100,000 Americans Call It Quits and Retire to Mexico Every Year
by Andre Estes
We have updates for those of you who have followed our recent move from Los Angeles to Rosarito Beach, Baja, California, Mexico, in a previous edition of EscapeFromAmericaMagazine. Other than hanging some large pieces of art and a few drapes in our 4,500 sq ft beachside castle (no moat, but as secure), we’re almost settled now and ready to meet new people and learn more about Baja California. This morning, we dropped by the offices of Baja123 to say hello to our friends, the owners of Baja123, David and Kanoa Biondolillo, and they suggested we would enjoy meeting a friend of theirs, Douglas Welch, Corporate Director, Santa Barbara Luxury Living at Bajamar, located just 24 miles South of Rosarito near Ensenada, a city of 450,000 people, and only 50 miles from San Diego. Arrangements were quickly made by phone for a tour of the property and lunch at the Bajamar Hotel. We jumped at the opportunity to see the property and meet Douglas.
Thirty minutes later, we pulled into the palatial security gates of Bajamar and drove through their graciously appointed grounds, jogging and walking trails, three beautifully manicured nine-hole golf courses with an ocean view on every hole (we later learned the courses were often compared to Pebble Beach), and small boutique-type vacation homes and mansions along decorative stamped concrete streets. We both commented that we felt like we’d landed in a private paradise. We found Douglas Welch in his office, replicated to match the interior of one of their oceanfront condominiums in their ‘community for the privileged’ in Santa Barbara at Bajamar. The office was fully appointed with travertine tile flooring and recessed architectural lighting system to rival the finest upscale homes anywhere in the world. Gracious and welcoming, Douglas was the perfect host by inviting us into his office and making us comfortable. We enjoyed an instantaneous friendship as Douglas introduced himself and his real passion, the beautiful property, Santa Barbara at Bajamar. After our in-office meeting, Douglas provided us a grand tour of the property of Bajamar and we viewed the luxury homes and new developments currently underway in the area of over 1,800 acres. When we approached the Santa Barbara condominium complex which sits on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it took our breath away. We immediately admired the Spanish, early-California mission style architecture of the building with its white curved archways and wide open porches. William and I were both anxious to tour one of the units and Douglas graciously offered to show us several of them. The units ranged in size from 2 bedroom/2 bath, 1,970 sq feet to the penthouse which offers 4,150 sq ft with 3 bedrooms/3 baths. Each unit offered terraces overlooking the ocean ranging from 290 sq ft to 910 sq ft. The prices ranged from around $400,000 to over $800,000 to purchase the units. They also offer fractional ownerships for eight weeks per year for around $90,000 for some of their units. August 30, 2010 Copyright © 2010 Escape From America Magazine
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