TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » Building your Baja dream home

Hi
These photos are from a helicopter about 4 years ago. There are about 15 more homes built now. On photos 3 and 4 you will see a small white building. My lot encompasses this building from one road to the next. there is some history behind this building. it was the home of the original owner. He is still alive at 88 years and I got to chat with him this past summer. his last Name is gonzalez. He is in good health. he was given all the land on top of ther mountain in 1958 by the government for something his family did. His sons still own alot of the land. I will send some more photos in another post of of views from my lot and of home construction.
Keith

That is such a beautiful area.

Congratulations, and thanks for joining!

Here are some photos from this past year from my lot. One photo is from Cantu looking at the homes on top of the mountain and one is from my next door neighbor who has stopped construction. The last photo I dont know about.

Originally Posted by Amigo Arizona

Here are some photos from this past year from my lot. One photo is from Cantu looking at the homes on top of the mountain and one is from my next door neighbor who has stopped construction. The last photo I dont know about.

You can almost see my house in the second to last foto. There a pole sticking up on the left side of your block wall. Through that pole is a line of houses on the bluff at Lomas Del Mar. My place is just out of sight to the left.

Wow! Great area you chose to build at Keith. I really love the photo of your very cute neighbors too!!

Some photos of home plans and construction progress. The total square footage will be approx 3160 square foot. I may change some of the upper level. I am going to have a bath with a tube in the upper level. I chose the person as my general contracor based on people who had her as their general contractor. I toured their homes and was happy with the quality. The people had no complaints. The construction cost is $62 US per square foot. Will send more photos later this month.
Keith

WoW! What a beautiful house and location. I'm scared of heights... might not do so well there myself

A few more photos of my home lot construction progress

Looking great!

Sure is looking good..you'll have a great home....we couldn't do 2 story...old and bad knees..

WELCOME Am'zona!

You are really ready for this forum with all the pics! MOREMOREMORE!

Happy Holidays to you and your family. Thank you for posting the construction pictures. We'll be waiting for every new batch of pictures as it progresses.

Heck, even after it's done, we'll still be pestering you for pictures of the "fix this or that" ...just ask LongLegs!

It's all good~ all the best~~~


BajaNuts1 aka Ann

Hi Keith,

I am new to this forum as well. It looks like you have a spectactular building site, congratulations.

I am a custom homebuilder in Baja Sur, and I am writing about your "$62/SF cost to build". I do not mean to be negative, but I am concerned that this number may be misleading for some people looking for budgeting costs to build in Mexico.

Labor and material costs are quite high in Baja Sur (most construction material manufacturers are on the mainland, shipping and storage are difficult and expensive here), and the cost you quote is not possible for a COMPLETE home here in Loreto.

Examples of real costs for a "modest" home in Loreto: Assume a simple grid-connected, 3BR/1.5Bath home, constructed of concrete block and direct plaster, palapa covered parking for RV, pitched and painted concrete roof, aluminum single glazed windows, inexpensive doors, minimal inexpensive cabinets, inexpensive ceramic tile floors / showers / countertops, utilities close to the house with minimal interior electrical, propane & HVAC, basic and inexpensive appliances and plumbing/lighting fixtures… this qualifies as a “modest” home with simple finishes. Cost in Loreto would be $80-95/SF cost (depending on the quality of labor I hire, and how hard I shop for materials). This does not include design costs, permitting, inspections, or any exterior works (paving, landscaping, swim pool, etc.).

These costs assume you act as General Contractor, hiring and managing manpower and procuring materials directly. This can get you in real trouble if you do not know what you are doing. Just a few years ago, you could get away with cutting many corners. Today, local, state and federal agencies in Baja are getting much more strict and it is not advisable.

If you hire an experienced English speaking contractor with excellent references to manage the project, properly set up with RFC#s, with US and Mexican bank accounts, building strictly to the International Building Code, with strictly legal accounting and properly paid taxes, add 20-25% to those costs. This is the way to stay out of trouble.

A typical custom home is delivered with fully insulated structures, high end doors & cabinets, double glazed windows (very pricey!), very high quality stone / tile / wood surface finishes, quality stainless appliances, higher end light & plumbing fixtures, clay tile roofs, complex designs requiring skilled craftsmen, intense rough-in mechanical / electrical / plumbing / voice&date / audio-visual entertainment / sattelite / propane, etc.. I use only the very best skilled craftsmen for every trade, and I pay them well. We can deliver custom homes at around 40-50% of the total cost of an equal design in the US. A simple 3BR/3Bath floor plan custom home can be delivered at a little over $200/SF, but typically nearer to $275/SF. At the high end, costs go up very quickly with complex architectural features and higher end finishes… as examples, this year I delivered two homes that cost the Owners over $400/SF (these would have been $800-$1,000/SF in the US).

All of this ignores the unique challenges of building in Mexico by a Gringo. Contracting is always a high risk business, especially so here in Mexico with difficult labor and lien laws, and very different builder "values and ethics". I write all of this because I think people may misunderstand what you really get for "$62/SF", and you won't know your real costs until the project is complete.

Saludos,

Bill Doyle
The Construction Coach
US VOIP# 619-819-0740
Custom Homebuilding, Inspections& Consulting - Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico

Hey Keith,

Good thing your building your home in Baja Norte and not Loreto or you might be paying upwards of $400 US a square foot! (ridiculous)...

Gaucho,

The costs that I have given above are very accurate. If you do not think so, then please let us know why rather than saying "ridiculous". People generally come to Forums to learn, and most would certainly appreciate any practical wisdom you could share.

I am new here, and my offering of real information based on real experience is meant to be helpful, not incendiary. My purpose was to suggest that when you give a price per SF, it is helpful to let people know what is included in that cost.

Costs are costs, and they are driven by: 1) Site requirements, 2) Structural complexity, 3) Uniqueness of finishes, and 4) Location. Also, you do not truly know what your costs are until the work is complete... end of project change orders are the norm in Mexico (or in the US for that matter) for those that do not know how to avoid them.

That said, there are many ways to save money (used or salvaged materials being the best method). I could build a perfectly livable house for $60/SF without any problem... it just wouldn't have the bells & whistles normally desired by us Gringos. I would be thrilled for Keith if his house is delivered "all in" for the stated $59/SF.

Saludos, BD

Originally Posted by billder99

Gaucho,

The costs that I have given above are very accurate. If you do not think so, then please let us know why rather than saying "ridiculous". People generally come to Forums to learn, and most would certainly appreciate any practical wisdom you could share.

I am new here, and my offering of real information based on real experience is meant to be helpful, not incendiary. My purpose was to suggest that when you give a price per SF, it is helpful to let people know what is included in that cost.

Costs are costs, and they are driven by: 1) Site requirements, 2) Structural complexity, 3) Uniqueness of finishes, and 4) Location. Also, you do not truly know what your costs are until the work is complete... end of project change orders are the norm in Mexico (or in the US for that matter) for those that do not know how to avoid them.

That said, there are many ways to save money (used or salvaged materials being the best method). I could build a perfectly livable house for $60/SF without any problem... it just wouldn't have the bells & whistles normally desired by us Gringos. I would be thrilled for Keith if his house is delivered "all in" for the stated $59/SF.

Saludos, BD

I'm not doubting what you charge at all. I believe you would charge exactly what you say you'll charge. I should have clarified myself. When I said "ridiculous" I was speaking about myself. I would not pay $400 per sq. foot for a block home anywhere on the cape. That's just me...

Can you imagine how beautiful a $400/sq ft house is though? I wish.....

I agree Wooo, it would be magnificent!

Originally Posted by Gaucho

I'm not doubting what you charge at all. I believe you would charge exactly what you say you'll charge. I should have clarified myself. When I said "ridiculous" I was speaking about myself. I would not pay $400 per sq. foot for a block home anywhere on the cape. That's just me...

$200 per square foot in Mexico to build? With all due respect this is totally out of line. Try charging that in the states now and you will be laughed out of the room. Also Loreto, from what I have heard, really has its problems with Loreto Bay and people back in the boom days paying stupid prices for things. Reasonable number I am hearing in Baja are around the $70.00 per square foot mark using Mexican builders.

I wonder how busy the fellow is in Loreto these days if those are the rates he charges?

Really great shots.. and super location.. and what a house.. we have got to get over there.. and Dennis not bad at all !!


As to costs I think it is just starting to change.. I've been keeping a running count for the past 5 years on homes for sale via point2.com currently there are 470 homes for sale in Ensenada (the Municipality) that is the highest number I have seen on this site in the time I have been watching. And in the past two weeks I have seen prices being dropped on a number of homes which have been sitting in some cases as much as three years, the price drop about.. 15%

And these drops are the first ones I've noted here in Baja Norte.. I have not been watching the South.. nothing personal... just can't take the heat..

One has to assume that to some degree the prices must change down in Baja, as they have changed "globally" ... It's nice down in Baja, but "values" on cost per square foot tend to be a function of what one can pay... and the folks that have been coming down here and buying and creating the "housing bubble" are not coming down, nor will they in the immediate future.. as they don't have jobs and extra disposalable income.. and this is really reflected in many of the Mall's in the area where our other home is located and our son lives at this time... Mission Viejo 92691.. housing prices have dropped there around 15-20% and currently the average days on the market to sell is 66.. with the majority of housing being sold being entry level.. 400,000 -600,000

I don't believe that Baja as seen an adjustment to property values to date.. and not too many are selling.. at least around here (Rosarito Plays to Bajamar) some sell but times are tough selling property around here.. either raw land, or structures ...

Would expect prices in Baja North to be adjusting in the next 6-8 months...down.. just my two cents.. this is a hobby with me.. looking at real estate.. as houses and cars are the same to me... I hate both!! they cost money to: build, live in, and maintain.. they all ways cost more money.. there is always something needed... my Dad's old saying: "spend a nickel, spend a dime, spending money is a crime!!"

I'm looking for a nice cave, with an ocean view.. I will work out the rest, and no the wife is not bring any plants into my cave..the other option is a Teepee which would be fine for me too ... the wife, now we are talking another thing..