Should we buy or build our Los Cabos home?

Question

Also, since my other half is a Mexican citizen, I've heard this can offer us more security, but also different options as far as land available etc, for building a home.

Also, we are really not finding exactly what we want for the price we want. We would like something elegant, open walled, and maybe only 2000 sq feet... Any idea where I can find some ideas of the costs for this?

Also, this will be in the Los Cabos area.

Answer 1

my wife and I went through the same thing. buy or build??  the average you will pay down there to have a house built is around $150 per square foot. granted that is with the nice tile and granite.  We got lucky and found a very nice home already built that is 2800 sq feet 3bdrm 3 bth plus a office with ocean view and it was $150,000. best bet is take a week like we did and just go down there looking around, there are some awesome deals down there you just have to find them.....good luck

Answer 2

Hola!  There are soooo many plus's and minus's to your question!!  I have been here in the Los Cabos area for many many years and know lots of success and failure stories.

  It it hard to narrow it down to just an easy explanation, but here goes.  Althought it is really great to plan and build your own home the way you want it....most people here decide to buy a home already built and renovate it to their liking.   Unless you can get into a community build (closed gate community), then it seems that is your best option....

If you want to build you own home, you will have to think about where you want to live...ocean or country, in town or out of town.  Each of these locations come with their own issues.  For example you cannot own ocean property...you must take out a lease with the gov't and pay a fidio.  The cost of an ocean front lot compared to one downtown Cabo are hundreds of thousands of dollars different.  Also, you have to decide if you want to live in a neighbourhood where you wake to roosters and the never ending dogs barking.  If you find your own property way out with no one else around, you have to deal with breakins and banditos.

One thing people never think about building here in Cabo is the lack of contractors and construction crews that will be completely available to YOU.  You will see MANY unfinished houses here because the crews were wooed away to another more better paying build - the owners finally give up trying to find another crew and walk away!  Horrible but it happens.  Right now we have tons of new resorts being built here...so it is almost impossible to hire a crew and retain them right now for a small job.  I would wait for another year or so, and then all the contractors will be looking for work....It really fluctuates.

The convenience of buying a house of course is someone hands you a key and you move in!  Sometimes that is your best option, especially if you have never lived here and don't know anyone in the area.  

I would recommend that you COME TO CABO FIRST and then do some serious investigation before chosing to do either.

For a ballpark figure of the costs of a 2000 sq foot home, it really matters where you will build.  Sorry.  If you are ocean front think close to 1 million.  Ocean view more like 500,000.  If you are in downtown, then closer to 150,000. If you are on your own piece of property outside of town that needs elec/water/sewage then think close to 250,000.

Answer 3

you can make a nice invest in cabo, I would rather to buy than build because it is to complicated, so if you want Im a lawyer who lives in la paz, but I used to live in cabo for many years,  I can help you with some information if you want, send me an email by here....

Answer 4

any house is upwards of 1 million usd.

Answer 5

I would go to this message board and web site while you are still unable to head for Mexico

http://forums.bajanomad.com/

The only way to improve the prices and see what's available is to go there and talk to people