About the house and La Paz.

The house is just 5km from the La Paz Plaza (new center of La Paz).

It's in a quiet neighbourhood with relatively clean paved streets. There are some good hiking spots with ocean views within a 20 minute walk from the house. The house has a small service area addition making it about 70 meters square (750 square feet). It's obviously not large but it's a really inexpensive and low maintenance house with a concrete patio behind that can be closed in to add more rooms. The entire lot is concrete paved and 3 sides of the lot are closed in with an 8ft concrete wall. We've never had any break in the 9 years we've owned the house.

The house stays cool in the winter months but in the summer air-conditioning is necessary. The bedroom windows are already prepared for 1 ton, 220 volt, window type air conditioners with steel protections. We had a 1 ton in each room which was fine most of the time but a 2 ton mini split would be a good addition in the living room to keep that area comfortable in the summer.

The roof is flat and can be built on to make a second story with a view to the La Paz bay (about 5km away).

I consider it an ideal vacation house for a couple because of its low maintenance, low cost, and location. It should also increase in value because it's on fully serviced land and in the fast growing south side of La Paz (closest to Cabo San Lucas).

The house has an active telephone line which is prepay to use so you don't have to pay anything when you're not there. It can be converted to get a high speed internet connection for about $100US.

The city water supply is inconsistent so a 600 liter roof top water tank is standard. We added a 1200 liter roof top tank and moved the standard 600 liter tank to ground level with an automatic pump. This water supply should last at least 3 weeks in a worst case scenario with normal water use. The lower reserve tank is almost not necessary because of recent improvements to the city water system but in a desert climate it's comforting to have ample supply. The water supply has a one way valve so it can't back flow into the city supply and the lower tank will stay full off residual pressure even when the roof top tank isn't filling (it usually only fills at night).

La Paz is a relaxed yet rapidly growing city. The capital of Baja California Sur, it's just 2 hours from Los Cabos and 1 hour from Todos Santos which is on the Tropic of Cancer. La Paz is renowned for whale watching, fishing, kitesurfing, scuba diving, sea kayaking, off roading, sailing, etc. The beaches just to the north of La Paz are the most beautiful in the Baja, easily accessible, and great for swimming and snorkeling. Unlike Los Cabos, La Paz has warm crystalline water similar to the Caribbean.

The whole of Baja is restricted zone meaning you can only have title through a bank trust (fidecomiso). The bank trust costs about $500 US per year to maintain but gives you all the rights (as the beneficiary of the trust) of a typical owner. There are now some bank trusts available through American banks which should facilitate paperwork from the US.

Our house is less than a minute off the highway going south of La Paz in the Colonio Progreso about 2 miles past the University (UABCS). From the house to the Plaza La Paz (Soriana) is about 10 minutes; to the airport is also 10 - 15 minutes; to the Malecon (waterfront)is about 20 minutes.

The house is about 750 square feet (1 square meter = 10.76 square feet). Our lot is 7 meters by 20 meters or about 1500 square feet. Being a corner lot there is the possibility to convert the back yard into a garage with an entrance on the side (...something I had wanted to do). The block wall around 3 sides of the lot is about 8 feet tall and could be used to support a roof/floor structure for expansion.

The adjacent neighbours are quiet and friendly folks and we never had irresolvable issues with them.

The address is Rubi 136, Colonia Progreso, entre Prosperidad y Opalo.

The house is empty and we don't plan on renting it. We live in Culiacan which is a 40 minute flight from La Paz. I can fly over to show you the house or send my wife with an English speaking friend if I am tied up in work. My wife's family is in La Paz and I am always looking for justifiable excuse to go kitesurfing in La Ventana (40 min southeast of La Paz).

If you have any more questions, please send them or comment below.

An additional note about service costs:

* Telephone- prepaid, pay for use, can be converted.

* Electricity - 15 to 60 dollars per month depending on the season.

The bill comes every second month. Summer air-conditioning costs are heavily subsidized.

* Water- fixed rate - 5 dollars per month

* Annual property taxes - less than 20 dollars per year!

* House insurance is currently included in our mortgage but it's very cheap. The house has already withstood several hurricanes. Insurance responded after the first two hurricanes and covered the little bit of repainting necessary. After the first hurricane I built the addition and reapplied the waterproofing on the roof. Since then it's never rained...kidding, the house has been through 4 more rainy seasons and hurricanes without water entering the house. The neighborhood is very low risk for flooding caused by rains, global warming, tidal surges (hurricanes), or tsunamis which is not the case for many high priced developments I know of.

We are selling the property because we moved to Culiacan three years ago for my work in Homex head office (mainland across from La Paz) and for the awesome kitesurfing in Nuevo Altata. If I had more money, I'd keep it as a vacation home. On the other hand, we haven't been urgently trying to unload it through a broker because it's still our first home with a lot of sentimental feelings and the property is increasing in value at nearly the rate of the mortgage payment.

Thanks for your interest in our cozy little house.

Sincerely,

Aaron Hansen