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

A voice of reason. Fully agree with what you have said.

Originally Posted by wessongroup

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..

I agree too Wiley. Personally I think that the average real estate values from Ensenada and north need to come down another 30-50%. Some have made that adjustment and account for what few sales are happening right now. I heard a rumor that somebody just bought one of the unfinished towers along the coast and is going to redo the project to make what was originally intended to be $300-900K condos into units that will sell from something like $69 to 199K with in-house financing. That might work but it will be interesting to see what they do with those buyers who already made deposits (if any) on the original develop plan.

When I do get to drive by them.. I feel really bad for some of the folks that have gotten them self into some of that stuff..

I guess for once being poor is a good thing, if you ain't got it, you ain't got nothing to lose...

Me, rather spend what little on burritos, beans and beer, maybe not in that order, but pretty close... glad my needs and wants a very simple... and you would never see in a pair of shoes like those...

Your a good sport to Dennis and I know mine is coming.. just a matter of time, but, in some cases, one takes a nap and wakes up and something really bad has gone away.... thank Jo

Hi,
Well I have not posted in a while due to knee surgery. Well I guess I stirred up a hornets nest on the cost to build my home.
First I have a general contractor who has been doing this for a long time. Before I chose this person they took me to two homes they had built in the previous year. These homes are close to mine. The people were home and they let me take a tour of their homes. They were very happy with the construction and were happy. Then the person took me to 3 homes that they had built in the last four years. All of the homes looked in good shape.
Secondly if I count the cost of the land the cost per square ft comes out to $87 per square ft. Now I must tell you that I did have to pay extra for a couple other things. But nothing major. also when you calculate the square footage they count from center of wall, not actual living square footage. This added I would say an extra 3% so instead of $62 per square foot it is $65 per square foot. So the final tally with the upgrades comes out to $89 per square ft.
Now if you go on line and look at homes for sale this is right in line. At the Baja Country Club in Ensenada the homes are running at $92 per square foot. Since I am taking out the middle man I guess that my home is costing me the average cost.

No my home is not in the prestigious area where things are always over priced but my home is not located in a bad place either.
More power to those people who want to pay $200 per square foot, and have an absolutely beautiful home with all of the top of the line materials and interior design.

At $200 per square foot my first floor which I am constructing now would cost me $260,000 + $35,000 for the lot it would be close to $300,000.


I will be going down to the property this week and will get some more photos. I will post them when I get back.
Take care
Keith

Glad to see you back Keith - hope the knee surgery went well and you have complete recovery. I agree with you on the costs and that is close to my own building experience.

Hope you come out of the surgery, with no problems..

And I think your pricing is pretty spot on.... for what you have going ...

A great job, location and view...

Can only say, I'm envious of all that those who are getting to build "their own" down here.. enjoy as I know you will

More pics of my home construction. The home will be done in 2 more months.

Looking nice, Amigo!

Wow - the place is really looking great! So how is the knee?

I was in Loreto a short while ago and I just fell in love with the town, the people. I formed a plan to buy a lot, have a custom house built. First I called around to find a good reliable builder who could do a good job for about $500 a sq. ft. I gave up. I must have called 98 builders.

That is one heck of a lot of concrete... but, good for no termites... those guys eat just about anything ..... think I saw one on one of my burrito's ....

Is that dollars or pesos Osprey???

Originally Posted by Osprey

I was in Loreto a short while ago and I just fell in love with the town, the people. I formed a plan to buy a lot, have a custom house built. First I called around to find a good reliable builder who could do a good job for about $500 a sq. ft. I gave up. I must have called 98 builders.

You are joking here I hope

Hi all
Went down this past wekend to view the construction progress. They say they will be done in another month with the lower level. I might complete the upper level next year. Here are the photos tken this weekend. Could not place all photos on this posting. Will make another post.

Photos of bathroom tile work and saltillo tile. Does everyone know the story behind the coyote paw print in the tile?

Wow! The place is really looking nice. I like the idea of the "coyote paw print". It always gives you a story to tell. The wonderful thing is as the homeowner you can even change the story over time as many times as you like...

The coyote paw print story is a no bullshit story. In Saltillo Mexico many years pasado ( like my spanish) the manufacturer of tile left the tile out in the sun to dry the tile before putting them in the oven (furnace) The tile were left out over night. The tile were not dry. A pack of coyotes walked across them leaving paw prints on some of them. They decided to go ahead and ship them to the distributer. The distributer was not happy but he decided to try and sell them anyhow. To his surprise they sold and some customers wanted more. They became very popular and to this day they sell them with or without the paw prints. I wonder what kind of mutt they let walk across them now. They probably pay them minimum wage. I read this in a web site for that tile company in Saltillo mexico

Serve me up a couple more Cadillacs and I'll believe it too...

The history sounds plausible to me & I know they still sell them that way because Kate has paw prints on her front porch!

So drink to that BG!

Like you needed a new excuse!!

And here I was laughing because the masons set it.

Love that exterior color.