Affordable Off-The-Grid Community On Mexico’s Riviera Maya Coast

By Live And Invest Overseas On Jun 6, 2014

Own On The Riviera Maya For Less Than US$37,000 (Interest-Free Financing Available)

Living off-grid attracts two different kinds of personalities—those who want to do their part to save the planet and reduce their carbon footprints…and those who want the security of not having to rely on “the system” for their utilities.

Taking yourself off the grid is particularly appealing in a country where the mains electricity isn’t reliable.

One developer I’ve known for some years on the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico has launched a second sustainable, off-the-grid community (this after completing a similar and successful first project). This new development is Los Arboles Cobá and is 20 minutes inland from Tulum in the heart of Mayan country.

Los Arboles Cobá is a sustainable, off-the-grid community that nonetheless offers amenities like high-speed Internet, phones, and satellite TV. The lots are large tracts of old-growth jungle with very low development density—less than 15% of the property.

The developer is offering a 25% discount for the first 15 cash buyers. At least seven of those lots have been taken as of this writing. Some people are buying with a plan to build a house while others see the opportunity to get in early at such a discount as a good investment play. With prices starting at less than US$37,000 (with the launch discount), the capital you need to buy into this opportunity is low.

The first project the developer did (called Los Arboles Tulum) was a popular sell and already has a number of homes built…and some of the early lot buyers there have resold for a profit. It’s with that track record that the developer decided to do a second project nearby.

The attraction of the location is the nearby Riviera Maya, specifically south of Playa del Carmen. That entire area is growing as both a tourist and an expat residential destination. The beaches in this area are some of the world’s most beautiful. But equally important to the investor is the Path of Progress angle.

Cancun—one of Mexico’s top two resorts—began in 1974 as a tourism project on a small fishing island. As it exploded into a city of more than 700,000, the swath of development extended southward toward Playa del Carmen, transforming it from a fishing village to a town of more than 150,000 today.

From there, development continues to creep southward as developers and pioneers seek unspoiled beaches and towns that remain convenient to Cancun’s international airport.

This classic Path of Progress investment scenario has been good to early investors who purchased in the path from Cancun through Playa del Carmen and beyond.

Tulum is squarely in this Path of Progress. Just a few years ago, the town consisted of a handful cabins and a few fishing shacks. Today, the census counts more than 18,000 people there.

Here are a few things to remember about the Riviera Maya:

It boasts over 125 miles of beautiful Caribbean beaches…

The climate is warm and tropical all year…

Cancun’s international airport, less than 1.5 hours away, provides easy access to the United States and Canada…

The Riviera Maya provides more than 60% of Mexico’s tourist income…

High prices and existing development are found at the northern end of the Riviera Maya; lower prices, lesser development, and greater opportunity lie to the south…

Within the Riviera Maya, the current hotspot is Tulum. The Bahía Príncipe Sian Ka’an Riviera Maya Resort (and associated projects) has drawn the world in the direction of Tulum like a magnet. And with good reason…

The area features warm Caribbean waters and pristine beaches. Also, the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest in the world, is located nearby, providing world-class diving and snorkeling…

Another draw to this area is the presence of the best-preserved Mayan archeological sites, along with a few world-class golf courses to round out the local attractions…

The Los Arboles Cobá project is located about 20 minutes inland from Tulum. It’s a fully gated community consisting of 1,200 acres of old-growth jungle. The project is rich with local plants and indigenous wildlife.

Only 15% of the total property is available for development, and the lots are large. Buyers can clear only a modest amount of land around their home sites, which in turn must be set back a good distance from the property line.

Los Arboles Cobá is close to Maya archeological sites, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, and the second largest barrier reef in the world.

The project also includes the following features:

Roads made from locally harvested materials allow for natural drainage…

A 47-acre central park, with a coffee shop, laundry facility, and local store…

A community pool, volleyball court, and community center…

Low environmental impact construction using alternative energy sources…

Again, high-speed Internet, telephone networks, and satellite TV are available, and modern medical facilities are nearby.

The interest-free, 5-5-5 deal says it all. The terms are US$5,000 down, US$500 per month, for 5 years, with no interest.

Obviously, the final payment at the end will vary with the lot size since in all cases you’ll only have paid US$35,000 after five years. But this plan is a great way to invest in this community with a low initial outlay.

As always, the best deal is reserved for the early buyers. In this case, the best terms are only available to cash buyers of the first 15 lots—and those are selling quickly.

The lots available for this special offer vary between 1.25 and 9 acres (0.5 to 3.6 hectares).

Here are the terms for cash buyers of the first 15 lots:

If you opt for the financing package on the first 15 lots, the 25% discount becomes a 10% discount. Note that the special financing offer does not apply to the 9-acre parcels.

If you’re interested in a self-sustaining, off-the-grid property, then you should look closely at this offer. It’s the best I’ve seen in a while.

You can get in touch for more information here.

Lee Harrison

Editor’s Note: Lee Harrison is the editor of our Overseas Property Alert. This once-a-week free e-letter service comes straight from Lee’s laptop to yours as he’s on the road scouting real estate markets of opportunity.

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