Playa del Carmen: Oceanfront property, please

Inside México: What percentage of your clients are Americans? Canadians? Europeans?

Image:www.sxc.hu

Realtor Judi Shaw says the most requested amenity in Playa del Carmen is oceanfront or ocean view.

Judi Shaw: Typically our foreign clients are 50 percent American, 40 percent Canadian, and the balance Europeans. Although lately I would say that Canadians are leading the pack  with the current [economic] situation in the States. Mexicans are very active clients in this area.

IM: Are they buying second homes, or a primary place of residence?

JS: Canadians and Americans are driving the second home market and Europeans are looking more as a permanent move.

IM: What price range are they looking in? How much space, and how many bedrooms and bathrooms can they expect to find in that price range?

JS: Second home owners interested in condos [look] for anything from $150,000 to $800,000 USD: the higher the price, the closer to the beach. Lately the sweet spot has been 200-350k , which is down from last year when the average property interest level was between 400- 600k.

Property inquiries for houses have remained constant, in the $1 to $3 million USD range, usually on the beach. Typically in this range a three-bedroom, three-bath house will have between 2000 and 4000 square feet.

IM: What kind of amenities are they requesting? (Pool, gated property, ocean view)?

JS: The most requested amenity is oceanfront or ocean view. Pools are highly desirable, as are gated communities and golf. A unique amenity in Playa del Carmen is the pedestrian-only section of downtown called 5th Avenue, which parallels the beach. People can walk securely and freely here, enjoying outdoor cafes and eclectic shops and restaurants, which drives the value of downtown real estate nearby.

IM: What draws your clients to Playa del Carmen? What distinguishes the area from other coastal communities in Mexico-especially nearby Cancún and Tulum?

JS: Besides the fabulously clear blue Caribbean ocean front, I often hear people use the word "authentic experience." Playa differs from Cancún visually because buildings are restricted to three or four stories.

The multiculturalism is a big draw. Many foreigners have set up shop, so it is easy to eat Swedish, Italian, East Indian, German, or Japanese food prepared by restaurant owners from those countries.

Unlike Cancún and Tulum, accommodation is walking distance from both downtown and the beach: no car is needed if not wanted. On the beach there are the hip beach clubs, while downtown 5th Avenue has smaller nightclubs and pubs, often used for social events and community fundraisers.

There is a [wide variety of properties]: very high-end homes and condos, beachfront communities, downtown lifestyles for the hip nightclub seekers, golf communities, middle-class working communities, and young family communities. Nearby jungle communities offer an "off grid" lifestyle.