Cabo Luxury Real EstateCabo San Lucas Real EstateReal Estate of Los Cabos June 27, 2019

Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

An Investment in Paradise – Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas Mexico

 

Los Cabos real estate is a hot commodity right now, and why not? We’re talking about a place that draws millions of tourists each year, and has for decades been the getaway destination of choice for Hollywood movie stars and other celebrity figures. It’s sunny and warm year-round, there are 100 miles or more of glorious palm framed beaches, and cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo offer enough healthy outdoor activities and upscale lifestyle amenities to satisfy any taste. That’s why people visit, of course, but when it comes to making a larger leap and contemplating homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, there are also more practical considerations.

 

Can Paradise Be a Good Investment? The Answer is A Resounding Yes

Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas Mexico

 

Real estate has always been a safe investment, because despite any short term market fluctuations, it inevitably appreciates in value over the long term. Why? Because nobody is making any more of it. It’s a finite resource.

That said, not all real estate appreciates in value equally. People aren’t lining up to buy swampland or cabins in the frozen north, for instance. But when it comes to ocean view or beachfront property, well…that’s another story. There, the demand always exceeds the available supply. It’s basic economics, and the reason why homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico have investment value well beyond their list price.

The difference between Los Cabos and other “paradises” in places like the Caribbean and South Pacific is that Los Cabos is much more proximate to the U.S. and Canada. Well, that’s one difference. Here’s the really good part. List prices for ocean view and beachfront properties in Los Cabos are significantly lower, on average, than those of similar vantage in the U.S. and Canada. And that doesn’t even take into account the extremely favorable rate of exchange which currently exists, or the fact that Los Cabos also has significantly lower property tax rates and a lower cost of living than the U.S and Canada.

Put that all together, and now you have the real reason Los Cabos real estate has never been hotter: “Homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico” have never offered better value as investments than they do right now.

Who doesn’t like the equation of gorgeous weather plus beautiful beaches plus dream home plus great return on investment? The answer is obvious, which is why more and more people are considering relocating to Cabo on a seasonal or full-time basis, or simply buying homes in the area and renting them out to maximize both short and long term ROI.

 

Ready to Consider Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico? Here’s How to Get StartedHomes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas Mexico

 

You may have noticed a few paragraphs back when we said the demand for ocean view and beachfront real estate always exceeds the supply. Well, we should have said almost always, because for the past five years Los Cabos, and Cabo San Lucas in particular, have been in the midst of an unprecedented building and development boom.

What that means is more spectacular Cabo San Lucas, Mexico homes for sale are hitting the market right now than during any time in the area’s history. On the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas alone, right now, there are three incredible developments taking shape, each with ocean view and beachfront properties galore: each with their own world-class golf courses from legendary names like Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Tiger Woods; and each with exclusive beach clubs and bespoke services and amenities.

That means beach homes, ranch homes, condos, luxury villas, penthouses, family-friendly homes and a host of other scenically situated residence types.

It’s an exciting opportunity, but to fully take advantage of it prospective buyers need to find the right local ally.

In Los Cabos, that means Windermere.

Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and Mexico. Our company has deep roots in Los Cabos, with experienced agents who have an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in Mexico.

 

The Other Side of the Coin – Selling Homes in Cabo San Lucas

Windermere Los Cabos Real EstateThere may come a time when you want to cash out your investment in paradise, if only to sell one beautiful beachfront property so you can buy another.

If and when that time comes, listing your home with Windermere is as smart a choice as choosing the company to represent you when you’re in the market to buy homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Not only do we offer international exposure through our partnership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, we have a powerful network of agents who specialize in luxury real estate, an industry-leading website, and targeted advertising vehicles that reach a substantial number of eligible buyers. Call us today from USA/Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more information.

Lifestyle of Los CabosLiving in Cabo San Lucas June 20, 2019

What’s New in Los Cabos in 2019?

More Than You Might Think…

There’s a reason Los Cabos attracts more than three million visitors each year, as well as an ever growing number of people–primarily from the U.S. and Canada–who have chosen to live in the area. Many reasons, actually; starting with year-round sunshine, gorgeous beaches, upscale lifestyle amenities, and world-class conditions for a wide array of outdoor sport and leisure activities.

But Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo have never been content to rest on their already prodigious laurels. Each year, the cape cities roll out a brand new list of luxurious amenities and one-of-a-kind experiences guaranteed to attract new visitors, and make residents happier than ever that this is the place they’ve decided to call home.

That’s certainly the case in 2019.

 

New Restaurants & Amenities

Whats New in Los Cabos 2019

(Photo Credit: Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas)

 

You might think that the estimated 2,463 new hotel rooms opening this year in Los Cabos is a fact only of interest to tourists. Not true. Virtually all of Los Cabos’ luxury upscale resorts allow non-guests (residents and tourists alike) to enjoy their onsite restaurants, bars, lounges and spas. So the arrival in 2019 of benchmark hospitality brands like Nobu, Hard Rock, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton means Los Cabos property owners have some exceptional new options when it comes to local wining, dining and massage style pampering.

 

Whats New in Los Cabos 2019

(Photo Credit: Moon Lounge at the Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos)

 

Reservations are generally required to access resort properties, but this caveat aside, that means new 2019 attractions and amenities include Four Seasons’ two miles of pristine beachfront, framed by an exclusive marina, beach club and shopping village; Hard Rock’s exquisitely designed Moon Lounge, a nightclub complete with bowling alley; Nobu’s farm-to-table dining concept, Malibu Farms; and Zadún, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s massive five-acre Spa Alkemia.

 

New Experiences & Adventures

Just as new resort properties can be enjoyed by both tourists and residents, so too can the unique experiences and adventures unveiled each year under the auspices of the Los Cabos Tourism Board.

 

Whats New in Los Cabos 2019

(Photo Credit: Los Cabos Tourism Board)

 

Highlights for 2019 include an “Art to Table” experience in which participants are treated to a yacht’s-eye-view tour of the 15 bronze sculptures from famed Mexican surrealist Leonora Carrington which grace the promenade at Puerto Los Cabos–plus 50 screens representing her life and work–before an art-themed dinner at San José del Cabo’s La Revolución restaurant; and an “Amazing Tenors” adventure which includes whale watching and a hydrophone amplified concert of their incredible songs, as well as an open-air cinema experience featuring a short film about the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés, followed by a dinner with authentic regional Mexican dishes at Los Tenangos at One&Only Palmilla.

Did we mention the three-day mountain biking and “glamping” (glamor camping) adventure?

 

Whats New in Los Cabos 2019

(Photo Credit: Los Cabos Tourism Board)

Less strenuous, at least for spectators, is the upcoming Los Cabos Open tennis tournament. One of only two ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) sponsored events held annually in México–the Mexican Open in Acapulco is the other–this men’s invitational welcomes 28 world-class singles players and 16 doubles specialists to compete for nearly $800,000 in prize money. The 4th edition takes place July 29 to Aug. 3 at facilities just outside Cabo San Lucas.

 

New Championship Level Golf Courses

 

There are two new championship level golf courses opening this year in Los Cabos: Greg Norman’s links style Rancho San Lucas course on the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas, and Robert Trent Jones Jr.’s Costa Palmas layout at La Ribera on the municipality’s breathtaking, still largely undeveloped East Cape. The latter, which is being built to accompany the new Four Seasons Los Cabos Resort at Costa Palmas, will open by the end of this year, bringing Los Cabos’ astounding and still-growing golf portfolio to a total of 18 world-class courses.

Among these 18 eighteen-hole gems are four courses ranked among the top 100 in the world by Golf Digest (Quivira, Querencia, the Dunes at Diamante, and the Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol and ), as well as acclaimed designs from legendary major champions Jack Nicklaus (Palmilla, Ocean Course at Cabo del Sol, El Dorado, Campestre, Puerto Los Cabos and Quivira); Tiger Woods (El Cardonal and The Oasis at Diamante); Greg Norman (Puerto Los Cabos and Rancho San Lucas); Fred Couples (Twin Dolphin); Davis Love III (The Dunes at Diamante); and Tom Weiskopf (The Desert Course at Cabo del Sol).

Although some local courses are open to the public, others have restrictions and may be limited to residents at nearby developments. To find out more about homes at Rancho San Lucas, Four Seasons residences at Costa Palmas, or other Los Cabos real estate, call us at Windermere Los Cabos. We can be reached from the USA/Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509.  For more details about What´s New in Los Cabos, please contact us today.

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

 

 

Cabo San Lucas Real EstateReal Estate of Los Cabos June 2, 2019

Cabo San Lucas Realty

A Jewel with Many Facets – Navigating the Captivating Variety of Cabo San Lucas Realty

Buying a home in beautiful Cabo San Lucas–or in the greater Los Cabos municipality–is a dream shared by many people across many demographics. It’s not just older folks at retirement age who are attracted by the warm year-round climate and abundant leisure and lifestyle options. It’s also young people whose online-centered occupations have freed them from ties to a specific U.S. or Canadian city, and opened up the possibility of a beachfront lifestyle filled with sun, surf and an active social life. It’s couples who want their children to have a cosmopolitan and bilingual education. The list goes on and on…And just as the pool of potential buyers is defined by its diversity, so too is local real estate. There is no single “dream home”, but instead there is an almost unlimited variety of residence styles and residential locations. But since “almost unlimited” is a phrase that can be more than a little bit intimidating, we’ve posed a few well-crafted questions, the answers to which will help you–as a potential home buyer who just clicked on a story about Cabo San Lucas realty–define and focus your search parameters.

What Does Paradise Mean to You?

 

Cabo San Lucas Realty

 

For a great many people, the word paradise conjures images of golden sun-kissed beaches with gently lapping ocean waves, swaying palm trees, hammocks and year-round sunshine. For others, though, paradise is a place where there are abundant creature comforts and lifestyle upgrades, from great restaurants and happening nightlife to world-class fishing, championship level golf courses and pampering spas. Los Cabos, of course, has all of these things in abundance, but how you prioritize them can and should help to sharpen your focus when it comes to Cabo San Lucas realty. If you are an avid surfer, for instance, you may want to prioritize a beachfront or beach adjacent home near one of the region’s many excellent surf breaks.

There are very good reasons the Los Cabos area attracts over two million visitors annually, and is increasingly attracting seasonal and full-time residents from the U.S. and Canada. But the reasons vary from person to person. What is it you love most about Los Cabos? The answer to that question should play an important role in how you approach buying a dream home.

What Do You Want in a Home?

This question often is influenced greatly by where you are in your life. Are you single in your 20s? Raising a family in your 30s? Ready for or already into your retirement years? All these factors feed into the equation when considering Cabo San Lucas realty. Single home owners may find a two-bedroom ocean view condo in Cabo San Lucas with ocean views suits their needs perfectly, while those with children will want more space, and perhaps a quieter community, one with other children in the same age range as their own. Retirees, meanwhile, often prioritize leisure-time pursuits such as golf, and want extra room for visiting children or grandchildren. Defining your home needs and preferred location is a major step in refining your search for “Cabo San Lucas Realty”.

Cabo San Lucas Realty

What Degree of Luxury Does Your Budget Allow?

This, too, is a question that requires a bit of nuance, because luxury as we define it–as a life lived in great comfort with magnificent surroundings–is found in even the most modest Los Cabos based residences. This is a place, after all, with over 100-miles of coastline framed by two major bodies of water: the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés. It’s also a place where beachfront and ocean view real estate sell for significantly less than similarly spectacular properties in the U.S., feature significantly lower property taxes, and come with a significantly lower cost of living.

Sounds great, right? But what does all this really mean?

What it means is that realty in Cabo San Lucas offers more luxury for lower list prices than almost anywhere else on Earth. The level of luxury you can afford in the U.S. is by no means equivalent to what you can enjoy on the southernmost rim of the Baja California peninsula. It’s the ultimate luxury upgrade. Like everything else, however, there are levels. You can start your transition to Los Cabos with a fractional ownership in a small but scenically blessed condo, or you can purchase a sprawling hilltop luxury villa that commands majestic views of both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés, and puts you in the midst of movie star neighbors.

Of course, finding a dream home that has everything you want, from the right square footage and acreage and design to the right lifestyle amenities and especially the right price, is going to require help.

The Windermere Los Cabos Advantage

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

However you answer the three question above, one thing is certain. Windermere Los Cabos is the ally you want in your search for Cabo San Lucas realty. Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México. Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details.  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.

Cabo Luxury Real EstateCabo San Lucas Real EstateReal Estate of Los Cabos May 25, 2019

Cabo Luxury Real Estate

Homes Unlike Any Other – An Introduction to Cabo Luxury Real Estate

 

Cabo Luxury Real Estate

(Photo Credit: Cabo Adventures)

 

Los Cabos as a vacation getaway has undergone a surprising transformation over the years, from its early renown as a rustic beachfront fishing mecca to a recent metamorphosis into a world-class luxury destination, complete with five-star resorts, celebrated restaurants and championship level golf courses. In terms of real estate, however, Los Cabos has always been about luxury, its property market premised on stylishly designed and elegantly appointed homes featuring panoramic coastal vantages and extraordinary ocean views. All the lifestyle attractions that draw an estimated two million visitors to the area annually are enjoyed by seasonal and permanent residents, but there are also added values that make the Cabo luxury real estate market truly special and one-of-a-kind. We’ll outline a few of these values below…

 

Why Cabo Luxury Real Estate is Unlike Any Other

The first law of real estate–Location! Location! Location–applies everywhere, but there’s no question it takes on added dimensions in an area like Los Cabos. How many places, after all, have desert, mountains, boundless beaches, and even more boundless ocean in such close proximity to one another? How many places offer well over 100 miles of glorious coastline, oriented towards not one major body of water, but two?

The Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés meet just beyond the spectacular Land’s End headland in Cabo San Lucas, creating an upwelling effect that is in large part responsible for Los Cabos’ thriving marine ecosystem and legendary big-game sportfishing. The snorkeling and diving are likewise amazing, from the national marine park off Cabo Pulmo–home to one of the hemisphere’s oldest and largest living coral reefs–to The Point and Pelican Rock at Land’s End. But the truth is that one needn’t dive below the surface to experience the region’s aquatic wonders.

Marlin and sailfish leap from the sea regularly here, and not just when they’re hooked by a lucky fisherman. So, too, do dolphins, mobula rays, and even 40-ton humpback whales. Some five to ten thousand whales transit the coast of Los Cabos each winter on their way to breeding grounds around Baja California Sur, providing the sort of moments that one can’t prepare for…but simply marvel at. Imagine, for instance, watching humpbacks breach from the infinity pool deck of your beachfront home, or spying a pod of gray whales from your kitchen window of your clifftop luxury villa.

 

Cabo Luxury Real Estate

(Photo Credit: Cabo Adventures)

 

All of which is to say that location in Los Cabos means more than almost anywhere else on the planet. This is a magical place, and its unique features add incredible value to Cabo luxury real estate.

 

Why the Cabo Luxury Lifestyle is Unlike Any Other

 

Cabo Luxury Real Estate

(Photo Credit: Diamante)

 

What do Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Davis Love III and Tom Weiskopf have in common? They’ve all won major championships in golf, and they’ve all designed gorgeous seaside golf courses in Los Cabos.

It didn’t take long for Los Cabos to become one of the world’s most exciting golfing destinations. Indeed, in less than 30 years, no less than 16 challenging and picturesque layouts have opened, and a half dozen more are expected to open soon.

This fact is relevant not only for visitors, but for those considering local real estate. Some of the best new coastal luxury communities–Diamante, Quivira and Rancho San Lucas, to name but a few–promise not only exquisitely designed and appointed ocean view homes, but memberships or privileges at community based courses. Diamante, for instance, boasts two courses designed by Tiger Woods, with another in the pipeline…and those aren’t even the most sought after tee times. The star at Diamante is Davis Love III’s magnificent Dunes Course, which is currently ranked as the best course in México, and has been judged the 36th best in the world by GOLF Magazine.

Golf is among the most high-profile benefits of buying “Cabo luxury real estate”, but trust us: there are many others. The area also offers lures like world-class fishing, surfing, windsurfing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and stand up paddle boarding; plus pampering spas, acclaimed restaurants and celebrity chefs, and boutique shops and malls featuring luxury goods from benchmark brands.

 

Why the Cabo Luxury Real Estate Market is a Great Investment

 

Cabo Luxury Real Estate

(Photo Credit: Cabo Adventures)

 

Stunning views, magical wildlife encounters, championship-level golf course…What other values could the Cabo luxury real estate market possibly offer? Well, we haven’t mentioned financial values yet, so let’s start with the fact that list prices for ocean view homes in Los Cabos are significantly less than those of similar vantage in the U.S. Prospective buyers may also be interested to know that property taxes are significantly less than those in the U.S. or Canada, and the cost of living is lower, too. So life is not just sunnier in Los Cabos, it’s also more affordable.

 

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Did we mention the region’s remarkable real estate track record in terms of return on investment? Well, we’d be happy to tell you all about it. Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details about Cabo luxury real estate or contact us today.

 

Cabo San Lucas Real EstateLiving in Cabo San LucasReal Estate of Los Cabos May 14, 2019

Buying Homes via Auction Without Reserve in Los Cabos

When Opportunity Knocks – Buying Homes via Auction Without Reserve in Los Cabos

Time Sensitive material: 

Month of May 2019

There are two big reasons the Los Cabos real estate market is booming right now. One reason is lifestyle related. Los Cabos is a tropical paradise, where the sun shines year-round, and a unique coastal geography–with beach, desert and mountain terrains, and the confluence of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés all in close proximity–promises limitless outdoor activities options. The other reason is basic economics. Not only are list prices lower for spectacular ocean view residences in Los Cabos than similarly situated properties in the U.S. and Canada, but so too are property taxes, and so too is the cost of living.

Fact is, Los Cabos offers a dream lifestyle at a financial level accessible to more than just movie stars and captains of industry.

But there is affordable luxury, and then there are just flat-out bargains, breathtakingly situated properties that are somehow available well below market value…even by Los Cabos’ already modest (compared to the U.S. and Canada) standards.

Both Homes selling separately Without Reserve in Los Cabos:

Buying Homes via Auction Without Reserve in Los Cabos

(Photo Credit Concierge Auctions)

Previously $2.45M home & $450K lot.

  • Mediterranean-style split-level villa
  • Stunning ocean and fairway views
  • Private oasis in exclusive Palmilla
  • Oceanside setting offering the best of Los Cabos

 

Buying Homes via Auction Without Reserve in Los Cabos

Former New York Yankees Star Jason Giambi Puts Cabo San Lucas Estate Up for Auction

The house, which is going to auction without reserve, is currently on the market for $10.7 million.

The nine-bedroom Hacienda-style residence, which opens into a bubbling Zen fountain, has exposed stone accents and a two-level freeform pool, hits the auction block from May 21 to May 24 without reserve, meaning it will sell to the highest bidder regardless of the price…  Click here for More Details of this offer

 

How is this possible?

How is it possible to find an absolute jewel of a property, a beachfront home or luxury villa with stunning ocean views, at a price that puts it well within reach of many of the people who vacation or live seasonally in Los Cabos? Simply put, the biggest “steals” are to be found at auction, and a very particular kind of auction at that.

An auction without reserve–also called a no-reserve or “absolute” auction–is one in which the property is sold regardless of the bidding price. There is, unless previously stipulated, no starting price or minimum bid.

A great example of what’s available in terms of auction without reserve properties in Los Cabos is the hilltop luxury villa of former New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, which hits the auction block from May 21st to 24th. The 9-bedroom hacienda style residence sits atop Pedregal in Cabo San Lucas, an exclusive gate community that towers high above the Land’s End city, and features commanding views of both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés. The Giambi residence, dubbed Casa Cielo (In English, Heaven House), currently rents out for upwards of $5,000 a night, and features amenities like multiple swimming pools, a state-of-the-art gym, and over 11,000 square feet of patio space. The estimated value of Casa Cielo is $10.7 million dollars, but again that valuation means little at a no-reserve auction, where there is no minimum bid.

This lavishly appointed villa will no doubt draw interest from a number of interested parties, but no one knows just exactly what that number might be, or how high the bids will climb. It could be that this luxurious residence is available for far, far less than its market value. It could just be the bargain of all bargains, the opportunity of a lifetime.

But there’s only one way to find out…

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details.  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today

Lifestyle of Los CabosLiving in Cabo San Lucas May 11, 2019

Blue Flag Beach Guide to Los Cabos

True Blue Shores of Golden Sand – The Blue Flag Beach Guide to Los Cabos

Blue Flag Beach Guide to Los Cabos

(Photo Credit: Medano Beach courtesy of Breathless Cabo San Lucas Resort & Spa)

Los Cabos is famed for its beautiful beaches, glorious sun-kissed swaths of golden shoreline that stretch from the Pacific Coast of Cabo San Lucas to the East Cape north of San José del Cabo. Tourists and winter snowbirds have been flocking to this tropical hundred-mile-long arc of pristine playas for more than fifty years, their sights set on beach walking, hammock swinging, margarita sipping, and spectacular up-close views of both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés. Many have raved about the area’s soft, fine-grained sand and majestic offshore waves, but now for the first time it can be objectively stated: Los Cabos has the best beaches in all of México.

How does one quantify such a claim? In Blue Flags, of course.

 

How Does a Beach Become Blue Flag Certified?

The Blue Flag program was birthed by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), a non-profit organization that began in Europe in the 1980s, but now numbers over 60 member countries around the world. In essence, it’s an eco-certification system, with prospective Blue Flag beaches required to meet and maintain strict environmental standards for things like cleanliness, water quality, safety, services and sustainability. When you visit a Blue Flag beach, for example, you’re guaranteed to find ample parking, well-kept bathrooms, ramps for handicap access, recycling bins, and a rarity in México…lifeguards.

Los Cabos now boasts 19 of Baja California Sur’s 20 Blue Flag beaches (The capital city of La Paz is home to the other, El Coromuel). It truly is an astounding number, particularly when you consider that México as a country has only 64. Los Cabos, a modestly sized municipality, now has more Blue Flag beaches than any other single state in México. Only Quintana Roo, home to Cancún and the Riviera Maya, is even close with 17.

 

The Growth of Blue Flag Beaches in Los Cabos

Blue Flag Beach Guide to Los Cabos

(Photo Credit: Chileno Beach courtesy of Chileno Bay Resort & Residences)

As recently as three years ago Los Cabos had only three Blue Flag beaches: Palmilla, Chileno, and Santa María. Each of these Tourist Corridor based gems sparkles with its own distinctive attractions. Palmilla’s protected offshore cove is so renowned for its serene swimming conditions, for instance, that the swim leg of the local Ironman 70.3 is held there; and the offshore bays of Chileno and Santa María are favored sites for local snorkeling tours, thanks to calm waters and a colorful abundance of marine life.

But there were far more than three beaches in the area deserving of attention, so a concerted effort was made in recent years to shine a spotlight on them. A significant percentage of the new Blue Flag certified beaches–16 more since 2016–are in effect portions of Playa El Médano, the largest and most popular beach area in Cabo San Lucas. Over two miles in length, Playa El Médano is the social center of the Land’s End city, hosting over a dozen beachfront luxury resorts, as well as boisterous beachfront cantinas like Mango Deck and The Office on the Beach. It was these Médano resorts that spearheaded the effort to have their own beach adjacent areas Blue Flag certified, and guests at these scenically situated properties (see the full list below) can now expect the same level of detail-oriented maintenance and service on the sand as they can in their exquisitely appointed suites and pampering spas.

Other local beaches, too, have been Blue Flagged in recent years. Acapulquito, a beautiful beginner-friendly surf beach near San José del Cabo, is now a member of the Blue Flag family; as is La Ribera, site of the new Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas; and Las Viudas (in English, The Widows Beach), a stretch long favored by photographers due to its strikingly shaped volcanic rock formations.

 

The Complete List of Blue Flag Beaches in Los Cabos

Blue Flag Beach Guide to Los Cabos

(Photo Credit: Santa Maria Beach courtesy of Montage Los Cabos)

For those who’d like to visit all of Los Cabos’ Blue Flag beaches, here’s the complete list in alphabetical order:

  • Acapulquito
  • El Chileno
  • El Corsario
  • La Ribera
  • Las Viudas
  • Médano Breathless
  • Médano Casa Dorada
  • Médano Club Cascadas de Baja
  • Médano Hacienda
  • Médano ME Cabo
  • Médano Pueblo Bonito Los Cabos
  • Médano Pueblo Bonito Rose
  • Médano Riu Palace Los Cabos
  • Médano Riu Santa Fe
  • Médano Villa Del Palmar
  • Médano Villa El Arco
  • Médano Villa La Estancia
  • Palmilla
  • Santa María

Don’t forget to bring sunscreen!

Windermere Los Cabos Real EstateWindermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México.

Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details.  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today

Cabo San Lucas Real EstateReal Estate of Los Cabos May 3, 2019

Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

Splendor by the Sea – Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

The term luxury implies a certain grandeur combined with extravagant creature comforts, a residence recipe found in abundance in Los Cabos, the municipality that stretches across the southernmost rim of the Baja California peninsula. Luxury homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, the best known communities in Los Cabos, offer a stunning variety of sea and oceanfront vantages, with flawless design and elegant yet comfortable appointments, plus convenient access to upscale amenities like acclaimed restaurants, pampering spas, and championship level golf courses.

Best of all, luxury homes in Los Cabos list for far less than similarly spectacular properties in the U.S. and Canada, and they require far less upkeep in terms of property taxes, which are also significantly lower by rate percentage than México’s North American neighbors. The cost of living, too, is lower.

Did we mention the 350 days of tropical sunshine Los Cabos averages each year? How about the gorgeous beaches and breathtaking views of both the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés? The world class shopping, surfing, sailing, fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving?

 

Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

 

All in all, it’s a rather spectacular package, and one which has already drawn some 15,000 seasonal and full-time residents from the U.S. and Canada. Who, after all, isn’t attracted by the idea of affordable luxury and a dream home in paradise?

The only real question is:  What style of luxury are you looking for?

 

Staggering Variety of Locales for Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

Baja California Sur, where Los Cabos is located, features more coastline than any other state in México; and despite the presence of rugged interior mountains and cactus framed desert, the entire municipality is inevitably oriented towards glorious beachfront vantages. No surprise really when you consider the staggering variety of picturesque coastal locales hosting luxury homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

 

Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

 

Cabo San Lucas boasts glittering oases of gracious living along its ruggedly beautiful Pacific Coast, with upscale communities like Diamante, Quivira and Rancho San Lucas offering luxury homes, villas and condos, as well as bespoke amenities that include some of the finest golf courses in the world, courtesy of champions turned designers like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Davis Love III.

But that’s not even the half of it. Luxury homes, condos and villas also proliferate along Playa El Médano, the region’s largest and most popular beach, each offering easy access to sandy expanses and outdoor activities, as well as horizon stretching Sea of Cortés views and extraordinary panoramic perspectives of the evocatively shaped granite monuments that stretch Land’s End.

“Luxury homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas” are also available in the exclusive gated hillside enclave of Pedregal, home to A-list movie stars and cliffside aeries with terraces and infinity pools perched high above the hurly burly below.

San José del Cabo and the tourist corridor which connects the cape cities also boast an impressive array of seaside luxury dwellings; and the Los Cabos municipality’s East Cape, long an underdeveloped getaway from the touristy hustle bustle of Cabo San Lucas, now offers a slate of interesting upscale developments, as well as an emergent pool of top-shelf services and amenities.

 

Barefoot Elegance, Tropical Style and the World of Ultra-Luxury

There is a unique blend of carefree casual luxury that is not solely found in Los Cabos, but certainly finds it purest expression here.

What does that mean in terms of Cabo San Lucas luxury homes for sale?

It means that in addition to jaw-dropping vantages, prospective home owners can expect properties that showcase certain “Cabo style” architectural details and accents. Among the most prominent of these are seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, airy and elegantly appointed living areas that transition directly to balconies, terraces, lounges or pool decks; and are inevitably framed, of course, by palm trees or eye-catching ocean views.

 

Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas

 

These sorts of elegant indoor-outdoor transitions are one of the reasons Los Cabos has developed a reputation for barefoot elegance and tropical style. Palapa roofs and palo de arco pergolas are another, although these popular rustic regional accents are typically made to seem far less rustic by their pairing with decadent amenities like infinity pools, hot tubs or scenic beachfront fire pits with seating for a dozen of one’s closest friends.

Tropical themed furnishings and elegant Saltillo tile floors, too, are frequently on display; and for those seeking not just upscale, but ultra-luxury creature comforts, the best luxury homes for sale in Cabo San Lucas also feature home theaters, wine cellars, gourmet kitchens, maid and servants’ quarters, gated grounds, and priority tee times at the neighboring championship level golf course. Ultimately, though, it always comes back to the views. In Los Cabos, that’s the most luxurious amenity of them all.

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México.

Windermere is the ally you want when it comes to finding “Luxury Homes for Sale in Cabo San Lucas” variety. Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details.  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today

 

Cabo San Lucas Real EstateReal Estate of Los Cabos April 29, 2019

Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Oceanfront

Dream Homes, Dream Views – A Basic Guide to Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Oceanfront Variety

Cabo San Lucas real estate oceanfront variety has been one of our most requested blog topics, and small wonder why. The first law of real estate (Location! Location! Location!) and the single most valuable word in real estate (Oceanfront!) both speak to the same immutable truth: no matter how large or luxuriously appointed a home may be, it’s value–now and as an investment–are to a large extent determined by its proximity to the ocean. In areas far from the ocean, this immutable truth is honored in the breach with larger list prices for lake houses and riverfront properties.

Argue with the justice of this immutable truth or its arbitrary nature all you want, it will not change. Water views add value both aesthetically (Breathtaking Views!) and in terms of lifestyle options (Boat Slips! World-Class Fishing!). Forget gold. In real estate terms, properties are judged by the “water standard.”

Cabo San Lucas real estate oceanfront adds more value than most locations, not only in terms of ocean views–there are two major bodies of water, the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés–and world-class lifestyle attractions and activities, but also in terms of actual value. Simply put: the best oceanfront properties in Los Cabos list for significantly less than similarly spectacular properties in the U.S. and Canada, offer a lower property tax rate, and come complete with a lower cost of living in a sun-splashed tropical paradise.

In other words, what’s not to like?

That’s a rhetorical question, of course, but for those with little practical knowledge of Los Cabos, we’ve put together a basic guide to the region’s most sought after coastal properties.

Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Oceanfront

Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Oceanfront Options

Buying options abound for “Cabo San Lucas real estate oceanfront”, from scenic beach and shoreline adjacent homes, penthouses and condos to cliffside luxury villas perched high above crashing waves. Whatever your situation or status–single, married, married with children, married with children and many grandchildren–understand up front that there are residences or properties currently in development that offer the space, appointments, amenities and oceanfront vantages you are seeking.

And just as residence options vary, so too do locations. Blessed with over 100 miles of glorious coastline, Los Cabos offers a multitude of stunning ocean and seaside communities, allowing prospective buyers to make their decisions not just on a given home and its quality of ocean views, but also according to factors like neighbors, nearby beaches, golf courses, restaurants, shopping centers, bilingual schools, and the like.

There are two major communities–cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo–each with prized oceanfront residences and developments, as well as world-class lifestyle attractions…from fishing, surfing, diving and other outdoor pursuits to celebrity chef helmed restaurants, championship level golf courses, and boutique shops and galleries.

Those seeking more privacy, however, may prefer to explore properties along the 20-mile coastal corridor which connects the two cape cities, or on the lightly developed East Cape which stretches over 70 miles north from San José del Cabo to Los Barriles, or on the pristine Pacific Coast north of Cabo San Lucas. Shopping and upscale amenities may be less prominent in these areas, but traffic is nonexistent, and so too are noise and light pollution. If you think the ocean views are spectacular during the daytime, try them at night with the light of a million stars overhead.

To best assess which property or neighborhood is right for you, you’ll need a Los Cabos ally in the form of a trusted real estate agent, a necessity we’ll go into in greater detail below.

Cabo San Lucas Real Estate Oceanfront Values

We touched on the value–not the experiential or aesthetic or lifestyle value–but the purchase value of oceanfront real estate in Cabo San Lucas a little earlier, and it bears repeating. List prices are significantly lower for spectacular oceanfront properties in Los Cabos than similarly situated homes and residences in the U.S. and Canada. The property taxes are also lower, as is the cost of living.

What’s not lower, however, is the expected return on investment, should you decide to rent or sell your ocean view dream home in paradise.

Ultimately, of course, such financial details depend upon the size, location and amenities of the property. The question is how do you find the right property for you and your unique situation?

Identifying the right property for your budget, your family size, your ideal lifestyle and your investment strategy can be rather complicated without expert advice…which is why we mentioned earlier that prospective buyers need a trusted real estate ally.

In Los Cabos, that means Windermere.

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México.

Windermere is the ally you want when it comes to finding Cabo San Lucas real estate oceanfront variety. Call us from the U.S. or Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details.  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today

Living in Cabo San Lucas April 13, 2019

Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

Baja’s Best Browsing – Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

When one thinks of shopping in Cabo San Lucas, the immediate image is probably of a generic Mexican souvenir shop, the sort of place where vacationers stock up on sombreros or t-shirts with clever, locally-themed slogans.

Those kind of souvenir shops do still exist, particularly on the “cruise ship circuit” around the Cabo San Lucas Marina boardwalk promenade. But don’t let the touristy hustle and bustle fool you. The Los Cabos shopping scene as a whole offers much more than curios and trinkets, and indeed has grown increasingly sophisticated over the past two decades.

Nowadays, residents and visitors alike can browse in a diverse range of shops and shopping centers, the former ranging from custom clothing and swimsuit boutiques to art galleries, jewelry stores, furniture outlets, organic and specialty grocery stores, luxury boutiques boasting name brands like Chanel and Dior, and outlets of popular multipurpose U.S. chain stores like Walmart, Costco and City Club.

The Best Malls & Shopping Centers

 

Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

(Photo Credit Luxury Avenue Puerto Paraiso)

 

Who doesn’t love a good mall, the kind of place where you can shop, eat, see a movie, then shop some more? Puerto Paraíso on the Cabo San Lucas Marina has long been the signature local shopping center, with all of the above attractions plus access to the adjacent Luxury Avenue, home to a host of iconic upscale purveyors of clothing and accessories.

The Shoppes at Palmilla, located just outside San José del Cabo, also draws discerning shoppers with a retail directory that includes custom furniture and décor, arts and crafts galleries, fine food, and other boutique attractions. The large mall at Patio Los Cabos, meanwhile, is a favorite of Cabo San Lucas residents, as is Plaza San Lucas, the latter home to Walmart and other popular retail stores.

 

Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

(Photo Credit Puerto Paraiso courtesy of Solmar Hotels & Resorts)

The Best Arts & Crafts Galleries

The best shopping in Los Cabos may well be found in San José del Cabo’s historic Distrito del Arte, where cobblestone studded streets are framed by an eclectic variety of galleries showcasing regional artists, as well as handmade pottery and custom jewelry from artisans around México.

This charming and colorful shopping district features the best examples of sought-after commodities like Talavera and Mata Ortiz pottery, Taxco silver and Mexican fire opals, not to mention paintings, sculpture, photography, printmaking and other fine arts.

For a real treat, stop by on Thursdays between 5 and 9 p.m. during high tourist season (November through June), when a weekly Art Walk event welcomes residents and visitors to browse the various gallery exhibitions, and to chat with gallery owners and notable local artists.

 

The Best Groceries & Specialty Shops

 

Shopping in Cabo San Lucas

A few decades ago the grocery offerings in Los Cabos were so limited that residents often drove to La Paz once a week to stock up. That’s not an issue anymore. If anything, there are almost too many options. In addition to Walmart, Costco and City Club–all of which have well-stocked grocery departments–there are local outlets of large Mexican supermarket chains like Soriana, LaComer (large stores in each of the cape cities, plus a specialty Fresko supermarket–Fresko Palmilla–with a focus on fresh produce and baked goods) and Chedraui (including an impressive new upgraded Chedraui Selecto store in San José del Cabo, with another coming soon in Cabo San Lucas), as well as weekly organic markets in both of the cape cities.

Not just grocery and sundries, but specialty shops of all kinds can now be found, from wine shops and cigar stores with walk-in humidors to custom clothing and beachwear boutiques for women like Pepita’s Magic of the Moon.

Fact is, you don’t have to walk very far in today’s Los Cabos to find something worth buying. Or even walk at all, since Walmart and many other local stores now offer delivery service.

See? We told you the Los Cabos shopping scene had grown a little more sophisticated.

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México.

Windermere is the ally you want when it comes to finding your next home.

Call us from the USA / Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details. Don’t let your dreams wait…  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today

 

Living in Cabo San Lucas April 11, 2019

Getting a Mexican Credit Card in Los Cabos

The Pros & Cons of Getting a Mexican Credit Card in Los Cabos

Getting a Mexican Credit Card in Los Cabos

Americans and Canadians who buy property and live at least seasonally in Los Cabos will find all the beaches, sunshine, margaritas and ocean views they’ve ever dreamed of, but along with this natural bounty and muy atractivo lifestyle comes a few cultural changes.

Language is the most obvious one, although so many people speak English in cape cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo that’s it rarely an issue, even for those whose Spanish vocabulary is limited to “Buenos días” and “Como está usted?”

More commonly, miscommunications involve financial transactions; from exchange and interest rates to bank statements and credit card disputes. Nobody, after all, wants there to be any confusion or incomprehensible fine print when it comes to their bank account or credit cards.

Which leads to the very good questions:  Do you even need a Mexican bank account or credit card in Los Cabos? What are the pros and cons?

The Pros

There are very good reasons to open a bank account in Los Cabos if you intend to spend an appreciable amount of time in the area, starting with the fact that you can trade dollars for pesos–and vice versa–without a questionable exchange rate or service charges. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere in Los Cabos, but many area businesses set their own exchange rates, meaning it’s preferable to pay in pesos to avoid being overcharged.

U.S. credit cards are accepted virtually everywhere, too, so why add to your U.S. collection with a Mexican credit card? The truth is that those who intend to maintain a presence in their country of birth–property, bank accounts and the like–likely do not need a Mexican credit card (In Spanish, tarjeta de crédito).

However, if you intend to move seasonally or full-time to Los Cabos, then it will be handy to have a Mexican debit card that you can use to access money from ATMs (in Spanish, cajeros automáticos), pay bills and utilities, make retail and online purchases, and so on. You may also want a credit card–particularly if your U.S. issued card charges foreign transaction fees–but as we’ll discuss in the “Cons” section below, there are definitely some issues to consider. The safest and best bet is thus to go debit card only.

Just keep in mind that you will need a residente card and proof of residence to open a bank account, and that bank to issue you a debit/credit card. If you deposit several thousand dollars or the equivalent in pesos into your new account, banks will usually be happy to issue you a credit as well as debit card. These cards are issued in conjunction with Visa or MasterCard, but in case of loss, theft or fraud, you will need to make the report to your Mexican bank rather than the multinational credit card company.

The Cons

Speaking of theft and fraud…those two issues do occur in México–as they do in every country–and are particularly prevalent in popular tourist destinations like Los Cabos.

Restaurants and gas stations tend to be the places where credit card information is stolen with a higher frequency, so make it a point to pay cash in those instances and it will significantly reduce your risk profile.

If you are a victim of fraud, remember that most Mexican banks maintain 24-hour hotlines to report loss or fraud. Keep the hotline number handy, and if you don’t speak Spanish, at the very least you should be able to ask the operator to transfer you to someone who speaks English. You can do that by saying, “¿Puede transferirme a una persona que habla inglés, por favor?”

Fraud isn’t limited, however, to credit card thieves. Many U.S. and Canadian transplants have reported issues with bank fraud in Los Cabos, from unilaterally hiked interest rates on credit cards to limited liability in covering losses from stolen card charges.

Exorbitant interest rates and annual charges are also things likely to cause consternation to first-time holders of Mexican credit cards. Make sure you understand the terms before you accept a credit card from your bank, and check charges on a monthly basis. You do not want to be paying interest rates that may be in excess of 30%.

It sounds bad and sometimes is, but keep in mind there are ways to mitigate or limit issues with Mexican banking. The first is to eschew credit cards in favor of debit cards, since the former may require paying back fraudulent charges until the claim is resolved. Lost or stolen debit cards are harder for thieves to use, since they likely won’t have access to the PIN number, although it should be noted that debit cards can often be used for point-of-sale purchases.

Even more important is finding a bank where you feel comfortable with the communication skills and customer service quality. The local branch of Canadian owned Scotiabank, for example, is popular with many U.S. and Canadian transplants for these very reasons.

Banking services may not rival beaches, sunshine, margaritas and ocean views as reasons to move to Los Cabos, but be vigilant and aware of potential fraud and it won’t be a reason not to move.

Windermere Los Cabos Real Estate

Windermere is one of the most respected names in North American real estate, with over 300 offices and 6,000 agents in the Western U.S. and México. The company has deep roots in Los Cabos, where its agents have over 100 years of collective experience, as well as an exhaustive knowledge of available local listings and the intricacies and legal requirements of buying and selling property in México.

Windermere is the ally you want when it comes to finding your next home.

Call us from the USA / Canada at 011 52 (624) 228-3509 for more details. Don’t let your dreams wait…  We’ll help you find and buy your dream home in Los Cabos.  Contact Us today