Bucerías puts on a new face as evidenced by the recent open house at La Vida, certainly of the best real estate events so far this season. I remember Bucerías when it was still dusty, a quick gully-stop by bus en route to Guadalajara back in the days that I had time to go there every month. Bucerías was quite rural in those days with row upon row of stands right where the bus stopped, usually to pick up passengers. Those same stands were re-located to the east side when the highway was built right through town just about six years ago. Not only did it change forever the nature of Bucerías but it unfortunately divided the pueblo vertically in a manner that directly affects real estate values.
But that was then and this is now. I recently did an interview with Christy Ann Beguesse, artist owner of A Broken Art, who moved to Mexico in 1996. Founded in 2000, her gallery features mosaic creations formed from broken pieces of pottery in a colorful mélange of Mexico with designs modern and historic at the same time. On one of her first visits to Vallarta, Cristy says how impressed she was by the downtown PV Art Walk and decided to put together a version of the communal experience in Bucerías. So if you happen to be walking or passing through (no one just passes through anymore!) Bucerías on the last Friday of the month, you’ll encounter some of the “art walkers” out on the main street of Lázaro Cárdenas which is where most of the participating galleries are located.
All of this to indicate how Bucerías is changing. The old trailer park is no more, but now it has a second life in La Vida, a project promising a “seductive sanctuary”, a “lush hideaway”, a “sensuous retreat”, all right on the beach and all just steps away from the main streets and downtown of Bucerías. This private walled community developed by Será will consist of 23 Mexican colonial-style homes with its own beach club. Each specially designed home will feature its own private pool with facilities for cable television, Internet service and all the services at your fingertips provided by professional staff. Designed by architects Fernando de Haro and Jesús Fernández, discover the blending of simple, elegant lines with natural materials.
At the open house, catered by Zac Campbell of Eventful Moments PV, meat turned on a spit for on-hand tacos while mojitos were lined up on the bar. Sunset was spectacular and as the colors showed their brilliance in the darkening sky, the Frijoleros took up mike and guitar to follow the traditional mariachi that previously welcomed arriving guests. Valet parking immediately indicated the level of service while guests were ushered in through the entrance wall that suddenly allowed the first view of the beautifully lit villa covered by a high palapa. The entrancing architectural paintings of Marco Ålvarez were part of the astounding interior design by local artist Patti Gallardo. Attended by everyone from brokers to artists to partners to interested viewers, La Vida made its indelible mark at this open house. For more information, contact Antonia Lavender of Prudential California Realty at (322) 226-2690, view www.lavida.com or just stop by to see the model home.
A couple of other open houses that I attended recently included one by John Swanson of Tropicasa featuring the up-and-coming Villas de la Colina II in Amapas. Special guests were vibrant members of the popular QuesaDivas, founded by our favorite local writer/actress/singer (and non-Diva) Norma Schuh. Designed by the team of architect Manuel Orozco, the contemporary Mexican hilltop villas give out onto impressive views of the city and Banderas Bay. When completed, the entryway will be underneath a bridge with running water, tropical pools and palm trees surrounded by gardens. (Shades of Seattle, right, John? One of the earliest examples of this style of multi-level urban water use was in Seattle, which is where John Swanson comes from.)
Each of the villas has its own balcony, available with special features such as a gas barbecue grill, Jacuzzi, private pool and entertaining area. Natural materials also present colors that embrace you with earth tones with use of parota wood, stone, granite countertops, marble floors and showers, wooden doorways and more. Pre-wiring includes telephone conduits in the kitchen, study and master bedroom as well as connections for cable TV, sound system and thermostatically controlled air throughout. Contact John of Tropicasa at (322) 222-6505 or see www.villasdelacolina.com for further information and details.
Nuevo Vallarta was host to the real estate community in the new Sensara Vallarta, featured as affordable luxury living for fifty-plus. (Fifty plus what, I ask...) Located right on the fabulous El Tigre Golf Course, Sensara proposes that we are “closer to paradise” than we think, and so we shall see. As Prudential’s Tere Kimball and Nicole Martin assured us, this isn’t just a typical retirement community, but one focused on providing an active lifestyle. With 250 low-rise condominiums and apartments, Sensara overlooks the championship greens of El Tigre against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains while still just minutes away from the increasingly more active marina in Nuevo Vallarta as well as the seashores with the sandy beaches of Banderas Bay.
Sensara Partners debuts in Vallarta but not without accolades accrued en route from the home shores of Spain in Benal madena in Costa del Sol and US partners from Newport Beach California. Seven models (or six plus six-x) feature primarily two-bedroom two-bath condos for tailoring down the living space while still having access to all the amenities of the complex. A one-bedroom option is available as are the more spacious three-bedroom models. Discounts are available off green fees for those golfers in the family with easy access to the spanking new Sports and Racquet Club just across the road with discounts on spa treatments. Count on access to the comfortable beachside Playa Royale Beach Club with other discounts available within the Paradise Village Marina and nearby Paradise Plaza. In addition, any other needs can be met by the on-site concierge service in this luxury security complex. Contact Prudential Realty at (322) 226-2690 or see www.sensaravallarta.com for further information.
