By: Dwight Bailey

Dwight Bailey — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:19:15 +0000

I designed my home after a lot purchase in Baja in Rosarito in a HOA community. I got very lucky with the builder and he built me a beautiful house. I continue to hear horror stories from other’s who have done this. You have to do your homework on a builder. I failed to do the homework on the community.
My house was near perfect yet you truly don’t know a neighborhood until you live in it full-time.
The AirB&Bs allowed in this HOA ruined my experience and I sold it with a good profit and purchased another home in a much better community that I learned a lot about before the purchase. Again do your homework. You learn by your mistakes.
Yes purchased a used home for a good price because it was a long term rental home for 14 years and needed a lot of love. I had a inspection conducted by a US home inspector before purchase. It was very though and became my fix it book. Yet of course some items the inspection did not revel.
A hot water line leak under the concrete floor in the kitchen. It got fixed, under sink issues, a bad water system to fill my pila, numerous leaks but over all again I got lucky and everything was repaired correctly.
I do miss my first home here because I built what I wanted. Even a 3 floor elevator. But my sanity is more important.
Short term rentals in communities ruin the neighborhoods. Renters do not care no matter how many rules owners place.
One big recommendation if building. Do not put a closet on exterior walls or have good ventilation. You will fight mold if you are in an area that has humidity.

Comments on: Is it cheaper to build or buy in Mexico? The answer may surprise you

By: Dwight Bailey