Top Dog Reporting-My sweet life as part of the Top Mexico Real Estate Family!

The whole entire Top Mexico Real Estate family!

I would like to start off by introducing myself to the world!  My name is Topper and I am the Top Dog here at Top Mexico Real Estate!  I spent two years of my life in and out of shelters!  The most recent being the Playa Animal Shelter where I was loved and cared for by so many people!  Until the day that I found my forever home with my masters Liam and Tanya and the whole entire Top Mexico Real Estate family! 

I feel truly blessed to be in such a loving home where I receive plenty of attention and love!  I get to play, snuggle and take lots and lots of baths! I love baths!  They are my absolute favorite!  And besides, living in the Caribbean can be a little hot so a dog needs a refresher every once in a while; you know? 

Topper with Liam and Tanya

When my masters are away at school my life is far from boring!  I have lots of work to do!  First I greet all of the team members when they come to work!  I feel that I make a great hostess! I know I do because when everyone arrives they pet me and talk to me like a king!  

Once everyone is settled and working I take a little snooze to get ready for the upcoming events of the day! 

Then I get to spend some fun time assisting my masters’ master (otherwise known as dad)…Tom Lloyd!  Don’t tell Liam and Tanya but he is my third favorite person to hang with!  And he has given me a very special job! I get to go out and see all different kinds of Playa del Carmen real estate projects and communities!  

It is my job to sniff the area to be sure that each community we visit is pet friendly!  If I like it then they get my “Topper Stamp of Approval”.  This is a very important certification for dog lovers all over the world!  If you own a pet and are looking for homes or condos in Playa del Carmen or in Mexico search for this stamp as a guaranteed pet friendly community!

So far I have gotten to visit Hacienda del Rio (love) and Quadra Alea (also love) and I recommend all dogs all over the world to encourage their owners come and sniff out these sites! Excuse me, I forgot that human’s don’t sniff; rather they observe with their eyes!

In any case, after a very exciting work day, I need to be home before Liam and Tanya arrive from school as it is very important that I am there to greet my masters.  Besides, I love to see there smiling faces!  Then it’s play time! Yeah!  All the toys come out, the water hose and we run around and play tag!  

Topper with Tom

In the evening the Top Mexico Team starts to leave to go home!  I like to walk them to the door to say good bye.  Afterwards we get ready for dinner and Liam and Tanya fill my bowl with delicious food.  Of course after dinner it is rest time and I hang out with Liam and Tanya while they do their homework and watch a bit of TV!

I have such a great life and so many great adventures! There are so many things that I would love to share about my life with Liam, Tanya, Tom, Bea and the whole Top Mexico crew!  Stay tuned for more Top Dog adventures!

Playa del Carmen Opens First Wheelchair Accessible Beach in Mexico!

Wheelchair accessibility and beaches are not ideas that people would imagine to be very compatible. Yet, a few weeks ago, Playa del Carmen combined innovation, creativity and sound practical thinking to open Mexico’s first wheel-chair accessible beach!

The beach is Fundadores, located right next to the ferry dock in the heart of downtown, which is also one of the widest beaches in the region.

The service offers wheelchairs and walkers specially designed to work on the beach, a wooden board-walk style path going out onto the sand, and accessibility to the beach showers.

Take a look at the pictures:

We’re proud of Playa del Carmen for putting in the effort to make this beautiful beach more accessible and enjoyable for everyone!

Xcalacoco Beach - Perfect Beachfront, Just Out of Town

In this video, you are enjoying relaxation at its best on Xcalacoco beach.  Xcalacoco is located at the north end of Playa del Carmen, forming the beachfront for one of the trendiest up-and-coming areas with new resorts and golf course.  The attraction of the beach speaks for itself; you can enjoy complete relaxation watching the waves of the turquoise Caribbean and the tourists walk by - all relaxed as can be!

If you enjoy walking on the beach, you can walk from Xcalacoco towards the town center passing through a number of Playa del Carmen’s most beautiful beachfront areas, watching the people relax on their lounge chairs sipping cold drinks and enjoying life - the way it was meant to be.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico's Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

1st Ave. is a Quiet Secret Right in Bustling Heart of Playa del Carmen

Sometimes it happens that if you go right to the heart of it all, to the busiest area with the most action, the most people coming and going you can find a surprisingly quiet corner that no one seems to notice.

In the case of Playa del Carmen, this place is an entire street – 1st Ave.  This quiet street which starts and stops again a couple of times, runs parallel to Fifth Avenue between that bustling, trendy street with all its shops and restaurants and the beach.

In a way, it’s not surprising that this street remains quiet and unknown.  Its basically serves as back access to the restaurants and hotels of Fifth Ave. on one side, and those on the beachfront on the other.  If you walk by and look down, there are a couple of shops and a bar or two, as well as a few nice little hotels, but generally speaking there’s not much of interest.

The Best of Both (or All?) Worlds

Yet, when it comes to the question of finding a Playa del Carmen condo for sale, it doesn’t get much better than 1st Ave.:

• Fifth Ave. with all its shops, dining, boutiques, bars and clubs is on one side
• The world’s most beautiful beaches are on the other (with more restaurants)
• It’s a quiet access street to get to your condo; you can walk out your front door without landing in a crowd (yet, all the action is just around the corner!)
• The street offers driving access (Fifth Avenue does not.)

Best Communities Downtown

1st Ave. couldn’t reasonably be considered a “community” but it runs through many of the best communities downtown.

It starts of right in the heart of it all, in the old downtown, and has a little jog running down towards the beach called “1st St.”  It then runs a few blocks north into Little Italyand finally through the Mamitas Beach community.

At this point the street ends and starts up again in the Coco Beach community (see a nice video of the community here) although at this point the character of the street is quite different and there are several smaller streets running between Fifth and the beach.

Tomorrow, I’ll offer  a peak at some of the many beautiful condos to be found on 1st Ave.

TOP Mexico Real Estate is here; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!

Playa del Carmen Real Estate - Could This Be the World’s Best Place to Retire?

There’s a lot talk going around about what the best place to retire in the world is.  Many people claim to have found a definitive answer of the “best city,” or “favorite area” or something similar to that.  While these bold can rarely be backed with solid data, there are some items that almost all retirees would love to see in their lifestyle.  If we look at some of the most important items, we’ll see that  Playa del Carmen real estate  is an excellent choice for retirement, perhaps even the best one – that is, if a retiree is interested in this kind of a lifestyle …

 

Close to Beaches – Residents of Playa del Carmen don’t only live a walk away from a beach, they live a walk away from some of the best beaches to be found, anywhere.  The sand is white and soft.  The water is a bright turquoise and is always warm. A brief look at the  beaches in the Riviera Maya  (the name of area surrounding Playa del Carmen) will show that, besides the fact that it would be difficult to find anything better, there is a good deal of variety in the beach styles, locations and nearby properties.  Good retirement properties both downtown and out in gated communities can be found a walk away from these wonderful beaches!

 

Warm Weather – The weather in Playa del Carmen is warm all year.  While it may get chilly enough during the late evenings in January to put on a sweater (60 is about as low as it gets,) especially if you’re enjoying a late dinner or little snack on the beachfront, daytime is still warm and sunny enough to walk around in shorts and sandals.  The year-round average is 76 degrees.  Seeing an entire day without sunshine is very rare.

Walk-Everywhere Lifestyle – Most retirees are looking for a relaxing place where they can walk to shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, etc. to enjoy their hard-earned leisure time, as well as to supermarkets, banks, clinics, pharmacies and other such services to make taking care of day to day needs simple; after all, what’s more relaxing when you have errands to run than walking 5 minutes to the bank to take care of a payment (for example), then stopping at a nice cafe near the beach on the way home?  Playa del Carmen has a number of great, comfortable gated communities (like Quadra Alea Condos) that offer precisely this kind of comfortable, walk-everywhere lifestyle in the nice north end of downtown.

 

Friendly Neighborhood Lifestyle – Retirees want to know their neighbors, chat with people on the street, enjoy a drink with other Americans and Canadians at their condo poolside.  Playa del Carmen not only has a significant expat community (some estimates say as much as 15,000) but it is a friendly community where people not only say “hi” but stop and chat, join you for a coffee.  The local Mexican people are also very friendly; many speak English and love to hear the stories of those newly arriving to their country.

Low Cost of Living – Playa del Carmen is a place where both real estate and the cost of day to day life is low.  Excellent condos in nice locations can be found for just about any budget.  For those who enjoy larger spaces with a good number of onsite amenities within their complex, beautiful luxury condos can be found for a surprisingly low price per square foot.  The cost of living is also low.  For less than $2000 USD per month, a retired couple can live very comfortably with plenty to go around for travel and those little treats people don’t like to give up. Of course, it’s entirely possible to live comfortably on a good deal less …

Excellent, Affordable Healthcare – Healthcare is important for retirees.  Playa del Carmen is home to a state-of-the-art private hospital and some excellent little clinics.  Prices are surprisingly low for top-of-the-line medical service (typically between 50 and 70 % less).  There is also a public insurance system which has a nice new hospital; a flat fee of about $350 USD per year covers all check-ups, procedures, prescription medication (in and out of hospital), basic dental work and even glasses.  There are more line-ups and paperwork involved (unheard of in the private system) but those who use it feel the service covers their needs.

While it may be difficult to say beyond a doubt which retirement haven is the best or favorite, Playa del Carmen is certainly an excellent candidate.  Most importantly than worldwide rankings or what international newspapers is that retirement here is excellent, it’s affordable, and the average retiree can see their dreams come true here.

TOP Mexico Real Estate; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!

Coralline in Playa del Carmen - Homes and Condos for Sale

Playa del Carmen Community Spotlight - Zazil Ha - Part 2: Excellent Location, Great Property Prices!

An example of the new condos appearing in Zazil-Ha

In yesterday’s postI introduced a little-known community at the north end of downtown Playa, Zazil-Ha.  What makes this quiet, residential neighborhood worth noting are two points:

it’s close to everything (downtown, Little Italy, the beach, Fifth Avenue, supermarkets, etc.)
real estate is very well priced
So, today I’m going to bring a few nice, well-priced Playa del Carmen condos for sale from Zazil-Ha into the spotlight.

1. Studio Condo near Fifth Ave. – $53,000 USD

This nice studio is located just off the corner of 10th Ave, the main traffic street heading downtown, and a very, very short block away from Fifth with all it’s restaurants, cafes and shops.  The beach is a 10 minute walk.  The price and location combined make this studio an excellent opportunity for investors or even vacationers who looking for a cozy little place to stay while visiting Playa.

2. Spacious, 3-bedroom Condo – $185,000 USD

Finding a 3-bedroom condo downtown is difficult in the first place, and unheard of at this price; yet, as I’ve said already, this location is only a short walk from downtown and the beach.  Besides the condo’s nice, European-style balcony (see the picture at the top of this post), the rooftop terrace offers beautiful views of the town and the Caribbean.

3. Oceanview Penthouse – $199,000 USD

Wow! A penthouse in Playa for only $199,000 USD?!? This 2-bedroom penthouse is right on Fifth Avenue, where Zazil-Ha meets the Coco Beach community; the dining, nightlife and culture of Fifth is at the doorstep!  It includes balconies and walk-in closets for both bedrooms, as well as an en suite for the master bedroom.  The rooftop terrace offers views of the beach and Caribbean Sea, which is only a 5 minute walk away!  HOA fees are very low, at approx. $120 USD/month.

There are a handful of other properties available; as I said yesterday, I suspect that in the near future there will be a good deal more of nice, new condos showing up in Zazil-Ha; however, by that time, this stretch of Fifth Avenue will probably also be one of the trendiest in town, and the culture of Little Italy will begin to overflow into this community. That also means it’s a lot less likely that prices will be this low!

Doug Morgan was born in Dayton, Ohio and went to college at Buckeye State. Moving to Louisiana after college, he became President of his New York Stock Exchange company at the age of 28. His later career shifted to Florida and the investment business, where he was a financial advisor and branch manager for over 30 years. He bought his first condominium in Mexico in 2008 (from Top Mexico Real Estate), initially as a vacation home, but a year later he retired and moved full time to Playa del Carmen. Contact Doug at (512) 879-6546.

Tulum homes for sale; Video Interview About Constructing your own Mexican Dream Home in the Jungle

The dream of living in Mexico is alive and very strong for millions of Canadians and Americans.   Tulum is one of those locations that sparks the imagination with its’ incredible post card perfect beaches and their green lush jungles.   Many people fall in love with the beaches and then begin searching for Tulum homes for sale.  But being the little village is so small…the Tulum real estate market has more land than finished homes for choosing.

So there is plenty of land, on the south side, on the road to Coba, land in the downtown section and projects such as Aldea Zama whose infrastructure has been professionally laid out.    But people worry about the thought of taking on a construction project way down south in another country, in another language, in another business environment.   That is why TOP Mexico real estate wanted to chat with a few contractors from the zone.  We know of many homes, gorgeous homes that have been built by Americans and Canadians from long distance…and they were successes!

Take a look at the video below to see this beautiful home in the middle of the Mexican jungle… don’t feel you need to buy cookie cutter homes down in Tulum or in Mexico,  let your imagination run,  put your dreams down on paper and we can introduce you to contractors who can get the job done.

Living Bahia Principe Residences & Golf - Villas Equinox - TOPMexicoRealEstate.com

The complex is one of the most in-demand real estate developments in the area, which different products of the highest quality are offered.

If you are looking to invest in real estate in the Riviera Maya, the Bahia Principe Riviera Maya Residences & Golf Resort, part of one of the most exclusive luxury property developments in the Mexican Caribbean.

Villas Equinox Photo Gallery

Visit TOP Mexico Real Estate; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Heliko Condos - Great New Condos Complex Next to the Beach!

This week we have 2 great pieces of news about  Playa del Carmen real estate.  One is that we’ve discovered an excellent new complex of luxury  Playa del Carmen condos for sale named  Heliko condos. The other is that we’ve already gone to the trouble of making a walk-through video so you can see what Heliko is all about:

As I point out in this video, from our experience, we can see that these condos have many excellent features that most buyers will love.  These include:

• very beautiful design
• unique complex design
• grand spiral staircase in the center of the complex
• rooftop pool and lounge area, with views of the beach
• walking distance to Playa del Carmen’s beautiful white, sandy beaches (a block and a half away)

The neighborhood, Coco Beach, also offers many advantages:

• Playa del Carmen’s most important, up-and-coming neighborhood
• A walk away from the dining, shopping and nightlife of Fifth Avenue
• Far enough to be quiet and exclusive, yet close enough for convenience

These amenities in a great location like this are being offered for a very reasonable price.  Watch the video, visit our Heliko condo page and contact us to find out more.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Why Playa del Carmen real estate is the Way to Go!

CNN Money reported that the housing market in the US is continuing to lag, and especially in Florida where 18% of housing units sit vacant.  What’s more, in parts of the Florida gulf, that rate rises to 32% – almost 1 in 3 housing units remaining vacant.  And Monday, March 21, Reuters reports the National Association of Realtors findings that in February US housing hit a 9 year low, supporting the claims that the US housing has not yet hit bottom.  In fact, Moody’s housing market analyst, Celia Chen, predicts that prices will continue to fall for the next two years and it will be as long as 2030 before there is a full recovery in the US housing market.   Reuters quotes Ingo Winzer, housing market analyst and founder of Local Market Monitor as saying, “If you’re buying in Florida for retirement, maybe you should buy next year when prices will be near the bottom. If you’re buying [Florida real estate] for investment — don’t.”

So where to buy real estate for investment AND for retirement?  Many US, Canadian and European residents are choosing in Mexico and in the Playa del Carmen real estate  region!  In fact, a great majority of current real estate sales here are to Americans, Canadians and Europeans.  Why?  Prices are low and ownership costs are pennies on the dollar compared to US properties.   Typical condominium fees run on average $150 to $300 a month, Homeowners Association Fees in some of the nicest areas are less than $200 a quarter, and property taxes run in the hundreds, not thousands of dollars as in the US.   Playa del Carmen real estate for sale  is moving.

Playa del Carmen is a part of the Mayan Riviera on the Yucatan Peninsula, an area recognized for its natural beauty, and international flavor, and sits at the edge of the second largest barrier reef in the world, making it a diver’s paradise.

And there’s more, as we found when we first visited Playa del Carmen two years ago.  The beaches are fantastic with sand that doesn’t burn your feet and crystal clear tourquise water.  And even in the busy season, you can find plenty of space on the beach to stretch out your towel and enjoy the sun.  Temperatures here are warmer than Miami in the winter and cooler than Miami in the summer.  Golf courses abound, and at reasonable rates.  The people of Playa del Carmen are so friendly and helpful!  We, as well as our ex-pat friends, feel safer here than in the US.  Playa del Carmen also offers state of the art medical and dental care at a fraction of the cost in the US.  And our auto insurance premiums dropped from almost $6,000 a year in Miami to just under $300 a year when we moved here.

So, next time you are thinking of a vacation, come visit us in Playa del Carmen.  You may find yourselves moving here, just as we did less than three months from our first visit.  As Bob said last night while enjoying cocktails on our terrace and watching the sun set, “I never dreamed we could afford to live in such a beautiful place only a couple of blocks from the Caribbean.”

Who knows – Maybe you can, too!  Let us show you how.  Give us a call or send us an email.  We’re happy to share our new home town with you!

Visit TOP Mexico Real Estate and change your life; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Pueblo Sacbe - Off the Grid Community Video Tour - Playa del Carmen Real Estate