VIEWPOINTTM

Overlooked Values in Puerto Vallarta Real Estate
By Harriet Cochran Murrray • Cochran Real Estate - July 2010

• Mismaloya Area

This village on the south, before the state highway turns inland, is sometimes thought of as being out of the way.  In reality, it takes normally 20 minutes to reach Puerto Vallarta Centro. There is always a reliable supply of taxis and buses for the trip.  In Mismaloya, you enjoy ocean swimming, hiking and snorkeling off the beaches.

Here, it is cooler with all the surrounding vegetation, and life is at a slower pace. Charming cobblestone roads wind up the mountain, providing panoramic views of the bay and sunsets.  The village offers excellent local seafood and Mexican food at reasonable prices. Mismaloya is close to The Botanical Gardens, a private zoo, canopy tours, and El Tuito a small village, 30 minutes away at a higher elevation.

The route south takes the highway alongside granite- flecked mountains of the Sierra Madre.  You enjoy the ocean view as you drive down the coast as far as Boca de Tomatlán. This drive is a different experience from Punta de Mita and up the Pacific Coastline. The northern drive to Punta de Mita takes your further away from the ocean. You have to drive into the developments or villages to enjoy the water view.

The south shore and Mismaloya have several gated communities for those owners who wish to have controlled access and development. San Xoaquin, Sierra del Mar, and Lomas de Mismaloya have private streets. These communities have lots and homes for sale, but they are also developed enough for a buyer to feel comfortable that these projects are mature.

There are only a few large condominium developments such as the 4 towers at Playas Gemelas which enjoy three swimming pools, lush gardens and lawns, as well as the “Twin Beaches” with white sand all year long. 

Otherwise in Mismaloya, there are low rise condominium developments of less than 30 condos, with ocean and beach access.

Ocean view lots begin in the high 400’s and condos are similarly priced.  Private homes start in the high 500’s and beach front estates can run up to 12,000,000usd.

• The Grand Dame: Conchas Chinas

Close to Vallarta, with spectacular views of the Bay, Los Arcos, city lights, and church spires, Conchas Chinas includes homes and condominiums on the mountain, as well as below near the sea.

Conchas Chinas is more than 25 years old and is informally considered the “Beverly Hills” of Puerto Vallarta.  Streets are maintained by an active HOA, but they are public and not restricted for entry.

Lower CC is an interesting combination of mixed-use of small hotels, restaurants, and rental villas. There is even a small commercial strip center including a convenience store for a quick stop before going home.

• Real Estate: 

Lots in CC are for the most part sloping and they make an ideal foundation for cantilevered homes with views from every level. Lot boundaries are usually street to street with an average of more than 600 m2 of land.

Villas La Punta are six town home condos in a unique setting on “La Punta” hillside. These homes have unusually large common areas which give them a pleasing and unique setting.  Private pools on each roof offer privacy and end the need for a common pool.

Homes in Conchas Chinas begin under a million usd. Some are hacienda-style architecture averaging a price tag of 2,000,000usd each. Condominiums range in price from remodel projects around 200k to over one million dollars.  If you have a budget of 500k, you will enjoy a number of choices.

• Ocean Plata in El Centro

Oceana Plata condominiums are said to have once been the famous hotel near the original light house on the malecón. This was a building in the early 1960’s where Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor hung out with famous and non-famous friends in the restaurant and bar. A penthouse in Oceana Plata overlooking Galerisa Uno, one of the original art galleries in town, costs in the mid 400’s.

In-town living in Ocean Plata gives an occupant the ability to view the malecon‘s  art gallery, in particular Bustamante’s “In Search of Reason” The bronze pillow -headed mother and her two children symbolize the classic story of children venturing out from the security of their mother’s care, while she is imploring them to “use reason.”

Living in the heart of the city, you experience its pulse. You are a customer of the knife sharpener man, the bread man. You walk to buy tamales for home, also stopping to purchase home-made camote for an evening dessert or tomorrow’s breakfast with cold milk.  You experience the art scene, including ever-changing sand sculptures. Fireworks are frequent celebrations of light and color in front of Guadalupe Church and the town plaza. Email to a friend

These three areas are just come of the special areas of our beautiful Bay of Banderas.

Harriet C. Murray
E-mail: harriet@casasandvillas.com.

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