!

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

So, did you enjoy Xcacel Beach (which we shared with you on Tuesday,) with its rustic atmosphere and natural surroundings?  If so you’ve discovered one of the best kept secrets of the Riviera Maya!  We hope you can manage to escape to the Riviera Maya this winter to enjoy it in person.  In the mean time, we’re going to keep sharing our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya with you.

Our second beach that we are sharing with you is a beautiful little beach with mystical pyramids   ( click here to see great video of Tulum North Beach )  overlooking it from on top of a cliff.  If you know the area, you know that this Tulum beach is the one right at the base of the mystical Mayan ruins which have made this town so famous.

Unlike Xcacel, this beach is no secret; in fact, it’s becoming a favorite world-wide with travelers giving up upscale clubs and visits to nice malls in favor of experiencing these wonderful pyramids, walking through the incredibly  well-preserved walled site, viewing temples, sacred sites, ancient symbols and pyramids.

After stepping back in time into the mysteries of the ancient Mayan civilization, visitors step out of time altogether; walking down a wooden stair case from the base of the main pyramid, people arrive to a cozy little beach nestled between the cliffs and the turquoise Caribbean to enjoy Tulum’s unchanging natural splendor.  The beach lives up to the reputation Tulum is gaining as having some of the world’s softest, widest and most beautiful beaches, while adding the mysterious presence of the pyramids above it.

This is one of the top reasons why Tulum’s beaches have been showing up on the top 5 lists for world-wide beaches; many who have made their rounds traveling will say these are number 1, even better than anything in Europe, South American or Southeast Asia.

Take a look at our videos and pictures of the Tulum Beach by the pyramids and see for yourself.  You won’t be disappointed.

Watch for our next beach coming up this Saturday, November 5.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Have you ever wondered what the best beaches in the Riviera Maya are?  You can now find out!  Over the next 2 months, we will be sharing our Top 25 Beaches in the Riviera Maya with you – pictures, videos, descriptions, activities and maps! For each beach, there will also be fun activities like check-ins in Foursquare.

3 or 4 times a week, we will be releasing a new beach – each new beach will be a surprise!  The beaches will range from the trendiest clubs downtown to isolated jungle beaches with no electricity or paved roads.

(  CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO OF THIS AMAZING BEACH )

Our very first beach is nicknamed “Turtles and Clear Waters” and is Xcacel Beach near the village of Chemuyil.  It is about 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and a bit further north of Tulum.  There’s access from the main highway, but unless you’re looking for it, you might miss it like most people do; this is why Xcacel Beach is such a well-kept secret.  The access is a simple dirt road with a thatched-roof hut as a security booth, and a rope across the road when the beach is “closed.”

As simple and rustic as the access may be, this actually prepares you really well for what you’ll find ahead.  The beach’s only structures are a couple of similar huts and a crooked wooden lifeguard stand.  But there is one major difference between the access and the beach itself; while the access doesn’t really catch your attention as anything special, the beach is nothing less that spectacular!

The regular features of Mexico’s Caribbean beaches – the amazing width, the white soft sand, the turquoise water (which are all incredible and spectacular to anyone not used to this part of the world) – are accented with lush, green nature.  The only sounds will be the water lapping against the sand and the sound of birds in the trees.

Oh – and, let’s not forget about the turtles; Xcacel beach is a favorite nesting ground for the area’s sea turtles.  If you’re lucky, you may spot one of these beautiful creatures in the crystal-clear water or, at the right time year, witness the hatching!

So, come visit our page for Xcacel Beach, see the gallery, enjoy the relaxing video and get a taste of what relaxation on Xcacel beach is like.

Watch for our next beach – a quiet paradise just north of town –coming on Wednesday, November 3, on our Top 25 Beaches page or on this blog.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

If you are looking for Mexico real estate on the beachfront, the good news is that Mexico has many, many different areas to consider.  There is also a considerable variety in the styles of Mexico beachfront for sale, not only varying in property types and styles, but also in community and lifestyle atmospheres.  The following are a few of the main regions throughout Mexico which you may wish to consider.

The Yucatan Peninsula – the Caribbean Coast

This area is defined by the highly successful tourist areas like Cancun and Playa del Carmen.  While Cancun offers ideal, modern-style, high-rise luxury, Playa del Carmen real estate offers more of a provincial, European atmosphere and lifestyle.

Also in this area is the island of Cozumel, which offers a small-town charm.  The town of Tulum, just south of Playa del Carmen is currently showing excellent potential to become the area’s next boom town.

Costa Maya, at the south end of this region, is separated from Tulum by a large nature park, and is the last part of the Mexican Caribbean coast to remain largely undeveloped in terms of large-scale tourism.

The Yucatan Peninsula – West and North Coasts

These areas offer many of the same natural beauties as the Caribbean coast, as well as nice beaches, but in general have been less developed.  Prices tend to be lower, but there also tend to be fewer services and activities.  Some communities, like Progreso, which is only 30 minutes from the large colonial city of Merida, is a favorite for expats who are trying to get away from all the hustle and bustle of modern life.  Campeche, the state along the west coast of the Peninsula, is currently showing excellent potential to take off as a tourist region.

Baja California

One of the key attractions of the Baja California area is its proximity to the U.S.  Many areas can be reached by car; for example, Rocky Point only a few hours’ drive from Pheonix.  Rosarito is a popular expat area on the beachfront near the border town of Tijuana.  Of course, there are always the very popular expat locations of Los Cabos and La Paz.

Pacific Coast

The Pacific coast is known for beautiful views of beaches and mountains, as well as splendid sun sets over the ocean.  Puerto Vallarta and Ixtapa offer modern beachfront comfort and luxury.  Mazatlan and Manzanillo combine colonial with beachfront for those who enjoy the “best of both worlds.”  Down at the south of the country, the state of Oaxaca offers a number of hidden gems – beachfront communities which American and Canadian buyers have only begun to discover, but offer beautiful beaches a lot of potential.

When you consider buying Mexico real estate on the beachfront, remember that you have many, many options available!

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Last Sunday a garage sale was held at the popular Travel’In restaurant in my Costa Maya real estate region, south Mahahual.  A great mix of locals and foreigners were there to see what treasures were on offer and it was such a success that another one will be held in a couple of months.

A TV crew were filming on the beachfront in Mahahual yesterday.  They were filming various areas of Costa Maya and Quintana Roo state as they are putting together a publicity programme, “El Mundo en Reverse” for the Costa Maya’s Tourist Board, which will be televised next week.  Wonderful publicity for the area and the film crew all want to buy real estate in Costa Maya now!

Additional publicity for Mahahual and Costa Maya will come this Friday evening when the swim-suit competition for “Miss Earth” will be held on the malecon.  This is an annual event held in various parts of Mexico and Mahahual has been chosen to host this part of the competition.

With Costa Maya real estate listings, there are some great deals on beachfront properties at the moment.  Several beach lots have been reduced recently in order to sell quickly.  A great deal in the south of Mahahual offers 30 metres (60 feet) of soft sands and clear water, with the road being towards the back of the property to give great privacy.  Only US$175,000, which makes a fantastic price per linear metre, which is how most beach properties are priced.  This is underpriced and a great bargain. Check out listing: CMY-LTW-1517 and email us for further details.

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

When investing in Mexico beachfront for sale, just as with Mexico real estate in general or real estate in general, there are two main approaches.  One is to buy beachfront property with the potential to increase in value, the other is to buy a home or condo which can be rented out to vacationers for a steady income.

While all property types – homes, condos & land – can be found with good potential for substantial appreciation in value, one of the favorites for this kind of investment is Mexico land for sale.  For buyers, it is not only a good investment move, but also an excellent way of spending lower amounts to buy an inexpensive lot in a developing beachfront area, which shows good signs of taking off, but where prices have not yet gone up.  If a buyer finds inexpensive beachfront land, they can look for some of the following features as good indications:

• an International airport nearby
• urban infrastructure and services  – good roads, water & electricity connections, etc.
• modern communication connections (phone, internet)
• new real estate development nearby – focused on foreign buyers
• tourism infrastructure underway – golf courses, marinas, parks, restored historic sites, beachfront boardwalk areas, etc.

Another angle on this approach is to consider the value of an improved lot.  Perhaps with a home the beachfront property would gain considerable value (compared to the total cost) more so than unimproved.

As mentioned above, there are also homes and condos available on or near the beachfront which offer excellent potential for value increase.  Some of the best situations for this possibility include:

• preconstruction condo sales – Substantial discounts are often offered before the units are complete; as the complex is completed, and units are sold for a higher price, these first units will also be worth more
• fire-sales – homes or condos which are being sold urgently & it’s more important for the buyer to sell quickly than for the actual value of the property; these can amount to a virtual instant value increase
• gentrifying neighborhoods – not all beachfront neighborhoods are trendy from the day they are built; homes in working class neighborhoods next to the beach can often be bought for very low prices, and as the neighborhood gains popularity, prices go up

Mexico’s beachfront property market is full of investment opportunities for all budgets.  Talk to an experienced broker to help you find the property right for you.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

When considering Mexico real estate investment one very viable option is that of a condo hotel.  This special type of Mexico condos for sale has its own distinct advantages, and especially for the buyer who is new to investment and would rather focus on enjoying their investment property than constantly analyzing all the market details, it presents an easier way to enjoy income on a vacation property.

The advantages condos in a hotel or resort setting can pretty much be summed up in the idea of “hands-off.”  This is a hands-off investment, making things easy for the buyer.  Some of the advantages include:

Sold furnished – Most condos in a hotel or resort are sold furnished as luxury hotel rooms, since this is their purpose.  This means you don’t have to worry about finding and installing furniture, etc, or ensuring that you’ve covered all the necessities of renters.  This makes it easy for you to begin enjoying your property, and to begin renting out and enjoying income immediately.

Good value prices – Developers of new condo hotels often offer competitive prices for Mexico beachfront for sale.

Hands-off maintenance – Cleaning and maintenance are part of the package; when visitors move out, hotel cleaning staff will clean and prepare for the next visitors immediately, and on-site maintenance staff will take care of all and any repairs as they come up.  While maintenance fees tend to be higher, they also tend to include a good deal more.  It’s worth reviewing the list of included items and thinking about how much it would cost you to pay for them separately, remembering that you don’t need to hire anyone to take care of it while your not there or invest time checking up that it’s being done right.

Hands-off rental management – The rental pools are part of the hotel management service; all you have to do is sign up, and you’ll be ready to enjoy income from your property.  On this point, it’s worth investigating the strategy and occupancy history of the management company to ensure that this hands-off rental service will indeed deliver on your investment.

Easy personal use management – Many of these rental pool plans include easy reservation of time for personal use.  You’re property will be in the rental pool for the rest of the time.

Guaranteed Income – Some developers are offering guaranteed return if you are buying in a new condo-hotel.  If you are buying resale, a simple investigation of rental history will offer you a pretty good idea of how you’ll do for income. Be sure to consider all costs; this is easier since most are included in monthly fees, but for the sake of planning, you don’t want to overlook any monthly payments that are left in your hands.  Most new resort-style condos will spell this out for you fairly clearly.

Good future value – Since the value is closely tied to tourism market and demand for hotels in the area, you have very good likelihood of seeing an increase in demand; Mexico has made increasing tourism its number 1 priority for 2011 and the following years with the goal of bringing the country into the top 5 world-wide for tourism income.  This is a good indication that your income should be going up, and there will be more demand to buy properties like yours.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

My wife and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and decided to take her and my daughter for a weekend stay at Azul Fives condo resort (Playa del Carmen condos for sale)

It was a very interesting experience for me as I know the complex fairly thoroughly from touring  and selling Playa del Carmen real estate properties, yet to actually spend time there as a tourist, is a whole different feeling!

For me, on the top highlights definitely had to be the spa / massage treatment.  This is called Vassa spa, and is quite the facility. We requested a ‘couples’ session which first consists of the 60 mins unwinding in the seperate areas for women and men. There you find a steam room, sauna and 2 types of jacuzzi: one hot water and one very chilly (I couldn’t handle that one!). The staff pampers you with fresh fruit and damp cloths with aromatherapy scents. Then we had our couple massage session by professionals, in a darkened, very spacious room filled with more soothing scents and relaxing music. I left feeling extremely replenished.

The food in the restaurants / snack bars are all totally delicious (even room service!) and in my opinion, much better than some places as its also served fresh. Most resorts run the full buffet which food can be cold or stale from sitting too long where as, for just a little longer wait, you get 5 star quality meals. Thomas explains these in more detail in his Mexico real estate blog. 

I think my 2 year daughter’s highlight had to be the Azulito kids club, which is sponsored Fisher Price. They have several rooms with toys for kids of ages: gym setup with a pool of balls (a fav for my daughter), slides, trampoline. A room for arts and crafts, a T.V.room with video games and movies. There’s even a room with 2 bedrooms and a crib for siesta’s. (yes I was tempted to sneak a nap). They even have a small kiddy pool outside with games and activities. There is a planned schedule of fun-filled activities throughout the day.

The other major highlight are the pools. We had a unit that accessed direct to the pool and snack bar. My daughter is totally a water baby and just loves splashing and swimming with papa. The pools are great for those who want exercise, as they are like rivers and wind along through the condos. There is also a sweet infinity pool, with swim-up bar right at the beach, and wow the views from here are fantastic. This is where most of the guests are during the day.

To sum up, it was an incredible weekend. The units are very large, top quality and super comfortable. The jacuzzi tub was a treat too. We’re already talking about visiting again and inviting family. There are still some great units left for sale by the developer and I highly recommend having  a ‘hand’s on’ experience here in this resort and I expect they can ‘wow’ you too!

Andy Welbourne
512-879-6546
www.TOPmexicorealestate.com
THE TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; “Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”

What is a Mexico retirement community?  Well, simply put, it’s a community in the Mexico real estate region where Americans and Canadians retire, or any group of Americans and Canadians retiring in Mexico.  This definition leaves the doors wide open for specific definition of different community style; and, in fact, Mexico offers a large variety of different styles of places where expat retirees enjoy life in Mexico.

The following are a few of the favorites.

Beachfront Condos – Mexico beachfront for sale has been a long-time favorite for retirees, combining warm weather with soft-sanded beaches, beautiful views of the ocean, and many activities such as sailing or fishing. Many of these locations are also among Mexico’s favorite tourist destinations and for this reason offer golf courses, theme parks and many nearby tours and sight-seeing options.  Some options include the Playa del Carmen real estate area, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan.

Gated Communities – These are typically located in the same beachfront tourist communities, but can be either right on the beach, or just a bit back.  Some are located in colonial cities and small central Mexican towns as well.  Mexico homes for sale, as well as condos, in this kind of community offer a quieter lifestyle, often with bike trails and numerous parks.  Soe are centered around a golf course.  They usually include 24 hour manned security.

Activity-Oriented Retirement Community – A trend which is just beginning to turn up is one which focuses on creating a specifically retirement-focused lifestyle within a gated community.  These are often car-free (with parking at the entrance, and offer many activities, such as pools, a clubhouse, restaurants, and social areas, and services such as transportation on site, and to and from town or other nearby services.

Colonial Cities – A couple of Mexico’s classic colonial cities are becoming favorites among groups of retirees; while modern homes and condos are available, a trend to buy classic homes and renovate has become more common, offering retirees the charm of living in a beautiful, historic home and city.

Lakefront towns – A number of towns in central Mexico which also date back to colonial times offer retirees a very traditional Mexican charm, combining a beautiful and quaint visual atmosphere, overlooking a beautiful lake surrounded by hills, with centuries-old traditions.  A handful of these already have a very large community of American and Canadian retirees, where a very healthy relationship has developed with the locals.

If you are considering retirement in Mexico, consider these options; choose one or two, and let a top agent know what catches your attention; they will be able to help you select an area ideal for your tastes and needs.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

When investing in Mexico condos for sale, it’s important to consider whether you will be buying a resale condo or a new preconstruction unit. While the main disadvantage is that buyers will have to wait longer to use their Mexico property, there are many advantages to this kind of purchase which usually outweigh this point. The advantages of investing in preconstruction include:

Pricing – The key advantage of buying preconstruction is the pricing. Often new developments are competitively priced, and in the early stages the developer will even lower these prices making them very attractive for purchase. This is currently the case in one excellent new development of Playa del Carmen condos. Developers use this strategy to sell the first units quickly, offering the advantage to subsequent buyers that X many units have already been sold. This is a normal strategy and offers an advantage to buyers.

Flexibility – Buyers must also remember that although these are new sales from the developer, prices are not fixed; in some cases, buyers can make a reasonable offer. However, in cases where the preconstruction discount already makes for a very low price, lower offers may not be accepted, since there will be plenty of other buyers ready to take the discount price. Observing the market and consulting with an experienced agent will allow buyers to determine if it is a advantageous to make a lower offer.

Automatic Appreciation – As units are sold and the preconstruction discounts become less and eventually disappear, the value of your property has automatically appreciated in value; for example, if you bought a unit with a listed price of $250,000 for a preconstruction discount of $210,000, once the later units are being sold for the full $250,000, you already have an increase in value of $40,000 or almost 20%, and this is before any subsequent rise in market value.

Financing Options – Preconstruction payments typically start with a relatively low deposit (usually significantly lower than a mortgage downpayment, for example) and the remainder is paid according to construction progress. (Of course, no interest is charged on these amounts.) This means that while you enjoy the benefit of the lower price from locking in your purchase early, you’re not required to come up with the full payment immediately. In some cases at the point that the total is due the remainder can be transferred to long-term financing, either through the developer or through a bank, after the condominium regiment has been granted. This possibility should be discussed ahead of time. In any case, it’s almost like making a profit on money you haven’t spent …

Rental time vs. Preconstruction Savings Of course, as a condo investor, you are probably also considering income from rental income. Depending where your focus is, you may wish to research what rental rates are and compare this to your savings from the preconstruction discount. While some rental properties are sold furnished and ready to use, you may also need to consider whether it is currently the high season or not. Also, if you are buying in an area which is not the prime vacation rental area, you will need to compare your savings to the long-term rental rates. In most cases, the preconstruction savings are worth the time.

Overall, in normal market conditions buying with preconstruction discounts offers excellent savings, or, from an investment perspective, very good appreciation and potential for return.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

These past weeks have been busy in the Costa Maya real estate territory with Mahahual’s annual carnival hitting the streets in style. Many local business and school children participated and the usual fun of the parade finished in style on the “malecon” (promenade/boardwalk) with music and dancing until the early hours.

A fishing tournament was held in honour of the governor, Felix Gonzalo Canto. Despite some rough looking seas in the morning, the wind died down and the boats were able to go out and a good competition was underway. The fishing tournaments always attract people from both Quintana Roo and Yucatan, with a large portion of participants coming from Mahahual’s nearest city, Chetumal (about 1.5 hours drive away).

On the Costa Maya properties front, there’s a great listing for two adjacent lots in Rio Indio, just to the north of Mahahual, with 40 metres (approx. 131 ft.) of beach front. The lots are located in a quiet cul-de-sac with a couple of beautiful beach-front homes nearby. The lots have been cleared already and there’s a lot of depth between the beach and the road, which will give you even more privacy once you have your house built here. These lots have been reduced last week to US$155,000 each.

For those of you interested in experiencing living in Mahahual for a while before purchasing property, or for those simply looking for a Caribbean adventure, Costa Mayan Properties offers some amazing vacation rentals. Jollymon, beachfront studio and Casa Felipe Flores are still available for Easter due to cancellations.

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”