LCM_19_Real Estate_r29 FINAL

“UBER-POSH”
LIVING IN ULTIMATE LUXURY IN LOS CABOS
Francisco Estrada
By Carol S. Billups
Offering breathtaking views of the sea, plus countless amenities, top-quality home furnishings, and services that define the lap of luxury.
Luxury. The most overused word in Los Cabos. If you look at
the real estate ads around town, almost every offering is a
luxury property, but the term is relative. For some folks just
having a roof over their head is luxurious. In the world of
high-end real estate, it’s the whole package that counts. And
the highest of the high-end properties offer a lifestyle package
that is quietly assumed to exist, tacit to the privileged among us.
As Margaret Thatcher famously explained, “Power is like being
a lady… if you have to tell people you are one, you aren’t.”
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Homes and villas like Lifestyle´s Casa Bella keep Los Cabos in a category of its own in terms of what the posh life really is.
This is a lifestyle most cannot imagine, much less aspire to
live. At the top of the top end luxury, it isn’t about how
beautiful the home (although it must be outstanding), or
how impressive the setting (although it must be fantastic),
or how extensive the amenities offered (although they
must be all-encompassing). At the pinnacle, it is all about
the unspoken knowledge that you never have to wonder if
someone else has something better than you. You simply
know you have the very best.
When price is no object, a vacation home is much more
than a place to hang your sombrero. The very top end
developments will never describe themselves as “luxury.”
There is, however, another catch phrase that identifies
the property owners as “our kind of people.” Read on and
see if you can guess what that is.
For the privileged, travel is simpler. Your personal assistant alerts people on this end of your arrival. In addition
to opening, cleaning and refreshing the home, someone
whose job it is to remember such details of your life will
go shopping and stock the home with your favorite
products in your favorite brands. Thermostats will be
set to your personal preference and bed pillows fluffed
just as you like them. Arrangements will be made. By the
time you arrive, your itinerary will be set: your tee
times, spa appointments, dinner reservations, the crew
aboard your yacht will be on standby for your fishing
trip and cocktail cruise. Nothing is left to chance, not
even the smallest detail.
This is the true level of luxury in Los Cabos, and it can
be found from the quiet elegance of the East Cape to
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Photo courtesy: Capella Pedregal
One of Cabo´s newest elite communities, Capella Pedregal boasts interior spaces that are unquestionably sophisticated
yet evoke the rustic charm that defines México.
the chic Pacific side, although most visitors to Los Cabos
will never see past the impressive or sometimes even
understated gates. Privacy is of paramount importance to
the super-rich, as is exclusivity.
To enter one of these communities, you must have business there. Once inside, you’ll find that the residents are
never bored unless of course, they choose to be so.
Therefore, the “uber-posh” residential enclaves offer their
owners a wide variety of amenities and activities. Beach
clubs, tennis clubs, golf courses and their requisite clubhouses, spas, gyms, beauty salons, business centers and
more are mandatory.
In family-oriented communities, such as El Dorado and
Querencia, you’ll find staff devoted to providing young
persons’ activities. Discovery Land Company’s El Dorado
offers the Outdoor Pursuits program through which
younger residents can enjoy supervised activities such as
surfing and sailing lessons, desert hiking and other sporting adventures. At Querencia, a special section of the village center clubhouse is devoted to younger residents,
while adults can enjoy culinary events and classes.
Exclusive wine tastings and members-only golf tournaments are organized to prevent ennui. Movie theatres,
restaurants and shops comprise mini-villages and keep the
owners privately within the resort boundaries. Yacht clubs
and private marinas, most notably in Puerto Los Cabos,
Capella Pedregal and El Rincón de Pedregal are popular. A
small private marina is planned for Cabo’s Chileno Beach
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Club, which is rumored to be poised for take-over by El
Dorado’s Discovery Land Company.
As wonderful as all these amenities sound, shortly they may
seem mundane. Plans are underway for two new mega-communities on the Pacific side. At press time, Club Polo Los
Cabos was planning to break ground on a state-of-the-art
polo center. The resort will be anchored by Raffles Hotel
and will include practice and competition courses designed
by Alejandro Battro. As owners will be bringing their own
ponies to compete, an equine hospital will be staffed 24hours a day. The resort’s details are still being developed but
initial plans suggest both villas and custom home sites will
be available. If horses aren’t your cup of tea, there are very
preliminary plans to also build a resort community on the
Pacific side offering Formula One racing. Those activities
only add to the many amenities the other communities provide. Both polo and racing will have to wait for now; building the infrastructure for these resorts may take several
years. From east to west, where can you find the finest
lifestyle real estate in Los Cabos now?
Serenity On The Sea of Cortés
The brainchild of noted developer Eduardo SanchezNavarro, Puerto Los Cabos is the East Cape’s most comprehensive high-end development. Just east of the estuary
in San José del Cabo, it boasts two golf courses, one Jack
Nicklaus and the other Greg Norman, plus beach clubs and
a town center surrounding the marina, making this is a self-
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estate
Once inside these communities, you’ll find
that the residents are never bored, unless,
of course, they choose to be so.
Francisco Estrada
these homes are purchased in partnership with others and
each owner has a few weeks’ use per year. Deeded fractional ownership allows one to enjoy the benefits of a
true uber-posh vacation home without the price tag of
full-time ownership.
The private Puerto Los Cabos gives homeowners the solace and seclusion
they seek, with the ambience and customer service they deserve.
contained resort community. Three communities within
the development, La Noria, El Altillo and the most exclusive Fundadores, all offer exquisite ocean and golf course
views and access to the impressive list of amenities. The
developer, Grupo Questro, is releasing a new section of
lots within Fundadores, the gated-within-gated community at Puerto Los Cabos. Fundadores has a private entrance,
beach club, and will offer special marina privileges. The
new lots average just over one-half acre, prices range from
$1,500,000 to $1,768,000 USD. Built resale homes in the
community start at just over three million dollars in
Fundadores and $1.8 million in La Noria. For developed
properties, a 20% discount applies for cash purchases.
If you cherish the lifestyle but don’t fancy owning another full-time home, Misión La Serena, within Puerto Los
Cabos, offers the opportunity to partake in the development’s privileges while only committing to partial ownership. This top end deeded fractional resort* offers 75
two- and three-bedroom residences, which include all the
amenities of Puerto Los Cabos. As deeded fractionals,
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LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
The first private golf course in Los Cabos, the 18-hole Tom
Fazio course at Querencia, is soon to be joined by a second
18-hole course designed by Gil Hanse. The latest offerings
in Querencia are the La Quiñadas, which are three- and
four-bedroom single-family detached homes, complete with
spectacular views of the ocean, mountains and golf course.
Each home provides top end finishes, a private pool, spa and
outdoor fireplace. The owners in La Quiñadas will enjoy
social or golf memberships. The homes are priced between
$2,100,000 and $2,275,000 USD. Querencia bucked the
trend early; as a primarily golf community, the first developers concentrated on the golf course site. Subsequently,
land has been earmarked and plans are underway to add a
beach club just across the highway from Querencia’s main
entrance. The clubhouse here is the center of community
life with restaurant, spa, pools; a young persons’ area, yoga
and Pilates pavilion, retail shops and more. Residents often
commute between the clubhouse and their homes via personal golf cart, and the homes incorporate garage space and
charging stations for private carts. The association is quite
active with a full menu of activities for adults and families.
Almost adjacent to Querencia, you’ll find the Dowager Queen
of Los Cabos’ communities: the venerable Palmilla. Proving
that some things improve with age, Palmilla’s legendary
Nicklaus courses, the One & Only Resort Hotel, Mandara Spa
and other amenities keep the original luxury resort up to date.
The exclusive Club 96 serves residents of sub-community
Villas del Mar, and a similar facility is planned Pamilla’s newest
community, the Espíritu del Mar. Pre-construction prices for
homes range from $3,750,000 to $7,000,000 USD. Palmilla is
also home to Villas de Oro, unique in that the homes were
designed for year-round living within the golf resort environment. This community of attached homes features a new tennis club, and is an opportunity to live in an uber-posh resort for
under one million dollars.
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We build everything…from homes to hotels
Call for a free estimate and personalized attention:
Phone: (624) 143-2257
Cellular: 044 (624) 141-6611 • 044 (624) 141-6704
From USA: 011 52 (624) 141-6611 • 011 52 (624) 141-6704
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LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
As these resort communities and others prove,
Los Cabos is now a premiere posh destination.
A wide range of ownership opportunities
exists in a variety of price ranges.
Heading west, you will find the exquisite private El
Dorado Golf and Beach Club. Once a premiere public
venue, the course and surrounding land were acquired by
the Discovery Land Company who created what is currently considered one of the finest resorts in the area.
Ownership opportunities include villas, casitas and custom home sites, a total of only 196 exceptional residences on 520 acres. The casitas and villas are two-,
three- and four-bedroom attached residences or condominiums, with between two and four thousand square
feet of living area. Penthouses are also available with six
bedrooms and 11,000 square feet of interior space. At
press time, the prices for the casitas started at
$2,000,000 USD. Villas are priced from $4,000,000 to
$7,000,000 USD. Home sites are available with prices
from five to eight million dollars; a few finished homes
are available for under $15,000,000 USD. El Dorado set
a new measure of quality in Los Cabos. Everything here
is done to the highest standard, from the greeting at the
gate to the immaculate grounds. The beach club and the
Nicklaus-designed course are in operation. In conjunction with the Outdoor Pursuits program, owners and
their families can enjoy a full complement of activities in
a safe and utterly private environment.
As the only gated community within the city of Cabo
San Lucas, Pedregal has seen impressive growth since it
was founded over twenty years ago. Today, Capella
Pedregal is a joint venture between the original developers and Richard Holland, founder of Hotel Ventures
International, in association with West Paces Hotel
Group. The grounds include the boutique Capella Hotel
and Spa, and 31 Pacific-facing three- and four-bedroom
residences, sold in fractional shares. There are also full
ownership opportunities in three-, four- and six-bedroom casonas facing the marina and bay. The Pacific side
homes and hotel are accessed via a tunnel under the
mountains at Land’s End. The community includes a
yacht club on the marina in Cabo San Lucas, and owners
who join it have the use of a fleet of cruising yachts and
sport fishers. The fractional residence packages are
priced from $490,000 to $560,000 USD with an additional $95,000 USD for membership in the yacht club.
Full ownership casonas start at $3,100,000 USD. Each of
the fractional homes is staffed by a butler, who is
charged with acting as chief of staff and catering to the
individual needs of the owners when they are in residence. The final touches are being put on the project,
and it is expected to be fully functional and owner-occupied by the end of 2008.
Also under construction in Pedregal is the El Rincón project, a group of 26 attached homes with prices starting at
$1,900,000 USD for full ownership. The centerpiece of
this wellness-themed project will be a health club and spa,
and each of the homes is designed to evoke the sensation
of the elements of earth, sea, or air. The project offers
completely vertical management: not only will staff be
available to manage the normal details of vacation home
ownership, but in addition they will arrange for the home
to be judiciously rented out as a source of income when the
owner is not using it. A model home has recently been
completed; pre-construction reservations are being taken.
To the immediate west of Pedregal, work is underway on
the $1.5 billion Quivira project, within the grounds of
Cabo Pacifica (formerly known as Sunset Beach) and
anchored by the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Holistic Resort
and Spa. On over 1,800 acres, Quivira will include the
Photo Courtesy: Villas de Oro
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Villas de Oro features golf resort enviroment and a new tennis club.
Ritz Carlton Residences. Home sites are also available.
Two championship 18-hole Nicklaus courses are planned
along with state of the art fitness facilities, full-service
spa, tennis courts, family sports center, business center,
and a nature preserve with 20 miles of hiking trails. One
of the more novel amenities planned belongs to the Kid’s
Club: a landscaped labyrinth, the first in Baja. The Ritz
Carlton Residences will offer 44 ocean-view and 78
beachfront homes with price tags starting at approximately $5,000,000 and ranging upward to $11,000,000
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
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Cabo San Lucas
© 2009 Joseph A. Tyson all Rights Reserved
www.loscabosguide.com
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USD. Each home will offer four to six bedrooms, plus a
guest casita. Restaurants and beach clubs will be dotted
along the resort’s three miles of beach.
As these resort communities and others prove, Los Cabos
is now a premiere posh destination. Within their privileged walls, the owners can enjoy a completely carefree
existence with every amenity at their fingertips. While
they may never have to spare a thought for the more
mundane details of life, their carefree lifestyle is not the
only option in Los Cabos. A wide range of ownership
opportunities exists in a variety of price ranges. Some of
the more affordable properties offer a commendable list
of services and amenities. Los Cabos has something to
offer almost everyone. With reasonable financing available, a vacation retreat is within the means of many. Very
favorable financing terms are available to citizens of the
United States, Canada and Great Britain with as little as
20% down payment. Fixed rate mortgages are available
for vacation homes or primary residences at rates with up
to 30 years length of the loan.
Los Cabos is also home to México’s most sophisticated real
estate protocol. Every possible measure has been put in
place to safeguard the buyer and to be certain that whether
you’re purchasing an $11,000,000 beachfront mansion or a
comfortable $200,000 condominium, your investment is
safe for you and for future generations. The Multiple
Listing Service covers the entire area; the real estate professionals who belong to this group must adhere to a code
of ethics and operating procedures. These experts can
explain Mexican ownership procedures to you, and help
you select your perfect home. The experienced realtors
will assure that your purchase is handled properly.
Monaco. The Hamptons. Malibu. Mustique. There are
many places where the wealthy and privileged spend their
leisure time. Thanks to developments of the caliber
described here, Los Cabos now numbers among the most
sought-after and exclusive destinations on the planet.
Uber-posh resort homes leave no detail unattended, and
the lives of the most famous and fortunate are truly carefree. And that, after all, is just exactly how they like it.
[* Author’s Note: There are two types of property being sold
as ‘fractional’ in Los Cabos. The ownership opportunities
mentioned in this article are deeded fractional, or true real
estate, with actual transfer of title. Consult a realtor or
Mexican attorney for more details of ownership options.]
Carol Billups is Broker/Owner of Realty Executives Los Cabos, located in Cabo San Lucas. Her team was recently awarded Realty
Executives International’s Circle of Excellence. ■
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
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Heir Apparent
• 24 hr. security
• Full fitness center
• Travertine flooring
• Jacuzzis on all terraces
• Property rental program
• Four cascading swimming
pools with waterfalls
• 2, 3, 4 bedroom units rancing
from 1800sq.ft. 4100sq.ft.
Francisco Estrada
By Carol S. Billups
Take in the sea and gentle Cabo breezes while enjoying the high life at Las Estrellas Luxury Homes in Pedregal.
W
hether you qualify as the super-rich or just a regular Joe (or Josephine),
planning and safeguarding your estate is of paramount importance. In
México, and most notably in Los Cabos, we have a nearly foolproof means of
making sure your real estate investment is safe and secure for you and the
generations of your heirs. Understanding this and how it works is critical, so
when the inevitable happens, your assets go exactly to whom you desire.
Failure to pay attention to a few critical details could cost your heirs thousands in legal costs and circumvent your final wishes.
Article 27 of the Constitution of the United Mexican States provides for foreigners (non-Mexicans) to own property within 50 km of the coast or 100 km of
the border as long as they hold it in trust with a Mexican bank. That trust names
two groups of beneficiaries: the primary beneficiary and the secondary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary is the owner, the person who purchases the property and sets up the trust. The secondary beneficiaries are that person’s heirs.
Upon the death of the primary beneficiary, the property transfers to the heirs
without probate, probate taxes, and very minimal paperwork or expense. It is a
safe, secure means of holding property in México. That’s the good news.
Unfortunately, problems can arise when the primary beneficiary’s life changes.
Office: (624) 105 0248
Cell: 044 (624) 164 0174
From U.S. and Canada call toll free:
01 (866) 470 3868
[email protected]
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LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
Let’s say John and Jane Doe, a married couple from Iowa, fall in love with San
José and buy a deluxe condo on the beach there. When they set up the trust,
they are both named as primary beneficiaries with right of survival. A few years
later, they unfortunately divorce. In the settlement, John gets the beach condo.
Thinking the Iowa divorce decree is definitive, he never changes the Mexican
trust. After all, now that he’s divorced he can avoid unnecessary expenses, right?
However, in the event that John wants to sell the condo, Jane could create
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estate
problems. The bank may require her
signature on listing agreements,
offers and the transfer of title, even
though John had been awarded the
condo in the divorce settlement.
After the divorce, John re-marries.
He and his new wife enjoy the Los
Cabos lifestyle and give no thought
to the old trust. But then, John passes away, and his current wife is
shocked to learn that she doesn’t
own the condo. Jane does! Jane and
John were the primary beneficiaries
on the original trust that was never
changed after the divorce. Under
Mexican law, Jane owned half of it
all along and now is John’s heir of
the property. A long and costly
court process may give John’s widow
some relief, but most lawyers don’t
even want to think about it.
Recently, I was reminded of the
importance of changing the trust’s
secondary beneficiaries. In this case,
the owner was advised to alter the
trust during divorce proceedings. His
Mexican attorney drew up an irrevocable power of attorney, which was
duly signed, notarized and apostiled
as part of the divorce proceedings,
giving the husband the absolute right
to the property in México and any
proceeds from future sales. The
Mexican attorney worked with the
bank to update the trust, removing
the ex-wife as primary beneficiary.
However, the secondary beneficiaries were not changed.
One thing being another, the owner
became estranged from his children
by the first marriage. Before his
death, he had executed a perfectly
valid will in his home country
renouncing these children and naming other heirs to all his worldly
goods, including the Cabo vacation
home. Those were his wishes. But
upon his demise, just the opposite
• Own Property in México even if
you’re not a Mexican citizen
• Your escrow will be US-based
safe and secure
• US financing is available
• Los Cabos offers options for
all budgets and lifestyles
Carol S. Billups
• Your vacation home can be
hassle-free while you’re away
Office: (624) 143-3011
Cabo Cell: 044 624 147-7541
From US: 760 481-7694
Email: [email protected]
www.reloscabos.com
www.loscabosguide.com/carolbillups
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
31
Most people re-evaluate their legal documents at any significant life event.
Marriage, divorce, or the birth of a new child are generally opportunities to bring
all your assets up to date, and your Mexican trust should not be excluded.
occurred. Within a few days of the funeral, both sets of
heirs rushed to Los Cabos, armed with copies of the
death certificate and, on one side, the will; and on the
other, the trust. Although there are certainly going to be
more court proceedings in both countries, it looks like
the estranged heirs, because they are still named in the
trust, will prevail. The attorneys I consulted agreed that
the trust is the definitive document under Mexican law.
The children named in the trust own the home and furniture. The vehicles, Mexican bank accounts and other personal effects are perhaps up for grabs, but in the opinion
of these experts, the trust is the stronger document.
Changes to legal documents from your home country
may not trump your Mexican trust. If your life is prone to
change (or your family contentious), there are ways to
safeguard your Mexican assets. Only a Mexican attorney
can advise you properly, since Mexican laws are significantly different from those in your home country. Most
people re-evaluate their legal documents (wills, insurance
policies, bank accounts, etc) at any significant life event.
Marriage, divorce, or the birth of a new child are generally opportunities to bring all your assets up to date, and
your Mexican trust should not be excluded.
Should you be the heir to a Mexican property, whether or
not contested, it is imperative to notify the bank as soon
as possible after your loss. You will need three original
death certificates, with apostile, for the bank. The trust
department of the bank, or your Mexican attorney, will
arrange for you to be designated as primary beneficiary,
and then you will have the opportunity to name your own
We Are Here to Help!
Cabo San
San Lucas
Lucas
Cabo
Volunteer Fire
Fire Department
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Volunteer
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Phone: 143-3977
Emergency Calls 24 Hrs.
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Get a T-Shirt with our logo and be a part of our team.
Want to help with equipment? (624) 144-4884
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LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
• BILINGUAL OFFICERS
• INFORMATION BOOTH:
On Marina Blvd. at Plaza
Bonita Mall on the boardwalk.
OFFICE:
Daily 8am-5pm & 5pm-2am.
Next to The Fire Department behind
McDonald’s on Camino Real, CSL
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If you are buying property in
México be sure to name secondary
beneficiaries, as it is difficult, timeconsuming and costly to have a
Mexican court ratify a will from
another country. In one memorable
sale, one of my clients went to court
three times to sell the property he
had inherited. Often, and understandably, my clients are so happy
about their Cabo home purchase,
they don’t want to pay attention to
this ratification: but it’s critical. As
these cases illustrate, proper planning at purchase prevents potential
post-mortem problems.
Francisco Estrada
secondary beneficiaries. Select them
carefully. As unbearable as the trust
department of Mexican banks may
be, and as long as the process may
draw out, the fees for this service are
generally reasonable.
Coci Homes helps you find pleasure by either relaxing or entertaining in style.
Carol Billups and Los Cabos Magazine would like to thank attorneys Mauricio Saenz of the
firm Cossu and Saenz, Pedro Perichart of P&H Closing Services, and Jorge Rodríguez of
International Land Title, for providing information for this article. ■
Read Los Cabos
Magazine online!
Los Cabos Magazine is now published
directly online. It is the same great
magazine, the same articles, the same
content that you read in our usual format
found on newsstands in Los Cabos, in
bookstores and by subscription.
With this new technology, you will be
able to link to restaurants, merchants
and activity providers before you arrive
for your vacation. You will also be able to
take advantage of the Los Cabos Guide
voucher program, that offers significant
discounts on the things you want to do
during your visit to Los Cabos.
www.loscabosguide.com
www.loscabosmagazine.com/digital
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
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NEW & NOTABLE
Francisco Estrada
What’s the buzz in Los Cabos real estate
Many of Los Cabos´ exclusive communities offer awe-inspiring views of …
Last Chance At Tortuga Bay
Having just delivered their first phase, Tortuga Bay has released its
second and final phase for pre-construction reservations. Tortuga
Bay is the latest high-end beachfront condominium development
in San José del Cabo. The developer, Mike Schaibel, has
announced that this will be the last ownership opportunity in
Tortuga Bay, and possibly among the last beachfront opportunities
in the area. Featuring stunning ocean views and cascading pools,
the complex offers high-end finishes and top-of-the-line appliance
packages. Management is provided by Baja Vacations who, in addition to conventional property management, offers a vacation rental
program. Phase I sold almost completely prior to delivery. Phase II
will consist of 51 units, most with two-and three-bedrooms, starting at $900,000 US, and top floor three-bedroom penthouses starting at $2,500,000. These are pre-construction prices only. Tortuga
Bay Phase II is being pre-sold under the same terms as Phase I, however, buyers in Phase II have an additional financing option not previously available. With pre-approval from any authorized mortgage
lender, the buyer may put down just 30% of the purchase price and
make no further payments until the condominium has been delivered for occupancy. The mortgages are from US-based lenders,
with competitive rates. Contact an MLS member real estate agent
for more information or to tour Tortuga Bay.
Quivira and Jack Nicklaus
Announce New Development
Quivira Los Cabos, the massive new super resort, which incorporates Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Hotel, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica
Hotel and Spa, and the Ritz Carlton Residences, announces another sub-community as a joint venture between Jack Nicklaus and
Ernesto Coppel. These Nicklaus-branded full ownership homes will
be sited along the resort’s nearly three miles of Pacific oceanfront and
two Jack Nicklaus designed golf courses. This represents Nicklaus’
second high-end residential community, the first being the prestigious Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida. Jack Nicklaus is no stranger to
Los Cabos, having been instrumental in bringing golf to what had
been primarily a sport-fishing destination. With the opening of the
first Palmilla course in 1993, there are currently six Nicklausdesigned courses in play in Los Cabos. It is planned that of the two
new courses in Quivira, one will be public and the other a private
course. The courses are expected to be completed and opened for
play in 2010. Quivira Los Cabos will also be home to a Jack Nicklaus
Golf Club, one of only 25 worldwide. Although prices and site plans
were unavailable at press time, the developers estimate there will be
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LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
…
By Carol S. Billups
city lights and either the Pacific Ocean or the Sea of Cortés.
approximately 200 homes in the Jack Nicklaus Homes development, including oceanfront residences. For more information on
Quivira see Uber-Posh: Living in Ultimate Luxury in Los Cabos on
page 28 or contact any MLS-member realtor.
Cabo Riviera Hosts Realtors
Cabo Riviera, a new master-planned community at La Ribera on
the East Cape recently hosted local realtors to kick off pre-sales of
their building lots. Cabo Riviera will offer beach front and golf lots,
and, in a first for the area, marina channel lots that will allow yacht
owners to park their vessels literally in their backyards. The marina and adjacent village center are scheduled for completion in
2011. An 18-hole Pat Dye Signature course is also planned. Sited
on 800 acres of land northeast of San José del Cabo, the resort
plans to comprise four hotels and a full-service 300-slip marina.
Initial plans call for 350 interior deep-water channel lots, 36 ocean
front lots with yacht mooring, and 35 residential golf course lots.
Condominiums are planned for the plaza village in the center of
the marina. Pre-construction prices for the first phase in the development average $276,000 for a golf course lot about one quarter
acre in size, and $480,000 for a deep channel lot with yacht parking; the average size of the interior lots is 800 m2. Delivery of the
lots is scheduled for 2011, and pre-construction discounts apply to
cash purchases. See your realtor for more information.
A wide selection of
quality vehicles to
accommodate every
customer’s individual needs
Did You Know?
Los Cabos is home to one of the largest Multiple Listing Services in
México, with over 500 agents in more than 70 companies. In many
parts of México there are no co-operative MLS systems, so buyers
must go from brokerage to brokerage until they find what they are
seeking. Founded in 1989 as “Multi-List Los Cabos,” the organization
provides one-stop shopping: Clients need only work with one agent
to see any property for sale in the area. The organization has adopted the code of ethics of AMPI, the National Association of Realtors,
and member agents are charged with working to professional standards. The database of properties contains thousands of properties in
Baja, and, although the real estate theme of this issue is high-end
properties, of which there is no shortage in the area, your MLS realtor can help you find your perfect vacation or investment property
no matter what your budget. For example, at press time there were
98 single-family houses and 189 condominiums listed for sale on the
MLS system for under $300,000 US. Working with a MLS member
agent ensures that your purchase will be a safe investment. For more
information on owning property in Los Cabos go to
http://www.loscabosguide.com/realestate/fideicomiso.htm. ■
Our headquarters are conveniently located in
front of the Los Cabos International Airport
Transp. Hwy. Km 45 Col. Las Veredas, San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mex.
Phone: (624) 146 1839 Fax: (624) 172 3216
(From US dial 011 52+)
[email protected] • www.cactuscar.com
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
35
Sole Caliente
Todos Santos has become an example to follow in growing delicious organic lettuce and other produce.
If time or space around your home doesn’t allow you to create that lush orchard of
fruit trees or rows of vegetables you´ve always dreamed of, growing herbs is a great
way to satisfy your green thumb!, At the same time, it can give you that satisfaction
of reaping the benefits of your work. An herb garden, having a myriad of culinary
applications is its own reward and can be as simple or complex as you´d like.
Besides being useful for cooking purposes, some herbs can be stunning when used as
home décor. Gorgeous gardens created by the strategic placement of several different sized, shaped, and colored pots and containers can make a dramatic visual statement, both indoors and outdoors. Identify certain areas in your home, yard, or even
on your patio, which will suit appropriate growing environments for the herbs that
you want. Some of the best, most beautiful and individual pottery and ceramic containers are at an amazing store in Cabo San Lucas called Do It With Magic, located on the road to Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach. You are sure to find other colorful,
authentic, and practical container options at the Marina Mercado, at the main
dock of the Cabo San Lucas marina. Additionally, Artesanos, on the corridor just
as you leave Cabo San Lucas, also stocks a nice selection. In San José del Cabo,
within the Historic Art District, you may be able to find some original pots and
planters, too. For your herb, plant and seed needs, check out a vivero, the Spanish
term for a garden center or nursery.
The Par Vial integrated project will
be performed in phases so as to
minimize disruption of the daily
To enhance the ambience within a home, and perhaps to better enjoy the aromatic
properties, some people choose to grow herbs indoors. In this case, be sure to keep
the containers in a sunny spot and on-hand near the kitchen to get the most use out
of them. In contrast to this approach, many gardeners feel that herbs are better suited for outdoor cultivation. Using some practical clay or glazed pots for your herb
containers, interspersed with naturally-growing bougainvillea, dwarf palms, hibiscus,
or even cacti, you can add deep greens, or even a splash of color, and perhaps fill the
small spaces that have always bothered you about your landscape.
rhythm of residents, tourists, and
retailers in the downtown area.
To see more information about the
project, visit us on our Internet site:
36
LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
Although some herbs grow well under full sun, Cabo’s intense heat may be too much,
especially in the depths of summer. Be sure to place containers in shady spots,
depending on the recommendations for each. Herbs such as chives, thyme, sage,
oregano, rosemary, dill, cilantro and mint, thrive better under some protection.
Thyme requires very little watering and, in addition to being great for cooking in
many dishes, spreads as beautiful ground cover sprouting delicate purple flowers.
Similarly, rosemary, known for its distinctive pungent scent, also sprouts blooms of
Weddings in Paradise,
located in the heart of
Cabo San Lucas,
providing outstanding
planning services for
the most important
day of your life. We
By Kirstin Frieze
invented the concept of
"Destination Weddings"
in Los Cabos over
tiny, light blue flowers. Basil is one of the most versatile herbs
to have around. A capresse salad of organic tomatoes, fresh
mozzarella cheese and basil leaves snipped from your own
plant is hard to beat. Basil does require a fair amount of hydration and will therefore do best in a container by itself. Mint is
simple to grow, so there’s no reason to run out of it when you
are making those frosty mojitos! Cilantro leaves, a delicious
herb familiar in Mexican cuisine, is doubly useful, as its seeds
can be ground up to make the yellowish spice coriander, used
for meat rubs and marinades. Whether a part-time or full-time
resident in Los Cabos, there´s no excuse for not having
this little gem as part of your herb collection.
thirteen years ago.
Hidalgo St. in the heart of Cabo San Lucas.
(One block from Marina Blvd.)
Toll free from USA: 1-888-259-0337
Ph: 01152 (624) 143.3922 • Fax: 01152 (624) 143.6565
i n f o @ w i p c a b o . c o m • w w w. w e d d i n g s p a r a d i s e . c o m
i n f o @ t f c c a b o . c o m • w w w. t h e f l o w e c a r t c a b o . c o m
Your gift for gardening and
yearning to do some sort of
cultivating around your Los
Cabos home needn’t be
thwarted by the fact that we live
in a tropical desert. Dig in and
delight in the satisfaction of growing your own herb Garden of Eden. ■
Baja Cantina Beach
Restaurant uses fresh
basil as part of its hearthealthy Caprese salad.
Francisco Estrada
Basil is one of the
most versatile herbs to
have around but does
require a fair amount
of hydration.
WINTER 2009 | LOS CABOS MAGAZINE
37
Downtown
Cabo San Lucas
© 2009 Joseph A. Tyson All Rights Reserved
www.loscabosguide.com
38
LOS CABOS MAGAZINE | WINTER 2009
MARINA MERCADO
Arts & Crafts Market
A wide selection of arts and
crafts from all over México.
Visit the best place to buy great
Mexican arts. Don’t miss the
opportunity to see what México
can offer you!!!!!! Enjoy our bar.
Open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Located on the Cabo San Lucas Marina
Lot 4, across the main dock.
Parking available.
www.loscabosguide.com/marinamercado