Honey, What Are We Waiting For?

Baby-boomers love the beach, and many are transitioning from living in the States to spending more time at their vacation homes in Mexico. That's one step closer to retiring in Mexico, and savvy developers are building "designer communities" to respond to the need for more of a neighborhood than a vacation feel.

Seeing a move to Mexico as a leg-up on the economy, boomers see Mexico as a place where they can live a better quality life and afford to retire early while they still have a full head of steam for enjoying life. They can see themselves taking their laptops and moving to where they can slow down.

The 2nd largest land developer in the world, Homex, has plans to develop 22 designer communities in Mexico in popular destinations. Some developments, like, Las Villas de Mexico, will offer membership benefits that include a certain amount of free urgent care and preventative care. In addition, there will be a focus on neighborhood culture.

"Since in a brand new development we can't talk to the neighbors, we want to know what a developer can tell us about what they are doing to support a community culture; like a community center or an arts commission, or even a theater either being built or already available in the accessible town culture," said Kate Grinnell a Seattleite who recently attended a "Retire in Mexico" dinner presentation in Bellevue, Washington.

The attention that night was on a particular location in the coveted Cabo San Lucas area; homes in a brand new planned community, and according to the promoter, "going for the early 1990's prices".  Those who love the California lifestyle are finding the ocean-side developments along Baja very appealing in terms of amenities; country-club living at American middle class prices.

Grinnell's comments were typical of other guests who were swapped stories and experiences around the dinner tables. Several guests said they have been considering living in Mexico for many years and travel there often.

"We met this guy who was disabled, and a retired lawyer living in a beautiful home in Baja," said Grinnell. "He was in a wheel chair and I said to him 'forgive me for asking but it must be very difficult for you living with a disability in Mexico because they just don't have the wheelchair accessible accouterments in Mexico we have in the U.S."

"And he said to me, 'Are you kidding me? I live like a king here'. He said he had a guy who drives for him and practically carries him anywhere that he can't get with his wheelchair," said Grinnell, "and he explained that, besides the housing and taxes, service is so inexpensive in Mexico that you can live like a king."

"The point of living in Mexico is that you can live very well on not a lot of money and to me that is the main point," said Grinnell, "and also that you can make friends easily in whatever community you live in."

Grinnell contrasted the "neighborly" atmosphere of expat communities she's visited in Mexico to the experience of her friends who live part time in the Palm Springs area and part time in Mexico.

"They have owned their condo in Cathedral City longer but they know no one there," exclaimed Grinnell", "They have no social life there so they go to their place in Mexico every other week and have the most glorious time down there with all their friends; all really interesting people!"

"That was my other point," she said, "I think the people who even think about leaving the United States, for a retirement community abroad or for any extended stay, are just more interesting people. That's just how I feel about it."