November 6, 2008
Campeche, Mexico

Hola Mexico Insiders,

Late September found me enjoying a perfect fall day in Rosarito, Baja, Calif. Sunny, temperatures in the low 80s° F., a light breeze blowing…you get the picture. Rosarito has the same climate as San Diego, an hour to the north—which is considered one of the best in the world.

I was in Rosarito with Suzan Haskins, International Living’s Latin America editorial director, to see how time has treated this old favorite. Four or five years ago, Rosarito was Mexico Insider’s top pick in all of Mexico as a place to live and retire. And with good reason. Rosarito, it seemed, had it all…that great weather, beautiful beaches, affordable real estate, U.S.-style shops and amenities, and located just a stone’s throw from the U.S./Mexico border—you could commute to California from Rosarito. (And many people did.)

But in the years since then, Rosarito’s real estate market heated up—many would say overheated. Prices rose and worries about crime escalated. (We heard stories, for instance, of surfers being assaulted. And Tijuana, considered a hot-bed of drug-related violence, is just 15 minutes away.) The buyers began to stay away.

Today the news once again is good. Very good. Rosarito’s real estate market has cooled off. And though Tijuana is still nearby, its violence seems a world away; Rosarito’s streets feel safe. But this good news has not yet gotten out…and the hordes of buyers have not yet returned. But they will….

Right now may be the best possible time to buy in Rosarito. Top-of-the-line condos and houses sit waiting for buyers—and developers are ready to cut excellent deals for serious shoppers.

Read all about Rosarito and its bargains in this month’s issue of Mexico Insider. And if you’ve ever wanted all the comforts of home at half the cost…run, don’t walk, to your nearest Rosarito realtor.

Best regards,

Glynna Prentice