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Destinations >> Mexico >> Guanajuato
.jpg) Guanajuato city real estate does well, because this is the capital of the state of Guanajuato and sits at over 6,000 ft above sea level. This historically rich and picturesque city has a population of 115,000 people. This city is considered one of the historical jewels of Mexico, and has many little flowering gardens, and plazas. Most of the homes are pastel colored and have balconies, window boxes and flowering gardens. Cobblestone streets and alleys wind in and out of the city, and start in one place and end in a plaza or church. Some of these alleys are pedestrian only and traffic flows through the underground tunnels bellow. Learn More |
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About Guanajuato
Guanajuato is the capital of the state of Guanajuato and sits at over 6,000 ft above sea level. This historically rich and picturesque city has a population of 115,000 people. This city is considered one of the historical jewels of Mexico, and has many little flowering gardens, and plazas. Most of the homes are pastel colored and have balconies, window boxes and flowering gardens. Cobblestone streets and alleys wind in and out of the city, and start in one place and end in a plaza or church. Some of these alleys are pedestrian only and traffic flows through the underground tunnels bellow.
Guanajuato - A Colonial Gem in Central Mexico
Guanajuato A Colonial Gem in Central Mexico
 Some 500 years ago, the Spanish came to the central highlands of Mexico looking for silver and gold. Their settlements grew into bustling towns and cities, some of which still retain their colonial character in present day. Among these cities is the charmingly quaint Guanajuato, which has long attracted discerning tourists who come to Mexico looking for something other than the popular beach scenes.During the past several years, the city has gradually crept into the minds of retirees and young expats who are looking to make property investments for their permanent or vacation homes. Property prices, once considered extremely affordable, have seen a sharp rise as bargain hunters snap up houses for astonishingly less than what they would cost in overexposed places such as Cabo San Lucas. A snapshot of the city
Marked by its labyrinth of winding, steep, cobblestone roads, colonial architecture and small, manageable size, Guanajuato is a friendly city of roughly 80,000 people. Its streets do not follow a grid layout, its locals don't speak much English, and it is not overrun by tourists; these characteristics are all part of what makes this tiny city attractive to those who want to avoid the stereotypical Mexican coastal experience. "The climate is spring-like all year round. Other than the rainy season, which goes from May to September, it is a paradise climate. Also, it is a landlocked, geographically central area from which to stage your continuing expat adventures," said Doug Bower, author of A Walk Through Mexico’s Crown Jewel: A Guanajuato Travelogue.
Guanajuato Real Estate - Guanajuato Today
By: Doug Bower at Ventana Magazine
History Guanajuato is the capital of the State of Guanajuato. It has long been a Mexican tourist destination that is just now becoming popular for American tourism. During the early-1500’s, it was a mountainous canyon or ravine that was uninhabited, though there were settlements to its south. But, in the mid-1500’s, the discovery of silver led to the masses pouring into the area. More than half of the world’s silver supply was being produced here by the 18th-century.
 Four mining camps formed the proto-Guanajuato, and, in 1554, they were merged to create the city. Being close to a river, as were many mining towns of that era, was vital. The river that ran alongside the city was used for power to turn the water wheels that crushed the ore. The state of Guanajuato, located in the geographical center of Mexico, is surrounded by the states of San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Jalisco, and Michoacan. Other cities in the state include San Miguel de Allende, Dolores Hidalgo, and Leon.
The name, Guanajuato, originally spelled "Guanaxuato" or "Quanaxjuato," is the Tarascan Indian word for "Hill of Frogs." No one knows exactly why the tribe gave the area this name; one story is that, when looking at the terrain, they decided nothing could live here except frogs. Another version is that some of the rocks on the mountain peaks around the area looked like frogs.
Founded in 1548 close to the Rio Guanajuato, the city is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains. Standing in the downtown area is like being in the bottom of a bowl. Breathtakingly beautiful Baroque and Neoclassical buildings, many of which were homes during the Spanish occupation, fill the bottom of the bowl. The discovery of rich silver mines in the area provided the wealth to produce the grandeur that is still evident today. Some consider the architecture of Guanajuato to be the most beautiful in Central and South America. Looking up from the downtown area, you witness a remarkable feat of engineering skill. Here, the residential areas surrounding the heart of the city had nowhere to go but up the sides of the mountains. It seems as though the builders used every available inch of the mountainsides, as homes stair-step up the sides and follow the terrain in undulating rows. In some places, the roof of one home is at the next home's foundation. Many of these properties are not accessible by car, and the only way to gain access to them is by narrow, twisting “callejons.” These are cobblestone alleyways, some containing steps carved into the rocky mountainside, which snake up to the summits. The city of Guanajuato has been called the crown jewel of Mexico's heartland. In 1988, UNESCO declared Guanajuato "Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad" (Cultural Legacy of Mankind). Since it is a World Heritage Site, any new construction or remodeling in the historic center must conform to strict rules. Furthermore, builders must build gas stations and other modern buildings outside the city center, ensuring that the city keeps its historic charm. The silver mines discovered here put Guanajuato on the map, and, at one point it was the commercial and financial center of central Mexico. The silver mines once supplied the world with one-third of its silver wealth, much of it going into the coffers of the Spanish royalty. Most of the mines stopped producing in the 1800s, but a few remain active today.
Guanajuato played a unique role in Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain. The mines made many of the Spanish overlords wealthy at the expense of the Mexican workers. Finally, the people rebelled. And, the rest is, as they say, history.
Today's Guanajuato
The current economic downturn has not seemed to affect the draw of Guanajuato's historic charm. Tourists are coming in droves, and local Mexican friends have joked -when seeing the constant flow of foreigners- "Where is the economic crisis?" Though there are tourists coming to central Mexico to check out the capital city of Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende, and Dolores Hidalgo, they seem to be spending less according to the local merchants. They are coming and visiting but are not leaving with an abundance of artisans' pottery and other handicrafts.
For decades, Americans and Canadians have chosen the Mexican Highlands as the spot to land in their search for a summer, winter, or anytime home. You don't have to look very far in the city of San Miguel de Allende to find Americans with an all-too-familiar story: They come for a week's or weekend’s vacation, and leave with a new Mexican home. Impulse buying of real estate in the state of Guanajuato is not a rare or unheard-of event. Even though this happened a lot in the past, it has slowed down in today's volatile economy. According to Carlos F. Acuña, from Atenea Realty in San Miguel de Allende, "there has been a drop in sales and construction by approximately 75% since the economic downturn. People are still scared and want to make sure that the economic crisis has hit bottom before they start investing again. I anticipate a recovery starting next year, and once it begins, I anticipate a boom in the San Miguel de Allende’s real estate market." "In order to stay afloat," adds Acuña, "prices have dropped by about 20%, and properties that were way above market price have dropped by even more. Prices have become very negotiable as long as sellers are still making a profit."
You've got to wonder if buyers get into trouble and to what degree when they come for a week's vacation and buy a house on impulse. Acuña believes the biggest mistake foreigners generally make when buying or building homes in San Miguel de Allende is that "that they do not research or investigate who the best and most professional realtors and builders (such as architects and engineers) are that will help them avoid any problems." This is one of the reasons we encourage readers who are thinking of moving to any region of Mexico to rent first and then think about buying. There are many factors to consider before plunking down money for a house - so many reality checks. By renting first, it will give you an idea if you will be able to cope with what Guanajuato has to throw in your path. As charming, as delightful, and as enchanting as Guanajuato is, there are peccadilloes with which I am convinced every American expat will have to contend. I know we did. Those whom we have interviewed have told us the following also were wake-up calls for them. The Noise Factor
I believe this is the most underestimated issue amongst American expats, as Mexico may to be one of the noisiest places on earth. Try to imagine living in American cities where "noise ordinances" reign supreme. Then try to imagine moving to Mexico where noise levels, magnified to the power of infinity and beyond, are the norm. Where we used to live, in Overland Park, Kansas, one would swear the city was full of dead people compared with living in Mexico.
There are seemingly no noise ordinances here, as Mexicans simply do not regard noise the same way as Americans do. I have an expat friend who actually took his Mexican neighbor to a legally binding arbitration judge over the neighbor's insipid, always-barking, yippy dogs. These dogs were (and still are) terrors who will not stop barking - ever. And what do you think my friend's Mexican neighbor said to the judge? "I do not know why these Americans cannot be more tolerant of a little noise like we Mexicans are." Mexicans do not get that we Americans were not reared on the daily noise of hydrogen bombs going off. Mexicans set off what they call fireworks all the time, and will explode them for any reason. Is there a new birth in the family? Let's set off some fireworks. Did someone get a new job? Fireworks it is. Holidays are occasions to explode some fireworks at all hours of the day or night. This is The Noise Factor with which you, the potential American expat, will have to contend.
The Convenience Factor
Another issue you have to consider when deciding whether to rent or buy first is The Convenience Factor. Depending on where you live in Mexico, you may have quite a surprise in store for you in terms of convenience.
Where we live, Guanajuato, life is vastly different from life almost anywhere in the United States. Guanajuato is more like a small town in northern Italy or Spain, and it was not constructed with the idea of cars and parking in the minds of its builders. In America, when you want to "run to the store" for a carton of milk, you can just hop into the car and have your trip over and done with in less than 20 minutes. There is a driveway in which to park your car and maybe even a garage with an automatic door opener.
In Mexico, in many places where real estate is currently very affordable and thus attractive to Americans, you will rarely find this convenience. To "run to the store" for a carton of milk is a major event that can take up to an hour or more. In the areas of Mexico that seem to be attracting the current onslaught of American and Canadians, you will not be able simply "go anywhere quickly" since there is limited parking. If you want to "run down to the store," you will have to walk or take the bus or cab. In Guanajuato, we have a newer Barrio called San Javier, where many properties have driveways in which to park your car. In the rest of the city, the houses are built on the street and, if you open your front door, you will be on the street. Only 20% of the streets of the city of Guanajuato are car-accessible; otherwise, no parking!
Parking is just that rare in colonial cities where real estate prices are the most tempting for potential investors. If you breezed down here for a week and fell in love with a little place, you may or may not have a place to park your car. Suggestions
If you choose to move to this beautiful country, you should be sure to:
1) learn Spanish like your pocketbook depends on it, 2) be prepared for a new culture and lifestyle  |
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