Here's a thought...

[mgsipa]

I was sitting here and reading all the comments and replies to and from everyone, and I can see that everyone here just loves Tulum. So I had a thought.... one of those rare moments when I'm thinking. :) Still, I have a thought in my head; I'm just not sure how to express it clearly.

This may sound a little simplistic at first, but mull it over before replying. What would it take for us to come together and simply start a resort? Ex-pats are already doing it, moving there, starting restaurants or bars, so why not us? What would it take to buy, say, a hurricane-damaged or defunct resort? If not, what would it take to simply buy a stretch of beach, set up shop, build cabanas, etc. ? I know about Mexican laws about foreigners buying beach property, but there are legal and easy ways around that.

After seeing some of the successful resorts there first-hand, it doesn't seem like a big task. I worked in design and construction for several years, so I know a little bit about how to design and build things... I also owned my own company for seven years before moving on, so I know how to run a business... although my current job wouldn't help since it's computers related...:)

Some of you are great cooks, others are good with managing money or assets, others still may be great negotiators or skilled at construction. I really don't know what you all do in your every day jobs, but I'm sure everyone could contribute equally.

Some people may have the will and knowledge while others may have the financial backing, yet I think everyone would greatly benefit from a project such as this.

I, for one, know that Amanda and I would move to Tulum in a heartbeat if a great opportunity arose for us to do so.

What are YOUR thoughts... ideas?

[kimba]

Something between a time share and a co-op? I would hope that people would think more along the lines of co-op.

Other things to think about. Someone has a ton of cash to invest but no time. Someone else has excellent cooking skills but no cash. Someone else is an excellent project manager, but can't work or move to Tulum without a paycheck. (woops, I guess you already said this, but it is a major talking point in project like this. The people with cash have to trust that the people who don't have cash can be counted on to do their share).

I think it would take definite alternative life-stylers to throw a project like this together - especially considering the cost of land right on the playa. But I think it would be do-able.

[mgsipa]

That's exactly what I'm talking about. Speaking for myself, I don't have the cash but I definitely have the know-how, speak the language well enough, and most important, the willingness, and could definitely put together a project if I had the financial backing. Now if I only had the $$. My meager savings barely gets me there and back...lol

[John in DC]

Looks to me like between $3,000,000 and $7,000,000 gets you a commercially develop-able beachfront lot. $5,000,000 to $12,000,000 gets you a turnkey hotel business. (That's all in US dollars.)

If somebody fronts, I'll rake the beach!

[Gale in KY]

count me in to manage the housekeeping..I can assist with accounting and business licensing (license it here not there). In my spare time, I can pick the guitar, build a fire pit and chase iguanas!

(We should inquire about what it would take to buy Cabanas Tulum, I get the feeling the family is sitting on that place till they get an offer).

[DougSR]

Personally speaking, the reason I would never be able to do it is the same reason I get up in the morning. Got to be near this guy.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d187/DougSR/868572-R1-048-22A_022.jpg

[kimba]

I can cook, create the web site and do the marketing :) I'm also an organizational maven and a great project manager.

[mgsipa]

Looks to me like between $3,000,000 and $7,000,000 gets you a commercially develop-able beachfront lot. $5,000,000 to $12,000,000 gets you a turnkey hotel business. (That's all in US dollars.)

If somebody fronts, I'll rake the beach!

That's most likely mexican pesos, not USD. However, we already know Tulum is getting out of hand, so why not look into elsewhere? It's a big world out there, and I think it's the lifestyle more than the location that does it for most of us.

If Tulum gets overdeveloped and becomes another Cancun we'll all fall out of love with it anyway.

[mgsipa]

Personally speaking, the reason I would never be able to do it is the same reason I get up in the morning. Got to be near this guy.



And what a handsome reason that is!!!

[kimba]

No, actually that really is in American dollars. When I was down there in 2005 I visited the real estate office and got the scoop. Not only do we pay American prices for services along the playa, the cabana/property owners had to pay American prices for the property too.

If it was affordable to own beachfront property, I would have bought some the last time I was there.

[mgsipa]

Wow.. for that kind of money we can do the same in Laguna Beach, CA and probably cheaper too...lol

How about squatting?? I hear Mexico has lax squatting rights... :)

[DougSR]

I have to agree with John on this one. Those figures are probably dollars. Now, if you would have jumped in 10 years ago the figures would be in pesos. Unfortunately, the cat is out of the bag. The Mexican government has allocated funding for development and the investors have stepped up.

[mgsipa]

This begs the question then.... What about Belize?

[kimba]

Belize is even more expensive than Quintana Roo. At least it is to live there.

Here is the scoop on disparaging numbers and the downside of being from gringolandia: When I was in Tulum checking out prices of things and being appalled at the expense because I hate getting ripped off when I travel, I started asking around about renting an apartment in Tulum pueblo. The waiter at Zahra confided in me that he paid $50 A MONTH for his apartment in Tulum. He lived by himself.

I am sure there are other parts of Mexico that are less expensive than Tulum Playa and undeveloped. But the Mexican gov't is on a coastal/resort development kick all over Mexico, so if you find a unique spot, it should be grabbed right away because it won't be available for long.

Personally, I want to live in Valladolid for a little while.

[xamachdan]

You just have to stay away from the towns. I bought Xamach 4 years ago and everyone thought I was crazy for being "South of the Bridge". Over those years I can count on one hand the new houses inside the reserve, no new resorts, and nothing has changed south of the bridge.That is because its not easy to build in the Sian Kaan. Tulum is a no brainer, no restrictions, easy to get permits.You can't blame them, the demand is there.There is a lot of coastline in the Bioshere, especially north of Majahual, where you can be totally secluded, and build a little place with 3 or 4 cabanas.
XD

[sctx]

I am one of the world's top hammock managers

[kcaraco]

How about either of these two locations? Plenty of expats arriving there lately, prices still good.

D(ex)H, which M & A will meet (hopefully soon) is Mexican, he knows all the in's and out's and approximately what it will cost, etc.

I love this idea. I'm in!!:)

[mgsipa]

Well Dan did it with the three cabanas at Xamach. Granted it's only three cabanasright now, but with good property management and intelligent marketing three cabanas could lead to six cabanas, and six cabanas could lead to 12, et al. So why not?

sctx, we can always use a good hammock manager. :palmtree::margarita::palmtree:

Kathy, I'm going to do some research on both of the locations you mentioned before I say anything. I don't really know anything about either yet.

As for building in Sian Ka'an, I think most people are scared off because it's harder to access, but to me that's actually even more attractive. The less tourists the better in my book. I'm going to look into what the legal aspects of building anything in the Ka'an are before getting my hopes (or anyone else's) up too high.

[beachreader]

Actually, Dan told me he's limited to the three cabanas he has right now. In the Sian Ka'an they have tough density laws, so only so much of your property can be developed with structures. So while he has plenty of room for 8 cabanas (IMO), he can't go there.

However, there's a lovely large lot available next door for only 1.2 million (US)...

I spoke with a realtor the other day who told me that Casa Magna is for sale right now, just listed, for $22 million US. That includes both houses and the huge stretch of beachfront they both sit on, and the buildings have been beautifully renovated already. If they throw in the furnishings, it sounds like a deal.

Oh, I'll have to win the lottery first, but that's OK.

[kcaraco]

Pardon my French, but Good God! What do they think we're made of here, money?