subject: Mexico Real Estate's Gem; The Yucatan Peninsula's Many Beauties [print this page] Within Mexico Real Estate, the general Yucatan Real Estate area provides one of the greatest variety of both established markets, with excellent properties both for beachfront and colonial lifestyles, and for up-and-coming areas with new opportunities, available at low prices, and showing lots of potential. The comparison of two not-so-far-away areas will help show the variety.
Real estate in Playa del Carmen is currently a definite favorite for American, Canadian and European buyers. From humble beginnings as a fishing village, 20 years ago this town was still a little more than the ferry terminal heading to Cozumel. Now, Playa del Carmen MLS listings include wonderful condos nestled between the trendy Fifth Avenue and the beachfront, with a distinct European feel to it, given by the low-rise buildings, tasteful design and the large number of Italians who have made Playa del Carmen their home (second only to Americans in number.)
There are also beautiful villas available in new developments, such as Villas Tranquilidad; these villas are in the north end of town (a whole 10 minutes away from downtown), a short walk away from the beach, in a community that will include the future extension of Fifth Avenue. This kind of property can start around $200,000 U.S. Of course, a fixer-upper downtown could be found for much less.
Now, move south down the road,(that's away from Cancun) past the newly blossoming Tulum with its brand new international airport on the way, past the Sian Ka'an International Biosphere Reserve famous and protected for its extremely high level of biodiversity down to an hour or two from the boarder with Belize; here you will find the less-discovered Costa Maya.
Costa Maya is the beachfront areas near the town of Mahahual. The are is best described as pleasantly relaxing. The closest large stores like Walmart and Sam's are an hour and a half away in the state capital of Chetumal. There very few tennis courts nearby at least so far. The type of expat who has bought real estate here so far are two types; one is those who enjoy the quiet seclusion, beaches with very few people, roads with no traffic(or "road," since there's only one that runs along the beachfront,) and a special close contact with both the other foreigners in the area, and the local Mexicans who appreciate the opportunities that foreign real estate buyers bring them.
The other type of buyer most certainly enjoys these aspects, but is also someone who sees a good real estate investment opportunity. With the new airport in Tulum, tourism is expected to grow in the south of the state (i.e. the area around Costa Maya and Chetumal), which offers beautiful beaches and secluded Mayan ruins. With new tourism growth will also come new real estate opportunities, higher demand and good return on investments made now. The serene beachfront lifestyle will be complemented with more convenience.
These are only two examples of the large spectrum of real estate on the Yucatan Peninsula. The colonial charm of Merida, the up-and-coming area of Campeche, that combines some beautiful beaches with its own recently renovated colonial old town, the highrise condos on Cancun's beachfront, and the island of Cozumel with its lovely natural atmosphere, are the current favorites; and everything indicates that there will only be more opportunities turning up here.
