• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result

Where To Find Puerto Vallarta’s Most Affordable Properties

Best Beach Bargain In Mexico?

Lee Harrison by Lee Harrison
Feb 03, 2017
in Mexico, Real Estate
0
Puerto Vallarta buildings line the beach
210
SHARES
3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Today’s strong dollar has created a lot of terrific opportunities around the world, and one of today’s best bargains is here in Mexico.

The dollar’s buying power versus the Mexican peso is up over 100% since 2008. Effectively, most everything in Mexico is now selling for half price.

Even in those expat areas where real estate trades in dollars, everything else in your life is a major bargain. Your taxes, restoration costs, furniture, upkeep, clothing, car repairs, etc., all cost half what they did just a short time ago.

Where you’ll really see the difference is in cities that used to be expensive, places where the costs of fine dining, wine, and entertainment had expanded beyond the typical retiree budget.

One of the best examples of this is Mexico’s famous beach resort Puerto Vallarta.

Puerto Vallarta Offers A Winter Climate That Can’t Be Beat

There’s no better place right now for escaping harsh winter weather than coastal Mexico. And Puerto Vallarta (known as “PV”) is no exception.

The climate in PV is absolutely magnificent during the North American winter, with warm, dry days and cool nights. The average high in January is just over 83°F (28.8°C), while the average low is down at 62°F (16.7°C).

But it’s hot in the summertime, with August temps averaging almost 93°F (33.7°C). That may not sound like much if you live in Arizona, but humidity at this time runs about 70%… so it feels a lot warmer.

Ocean temperatures are fairly warm all year… at least by my South Jersey standards. In January, the sea temperature hits its annual low of about 75°F (24°C) and will go as high as 86°F (30°C), sustained between August and October.

The rainy season goes from June through October, with most rain falling between July and September. Dawn-to-dusk rainy days are unusual though, and afternoon showers are the norm.

The Original City Is Most Popular Among Expats And Travelers

The city of Puerto Vallarta is centered on Banderas Bay, with the greater PV area extending for miles in both directions. Take a look at the map:


The city proper includes Centro and what’s popularly called the Romantic Zone (Zona Romántica), divided by the Cuale River.

Centro is on the north side of the river, and it’s the heart of Puerto Vallarta. It has preserved its original cobblestone streets and buildings and has maintained the appearance of old Mexico.

Centro offers everything you need within easy walking distance. There are plenty of shops, cafés, fine and casual restaurants, markets, and some of the city’s best nightlife. The long and beautiful El Malecón (boardwalk) begins here and is the hub of seafront life.

El Cerro is also on the north side of the river, just inland from Centro, located where the terrain begins to rise into the surrounding hills. And, while not as polished or well-maintained as Centro, El Cerro still preserves the appearance of old Mexico. Here you’ll find some areas in beautiful condition, while others are fairly run down… but there are some good property deals here, so it’s worth a look.

Gringo Gulch is another (unofficial) area inland of Centro, and, as the name implies, it’s popular with Anglo expats from the United States and Canada. This is the original American sector in PV, from the days when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor lived here.

This is a convenient area, located along the north bank of the Cuale River just east of Centro. You can easily walk to all the conveniences of Centro… although the walk back uphill won’t be quite so easy. Nevertheless, it’s a good place to live and a popular place to buy property.

Zona Romántica beach

The Romantic Zone is still in PV proper, but south of the Río Cuale.

I’m not sure how the Romantic Zone got its name. Apparently, someone’s idea of “romantic” includes hordes of tourists and cruise passengers, crowded beaches, souvenir shops, and plenty of places where you can buy a Puerto Vallarta T-shirt.

But in fairness, the Romantic Zone also includes some of PV’s best restaurants and cafés, best nightlife, and elegant beachfront dining.

The south side of the river also includes the old-fashioned neighborhood of Emiliano Zapata and the upscale Alta Vista.

Both Centro and the Romantic Zone (and associated neighborhoods) are convenient to PV’s international airport, which is just a few minutes away. The airport offers excellent international service, including nonstop service to 14 cities in Canada.

Property Prices In Puerto Vallarta Are Reasonable For A City This Rich With Amenities

There are a lot of good living options outside of the original PV, both to the north and south.

But Puerto Vallarta itself is the most popular with expats, offers the most liquidity, the strongest short-term rental market, and good price performance.

In the Zona Romántica, I came across an interesting property just down the street from where I stayed in PV. It was a one-bedroom, one-bath condo of 66 square meters (710 square feet) in the La Palapa beachfront complex (which hosts one of the area’s best restaurants).

The apartment offers a large, single bedroom with a terrace and island kitchen. The living room has a sofa bed for guests, and the dining area seats four. The complex has a rooftop pool and sundeck, and offers an excellent location in the center of all the action.

The asking price is US$299,000. This would make a great rental, and it comes completely furnished and equipped.

Adjacent to the Zona Romántica in the heart of the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, there’s a spacious 140-square-meter (1,506 square-foot) artist’s home with excellent bay views. The large apartment has three bedrooms and two bathrooms on a quiet cul-de-sac. This totally renovated unit has new appliances in a pet-friendly building with a heated rooftop dipping pool, barbecue area, and stunning ocean, mountain, and city views. The asking price is US$229,000.

In Centro, a spacious main-floor unit is available in a quiet, boutique complex with a heated swimming pool, colorful bougainvillea plants, and a view of the city lights and the bay. This 120-square-meter (1,291 square-foot), two-bedroom, two-bath home is well-situated just blocks from El Malecón and is within walking distance of restaurants, shops, and galleries.

The fully equipped kitchen includes solid-wood cabinets with glass fronts, colorful tile counters, and backsplashes in the Mexican style. The spacious master suite, with king-sized bed, ample closets, and private bathroom, also overlooks the pool and view. The guest suite opens to a secluded back patio. The complex also offers a rooftop terrace with views of downtown and the entire bay.

Offered fully furnished, the asking price is US$175,000.

If a two-story home is more your style, there’s a spacious house on the market with three bedrooms, two baths, and just under 118 square meters of living space (1,264 square feet), located just two blocks from the boardwalk. It features a huge central living area and nice outdoor patio designed to let in plenty of light and breeze. The open kitchen and lofted living room are perfect for entertaining and enjoying the views and ocean breezes. The three bedrooms are upstairs, with the master bedroom offering a terrace with views to El Malecón and Banderas Bay. The asking price is US$165,000.

Gay Travelers And Residents Are A Big Market Force In Puerto Vallarta

PV is known to be the most gay-friendly city in Mexico. In fact, I’ve never seen such a presence of same-sex couples anywhere else (as in PV’s Romantic Zone)… both male and female, of all ages and nationalities.

PV is more than just gay-friendly… and gay people are more than just “accepted” or “welcomed.” Here it looks and feels like being gay is the norm.

Savvy entrepreneurs, marketers, and property investors have adapted handily to this important, generally upscale market segment at every opportunity. It’s more than a “niche,” and every successful property investor should keep it in mind.

Is Puerto Vallarta For You?

zPV is one of the most expensive real estate markets in Mexico, so if you’re simply looking for an inexpensive beachfront home, this won’t be the place to buy.

Also, Centro and the Romantic Zone are noisy well into the night. This is the price you pay in any city for the convenience of being near everything, but it’s worth a reminder.

Puerto Vallarta offers beautiful beaches, an iconic boardwalk, and more fine dining and entertainment than you can ever explore. It’s well-worth your consideration for a winter home… or for that vacation rental property to provide you with some extra income.

Lee Harrison
Editor, Overseas Property Alert

Comments

Tags: 'Lee Harrison'cost of living mexicocost of living Puerto Vallartaexpats mexicoexpats Puerto Vallartaliving mexicoliving Puerto Vallartaretire mexicoretire Puerto vallarto
Share84Tweet53
Previous Post

Carnival In Barranquilla: The Second-Biggest Carnival In The World

Next Post

Expat Entrepreneurs: Opening A B&B In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Lee Harrison

Lee Harrison

Lee has been living overseas for nearly two decades, making his first purchase abroad in the colonial city of Cuenca, Ecuador. After that first investment, he traveled extensively across Latin America and Europe looking for the best property deals possible. Lee’s network of property insiders from those travels, along with his understanding of local cultures and languages, has helped him develop insight into local property markets that only the locals usually possess.

Related Posts

Beautiful view of Tulum beach during sunrise in Mexico
Mexico

Buying Property In Mexico: Step-By-Step Guide For Expats

by Lee Harrison
April 20, 2021
0

This is my sixth year in Mexico, and I’ve never seen real estate action like I’m seeing now. And the...

Read more
Carvoeiro town and beach in the Algarve, Portugal.

Some Helpful Tips Before You Buy Real Estate In Portugal

April 14, 2021
El Castillo and Caribbean beach, Mayan Ruins of Tulum, Mexico.

Big Opportunities In Tulum And Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

March 19, 2021
Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The 9 Places Expats Should Consider When Retiring In Mexico

March 18, 2021
Mazatlan Beach strip, an area with many hotels for tourist.

Mazatlán: The Best And Easiest Option For Beachfront Lifestyle For Expats

March 17, 2021
Alamos, Mexico.

Why Álamos Is The #1 Place For Single Women Overseas

March 16, 2021
White sand beach in Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico.

Move To America’s Most Popular Expat Destination In 2 Weeks

March 15, 2021
Next Post
Puerto Vallarta Bahia is the perfect beach getaway.

Expat Entrepreneurs: Opening A B&B In Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we'll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

how to retire overseas

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2021

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2021 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

WANT TO RETIRE OVERSEAS?

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll immediately send you a free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE in style overseas. Each day you’ll learn about the best opportunities for international living, retiring overseas, offshore diversification and asset protection, and investing in real estate around the world.

Get Your Free ​Mexico Report Today!
 

​​​Learn more about ​​​MEXICO ​​​and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​​​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​Mexico: Home To The World's Largest Population Of North American Retirees
 

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.