Buying a Piece of Baja's Paradise

Buying a Piece of Baja's Paradise

With an idyllic, year-round temperature averaging 78°F (26°C), and a location just hours away from many parts of the United States, who wouldn't want to own a piece of Baja? Here is some valuable advice from developer John Pentz (www.mexicodp.com) of Las Tiendas de Palmilla, and Chris Snell, owner of Snell Real Estate (www.snellrealestate.com), who has done $1 billion in sales in the dozen years he's been in Los Cabos. Pentz says that Los Cabos is rapidly growing north into both the capes: up to La Ribera on the east, and at an equally torrid pace along the Pacific side, up to Todos Santos.

Pentz outlines the three general ways to invest in Los Cabos: The first, and least expensive, is a time-share purchase, with prices in the $20,000 to $40,000 range. Fractional-property ownership is the second option, and ranges from about $200,000 to $500,000. The third way to invest is an outright purchase of land or both land and a home. Some top casas in Los Cabos encompass as many as 20,000 square feet and more, and are priced in the $10- to $14-million price range, though you'll have to leave Cabo proper for more affordable options. Try the East Cape, or La Paz.