Puerto Vallarta - Real Estate and Exploring Tropical Living with Theresa

Imagine the allure of owning a condo in a tropical paradise. Theresa, our guest this episode, turned that dream into a reality not once, but twice, in the coastal jewel of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Join us as we venture through the winding streets of Marina Vallarta and Zona Romantica, the distinct neighborhoods where Theresa planted her roots. Get a glimpse into her triumphs and challenges as she navigates the intricate process of investing in property abroad.

Every twist and turn in Theresa's journey is a lesson in real estate, lifestyle, and adventure. We dissect the necessity of a trust when buying property in Mexico and delve into the importance of favorable currency exchange rates. Theresa's insights extend beyond property, as she takes us on an imaginary day trip to nearby towns and shares her local favorites - from surfing spots to dining destinations. We also touch on various facets of local living from managing property, cost of living, safety, to the vibrant music scene that fills the air of Puerto Vallarta after sunset.

Our conversation peaks with the excitement of planning a potential outing, a testament to the endless fun-filled opportunities that await in Puerto Vallarta. Don't miss this episode if you're considering a vacation or investment in this beautiful corner of Mexico. Come, soak in Theresa's experiences and her infectious love for this tropical haven. Let's journey together through the captivating world of Puerto Vallarta, one story at a time.

Find Theresa here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresawalshariettawithrh/

Map of Puerto Vallarta

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:15

Hi, welcome to our podcast. We're Next Travel with Kristin and Carol. I am Kristin, I am Carol, we're two long-term friends with a passion for travel and adventure.

Speaker 2: 0:27

Each episode, we interview people around the globe to help us decide where to go next. Today we're meeting with Teresa. She's from California and she discusses how she was able to buy not one but two condos in Puerto Vallarta and the challenges of buying in a foreign country. Then we dive into her favorite things to do there and why she loves splitting time between California and Mexico. Enjoy. Thanks, teresa, for joining us. We're so excited to hear about what you have to say about Puerto Vallarta and why you love going there.

Speaker 3: 1:00

Aw, thanks, I'm so delighted to be here.

Speaker 1: 1:03

We do have to put a little disclaimer that we all met at the same company back in the 90s and how wonderful it was. I know I was in Oakland.

Speaker 3: 1:13

I know You're aged If something like that were young Late 90s.

Speaker 1: 1:19

We were two years old, right yeah, but how wonderful. You guys were in the Walnut Creek office and I was in Oakland. Then Terrell and I lived in the same apartment complex. We all actually my first interview. I met you, teresa, when I was in wait. What was her name? Again, the Karen when I was with meeting Karen.

Speaker 2: 1:40

Okay, karen Carlson.

Speaker 1: 1:42

Yeah, carlson. Yeah, you guys were a team of three, I think at the time, right, something like that.

Speaker 3: 1:48

Gosh, that was a long time ago. Yeah, I just figured it to think about that.

Speaker 1: 1:52

Then I just remember fast forward our lives, families, kids, things like that. Terrell and I got reconnected three years ago almost, which was crazy. You and I have done things together. I am so excited to do this, considering that you so graciously invited me and my daughter to stay with you in Puerto Vallarta, where your condo is.

Speaker 3: 2:14

That's right. That's right. I've had it for 17 plus years. I have been there for a while. It's been awesome. It's totally my happy place, for sure.

Speaker 1: 2:23

Yeah, so very excited. I know I was just mentioning it to Reese last night that you were coming on the podcast today. She was like, oh, I kind of remember that they were pretty young, I think, at the time. Yeah, girls. So thank you so much for doing this. I can't wait to dive in and come more. Yeah, I mean that, I'm sure Great. So Puerto Vallarta. So what made you buy in Puerto Vallarta?

Speaker 3: 2:46

17 years ago yeah, that's a good question. I went from high school as a flight attendant and she had been going there and really encouraged me to come check it out. So, interestingly, I went for the first time I think it was back in June of 2006 and I bought a place from that first visit, kind of took a chance. Wow, I looked at places right off the airport which is called Puerto Vallarta Airport, which is called Marina Vallarta. You can literally walk to my place from the airport. It's really close. And then, of course, there's the Mecca and Fun of right in downtown Puerto Vallarta, an old town too, but anyway.

Speaker 3: 3:27

So I bought my first place in Marina Vallarta and I loved it because it's a gated community, has a huge pool right on the Bay of Banderas, and what was really interesting about it was really the only one I found kind of condominium, two bedroom, two bath, that has poolside service. There is a restaurant where we can get breakfast and lunch and dinner up till about six o'clock, and that was really unique because it's not a hotel, it's not a timeshare, everyone just owns their condo. So I really love it. It's called Bayview Grand and of course you've been there, kristen, and I just think it's a really safe, fantastic place to hang out.

Speaker 2: 4:04

So that's in the Marina Vallarta.

Speaker 3: 4:06

Right, you'll see that, yep.

Speaker 2: 4:09

Oh, and I see the airport right there. Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 4:13

And, of course, this is the state of Jalisco right, which is where we're referring to. So, yeah, and then what happened was about two years ago. I got a second place in the zona romantica, which is where everyone loves to be. So when you watch all those programs on Netflix, et cetera, about buying places in Mexico, I truly believe the most desired place is Puerto Vallarta and it is specifically zona romantica. So if you want to be downtown in the action, right off the beach, it's just awesome, really fun. So that's a very different vibe. There in downtown it's much busier, a lot of people walking on the street, a huge gay population mostly guys, but really attractive, a lot of guys.

Speaker 2: 5:00

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 5:01

They're just so high. Luxia yeah, I mean seriously. And of course there's lots of beachfront, some specifically for the gay population and others more just families and such. So it's awesome. I really enjoy both locations. They're unique.

Speaker 1: 5:17

You said zona, what? What was it called Gona?

Speaker 3: 5:19

romantica or the romantica Romantica. Okay.

Speaker 1: 5:22

Yeah, I was trying to look that up too. So is it. How far away is it from your other condo?

Speaker 3: 5:28

Yeah, it's about a 20 to 25 minute drive.

Speaker 2: 5:31

Zona romantica, yeah, yeah it's like the southern part. I have so many questions. Oh my gosh, Do that. Second one do you rent like your round or do you like nightly rentals?

Speaker 3: 5:42

Yeah, oh good. So for both of them I just do as vacation rentals. I don't want to rent all year round because I want to be there. So the peak time is kind of November through March and to April when people want to come, and they come a lot of Canadians, mid-westerners for several months. I mean easily one to three months. People will come to stay longer term. I have one of them on VRBO, the one in the Marina Verta Bayview Grants on VRBO. The other one, I just have a local gal that's my Rolls-Tay agent who also helps me rent the one in the Romantic Zone. So she's got a website where she manages Okay.

Speaker 2: 6:20

Do people rent for like a month at a time or two months at a time? Sure.

Speaker 3: 6:24

I mean anywhere from. I think I require on my VRBO listing at least a week stay, but a lot of people want to stay during this November through March April longer, so easily two to four to six to eight weeks 12,. Yeah, it retire people, older people.

Speaker 1: 6:39

Yeah, exactly, it's nice and warm. They get out of the cold. Yeah, good for their bones probably.

Speaker 3: 6:45

Oh yeah, and it's affordable, right, and it's safe. I mean, I think those are the key things. I mean affordability, safety, location, you know all that's key.

Speaker 1: 6:54

Yeah, how often do you go down there, like every other?

Speaker 3: 6:57

month. Yeah, I really try to go for every two months and I won't stay for less than a week. Now I mean, I really hate to leave after a week. But you know, until little one gets out of high school next year, you know I can't do my three to four month plus stay.

Speaker 2: 7:11

And I will definitely.

Speaker 3: 7:12

I'll probably start off with at least a month Only, stay at, I think 14 nights. Okay, got it. Yeah, and so yeah, but yeah, I'm going to be hanging there longer, for sure.

Speaker 1: 7:22

I know I'll be down with you.

Speaker 3: 7:23

Yeah, I mean you work down there, no problem, I work down there all the time.

Speaker 3: 7:28

Oh, that's awesome, that's only a one or two hour time difference, depending upon what time of the year is. They just stopped doing the time change like we did, so now it's only an hour difference, right? So maybe it's. Maybe it's only going to be an hour difference now. I suppose sometimes it was two hours, I'm not sure I forget. I mean, they just decided not to do the time difference, so right now there's only an hour change. Wow, do we need to be in?

Speaker 1: 7:52

California in there. Yeah, so do you have Spanish now, or have you?

Speaker 3: 7:54

Oh my gosh, that's like the worst thing. I have to say no, terrible, I have not embraced the language because you don't really need to, and so you know I really haven't. You know I do say something, I love to say something in Spanish, but not a whole lot and you really don't need to. But maybe I'll learn that as I have more time and spend more time down there. I mean I really should. But I think the reality is when you manage property and you have to have repairs and maintenance, I mean it gets more technical and I'm never going to be good enough. I mean I'm only going to get to the rudimentary, you know ordering dinner and so which of them the two are your favorite places to stay?

Speaker 3: 8:34

Actually, I really like both of them for different reasons. I mean the first one, in Marina, has a beautiful view of both the bay and all the downtown, puerto Verde and the mountains, so the view is just spectacular from my back balcony, from the living room, from the master bedroom. The pool is awesome and there's big walkways to walk to the restaurants right down from me and stuff. So it's very leisurely, quieter, bigger space, bigger apartment, right, that's like 1650 square feet, whereas the one downtown is also two bedroom, two bathroom, but it's only about 800 square feet and so, and it's it's got a view of mostly. I'm right in the middle of like a very jungly tree area within the apartment complex. And I have a great complex. It's called Loma De Mar. It's architecturally been awarded Several things I think was made in the 1960s Beautiful walkways, awesome big size pool.

Speaker 3: 9:32

I mean you can't get a newer place like this. It has all the grounds that I have the bigger pool. All the new places are going to be like one building with a rooftop pool, and the rooftop pools are awesome. I mean they're totally fun, but they're not going to be as typically big as what I have, and my HOA is much more reasonable too because we've locked in at lower rates for both water and electricity. They have some special, you know, if you're in there longer and you've got rates locked in, you're just paying less. So I'm really lucky with really both my places for affordability in that way.

Speaker 2: 10:09

Wow, and so did you kind of like have connections to like get in on the second one.

Speaker 3: 10:16

Yeah, I used the same real estate person who's been there now for like 20 years, so she helped me get my first place and we've remained friends and so she helped me get the second one. So, because she knows it so well, right, I got on it right away when it was listed and you know, I just I made an offer asking, basically, and got it. So, yeah, kind of lucky, lucky.

Speaker 2: 10:36

And what is that? I mean gosh, I bet you're one that you got 17 years ago, probably much, much less expensive. That's your ability. Yeah, how much has it appreciated over time?

Speaker 3: 10:47

So the one in the Marina Vierta, right on the Bay of Banderas. It's like 1600 square feet, two bedroom, two bath. I got for 320. I'm sure it's like seven to seven, seven to 800,000 now, I would guess. And the other one.

Speaker 1: 11:00

I mean that's expensive, right. I mean, but it's oceanfront, it's right on the water, right yeah.

Speaker 3: 11:05

Yeah, I mean maybe I'm, you know, I would say I would say I don't. I mean I would say I wouldn't sell it for less than 700. And I'm sure I could get that and maybe more. I haven't, I haven't tried. So I'm in a great building and that's a key thing if you're going to buy.

Speaker 3: 11:19

I am in the best buildings in that complex because you can sit, you get the morning sun, so in the afternoon you can really sit in your back balcony and enjoy the view. You don't have the sun totally beating on your balcony and apartment, so it's incredibly important to get a unit that it has the morning sun. So that would be, for me, absolutely a must if I was going to buy another property Having said that. So there's that one and the other one I bought for 222, I think it is the one in the romantic zone, and literally it's already like 400,000 now, I mean. And they're not even remodeled. I mean they're like they kind of are basic, right, and now you're going to spend literally at least 400 because it's a fantastic location. So, yes, prices have really kicked in.

Speaker 1: 12:09

So Marina Vallarta versus Zono Romantica, that Marina Vallarta is a lot more expensive than in that area? No, no?

Speaker 3: 12:18

no, it's less expensive on average. That's a much bigger unit. In general, romantic zone is going to be more money because it is the location people want. Okay.

Speaker 1: 12:28

It's really cute. It's the photos of it. It's really nice, wow. And so weather looks like November through March. April is the good time to go, and what's the weather like the rest of the year? I'm sure it's very humid, hot. I remember when we were there.

Speaker 3: 12:43

Yes, yeah, no, it is. I mean, if you don't like humid weather, yeah, you may not enjoy going for sure in the summer. The neat thing is August, September are the rainy months, so it rains like almost every day, like Hawaii. This is very much like Hawaii, with the terrain, the greenery, the palm trees and all that. I mean it's very much like Hawaii in Puerto Vallarta. I enjoy that time of the year thunder, lightning, totally stuff. We never get in California Cool storms to watch and then it dries up rather quickly. You know you'll flood like crazy, you know, and then it'll be, you know, then it'll stop raining and it's fine. So I mean, yeah, I mean to me I think it's fun about all parts of the year, but most people, a lot of people wouldn't enjoy, you know, as humid as it can be right During particularly July parts of August. You know October is kind of warm too. October can be easily 85 to 90, probably more like 90 all of October.

Speaker 1: 13:45

Yeah, oh, wow, I was just. I went out of my map and looked and it is almost directly across from all the Hawaiian islands, right? And then cost wise, how is it in terms of? Well, not so, I guess, even before cost. So it sounds like people like you can rent it out a lot, right? Is it usually always In those months?

Speaker 3: 14:06

yes, I'd say you can rent it quite a bit. Yes.

Speaker 1: 14:09

Does it end up paying for itself or not so much.

Speaker 3: 14:13

Well, you pretty much have to be able to buy the place with cash. You really can't get financing. I don't really. I don't really know if you can. I mean, maybe maybe you get a line of credit on your house in the US and you use it to buy it. I don't know, but I so I you know for sure it more than covers the maintenance HOA costs, for sure, I mean, which is pretty minimal. So when you, you have to have it in a trust because unless you're in citizen you can't technically buy it, you can't technically own property within, I think, 50 or 60 miles of the ocean and bay. So so I have that's about $500 a year to keep it in the trust. But you know it's a 99 year trust.

Speaker 3: 14:54

I think maybe the rules have changed and maybe now it's a 50 year trust, but you know you renew it after that. So it's not like you. I don't think you're risk losing ownership per se. That's the rule. You got to have an interest, so that's that one cost. You have the HOA which so it's the exchange rate variant. So what I would suggest for people is sock money away in pesos in a bank local so that you've got a great exchange rate. So I mean it's been as high as 26 pesos to the dollar since I've been there right now. What is it? I could look, is it 19 or something? I mean it got as low as 16 this year, I mean. So that makes a big difference. Yeah, you try to play the exchange rate, yeah, and so I, you know, definitely learn that.

Speaker 2: 15:40

So, teresa, is the trust then, like in Mexico or something? Yeah, okay, yeah.

Speaker 3: 15:48

So there are banks that have trust services that hold your trust.

Speaker 2: 15:51

Oh, interesting.

Speaker 1: 15:52

Okay, and did your realtor do that for you or help?

Speaker 3: 15:55

you yeah, so you have the transaction. So the attorney set up the trust for you, okay.

Speaker 1: 16:01

And I'm sure it sounds like there's probably a lot of folks that end up doing that, but it's a very common thing that happens you have to, you have to have it in a trust.

Speaker 3: 16:08

Okay, so you have property.

Speaker 1: 16:10

You have to find the people to make you to do it the right way.

Speaker 3: 16:12

Yeah, you have to have an attorney to do the whole transaction. Yeah, yeah, because there are properties that have issues that you know you don't want to deal with, because there's legal stuff that you're going to have to work out in order to actually secure the transaction. Like, I just didn't deal with any of those properties, yeah, I mean I want to ones that are free and clear right that I can easily take over.

Speaker 1: 16:30

Yeah, and I did look up, so for one US dollar it's 17.24 pesos. Okay, right now.

Speaker 3: 16:35

Yeah, right, so it's not great, I mean, but it was 10 pesos to the dollar when I bought my first place, so could you imagine I mean it was 10. Yeah, as high as 26. Like, how different is that? Yeah, huge, so I mean hugely important, if you're going to be here longer term, you know, to really get some pesos at a good exchange rate.

Speaker 1: 16:56

Yeah, yeah, good to know, and that's something that you don't think of for sure. And then how is it, like you always think? Of course the water, and you know food safety. And did you get sick when you?

Speaker 3: 17:07

go down. I have a pretty good stomach, but I have a lot of people that have gotten sick. So the deal is it is a place, one of the few in Mexico where you can drink the water from the tap. But I don't. So I just drink bottled water, I eat the fruit, the salad and I don't get sick. But you know, I would say, I would say, if you just have stuff ready or maybe take it precautionary, you know, and you can get it from the pharmacies there, you know, without a prescription, you're going to, you know, be able to rectify and you know, not have to deal with the stomach and diarrhea and all that stuff, right. So it's a better place than a lot because you can drink the drink, the tap water, right. So that alone should help you eat fruit and vegetables.

Speaker 2: 17:55

Yeah, yeah, Well, that's great. And then do you explore much. Is there a lot to like? Like little day trips here and there? Or do you have much, just like this is just like heaven and you have your three hikes, like in the. It looks like there's mountains nearby. Or is there like good day trips?

Speaker 3: 18:10

Yeah, yeah, good. So for a long time, with both my girls being younger, literally I would just go park at a baby grand and hang out there and literally wouldn't do anything because I just it was enough just to go there. But now I do more, and so a lot of people love Sayulita, which is about 35, 45 minutes away from Puerto Vierta. You know Clinton, oh God, the famous actor made it famous from a movie, did Clint Eastwood, I can't remember the name of it. So people became knowledgeable of Sayulita through that movie and so it's like a fishing village, it's more quaint, it's great, so you can go to Sayulita for the day or spend a night or two. Yeah, and then of course Nueva Vierta, which is maybe 20 minutes north of Puerto Vierta, and that's huge. I mean that that is become popular because it's been.

Speaker 3: 18:57

It's very much geared towards Americans and Canadians that love the all-inclusives, that truly just want a property where they stay the whole time, eat and drink and they really never leave the property right, and they're beautiful. There's some beautiful time-sharers and all-inclusive like that in Nueva Vierta, but I've never gone there and stayed, you know, just because I'm not really a big one on that kind of stuff, but a lot of people love Nueva Vierta and do that, and then there's really no biking there's you know what I mean. There's maybe one or two kind of bike companies that you can rent a bike and go. There's not a lot, but there's like a botanical garden, lots of beaches that are nicer. That would be how can I say south, I think it is of Old Town, centro.

Speaker 3: 19:46

So you'll look on the map, you'll see Amapas, ama, pas, and then you'll see more to the, I want to say, to the right of Amapas, there's lots of beaches down that way that people love to go to right. I mean, the beaches right off of Romantic Zone aren't really that great. I mean the water's kind of, you know, a little dirtier. They're not that great.

Speaker 1: 20:11

It really says not pristine beaches, it's more like brown.

Speaker 3: 20:14

Yeah, and I think the purpose is because the bay, the depth, the rain, you know what I mean it just it makes it that color. You know, honestly, when we had this hurricane last month and it was, it was a hurricane to level, it was huge that we got a few weeks ago the worst we've had in over 20 years. Tons of crap was washed up on the beach. I mean there is a lot of garbage.

Speaker 3: 20:38

And so you know. You know we don't have the best beaches. We have a lot of duffly beaches, right, but you know, I still really enjoy swimming at the beach. Yeah, and of course you don't swim. The geography is it is harder for these hurricanes to come in there, which is why we haven't really had that many, honestly. I mean, overall it's pretty safe, but we did just have this and my one property definitely, if my friends weren't there, I would have definitely had more damage because the water came rushing under the front door. Oh yeah, it was definitely a lot of water coming in, whereas my other property downtown had no damage. Well, that's a pie though too. Right, it's up a little bit higher, but I think it's just the way that the building was situated with the winds and the water. It was more exposed the one I have down in Marina to the wind and water coming in, versus the other one is more enclosed by a lot of tropical trees and such and a lot of grass, and it absorbs. It's just a different setup.

Speaker 2: 21:48

Okay. So how do you get there? Do you fly into Guadalajara? Is there like a oh?

Speaker 3: 21:53

hey, sweetie, there's an airport right in Port of Aerta.

Speaker 2: 21:56

Oh yeah, right there. But is that international airport to get like straight from California?

Speaker 3: 22:01

Yeah, I have direct flights from San Francisco. I used to have direct flights from Oakland with Southwest, but they discontinued that when that one airplane got grounded with all the issues, so maybe they'll bring it back, which was fantastic. So now you have to go direct with, like Alaska United out of San Francisco and it's like a three hour plus flight it's not very long which is fantastic. Wow, that is amazing.

Speaker 2: 22:24

Yeah, it's really close. Do you still live in the Bay Area?

Speaker 1: 22:27

Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, yeah still live in the Bay Area, yeah, so what keeps you going back and what do you love to do when you get there? Like, what's it like if you're planning your?

Speaker 3: 22:37

trip During peak time you have got to reserve early. So I definitely, you know, get my restaurants all lined up. I love mescal, which is like a smoky tequila, so I do love drinks. There's a drink called a mescalita, which is can have different variations of a mescalita when you order it, but I love it with him. Jamaica, which is that purple juice. So it's it's purple and it's really clean and light with mescal and I'm not even sure maybe what else they put in there, but like that's definitely my favorite drink is the mussel.

Speaker 2: 23:13

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 23:14

I love a spicy margarita with tequila. You know I love I think you know how much I love hazy IPAs.

Speaker 1: 23:20

Kristen they don't really have.

Speaker 3: 23:23

And I, you know, I mean honestly, if I had more in me, I would say I would open up a hazy IPA beer place and downtown, I would, you know, I could totally. I mean there's a lot of people. Oh, you would be great. And I mean, you know, the gay guys have plenty of money and they enjoy beer and they would come and drink my hazy's for sure. So the drink, yeah, yeah, I mean there's not a lot of like draft beer place. I mean there's more, there's more and more coming.

Speaker 1: 23:51

What's your epic like time when you get down there to like, is it like a chill time, Is it hiking, Is it, you know, just eating and you know, hanging by the pool? It just kind of like right yeah, Because you know I love life, right yeah, You've got to wind down, I guess too.

Speaker 3: 24:08

Yeah, yeah, no, for me it'd be a very disciplined. I would do my 12 minute yoga every morning. I would probably go on about a 30 minute walk. I would definitely swim in the pool for probably another 30 minutes. One of my places in the marina has an awesome gym, so I go to the gym like every third day and do my I did that, love it yeah.

Speaker 3: 24:28

Yeah, definitely go, and you know if you have, if I have to work, I got to work right, and then I would go out to dinner. Yeah, I mean, have you know, have a cocktail before dinner, hopefully with a place with a view, whether it's my back balcony or I have a fantastic hotel like a block away from my place in the romantic zone, and you go to the top, the rooftop pool bar.

Speaker 2: 24:53

And how does the price compare to like buying food and cooking it versus going to out, going out to eat? Is it about the same? Or, if you want to work on a budget, you know, oh yeah, go to the grocery store.

Speaker 3: 25:04

Yeah, Well, honestly.

Speaker 2: 25:07

I don't think.

Speaker 3: 25:08

I've ever made myself dinner in my 17 years there.

Speaker 2: 25:12

Are you generally just not a cook, a cooker?

Speaker 3: 25:15

Yeah, no, I'm not Okay, and actually I've had friends that have made dinner at my place.

Speaker 1: 25:19

But you did do a lot of smoothies. We had smoothies, yeah, and we would eat out for dinner. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 25:24

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So no, it's simply cheaper to buy. It's still cheaper to buy food and make stuff at your apartment. But what happens? Exchange rate comes in. Exchange rate definitely plays into the price and then I would say, you know, the prices have definitely gone up with inflation, just like they have in the state. So, like I would say, on average, we're probably, you know, I would say, at least a third less cost in eating out with very good places. I mean, like you can get very good food and it's probably, I'd say, a third less than what you would pay in the Bay Area. I'd say that's, you know, a third to a half loss, you know, maybe more like a third. It used to feel cheaper. I feel like over the years it's gotten a little bit more equitable, I think, because, quite frankly, it's such a high demand destination and they can, they can charge more hours of people there, the tourists, the or the people visiting, and also the Mexican people, and fitable and easy yeah Prime to like.

Speaker 1: 26:27

No, is that yeah what?

Speaker 3: 26:28

I've heard people say that have come to stay with me is that there's a really good vibe, and PV it's more traditional Mexico it's more family and it's safer. They just feel it when they're there. It's not the same as Cabo or other. That's the next highest destination and that may even be even a little bit higher than PV. I'm not sure they're pretty close, not connect, but it's definitely feels safer, more family and more authentic.

Speaker 1: 26:59

And then crime Is it pretty safe, you can walk around. I mean you need by yourself too, sometimes as well.

Speaker 3: 27:06

Yeah, I've never had anything happen to me and I've definitely walked by myself at night. No, I've never had anything weird happen yet. I mean, I did have some theft with our HOA and the people that worked for Bayview Grand early on when I was there, and there's definitely stuff that goes on. There's still bribery, there is still stuff going on, but what's happened is, I think, with a lot of these places that are very much owned by Americans and Canadians, they are now on the HOA staff and it's a volunteer position most of the time, and so they're actively managing the HOA, and so that's why I think we've gotten checks and balances, we've got auditors, we're alleviating some of the theft that's gone on in the criminal activity within the properties, right. So I think that's really helped.

Speaker 2: 27:57

What about going to the beach? Do you have to not leave your phone on the beach when you go in the water? Have someone watch it. Is that a concern for anyone? Yeah, I still do that.

Speaker 3: 28:07

I don't know. I mean it could happen. There's a lot of people selling stuff that they could take it. You know what I mean Versus the people that are sitting at the beach with you. So yeah, I mean generally I don't leave my stuff on the beach.

Speaker 2: 28:20

Right but.

Speaker 3: 28:21

I've never seen people do that. I've never had you know heard about. Oh my God, peace. I'm screaming. They just took my stuff. I've never heard that.

Speaker 2: 28:28

And what about transportation? Do you kind of? It looks pretty tight that you probably don't need a car as a car.

Speaker 3: 28:34

Yeah, I've never rented a car there, I've never driven there, so I definitely do Ubers almost as much as I can because they're cheaper and they're pretty fast to get you, you know, to be there, right, and I don't want to deal with having to give out pesos with the other cars, because the other cars you have to have pesos. The taxis, you know, you really can't, I mean you can't. Some of them take credit car, but not that many. Can you walk from the marina to.

Speaker 3: 28:57

Puerto Vallarta proper to downtown like where my other properties and I mean now it take maybe, maybe, far it's like a 25 minute drive. So you mean, I don't know how long.

Speaker 2: 29:07

Oh, it is Okay.

Speaker 3: 29:08

Yeah, a lot of restaurants, though, that are good. If you have the right location of your property in downtown romantic zone, you can walk to tons of restaurants that are really good.

Speaker 2: 29:18

Okay, If you stayed in Romantic that you probably would need to drive around too much.

Speaker 3: 29:23

Right, okay, yeah, and there's other places right there. I can't remember the other ones that are the other properties, like. There's other ones. You could say it out loud, sorry. If you're looking at the map, you know there's other ones that don't have as many great restaurants right there, that are adjacent to Romantic zone. They're also pretty good. That's where you're going to find the most good restaurants.

Speaker 3: 29:43

I mean, there's a lot of cities around and I see a highway, but I don't know if you have you ever been inland at all or checked out anything there or yeah, I've gone to like I love a Moppus which is right above Romantic zone and then the next town over I can't remember the name of it now, but all those I mean there are beautiful places to buy something up elevated and elevated property. The only thing about them is you know you got to walk. You have to. It's not a big deal to walk down from a Moppus to right in the Romantic zone. You have to cross that freeway you referenced. It's like a two lane.

Speaker 1: 30:19

What do people typically do, you know, in terms of for, is there any kind of nature type things? That's just hiking. There's no biking, you said. Really, it's just kind of like.

Speaker 3: 30:29

Not a lot of biking. There, too, you won't yeah, you won't find a lot of people on bikes. There is that Botanical Garden, which is beautiful. Yeah, we've gone there. And then you know, I think you know a lot of people do enjoy going to the beach and the pools at their properties.

Speaker 1: 30:43

Yeah, yeah, it's a good place. It's a good, good, warm like yeah to Hawaii chill place that you can go and yeah, and then what is typical meals? Like what? Typically? I mean I think Mexican, but I'm curious is it just yeah, I mean yeah, I mean some of my favorite.

Speaker 3: 31:01

There's a tapas place I love called Barcelona Tapas, with awesome view and very good pricing. I love that place.

Speaker 3: 31:08

You know I've had, I think, the best soul I've ever had at a restaurant called Ha Sanda, san Angel, which I love, which is right across the street from another restaurant called La Capella, which is this beautiful kind of mission style, converted, you know, church into a restaurant that has a beautiful view of, you know, the Bay and and and part of air to downtown, including Elizabeth Taylor's church, which was she donated the crown after she made Naya the iguana, so that's a really famous site and she has a restaurant called Naya the iguana I think it's what it's called which is a beautiful restaurant and not as much the food but it's, you know, it's still pretty good but they have, you know, it just depends upon the restaurant. You know what dishes maybe are better, but you'll find a lot of what we have here. I mean, I don't necessarily even eat a lot of Mexican when I'm there.

Speaker 2: 32:07

I mean there is, you know but I tend to eat more.

Speaker 3: 32:11

You know, fish. There's a great Italian. I love the Barcelona Tapas. You know I love my mescalita. Oh, there's that Joe Jax, which I don't think we went to Kristen, but it's a restaurant right in romantic zone which really reminds some of them, really remind me of San Francisco really clean, organic food. Yeah, I just think they taste really good. So I mean I'd say they have a number of good chefs in restaurants, right? So I mean a lot of good food in romantic zone.

Speaker 3: 32:41

Yeah, the marina marina has good food too. They have the marina has the marina right, so you'll see where all the boats are docked in marina, bayarta, and so there's a bunch of restaurants all around that marina.

Speaker 1: 32:56

Got it. And then how much would it cost for someone if they wanted to stay down there for a month or two? And then also the grocery stores, and how much is it to buy groceries? I don't know. Yeah, we went to the grocery store, I think. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 33:11

I mean a lot of people love Costco, so I mean, and they're getting better at offering organic grocery stores with really better stuff, so there's more of those now. Yeah, I mean some things are really inexpensive, you know fruit, bananas, eggs.

Speaker 1: 33:28

And it's also like depending. Like I know, when we were in Cuba, you would go to like there was one price and then we'd find another place that was like the locals and it was a totally different cost.

Speaker 3: 33:40

It was like yeah, drastically lower, and I haven't even discovered some of those really better streets. Well, there's one place near Sam's Club at Walmart which is where people get a lot of times their fish and fresh vegetables. It's a vegetable market and, yeah, I mean, you can't beat the quality and the price at that place, yeah, and so I'm sure, like I don't know where that is in a romantic zone, I have to figure that out but I'm sure there is a really better fish vegetable market. You know where people like to go to too.

Speaker 1: 34:12

Yeah, how much is it for someone to, if they were going to budget, to stay like rent wise? Yeah?

Speaker 3: 34:18

Yeah, so, yeah, so, like as an example, my larger two bedroom, two bath and Marina Verde, the 1600 square feet like during peak season, you know would be at least 4500 to 5500 for the month for a two bedroom, two bath, the one in downtown, just because it's so much smaller and doesn't have a view, you know that one's going to be. I just remodeled that whole thing so I don't have it on the market yet with the new remodeled price, but I think what I'm going to charge, I'm charging. What am I charging? Right now? I think it's. I've got it rented for four months, I think. I think it's at 3700 a month and I'm probably gonna do it for more, like 42 to 4500 right now that I've remodeled.

Speaker 1: 35:03

Yeah, that's what about off season the people that can handle the heat and also, if there's, I'm sure, if someone you know had more budget like it was, you know, can you find a place for like a thousand a month or?

Speaker 3: 35:16

you may be able to find a really small studio in romantic zone, mm-hmm, you know, maybe for a thousand, a 1500 during peak season.

Speaker 2: 35:27

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 35:27

Yeah, yeah, I bet you can. I mean, you probably can't, I Haven't never looked, but you probably could, maybe.

Speaker 1: 35:32

That's even more expensive than some of the like an apartment here, two bedroom, two bath, I mean sometimes they're like two thousand or something. Or one bedroom, one bath, it's like two thousand, or you know what. I mean, yeah, right, in Puerto Vallarta. That that's. That's expensive.

Speaker 3: 35:46

You know what's gone up? I mean it definitely, there's no doubt, prices have really gone up. I mean well, yours even so in the off season.

Speaker 2: 35:53

How much does it go down? 30% less, yeah.

Speaker 3: 35:56

Yeah, good question. I would say at least 30, 40, 30 to 40 percent. I mean, honestly, I don't really even want to run to it. I mean, partly it's like people are gonna be running the air conditioning so you got to factor in. How am I gonna charge for that? Because they're gonna run it 24, 7 during those you know months. You, I mean there's all kind you have to factor it. I just on a Sabbath or leave and try it. I mean I Don't even. What I'm saying is I don't really even list it during those times of the year. I don't want to deal with having to deal with people. Yeah, it's enough having it during peaks, deal, you know, and work. Right now I got too many others things I'm doing. So maybe eventually, if I, you know, if I'm living down there and I really want to rent it, I will do more of that and I could absolutely rent the downtown romantic zone one a lot more if I wanted to. I really could.

Speaker 1: 36:43

Yeah, it's such a great location. Yeah, how long did it take for you to remodel, and was it easy to do that?

Speaker 3: 36:50

It took about four months to have the base, basically everything gutted and redone except for the floor and the windows. And I use the same person that I used before for baby Grant. It wasn't as good of experience because she's got too much going on and stuff. But I think any rotten remodels Because I wasn't there, I mean I was doing it remotely, so that's gonna make it more difficult. I mean it's one thing. If you're there managing it more, it would have been different. So I mean you know it's not gonna be as well managed if you're not there. So that's really what I would say if you can try to be there for a remodel, it's gonna be better. But yeah, I mean you can still find people that do a pretty. I mean the quality, you know it's just not quite the same. I mean you know they don't do things as meticulously as maybe you're gonna find here. I mean you can't even necessarily pay more to get such a meticulous job done in Porta Verde. It's just not necessarily what they do there, right?

Speaker 3: 37:47

So you have to be more flexible. I mean you can't be and things aren't gonna get done right away. You just got a chill. It's just they're not gonna come fix your toilet within hours. You may have to wait a few days. It's just the way it is.

Speaker 1: 37:59

No, this is super fun. I know, I know I really enjoyed our visit. It was so much fun. Yeah, it was just nice to have that big pool and we'd get our smooth. Yeah, make our smoothies. To get work the blender going upstairs. Yeah and yeah, easy and nice, and yeah See, it was very relaxing really relaxing.

Speaker 3: 38:16

That's why.

Speaker 1: 38:17

I'll catch up with us and the kids. Yeah, play and yeah, the. The girls all got along so well and it was just, it was nice and yeah. So much for that, that was fun, yeah.

Speaker 3: 38:27

I know you guys have your rapid fire questions.

Speaker 2: 38:29

Yes, yeah, I'm like I didn't send them to you, but you're, I do, she may know that she to us right.

Speaker 3: 38:37

Ready now. I know we've already answered, so some of them, but go ahead.

Speaker 2: 38:41

Okay, yeah, so are there any popular holidays down there that you're excited to? You know it's funny.

Speaker 3: 38:46

I haven't gotten to know them. I've kind of stumbled on them, not realizing oh gee, this holidays here. When I'm here, I mean, they do a little bit more for a day of the day and all souls day. I think that the the, the costumes and the parades they have are really neat, so that kind of stands out. You know, obviously it's just kind of fun Halloween, right. You know they have like music and bands that we don't have here. So it's just like.

Speaker 3: 39:12

That's really neat, you know. Obviously, just at Christmas time their decorations, you know, are different. I'm not as hip on what maybe some of the more traditional Traditional pastries and food they do for some of these holidays. Yeah, I haven't gotten there yet, but as I stay longer I'll get to know that better. I did discover a great bakery which I never even really saw that many.

Speaker 2: 39:35

And then we did time top of your favorite foods. But like, when you're down there, what's the typical breakfast you would have, or what's a sounds like have smoothies, but is it is a bacon and eggs or huevos rancheros or what's the common?

Speaker 3: 39:48

Yeah, I mean, I'm more of this drink I make at home, I make there with oat milk, and they are getting better by having a lot of different of those things, that oat milk, the almond milk, all that. So you are finding more of those at any grocery store, not having to go to a specialty place. So, anyway, I make my typical coffee drink in the morning, you know. And then, okay, let me think about that. Well, like I love this, like breakfast egg sandwich thing you know.

Speaker 3: 40:09

So that would be the one thing I'll go out and get.

Speaker 2: 40:12

You know? No, I like the Mexican Classic bread yeah it's the Mexican one which has the jalapenos.

Speaker 3: 40:18

Oh yeah, sandwich with jalapenos I love that's kind of Maybe one of my treats there.

Speaker 2: 40:23

cheese yeah, it's a cheese on there.

Speaker 3: 40:27

Yeah, there's cheese on that I have. You know, I don't necessarily think I love the munchego and but I haven't necessarily. I think if I wanted to go and get Some really good cheese, I'd probably go to like a Costco and go there and get it right. So, and I don't actually eat a lot of cheese when I'm down there. Yeah, I don't know, because it's hot and spills too filling. I don't know.

Speaker 2: 40:44

But so Costco when we're in Hawaii the Costco pizza was the same price as the Costco pizza here in okay in Colorado. Is it one of? The prices are the same in Costco, yeah?

Speaker 3: 40:55

no, I think it's definitely gonna be cheaper For stuff in Mexico. And yeah, I think you're gonna find a better price. I don't. I don't know how much the goods vary from here because I'm not a Costco member, so I don't know that. Okay, you know. I'm not gonna go but, like you know, if you gotta buy, if you gotta buy a bed in Mexico, costco is probably one of the best places to buy a mattress and then how about music?

Speaker 2: 41:20

is the music different? Or just the mariachi?

Speaker 3: 41:23

Yeah, I love the traditional and they still have the mart mariachi bands and they still come to a number of the restaurants at night and I pay them to sign. You know, sing songs for you. So that definitely still exists. I have a great piano bar. I love the music at this piano bar with a singer right down. I mean, I love this place called Garbows in downtown Puerto Viercha. I just discovered that the Barcelona tapas has live music. There's actually probably a lot of places you can get live music For sure during peak season. A lot of places.

Speaker 2: 41:57

So yeah, there's a lot of great music. Okay, and where's the closest place to surf? Can you surf in the Bay, or do you have to go like outside of the bay a little bit?

Speaker 3: 42:06

Yes, you know, I am trying to recollect. I don't know if they've ever have. I amate there's been people surfing. I just doesn't stand out. There's body surfing but I don't even think it's really a surfing place in the Bay of Edurus or in downtown. Yeah, you may have to go farther out to other beaches, I would suspect.

Speaker 2: 42:29

Okay, north a little bit. Okay, so get a car.

Speaker 3: 42:33

I think Sayulita maybe is better for surfing.

Speaker 2: 42:38

Okay, very good. And the money is the pigs, though we already said yeah, okay, cool. And so when using the money down there, do you like to use your credit card, or do you always want to exchange some money? Yeah, yeah, or do you? Yeah, good.

Speaker 3: 42:53

So yeah, yeah, it's always better to use your credit card if you can, because you're going to get the best exchange rate, and use your credit card that doesn't charge the foreign transaction fee. Right To convert from pesos to US dollar. That's number one. Number two again if the exchange rate isn't great, you don't want to pay with dollars. They're always going to charge you more. You always want to pay with pesos. It's just better to pay with pesos. Okay, or ideally, pay with your credit card. That's what I would say.

Speaker 3: 43:19

Okay got it. I mean, you can use US dollars almost anywhere, but you're going to end up paying more.

Speaker 2: 43:26

Okay, so if you have pesos, can you negotiate a little better? Is there a lot of negotiating going on?

Speaker 3: 43:31

Yeah for like stuff. You want to buy knickknacks and stuff on the beach, they all for sure. You negotiate yeah, but not at the store, whatever the charging you got to pay.

Speaker 2: 43:39

Oh my gosh. Well, thank you, this is so good. I just love learning all about the whole real estate like, yeah, yeah, that's a nice little spin.

Speaker 1: 43:47

Yeah, we don't usually talk about that, but someone who's doing that and then, I think, people who are interested. I'm sure that would be a destination spot where someone would want to own something and retire there or spend a significant amount of time. Yeah, now, with COVID, the opportunity to be able to work remotely and have kind of the traveling nomads sort of what we do with this podcast. Anyway, it's a great opportunity for learning about that, so thank you so much for sharing that.

Speaker 2: 44:18

Would you want to put any links to your rentals on the?

Speaker 1: 44:21

show notes at all. Oh gosh, Anyone wants to rent your rental, right yeah.

Speaker 3: 44:27

I guess I can send that to you guys, right, yeah, sure.

Speaker 2: 44:29

I'd rather go direct. Do you have social channel? They can just DM you.

Speaker 3: 44:32

That's going to be fantastic, you're right On LinkedIn. Just to tag me on LinkedIn and you'll find me so easily under Teresa Walsh Arrieta, because no one's got that name on LinkedIn. You know what I mean. Okay.

Speaker 2: 44:43

Yeah, so we'll do that, and they direct you, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 44:46

Yeah, I thought it was interesting staying in Port of Erta. Yeah, thank you so much. Yeah, no, I love it. Oh my gosh, that'd be so fun if I got people to tag me.

Speaker 1: 44:53

Hi now.

Speaker 3: 44:53

On the show. Yeah, you girls got to come. I seriously I think that the thing of us need to go. Yeah, you guys would love it. I mean honestly, you'd love it Dancing Seriously. Oh yeah, I mean seriously. It'd be so fun. I'd introduce you to the Mescalita Maybe your new favorite drink that sounds fantastic.

Speaker 2: 45:13

So bye, adios. I know Adios, yeah, okay.

Speaker 3: 45:16

Adios Mayhem.

Speaker 1: 45:18

Okay, bye, thanks, bye. I'm having some technical difficulties right now. Reese, give me just a second. I don't know what's going on. Okay, do your best of what you think you should do right now, because I'm stuck in something and I'm not quite sure why.

Speaker 2: 45:58

My Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed the podcast, can you please take a second and do a quick follow of the show and rate us in your podcast app, and if you have a minute, we would really appreciate a review. The following and rating is the best way to support us. If you're on Instagram, let's connect. We're at when Next Podcast. Thanks again.