Forums > Areas > Central Highlands

fanstone

Jun 23, 2003, 6:34 AM

Post #1 of 3 (363 views)

Shortcut

Help Please!

Can't Post | Private Reply

My wife and I have toured many of the different Colonial and Coastal towns/cities in Mexico and have decided that we would like to buy a 1/2 bedroom apartment in either Guanajuato or San Miguel both of which we love.

Our problems are these:
1)Information of any real estate information in Guanajuato is difficult to obtain, and in addition, what is available does not include apartments- only suburban detached houses and maybe a few larger houses in el Centro are shown. We would like an older property in el Centro in a picturesque location and don't mind some remodelling work- I am an architect. Also we are unsure of the type of ownership in Apartments- is it condominium or is it a different form of ownership? Is this type of property listed through real estate agents or are they sold privately?
2) Although there is ample information on property in San Miguel on the Web, most of the information is for single family homes. Again, our preference would be for an apartment or possibly a casita in one of the picturesque older areas of town. The other questions are as for Guanajuato.

We would appreciate any information on the above as we seem to have hit a roadblock.

gpk

Jun 23, 2003, 8:45 AM

Post #2 of 3 (350 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fanstone] Help Please!

Can't Post | Private Reply

Please note: I'm not professing to be an expert--so all this is just based on my experience. I have lived in the state of Guanajuato for 3 years.

You are not going to have much success over the internet--you're going to have to be on site. This is 100% the case in Guanajuato--the most difficult real estate city I've come across in Mexico. There are few agents and no multiple listing. I would guess there are no "old" condos in "Guanajuato capital" (as the locals call it)-- you'll have to rent if you want to be in the centro. Condos are possible in Marfil and other areas, but they will be new. I almost bought an old house in el centro a couple years ago. It had a great roof deck with 360 degree view. It was dark inside, inaccessible by car (a common situation in Guanajuato), and needed at least US$50,000 worth of work. The price was US$100,000.

San Miguel is much easier to deal with, but the prices are higher. There are dozens of realtors and they all speak English (not so in Guanajuato).

Anyway--this was not meant to be discourageing--just come on down and start the exploration. It's very exciting!

D.G.

Jun 24, 2003, 7:15 AM

Post #3 of 3 (323 views)

Shortcut

Re: [fanstone] Help Please!

Can't Post | Private Reply

We bought a house in San Miguel a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if you would call it a casita or not, but it is not a large house. It was new, and sold for approximately $95,000 U.S. It had two bedrooms and 1.5 baths.

I think you may have to be more flexible in your thinking. Most of the real estate for sale is for single family dwellings. As far as apartments are concerned, there are not many, and they are mostly rooms rented to students. I'm not sure either what an apartment would get you, since most all the homes are connected with party walls and cheek and jowl to each other.

That desire to be in Centro will cost you dearly too. This city has been "discovered" . Also, being an architect from another country (if that is the case) doesn't help you much in Mexico. You still don't know the contractors or supply chains or a thousand other details you will need in order to remodel. Also, don't forget that things move at a different pace than what you may be used to. And materials vary as well as their availability.

You should come to the places you are interested in, and investigate first hand. This is not something you can do sitting in front of a computer far away. Mexico is a very hands-on place where you will have to talk to people face to face.