Most often when clients are searching for homes in Playa del Carmen they are more comfortable with seeing real estate options that go from 30th Avenue to the beach. And surprisingly the main reason for this is because people assume that once you cross the 30th Avenue it becomes dark, gloomy, and scary and only for Mexican locals.
While you should always search for a neighborhood that you feel you will be comfortable to live in I want to correct a few misconceptions about this particular area.
- There are only Mexicans living on the other side of 30
This is a misconception; actually, there are a moderate amount of expats from America, Canada and all over Europe living in those areas. The difference may be that most of these expats are people who are living here full time, working and are on a budget.
Housing is more affordable here than areas closer to the beach so this works better when someone needs to manage their finances more. In this location, you can live in nice home among other expats with the advantage of getting more bang for your buck! It is actually a preferred location for those who know Playa well. (For examples of condos in this community and other parts of Playa, visit this page.)
- The Houses look run down and scary and must only be for poor people
While there is a certain level of poverty in Playa del Carmen, and some mixed in even in nicer neighborhoods, in general these concrete eyesores that you see are just that; eyesores! If you walk inside some of these “ugly†looking houses you will find beautiful modern living!
I feel that because the homes are constructed much different here, than homes say, in the U.S. and Canada which are built with wood and covered with nice siding; it brings a certain shock factor when seeing a home built of concrete. A concrete house can appear to be very simple and some may mistake that for being run down.
- It’s unsafe
The other side of the 30th is not considered anymore unsafe than other areas in Playa. The streets are well lit and you are surrounded by good neighbors. In fact, you might even consider it a bit safer since most of the people living there are full time residents and tend to better watch out for their neighbors and community.  In areas closer to the beach it starts to get more touristic and people are consistently coming and going making it harder to really get to know your neighbors.
Now that we have cleared up a few misconceptions about life on the other side of the 30th next week I will be talking a bit about the strengths and reasons why choosing a home in that neighborhood could be beneficial to you.
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Andy Welbourne, from London, Ontario, has been living in Playa del Carmen and working as a part of the team with Thomas Lloyd for 7 years. He has worked with many Canadians and Americans to assist in finding their dream home in the Mexican Caribbean; many of these clients have turned into great friendships. Contact Andy at (512) 879-6546.
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