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They are choosing their ‘toppings’, the amenities of the community, even before they zero in on a specific home or condominium. To qualify for the luxury status, a property must have access to a variety of amenities, which have become, in many cases, more important than floor plan or even views. In fact, with the right combination of amenities, buyers will opt into a community even if they aren’t particularly fond of the home itself. What sort of add-ons could possibly sway a reasonable person to pony up in excess of three million dollars US for a home they’re only mildly pleased with? To understand that, you must realize that these new luxury buyers are selecting a lifestyle, the home is just along for the ride.
Among high-end Cabo homes, there are certain features that are considered standard. These would include marble floors, granite counters, as well as upgraded appliances such as Viking ranges and Bosch or Subzero refrigerators. If the home does not offer an actual wine cellar, a premium wine vault must be included. To capture the view, the architect will have included expansive terraces, outdoor kitchens with top-end appliances, and of course, pools, hot tubs and fountains. As most of our homes are sold furnished, the electronics will be state of the art, and the furnishings, the best money can buy. Elevators are quite common. Landscaping, full security, well groomed common areas are a given. On the rare instance a home does not have all of the above features, the listing agent will have some explaining to do. Once you realize that all of this is STANDARD, and there are more than enough homes offering them on the market at any given time, the importance of the amenities becomes clearer.
Los Cabos is widely considered to be the golf mecca of México and the premiere golf destination in all of Latin America. For golfers, privileged access to a course is perhaps the most important aspect of their home. They live to golf and when on vacation, they expect to golf daily, preferably close to home. Although not a golfer myself, my clients have explained that the more challenging the course, the better (although they neglect to mention that it should be challenging, but not too challenging.) A private course is better than a public, or semi-public course, both for prestige and accessibility of tee times. And, in an entirely perfect world, their home would feature spectacular views, not only of the ocean, but the golf course would be in the foreground. If they can ride to and from the course in their own cart, so much the better. Golf is currently the most coveted amenity in Los Cabos’ luxury real estate.
With the golf course comes the obligatory clubhouse. It should be luxurious and exclusive, offering food and beverage, as well as a place to hang out and brag about today’s play and, after a day on the links, golfers may have kinks to work out: a spa within the clubhouse is convenient, as is a fitness center and business center, in which they can catch up with their professional pursuits or host an important meeting.
With the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortés to choose from, Los Cabos is famous for beaches. Within top-end resorts a beach club is also mandatory. Who wants to schlep their own chairs, umbrellas, and coolers to the beach? The beach club should offer all this, plus fresh-water pools, restaurants, spa services, fitness club, and changing areas. The beach club should not be over-looked: the exclusive Querencia golf community offers a full service menu of golf and lifestyle amenities, but recently acquired land to add a beach club, even though the community itself does not border the ocean.
To truly relax in your Los Cabos vacation home, you need to be protected from petty details such as transportation and menial housekeeping activities. High-end resorts often offer concierges, whose services include airport pick up and pre-stocking of your home. You simply tell the concierge what you want in the pantry or refrigerator, and on arrival it will be there. A good concierge will remember your choices and will have your home prepared for your arrival with no effort on your part. Having remembered your favorite restaurants, they will have made your reservations or, should you decide to dine in, can arrange for a chef to prepare dinner in your home. Maid service goes without question, your concierge will make sure your service remembers that you like your bed turned down by 10 p.m. and your pillows fluffed just so. The concierge is also the person who will arrange for your boat to be ready for fishing and book activities for you and all of your guests. And when you leave Los Cabos, they’ll close up your home and protect it until your next visit. No wonder so many owners can’t live without them! And these are only a few of the amenities high-end homebuyers have to choose from in Los Cabos. Here are some of the leading luxury resorts and the “toppings”, er, amenities each has to offer.
The first resort to zero in on the amenity menu was Puerto Los Cabos, who set a new and higher bar for real estate in Los Cabos. Set on 2,000 acres just east of San José del Cabo’s estuary, the resort features a recently opened private marina, beach clubs, restaurants, dry dock storage, shops and two eighteen-hole courses set to open in the spring of 2008; one course is designed by Jack Nicklaus and the other by Greg Norman. Both courses will feature private clubhouses and spa facilities. Custom building lots are available in three areas: Altillo, La Noria and Fundadores. Developer properties are still being released in small quantities and a lively resale market exists. Lots start at about $500,000 US, some finished homes are available starting at about $2,500,000 US. If this lifestyle appeals to you, but you’re not willing to commit to full ownership, consider the deeded fractional offerings at Mision La Serena. These two- to four-bedroom condominiums include the use of all the amenities of Puerto Los Cabos, plus access to a luxury car and yacht while the owners are in residence. The oceanfront complex features the largest pool in Los Cabos, as well as an organic restaurant. With prices starting at around $200,000 US, this fully deeded ownership option is appealing to those who can only spend a few weeks each year in their Cabo home and want to be spoiled rotten while they are here. Be aware that deeded fractional ownership differs from time-share: you will receive the same trust and title insurance as those who purchase a home out-right, but you will have a number of partners in ownership of a specific property. Deeded fractional is real property and, unlike time-share, you can elect to be represented by a professional realtor in the purchase of one.
Just west of San José, you’ll find the grand dame of Los Cabos’ upper crust communities: Palmilla. Home to the renowned Nicklaus Palmilla course and the One & Only Palmilla resort, it is also home to some of Los Cabos’ poshest homes. At Villas del Mar, you’ll find access to golf, spa, beach club, as well as have a personal concierge who will do everything to make your time in Cabo hassle-free. Prices here range from about $2.7 million to about $7 million US.
Another trend my fellow realtors and I have noticed is that Cabo’s super rich are becoming younger. In addition to a more active lifestyle, they frequently have younger children whose needs must be accommodated. This has allowed developers to create yet another amenity: the kid’s club. Querencia, El Dorado and Chileno Bay Club all offer ‘family activities’ including sports lessons, outings and other activities to keep the young moguls-in-training happy while their parents pursue other activities. Chileno Bay is still in the construction phase, both Querencia and El Dorado feature playable championship courses and clubhouse facilities, as well as active family programs. At Querencia, you will find building lots starting at about $800,000 US and finished homes from three to ten million dollars US. Condominiums are available from one to two million dollars US and town-homes start at two million US. These enclaves are designed to provide complete privacy: not only are their golf courses private, but the resorts do not feature any hotel properties. Once inside the resort gates, the homeowner’s complete privacy is ensured. For many, this is one of the most important features offered.
The newest of the deeded fractional complexes is under construction mid-way between Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo in the Cabo Real master community. Las Residencias at Casa del Mar describes itself as a Private Residence Club, and will feature 20 two- and three-bedroom villas of up to 3,200 square feet. Each will be offered in one-twelfth deeded fractions; the resort is slated for completion in summer 2008. In addition to the expected high-end features (gourmet kitchen, granite and marble, top-of-the-line electronics, etc.), Las Residencias will offer 24-hour concierge, twice-daily maid service, room service and other amenities yet to be announced. A joint venture of the Grupo Questro, who developed the entire Cabo Real community, Las Residencias offers access to the Spa at Casa Del Mar and the Cabo Real Robert Trent Jones II championship golf course. Although construction is just begun, reservations are being taken. Prices were not available at press time.
Within the Cabo San Lucas city limits, there is only one gated, guarded community—Pedregal. Offering spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortés and quaint cobblestone streets, the community has been in existence for over thirty years. The original developer is now offering two new developments within the community. Cappella Pedregal was made possible when permits were issued for the developer to build a tunnel under the mountain linking the marina side to a secluded beach on the Pacific Ocean. Here you will find a boutique hotel and low-density fractional residences. The three- and four-bedroom fractional residence packages start at $460,000 US. This project offers a yacht club with sport fisher and cruising yachts, as well as a clubhouse on the marina in Cabo San Lucas. Each residence will have its own butler to oversee all details of daily life. Residences will enjoy access to the five star hotel and spa.
Ground has just been broken high on Pedregal Mountain, overlooking the Pacific Ocean for Rincon de Pedregal, an enclave of 26 spacious view homes of up to 6,000 square feet within the Pedregal itself. These homes will have exclusive right to a clubhouse with health facilities, spa, beach services and access to yachts. Property management (concierge) services will be available to handle all details of home ownership. Preconstruction pricing starts at $1,900,000 US.
Whereas menu price for “tortilla soup” includes the entire assortment of toppings; for many of these resorts, golf, beach club or marina access are charged separately from basic homeowner association fees. These charges can be significant in the higher-end resorts. You may wish to consult with your realtor; often an unused amenity such as a golf membership adds substantially to resale value. At the highest echelons of Los Cabos’ real estate, it’s all about the toppings. For those who can afford it, this life is truly a savory dish. Buen provecho!
By Carol S. Billups
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