Are you wondering where is the best place to buy a beach house in Mexico? Mexico is for sure one of the favorite destinations for tourists but also for foreigners that are looking for their second homes or investment properties. Mexico is a large country and even though the whole country shares the same welcoming and friendly attitude, each estate has its own cultural heritage, food specialties, weather, and their own breathtaking landscapes.
Mexico has two coasts the first on the Pacific that goes from the turquoise waters of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur to the almost white sands of Huatulco, Oaxaca. The beaches in the pacific are famous for their cold and deep waters and high tides. On the other hand, we have the Mexican Gulf and Caribbean coast where the waters are warm and calm and go from Playa Miramar in Tamaulipas to Mahahual, Quintana Roo.
When considering buying a beach house in Mexico and more specifically when you’re looking for beach homes for sale in Mexico you should consider that each of our beaches is completely different from the other and suited to a different lifestyle.
Is buying in Mexico Real Estate a good investment?
Yes, it is. Buy a beach house in Mexico is always a good investment. Considering the current exchange rates between the American and Canadian dollar to the Mexican peso, Mexican Real Estate is cheap and sometimes you can even get a bargain. That’s why as Forbes stated: “More than 1 million Americans live in Mexico and more than 500,000 own homes here.”
But determining whether your real estate investment in Mexico is a good investment or not you should consider a lot of little things but mostly these key factors:
▸ What is the main reason you want to buy a beach house in Mexico? Are you going to live full time there, is it going to be a vacation home and if so, are you willing to rent it out while you’re not using it, or are you buying it just for rental purposes?
▸ The overall buying costs.
▸ What are the market conditions and trends on the destination you choose to buy a beach house in Mexico?
▸ Calculating rental income, capital gains taxes, and other fees.
▸ Property maintenance or property management costs.
▸ Cost of living in Mexico.
▸ Tourism Ranking of the destination.
We know this might sound overwhelming but if you have any questions or need help with the process please contact MexLife Realtors our expert advice has helped many investors achieve the highest ROI from their Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit investments and many couples and families to find their perfect match to buy a beach house in Mexico.
Where is the best place to buy a beach
house in Mexico?
As we previously talked Mexico is a diverse country with an enormous offer of beach homes for sale and sometimes it can be very difficult to decide where to buy your new home so here we put together a list of the 4 best beach towns to buy a beach house in Mexico:
Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta might be the best place to buy a beach house in Mexico. This cosmopolitan city that embraces diversity is the perfect spot for your new property if you’re into a golfing lifestyle, sport fishing, sailing, lively nightlife, and wellness. Or if you’re looking for a high ROI this city is also a perfect choice, even during the covid-19 pandemic Puerto Vallarta has been leading the tourism rebound in Mexico.
How much is the average house in Puerto Vallarta?
Real estate in Vallarta can go from $25,000 to $15 million USD depending on the type of property you want, the location, amenities, and the size.
Usually, people who buy a beach house in Mexico, especially in Puerto Vallarta either for their own use or for rental purposes look for condos and the prices can go from $50,000 to nearly $3 million depending on the location, if it is beachfront or not, and the general conditions of the construction.
The Best Neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta
Mismaloya
This beach has been popular for over 50 years because it was used as the set for the famous movie, The Night of the Iguana, which included the Hollywood star, Richard Burton. It’s a beautiful place where the Sierra Madre hills and the emerald waters of the Pacific converge in perfect harmony.
This is a perfect place to live if you’re into paddle boarding, fishing, whale watching, or if you want to see every day the beautiful landscape created by Los Arcos of Mismaloya, a national park where you can practice snorkeling and watch tropical endemic fishes.
Conchas Chinas – Amapas
Conchas Chinas is a blue flag beach, which means a sustainable beach, therefore, the cleanest beach in the whole city. If you’re looking for a place to practice any kind of water sport this is not the place for you but if you’re into bird watching, snorkeling, or diving Conchas Chinas is the perfect spot for you to get your new beachfront property.
On the other hand, Amapas is a beach flanked by rocks with medium texture sand and emerald waters. This is the perfect place for your new home if you’re looking for peace and calm as there are no restaurants or any services at this beach. Amapas is the favorite beach for new weds that are looking for romance and old couples that enjoy seclusion.
Zona Romantica – Old Town
Zona Romantica is known as the best gayborhood in America but also has the most important beach in Vallarta. Playa Los Muertos is the perfect spot if you’re looking for luxurious condos, a big flow of national and international tourists, amazing restaurants and bars with live music, and lively nightlife.
A very popular attraction in Zona Romantica is Los Muertos Pier, where hundreds of locals and tourists gather every night to enjoy the most romantic sunsets.
Hotel Zone
As its name suggests this is the area of Vallarta where most of the high-end resorts are located but there is also the home of luxury condos and shopping malls.
There are five distinct golden beaches in this zone that are: Playa de Oro, Playa Los Tules, Playa las Glorias, Playa Tranquila, Playa Camarones. If you’re looking for a luxury and exclusive lifestyle Hotel Zone is the place for you.
Marina Vallarta
Might be the most luxurious and exclusive area of Vallarta where you can find luxury hotels, high-end condos, houses, and private schools.
This used to be the largest marina in Mexico with 500 slips and even though it isn’t the largest anymore, still there are top-level maritime amenities prepared to welcome charters, boats, and even luxury yachts.
If you’re into sailing this is definitely the place where you should buy your new property but it’s also the dream place for the people who love golfing because here is located a championship 18-hole golf course.
Riviera Nayarit
This is a trendy destination and one of the favorite places to buy a beach house in Mexico. They have 186 miles of virgin coast and a full variety of places to visit that go from magical towns to wildlife sanctuaries.
Riviera Nayarit is the perfect place to buy a beach house in Mexico if you’re a golf lover, they have 8 golf courses with amazing ocean views, but it is also a perfect place for those who love nature and follow a wellness lifestyle.
How much does a house cost in Riviera Nayarit Mexico?
Real estate in Riviera Nayarit can go from $81,500 to $7.5 million USD depending on the type of property you want, the location, amenities, and the size.
Usually, people who buy real estate in Riviera Nayarit either for their own use or for rental purposes look for condos or houses and the prices can go from $81,500 to nearly $3.5 million for condos and from $91,000 to nearly $7.5 million for houses.
The Best Neighborhoods in Riviera Nayarit
Sayulita
This boho luxury destination is a popular destination not only for tourists but for people who are looking for beach homes for sale in Mexico. It is a magical town full of vibrant colors and beautiful turquoise waters with a huge ex-pat community.
Sayulita due to its high tides is known as the paradise for surfers and people who practice paddleboarding, but it is also the perfect place for people who love yoga retreats, spas, massages, and therapeutic services.
Punta de Mita
Punta de Mita is an exclusive place with 6 miles of virgin beaches where you will find luxury as its finest. If you’re into full-service resorts, luxury amenities, and fine dining this is the perfect spot for your new beachfront property.
Punta de Mita is also a golfing paradise named as one of the most important golfing resorts worldwide, with two famous golf courses, Punta Mita Pacifico and their world-famous and one-of-a-kind hole 3b and Punta Mita Bahia a perfect golf course for experts.
Nuevo Vallarta, Now Nuevo Nayarit
Nuevo Vallarta recently renamed Nuevo Nayarit is an all-in-one town where you can find luxury resorts and condos, exclusive restaurants, two of the most important marinas in Mexico, and well-known golf courses,, and spas recognized worldwide.
If you are into golfing, El Tigre is a popular golf facility with 18 holes, 144 sand traps, and 9 lakes perfect for professional golfers. On the other hand, if you are a sailor Nuevo Vallarta has 2 marinas Marina Nuevo Vallarta and Marina Paradise Village that can hold up to 500 boats.
This town is also known for its gourmet food and exclusive restaurants and hydro-reflexology spas. Both restaurants and spas are mostly located inside luxury resorts and hotels.
Bucerías
This charming typical Mexican town used to be a humble fishing village and now it has become the perfect place for people who are looking for relaxation and calm. But due to its dynamic waters is also an ideal location for people who love practicing kayak, jet skiing, and sailing boats.
So, if you’re a newly retired, an older couple, or just someone who enjoys tranquility and a calm lifestyle you should definitely consider Bucerías as an option for your new property.
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is a high rising destination for people who are looking for beach homes for sale in Mexico, this is due to the millionaire inversion of the zone and the tens of housing developments that are already planned for the next years.
If you enjoy activities such as snorkeling and scuba diving this is a perfect match for you. But if you’re a sport fishing lover La Cruz de Huanacaxtle is the ideal place for your new property. Fishing is the main activity in this town and it is the scenario for several fishing tournaments every year. Here you can fish mostly tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, or dorado fish.
Cancun
If you’re looking for a small and peaceful place where bicycles and pushcarts are the main modes of transportation, then Cancun is not your place to buy a beach house in Mexico. Cancun is a medium to a large city with more than a million residents where the vibe is divided between relaxation and lively nightlife.
Cancun is the most popular destination in the Riviera Maya and the Caribbean due to its mesmerizing white sand beaches and its warm and turquoise waters. But it doesn’t end there, Cancun is full of unique natural places such as their magnificent natural wells that are the perfect scenario for water adventures but it is also the home of over 750 restaurants and sophisticated hospitals, spas, malls, and nightclubs
The magical Mayan culture that influences every spot of Cancun and in the whole Riviera Maya added to the above has turned this city into a very popular second home for a big number of American and Canadian ex-pats.
How much does a house cost in
Cancun Mexico?
Real estate in Cancun can go from $112,000 to $9 million USD depending on the type of property you want, the location, amenities, and size.
Usually, people who buy a beach house in Mexico, especially in Cancun either for their own use or for rental purposes look for condos or houses and the prices can go from $112,000 to nearly $3 million for condos and from $182,500 to nearly $9 million for houses.
The Best Neighborhoods in Cancun
Hotel Zone
Hotel Zone is the place where most of the tourists are, meaning that is the place where you will find the main attractions. If you’re into bars, fine dining, and enjoying the nightlife, or if you’re looking for a luxury Hotel Zone is perfect for you. It’s also the best spot for shopping but not for grocery shopping, in this zone, there’s only 1 supermarket which means frequent long drives to the downtown.
Puerto Morelos
This is a small and old fishing town, perfect for those who love fishing and water activities such as snorkeling, diving, and scuba diving, even though in the last years it has been growing it is still a quiet place. If you are a fan of the natural wells Puerto Morelos can be the perfect spot for your home due to its closeness to the Ruta de Los Cenotes.
If you’re looking for a place with an atypical type of nightlife Puerto Morelos is also a great spot, here you can spot small bars where you can drink cocktails, dance salsa or bachata, or even learn to dance.
Downtown
Here is where most locals live, most tourists and ex-pats do not give it a shot to downtown but it’s here where you can experience the full Mayan vibe and local culture.
If you’re into living like a local and enjoy live music restaurants and bars, Downtown is your place. Here you will find a full variety of bars with rock and roll live bands performing, delicious street food that any foodie should taste, and beautiful parks. Downtown is also the home of Mercado 28, a popular flea market where you will be able to buy almost anything that comes to your mind.
Puerto Cancún
This is the most privileged zone in Cancun and the Riviera Maya due to its unparalleled location, being between the downtown and the hotel zone you can have the best of both worlds and always enjoy the ocean view.
If you’re into golfing or sailing, Puerto Cancun is the best spot for you, here you will discover an exclusive par 72 golf course designed by the British Open Champion, Tom Weiskopf, with 18 wholes where you will enjoy Caribbean ocean views mixed with the mangrove. You will also find the largest marina in Cancún with 175 berth points and specifically designed for big yachts.
This is also a great spot for those who are looking to buy a beach house in Mexico due to their high price appreciation and the steady growth of the zone.
Los Cabos
One of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico that attract hundreds of nationals and foreigners not only for vacation purposes but also to live permanently. Los Cabos is full of natural wonders that go from the Sarcocaule desert that surrounds San José del Cabo to the white sand beaches and deep ocean waters of the Sea of Cortez.
This paradise in the Pacific Ocean is well known for its marina and the big list of activities you can experience that go from whale watching to surfing.
How much does a house cost in Los Cabos Mexico?
Real estate in Los Cabos can go from $30,000 to $22 million USD depending on the type of property you want, the location, amenities, and size.
Usually, people who buy real estate in Los Cabos either for their own use or for rental purposes look for condos or houses and the prices can go from $45,000 to nearly $6 million USD for condos and from $30,000 to nearly $22 million for houses.
The Best Neighborhoods in Los Cabos
Cabo San Lucas
If you are a person with crazy energy looking for a place full of bars, dance clubs, and night fun Cabo San Lucas is the ideal place for you to buy a beach house in Mexico.
If you’re not so much into wild nightlife but you are a marina lover this is also the place for you. Here you will find Cabo Marina, where you can charter a boat check out the fishing boats, or even have your own boat.
Cabo San Lucas is also the home of Medano beach where you can experience some atypical activities such as dune buggy rides, parasailing, or even get some camel rides.
San José del Cabo
San José del Cabo is a charming cobblestone streets town that draws an estimated 3 million people each year. This is a calm family-oriented place where you can visit small restaurants, churches, and beautiful beaches.
It’s the place for you if you love the local culture and cuisine or if you’re a golf lover. Even though San Jose del Cabo is a place where you can experience the Mexican culture and local vibe still is full of Canadian and American ex-pats.
Todos Santos
Todos Santos is a Magic Town with a sort of hipster vibe. This is the perfect area for people who are looking for yoga studios, breweries, small but trendy coffee shops, and organic farm-to-table markets and restaurants.
This is the perfect spot to buy a beach house in Mexico if you’re looking to live a simple life but also if you’re looking for an adventurous life because here you will be able to practice hiking, surfing, fishing, and cycling.
Los Barriles
This small town with about 5000 residents, half of them being ex-pats, is a paradise for those who love sport fishing, here you will find yourself fishing an enormous blue marlin any day of the week.
Even though learning Spanish is a whole adventure and very useful, in Los Barriles you will discover that almost everyone speaks English. It’s not a place with a bunch of tourists but the ones that actually visit the town are to practice fishing, windsurfing, diving, and kiteboarding.
La Paz
La Paz is a beautiful city full of modern shops and fine dining restaurants without the resort town feel.
This is a quiet and calm area where you can experience the local culture at its finest. You can have calm walks or energetic runs on the boardwalk along the sea and enjoy their beautiful beaches. If you’re looking for a laid-back lifestyle, La Paz is for sure the place for you to buy a beach house in Mexico.
Conclusion on Buying Real Estate in Mexico
If you’re looking for either a modern beachfront condo or an eclectic house with stunning ocean views on a budget, you should definitely consider a Mexican beach town as the place to get your new second home or property investment.
Mexico has a huge variety of beach towns that are almost tailored made for a specific lifestyle. We can assure you that if you give Mexico a shot, your only problem will be deciding which of this paradise is the best for you.
If you are already considering to buy a beach house in Mexico, especially in Puerto Vallarta or in Riviera Nayarit, get in touch with Mexlife Realtors, our seasoned real estate agents will help you find your dream home or the best investment property for you to achieve the highest ROI.
In MexLife Realtors we combined a top-tier team with cutting-edge technology to elevate the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit real estate search and transaction experience to a new level.
Buy a Beach house in Mexico
We help our clients buy, sell, and invest in Puerto Vallarta and surrounding areas.
Puerto Vallarta might be the best place to buy a beach house in Mexico. If you are already considering buying a beach house in Puerto Vallarta or in Riviera Nayarit, get in touch.
