When choosing the property for your Mexico retirement, one of the most important points you will need to decide is whether you wish to live in a gated community or downtown. This choice is not only important in the beachfront tourist areas, but also in the colonial cities and lakefront towns of Mexico’s central interior.
The choice between the two isn’t always determined by the type of property you want; for example, Playa del Carmen beachfront for sale can be found both downtown and in the best gated communities in the surrounding areas. On the other hand, in the small towns or colonial cities, it might be easier to find a preconstruction Mexico condo for sale in one of the gated communities, while a colonial fixer-upper project will only be available in the historic downtown area.
The follow are a few advantages of each, which will help you make the choice.
Gated Communities
- Less traffic
- More green areas
- Walk to golf course & marina (depending on the community)
- Higher percentage of Americans and Canadians
- Quieter lifestyle
- Bike Trails
- Tree-line roads
Typically, gated communities are favored by those who want to live in a quieter, greener area; for this reason, it tends to be the preference among retirees. Downtown areas, however, offer their own strengths that can be equally appealing to a certain retirement lifestyle.
Downtown
- Walk to grocery stores, restaurants, bars, etc.
- Walk to the beachfront, lakefront
- Scenic historic sites (in colonial cities and towns)
- Local markets – fresh fruit and vegetables
- Town squares and urban “parkettes”
The advantage of downtown areas is the walk-everywhere lifestyle. This is appealing to retirees who want to live car free, and be active just through day to day shopping, etc. The charm of the old towns and cities also has strong appeal of its own. While retirees tend to prefer the quieter gated communities, quieter downtown neighborhoods can usually be found as well.
If you are not sure about which one is best for you, contact an agent, and visit the city of your choice; seeing, living and experiencing the two choices will help you see which lifestyle works best for your 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
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“Little Italy.” This is the north half of Playa del Carmen’s downtown. It has been named “Little Italy” because of the large number of Italian residents and investors who have given a European style to this neighborhood. With plenty of small cafes, pasta restaurants, nice sports bars, and even an Italian grocery store, the area also offers dining from many other countries. There are also some nice features within walking distance such as a local fruit and vegetable shop, and even a large supermarket.I like your information.