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Baja Mexico Real Estate Becoming Popular

By Taylor White

Baja Mexico property has become a popular option as many people purchase second homes or utilize this region as a destination for tourism. However property investing here is affordable and plentiful.
Baja Mexico property is growing in value and continues to be one of the best locations to buy in Mexico. For those who visited the region in the past, and who are returning to call it home, real estate in Baja is still relatively affordable and readily available, though the continued increase in population here has led to numerous reductions in available inventory. Options in property here range from highly affordable to luxurious and expensive. In some areas, the property is the most expensive in the country.
Baja, more formally known as Baja California, is one of 31 states in the country of Mexico. It is on the northernmost and westernmost area of Mexico, on the Baja Peninsula. With a population of 3.1 million people, the region is large and growing. It sits right on the Pacific Ocean, near to the United States, making it an easy destination to get to for Americans. About 75 percent of the state's population lives in the capitol city of Mexicali, or in Ensenada or Tijuana. Each of these areas as well as San Felipe, Playas de Rosarito and Tecate are important to the property market here.
The most valuable of all property is on the coastline. Many people who buy here do so to take advantage of the warm, peaceful Pacific Ocean. Baja real estate for sale in this area offers a wide number of property options, but most are single family homes, townhomes or apartments, with apartments being the most common option for those who are buying from overseas. In addition to this, just outside the larger cities, and in areas such as San Felipe and Tecate, larger homesteads are available. Some of these pose the most value potential depending on their location.
That looking for Baja rentals will find apartments the most commonly available property here, however renting a home, is also possible. Baja Mexico property listings provide a range of options in price ranges, with the most basic facilities being the least expensive. The more remote the location is, the lower the price. However, Baja property for sale continues to build and grow, with some areas seeing a price per square foot of as high as US $2000 in areas where it cost $20 a square foot just 20 years ago. Those buying Baja property are likely to see their investment grow over time, though there is no telling when prices will even out.

Expatriates Express Confidence in Baja California

By Ron Raposa

About 70 community leaders in Baja California's expatriate community recently attended the first summit of the "Baja Image Committee." It was organized for foreign residents who want to promote a positive and accurate portrait of the region.
The two-day summit, entitled "Building Baja's Tomorrows Today," was held June 8th and 9th at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, Mexico, which provided free lodging and meals for those attending.
The event was a response to requests from many of the thousands of expats who live in the region. Many have expressed a desire to do more to help convey an accurate picture of life in Baja California, especially to people living in the United States.
The summit featured testimonials from many of those residents, including some who said reports of scattered drug-related violence in recent years had made some friends and relatives reluctant to visit.
Those concerns are considered a large factor in the decline in tourism and visitors over the past several years, although a strong rebound was noted this past Easter and Memorial Day weekend, the traditional beginning of the summer season.
The summit included a panel discussion, as well as presentations on methods of gathering and distributing accurate and positive information, plus using social networks.
Hugo Torres, head of the Baja Image Committee and a former Rosarito mayor, said that "always telling the truth" is critical for such efforts to succeed. It is essential that government officials work hard to correct any problems that do exist, he added.
Baja California State Tourism Secretary Juan Tintos and Arturo Martinez, director of visitor assistance, told of government efforts to make visitors more comfortable and welcome, including the 078 assistance number which is in operation 24 hours day seven days a week. Steven Kashkett, U.S. Consul General for Baja California, also attended to give an off-the-record briefing.
Rosarito resident Ken Bell, who leads the expatriate committee of the Baja Image Committee, pointed out that much work remains after the summit to accomplish goals that have been established.
Bell, as well as Rosarito's tourism delegate Cesar Rivera, were summit moderators.
Other speakers included Emerson College Professor Gregory Payne, who has established a "Rediscover Rosarito" project that he said can be applied to all of Baja California. "You're all your own TV networks," Payne said, referring to the access that everyone has to post videos on YouTube and similar sites.
Chris Hill, of the "Live Mexico" campaign, and representatives of Allison & Partners public relations also spoke.
Expatriate residents from Rosarito, Ensenada, San Felipe and Tijuana who attended the summit are expected to share information and strategies for promoting a full, accurate and positive regional image with others in coming months.
Sweet spot in Mexico earns second look from investorsBy Patrick Rucker
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's improving economic prospects, coupled with low inflation, are winning the country a second look from international investors and fund managers.
Investors see potential in Mexico's services sector and in enticing more companies to market, and are also bullish about new financial tools which could send billions of dollars into infrastructure and private equity deals.
Expected economic growth of about 4 percent this year, combined with inflation of about 3.5 percent, compares well to regional peers, many of which are tightening monetary policy to fend off surging prices.
"In our view, the Mexican economy is very much in a sweet spot," Lupin Rahman, senior vice president of emerging markets portfolio management at bond giant Pimco, told a LatinFinance summit this week.
"In terms of output, in terms of growth, in terms of inflation, all these dynamics point to a very positive 2011 for the Mexican economy."
Mexico's apparent comeback in the sentiment stakes follows several years in the shadow of Brazil, which weathered the global crisis better but is now wrestling with high inflation.
Emerging market investors surveyed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch in February put Brazil at underweight for the first time in the survey's history, while preferences for Mexico are increasing.
But Mexico still has some homework to do.
The economy depends heavily on manufacturing exports to the United States, and while the recovery in U.S. consumer demand has prompted economists to lift forecasts for Mexican growth, investors also look for diversification and for structural reforms.
"If Mexico can turn the engines and start opening its service sectors it will be a fantastic run for the economy," said Alfredo Thorne, head of global markets at Banorte bank.
"It can seriously not only grow at 6, 7 percent but actually perform much better than the BRICs." Brazil's growth is expected to slow in 2011 to 4.5 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Thorne estimates Mexico's drugs war, which has killed more than 34,000 people in the last four years, is cutting 1-2 percentage points from annual growth, but says it will be worth it. "If Mexico manages to win this war, it will be the most important structural reform," he said at the summit.
Luis Harvey, co-founder of private equity firm Nexxus Capital, said Mexico's service sector was underrated.
"You have a huge internal market which has a per-capita income twice as big as Brazil's," he said.
Leisure, health and consumer finance are some of the industries getting a lift from the expanding middle class and sectors where Harvey has put money to work.
Buyout firms typically drive their acquisitions toward a public offering and the Mexican exchange has room to grow with $550 million of shares swapping hands daily compared to the roughly $3.6 billion traded daily in Brazilian stock markets.
"You need to get more companies going to the market; more people investing in equities," said Harvey.
NEW FINANCIAL TOOLS
New financial instruments are also helping improve Mexico's reputation among global investors, after bureaucratic hurdles and inertia caused many to lose patience.
Brazil buyout firm GP Investments (GPIV11.SA), for one, opened a Mexico City office four years ago intending to make a splash in Latin America's second-largest economy, but pulled out. Partners remember the attempt as a costly mistake.
Carlyle Group CYL.UL also retreated, leaving behind one money manager who has spent much of the last two years in a time-consuming effort to draw Mexico pension fund investment. Now he is finally starting to see results.
Mexico is rolling out new investment options, such as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and a hybrid security designed solely to serve the country's retirement funds.
Those Mexican pension funds, which sit on 1.4 trillion pesos ($116.5 billion) in assets, are expected to drop sizable investments into REITs. Joaquin Avila, the Carlyle veteran, expects his EMX Capital will soon win pension fund financing.
"It has been a tremendous amount of work. To some extent cumbersome and to some extent understandable," said Avila. "These are new securities to Mexico."
Local money managers say the new securities will bring welcome efficiency and competition to Mexican markets.
"Now we are seeing real sophistication in the financial marketplace," said Juan Alberto Leautaud, a local real estate money manager whose infrastructure investment plan recently won $220 million in pension fund cash.
New financing has drawn money managers like Paul Ahlstrom, who brought his wife and six kids to Monterrey in Mexico's north as he made a private equity pitch to the funds.
It took nearly two years, but Ahlstrom says a deal is near with his Alta Growth Capital that will blend pension cash with $75 million of outside capital.
"This deal will happen. It's just painful to be a pioneer," he said. "I hope we don't become the pioneer with arrows in his back."
San Diego Reader | "Paradise, La mission, Baja, Mexico" by tonybrogdonBy Tony Brogdon and Marcia Gershenbaum
Is it safe to live in Baja, Mexico? Is it practical? What standard of living can I expect?
These are questions that many American baby-boomers ask themselves when planning to retire or visit in Mexico. They have been convinced by the negative media reports about the reported "violence" here and believe that it is simply not safe to cross the border. Most of these people have only been to the border towns like Tijuana or Juarez and believe that is Mexico. They are unaware that just a few miles further souths there are literally a paradise on earth. Those of us "gringos" who have discovered it and decided to move down here can't believe what we have found. We have decided to make Mexico our home and would never want to live anywhere else! We are apart of over 1 million Americans living in Mexico.
We live in a small community about 40 miles south of the U S border called La Mission. La Mission is on the coast just about halfway between Rosarito and Ensenada. It is nestled between two huge canyons that support a beautiful river and lagoon. The lagoon runs into the Pacific Ocean under a scenic highway bridge next to a public beach. Nearly all the homes and condos here have spectacular views of both the ocean and mountains. It reminds us of how the Del Mar area of San Diego probably looked about 50 years ago. The biggest difference, besides a lack of freeway traffic, is how affordable it is to live here! Rents and mortgages are about one-third of the cost in the US!
We started this day by going to one of the local restaurants and having our favorite heuvos rancheros, rice, and beans; a delicious breakfast for only $5.00 including coffee. Next we went to the local produce market and purchased 2 dozen fresh eggs, a bag of fresh oranges, fresh tomatoes, and fresh bananas. The total cost was $6.00. Next we filled up the car and, since the government here controls gas prices, we usually spend at least a dollar less per gallon than our friends and family in the US. Not only do we pay less, but we still receive the service gas stations used to provide when we were young, they clean our windows and check the oil! Housing costs and utilities are also much less expensive, about 1/3 of the cost for similar housing in California. The weather is almost always a beautiful 60-70 degrees and being nestled between the ocean and the mountains we will spend the rest of our day enjoying the sound of the surf and beauty of the canyon and river. Later on today there is a folk-dancing festival and rodeo in our little town; Tony will enjoy taking pictures of the activities and the people here!
Tony have been traveling to Mexico from the US for 30 years and made the decision to move here full time nearly one year ago. If I had known what a wonderful place to live in the true since of the word it is, I would have made the move long ago. Both the 30 years traveling here and the experience of living here has been amazing positive. The people are amazing, very hospitable and kind, and there are also 30,000 Americans living in the Rosarito area. These are like-minded people who are here for the same reasons we are, because of the beauty, the freedoms, and the more reasonable cost of living.
In all the time we have spent in Mexico, we have never witnessed a crime of any sort. Instead I have experienced a warm welcome from both my fellow American residents here as well as the Mexican people whose families have lived here for centuries. Tony has found that this is not only a great place to retire, but to open a new business as well. Tony has started a new business called Ground Floor Technology with his partner William Yu. They consult with foreign investors interested in opening new businesses here in Baja. There are many excellent business opportunities here but one of most promising is servicing the growing senior population in regard to health care both in the US and here in Mexico. Many people are unaware that Baja, Mexico is currently the largest center for Alternative medicine and research in the world! When people come from other countries to be treated here it is called Medical Tourism. This industry is booming worldwide due to breakthroughs in technologies such as Stem Cell and other forms of treatment and medical services, Baja is uniquely capable and strategically located to accommodate these growing industries.
Having not only adequate medical care and affordable health care is an important component of living in Baja. Both office visits and prescriptions are much less expensive here than in the US. In addition, our social life has never been so active. In addition to all the wonderful people we have met here, many community activities exist. There is such a local artist community, a local Theatre Guild presenting fantastic theatre due to the actors who have retired in the area, music concerts, golf resorts, and a constant variety of festivals and rodeos. For the sportsman Baja has some of the best fishing in the world, bicycle and off road racing, and we even have our own sand dunes for those who enjoy riding quads and motocross bikes. There are many wonderful restaurants on the ocean serving world-class food, live entertainment, and at very reasonable prices. If you miss living in the US, both north and south less than 30 minutes away are familiar places you may be surprised to see in Mexico such as Super Wall Mart, Costco, Home Depot, first run movies at local movie theatres, Applebee's, TJ Fridays, Mc Donald's, Burger King, KFC, Subway, 99 cent stores, and modern shopping malls..
Are you wondering about security? In the past Mexico was known for corrupt and non-professional law enforcement. Today from Tijuana south, the local police officers are highly trained, highly courteous, and very professional. Their equipment is state of the art and does not resemble the police force of even a few years ago. However, the police in Mexico are interested in catching criminals who are actually harming people in some way and are not really interested in policing people just here to enjoy themselves. Because of this if you use firecrackers, camp on the public beaches, let your dog or horse run free without leases or halters, or choose not to wear your seatbelt it is not likely that you will be ticketed. However, if you bring a gun or drugs into the country you are likely to go to jail. Even if you are speeding or have an accident where someone is injured without car insurance, you will suffer the consequences.
In many ways life in Baja is like living in the United States about 50 years ago. However, the populated areas here still provide the things we have become accustomed to such a high-speed internet, Digital TV, and state of the art cell phone technology. Marcia and I and a number of other Americans here operate their home businesses here by use of Internet phone lines. What we appreciate about living here is most of the basic freedoms are still available to people. Dogs and horses are still allowed on public beaches and it isn't a requirement that everyone live just like everyone else. If you want to paint your home with bright colors that might not be what is pleasing to your neighbor, you are allowed to do so and the neighbor just has to get over it. That type of living is not for everyone but those of us who live here appreciate the principal of it.
Is it safe to live in Baja, Mexico? Yes in many ways safer than many cities outside Mexico. Is it practical? Yes. The quality of life here is amazing at a very affordable price. What can I expect in Mexico? To live longer and happier than anywhere else in the world. Mexico is considered the # 1 retirement Country for Americans in the world.

Merger Creates Baja's Real Estate Powerhouse

Ensenada´s Star Brokerage Joins RE/MAX Baja!!!!
One of the largest and most successful independent real estate offices in northern Baja, Instantips Realty, has joined the RE/MAX network.
Ricardo Bolio, broker of Instantips Realty, negotiated the merger of their multi-agent office with RE/MAX. Bolio, along with Leonora Noriega, Maria Teresa Lopez, Ana Maria Bolio and …. Bolio have worked and operated one of the top producing Real Estate agencies in Baja for the last ten years. Arturo Sandoval from the original Remax Baja will be joining them. Ricardo had the following comment: "We chose RE/MAX over others because of their prestige and customer service, but most of all, as it allowed us to place our efforts on our first priority -- helping buyers and sellers accomplish their ultimate goals."
Gustavo Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Baja Realty had this comment on the merger between Grupo Inmobiliario Instantips and RE/MAX; "We are going to see a lot more mergers like this around the country. RE/MAX excels at giving their brokers and agents the most extensive training, the best technology, and the best systems in the real estate industry. In Northern Baja we have experienced an increase in market share as more and more agents have realized the advantages that RE/MAX provides for them, especially in today's real estate market."
Ricardo Bolio went on to say, "We won't need to be involved in the day-to-day operations of an office; instead we'll be free to do what we do best, and that is interacting with people and helping buyers and sellers achieve their dreams in Baja." We had a few choices, but after weighing them all, RE/MAX gave us the freedom and the tools we needed to be successful. With RE/MAX we receive an international exposure, marketing tools, a well-established website, and the world-wide recognition that comes from a well-respected company like RE/MAX. We're very thankful for the warm welcome we've received from our new broker and colleagues."
This merger is part of an ongoing strategy from RE/MAX Baja Realty's growth initiative that began last year. RE/MAX Baja brokerage was established in 2004 when Rosarito Beach Real Estate, the most successful Rosarito real estate office, became a RE/MAX office.

The new office name is to be RE/MAX Instantips!

THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC REALITY

First: A reality check on Mexico
Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media - over the last year - has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.
Let's look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians," Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This "business" is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.
Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel; these "businessmen" are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint, this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels. Let's look at California as an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months, and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to the methamphetamine factories.
FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico City, among the very rich and tCiudad Juarez by the Texas border. With the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic. Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location. Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their lives untouched by the border town violence.
These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related deaths in the USA in 2008.
What is just getting underway is what many are calling the "Largest southern migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War" A significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over 2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next 15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. government calls this "The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007". Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.
Mexico: A better economic choice than China
Another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years. One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs. While the labor costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives Mexico a distinct financial advantage.
Mexico's real economic future
Mexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class. The very recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S. banks are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way. They require a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble.. The higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between $200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand inside the Bay of Banderas, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear. This is the reason the Mexican government is spending billions of dollars on more infrastructure north along the coast all the way up to Mazatlan.
The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to Mexico's GDP. The name for this "business" is Medical Tourism. The two biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India's biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand's inability to keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry. In Mexico today there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this business.
Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget. Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico's resilience is to be admired. When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury bonds in an account in New York City.
According to oil traders, Mexico's Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147 a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel today. Mexico's recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.
The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. "The strength of the Mexican economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian investment".
In BAJA CALIFORNIA: Rosarito Beach and Ensenada are in high demand again
Whys is this? So many regions and countries would like to be where northen Baja is located!
Northen Baja is located at only a 45 minute drive from San Diego, ca, and less than 5 hours from anyhere in Las Vegas, souther Arizona, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Palm Springs, etc.
Not only can you find top-of-the line hospitals, clinics and dental care in Baja california, and most US insurance plans are accepted there, but you are only minutes away from San Diego.
Beautiful people, beautiful beaches, amazing prices at a fraction of what you would expect in these above mentioned cities.
The cost of living in Baja is at least 35% less than in the USA...
I would offer a word of caution for investors in Mexico. Do not be seduced by the endless natural beauty that is everywhere, both inland in colonial towns and along thousands of miles of beach. Apply conservative medium and long term investment strategies without emotion. The demand for full and part time living by American and Canadian Baby Boomers is evident throughout the country. The top two choice locations are ocean front, and ocean view. The third overall choice, which is less expensive, is inland in one of the many beautiful colonial towns or small cities.
Mexico, with the world's 13th largest GDP, is no longer a "Third World Country", but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.'s financial markets suggests.
DOW JONES AVERAGES MAY 2004 10,200 - MAY 2009 8,200 20% LOSS IN 5 YEARS, in March 2011: 12,000
MEXICAN BOLSA MAY 2004 10,000 - MAY 2009 23,000 130% GAIN IN 5 YEARS, In March 2011: 37,500 !!

How to Surf on Rosarito Beach, Mexico

by Virginia Watson, Demand Media

Rosarito Beach is in the northern part of Baja California, Mexico, approximately 20 miles from the U.S. border. It is a popular surfing spot and home to numerous competitions, including the Mexican National Surfing Championship and a Pro-Am tournament. The area generally has consistent waves coming from the northwest and surfing conditions range from good to excellent.
Step 1
Travel to Rosarito Beach. The area is a 40-minute drive from San Diego, but it might take a while to get through the border crossing at Tijuana. All U.S. citizens need a valid passport to travel to and from Mexico, so make sure you take it with you. If you're flying in, your best bet is to fly to San Diego and drive over the border, as Tijuana's airport does not accept many flights from the United States.
Step 2
Book your hotel. The town of Rosarito (Playas de Rosarito) is a relatively small area with little in the way of accommodations, although the area is under development to encourage the tourist trade. Make reservations at your hotel early, especially if you're traveling during spring break, as the area can get quite crowded.
Step 3
Wear a wetsuit. During the fall, winter and spring months, you'll likely need a full wetsuit, as the water can be between 50 and 60 degrees F. The summer months generally require only swim trunks or a spring wetsuit.
Step 4
Rent equipment. If you didn't bring your own board or wetsuit, a few surf shops in the Rosarito area offer both sales and rentals of surfing equipment. Additionally, your hotel might have some equipment available for rentals or borrowing.
Step 5
Walk or drive to the beach. Many of the town's hotels are within easy walking distance of the beach. Additionally, numerous surf spots are within a few miles of the town and are easily accessible by car.