Hola,
We are planning a trip to Baja in a couple of weeks to look for property. What is the best real estate company to use? How can I find out about For Sale by Owners? Any suggstions would be mucho appreciated!
La Gata (Kat)

Try:

http://www.bajaquest.com/realestate

Bombero

Well, I guess it would depend on what area of Baja you were interested in........Do you have a specific area???

Gata we have an oceanview lot for sale by owner across the toll road in Puerto Nuevo. email martsus@pcmagic.net

Thanks to all who responded here. We are interested in property/housing (maybe condo) from Ensenada north along the west coast.

La Gata

There are several web sites to include:bajacaliforniarealty.net plazainternet.com/dianegibbs/main.htm
ensenada-realestate.com
mlsbaja.com
also Baja Times newspaper classifieds and the Gringo Gazette newspaper classifieds

Good hunting

as an afterthought, two additional suggestions would be to get someplace that has a bank trust instead of a land lease, and if you are considering a condo, check the track record of the owners and the association....try and contact several of the individual condo owners.

I am also interested in Baja real estate. I have a small child and am interested in finding a place where she might be able to go to school while we are there.

Am I correct in understanding that I can stay in Baja for 6 months at a time?

Any ideas on rentals would be appreciated. We would like to rent before we buy.

Thanks in advance,
Katie

Buying in Mexico is easy; knowing that you have title to the land is not so easy. We own two condos in Rosarito Beach (both with a bank trust), and there are definitely perils to buying--do your homework carefully. I can show you developments that are sold out or nearly sold out, primarily to unwary Americans, where there is no clear title to the land the developments sit on. There are court cases pending, but there is no way to know that from looking at the property.

Real Estate Agents: I can recommend two that I know are absolutely honest in the Rosarito area, but you need to know that multiple lists as we know them are virtually non-existant. Realtors will show you what their office (or they themselves) has listed. You will not be able to commit your loyalty to one agent as we do in the states and assume that you have a fair/accurate view of the market. You will have to go from agent to agent. Mexican and American realtors really don't cooperate, so at the very least, you should see one Mexican agent and one gringo agent. Beware the firm Coldwell Banker; in Rosarito, their name is synonymous with sleezy business practices. The real estate market just isn't what you know from the U.S. (though when you see just one agent, you really won't see any difference).

When shopping for Real Estate here, it would be wise to keep the following facts sqarely in mind:
There is no Real Estate licensure with any real professionalism reqirement here.
So, anyone can be a Real Estate Salesperson
There is no penalty via for misrepresenting real estate.
Most of the ads you see, at least in San Felipe are for buildings or new subdivisions that do not yet exist.
The time line for completion of those buildings or subdivisions that are advirtised may be far longer than you expect or will be told.
There are no set back requirments, so if there is an empty lot next to the property of your interest, it is cautious to imagine a "worst case" building that could be erected there. You may lose all or part of your view.
The C.C. and R's that do exist are often not enforceable. Merely looking at the existing buildings in most subdivisions and their violations of these rather theoretical C. C. and R.s will confirm this. These C. C. and R's appear to be open to a myriad of loopholes, or perhaps simply ignored by new builders.
Be very careful in selecting your builder. Many are compentent and honest, but many are not.
Do your homework before signing. Spend time in the town. Talk to former clinets of the prospective builders. Look at completed examples of their craft. Expect it to take longer than planned ( this is true in most places, but especially true here).
Try to arrange to be in town while your home is being built. This will minimize ugly surprises.
Many beautiful homes are built here and enjoyed for decades by their happy owners. My point is simply that one must be dutiful and do due diligence throuout the process.

It my understanding that if you are selling property now at Eldorado Ranch you must now get a real estate license as all thier selling is going to R-Mac now which is in the U.S.

I honestly do not know if R Mac requires people to be licensed for Real Estate sales by in the US. I do not believe that is the case, however. Also it is worth noting that El Dorado has it's own on site sales force in addition to the R Mac group. These groups are necessisarily in competition and frequent conflict to sell the same properties.
I do know that the claims made by both R mac ane Eldorado agents are full of misrepresentation. Examples:
The hiway to Mexicali will soon be 4 laned
There will soon be a ferry boat X the Sea of Cortez to Rocky Point. The "Nautical Ladder" is a done deal. The San Felipe airport will soon have commercial flights.
Your home can be built to US standards in only 4 or 5 monthes. The list goes on and on.
To be fair, these false ( or are they merely wildly optimistic?) claims are not made only the the El Dorado people, but by virtually all of the Real Estate People and devlopers in San Felipe. Check out all claims, and ask for documentary evidence. Then, watch them blanch.

We have had extremely good luck with the construction and developer at the Baja Country Club in Ensenada (this is trust property). Same development company that is involved with the Club Marena in Rosarito.