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Hola! I joined this forum (and a few others) ages ago under a different name, posted a few times, got challenged pretty nastily right out of the box on a restaurant review I did (at another site) and then stopped posting completely.

So, new with this name, because I forgot my log in info, but really not new.

We've lived in Rosarito for 3 years and my opinion and knowledge of living here has changed a lot. It's like peeling back the layers of an onion. The longer you work at it, the more it changes.

We meet new people, get new perspectives and it's changing our attitudes. We didn't buy, thank goodness, because the first house we loved turns out to have a whacky HOA in place and I would have hated to get stuck there. You can rent fantastic houses for a fraction of what it would it cost to rent in the US. And you get the chance to try out different neighborhoods.

But now, we're getting ready to buy/build, but more as a 'second' house and thinking somewhere in the surrounding area around Valle or some place on a quiet bay. We have a business that keeps us in Rosarito and want a getaway. The things we're considering are (1) how far away we want to be really if it's a weekend getaway (2) how to protect the property when we're gone (3) can't decide between living by a bay and living near wine and (4) a desire to build something that will have value to be passed on to our grandchildren (double citizenship).

Hello BajaGoodLife,

And to the forum!


I wish everyone were able to conduct themselves with true respect for others and civility but alas; that is not how it is online.

Most places. We've had pretty good results so far here...perhaps at the cost of discouraging some participation.

But why the heck would we miss people who just want to be nasty in the first place?

Let me give you my opinion on at least one of your questions....that of property security.
If what you look for in your little "getaway" is peace and solitude, you may be entertaining thoughts of isolation.
It just doesn't work. It will be dangerous for you when you're there and when you're gone, the place would be taken apart in short order without a full time guard.
There are a lot of advantages to living in a community.

Thanks for the comment Dennis. Totally agree...

So we were thinking about something a little separate, but not out in the middle of nowhere. Plus, maybe getting enough property that someone could live there full-time. And that all said, I still may be dreaming that it's possible in Mexico in this day and age.

The thing I hate about communities is the HOAs. I had heard that they were not nearly as bad as the ones in the US, but then our first experience with one was horrible! The guards kept tabs on where the residents were so they could bring their buddies to rob the houses when they were at the beach or out of the community. If you didn't slip a little to the HOA director, he'd cut off your power on the weekend...OOPS....no power until Monday and you can get someone there from outside the complex. And then the reason was always rusted wire or something. It was a nightmare!

Originally Posted by BajaGoodLife

The thing I hate about communities is the HOAs. I had heard that they were not nearly as bad as the ones in the US, but then our first experience with one was horrible! The guards kept tabs on where the residents were so they could bring their buddies to rob the houses when they were at the beach or out of the community. If you didn't slip a little to the HOA director, he'd cut off your power on the weekend...OOPS....no power until Monday and you can get someone there from outside the complex. And then the reason was always rusted wire or something. It was a nightmare!

That's a bit more "community" than I could stand. Keep looking around and I'm sure you'll find an area that won't be like a prison.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

Let me give you my opinion on at least one of your questions....that of property security.
If what you look for in your little "getaway" is peace and solitude, you may be entertaining thoughts of isolation.
It just doesn't work. It will be dangerous for you when you're there and when you're gone, the place would be taken apart in short order without a full time guard.
There are a lot of advantages to living in a community.

Great advice DENNIS!

I agree that some HOA's can be nazi-like in their enforcement of the rules but in my ever be it so humble opinion I think that many of these same HOA's set themselves up for failure by creating too many rules/restrictions in the first place. One of the things that attracts so many of us to Mexico in the first place is the laid back atmosphere and lifestyle. Having to get an architectural committee's approval to change your mailbox does not quite fit into that mold.

Like Dennis says, give it time and look around. Patience and perseverance will pay big dividends in your search...