Your Own Colonial Home in Mexico From $110,000
By Jason Holland
By Jason Holland
Expats
have taken the lead in the renovation and refurbishment of Merida's
colonial heritage, turning once-crumbling colonial structures into
boutique hotels, restaurants...and private homes. But many buyers prefer
to buy turnkey properties instead of dealing with construction.
The revitalization of Merida's centro
has been ongoing since the late 80s and early 90s, which means there
are a wide variety of price points, locations, sizes, and types of
colonial homes available to buyers today.
Prices aren't as low as they
once were...but you'll still find good value on renovated homes. Fully
restored homes with three bedrooms in prime locations are available for
under $200,000. Smaller places, still in centro and in desirable areas, can be had for under $100,000.
With a restored home you can
mix the classic with the contemporary. Thanks to architectural
guidelines and rules—and the desire of owners to keep things
authentic—most renovated homes in Merida's centro retain a historic character.
You have tall, sturdy wooden
doors to the street, and interior doors, doorframes, and window frames
made of tropical hardwoods. The interior courtyards with plants and
flowers and a place to sit—sometimes fountains or pools—keep the air
flowing and cuts down on the tropical heat.
Period doorknobs, faucets,
and other fixtures are popular. So-called "pasta" floor tiles, vividly
colored and intricately patterned, are coveted. And if you don't have
originals in your home, the same workshops that made them centuries ago
are still operating and producing classic patterns.
Of course, restoring a
colonial doesn't mean you have to be low-tech. Modern touches like
stainless steel appliances, high-speed internet, and cable TV—air
conditioning too—are all available.
Most colonial homes have
good "bones." But it's not just surface renovation that's needed. Often
they have to be rewired, replumbed, and roofs replaced. So when you
purchase a renovated colonial, you can be sure you'll be comfortable and
have reliable utilities.
One restored colonial home that I came across in centro
was a two-bedroom with a small private patio in the popular Santiago
neighborhood, listed for $86,000. Another home in Santiago, a
three-bedroom place with a pool and separate casita out back with its
own bedroom, bathroom, and private entrance (for visiting guests or
maybe a vacation rental for extra income) is available for $129,000.
Also in the heart of the colonial quarter is a three-bedroom home with
original pasta tiles and a large courtyard being sold for $110,000,
including furniture.
For something bigger, you
have plenty of options. A recently restored home of 2,300 square feet
with three bedrooms, a pool, and a courtyard is available for $177,000.
Spend a little
more—$235,000—and you can get a 3,700-square-foot, three-bedroom home in
the Santa Ana neighborhood—another area popular with expats, with
plenty of shops, markets, restaurants, and cafes nearby.
Expats flock to Merida, a
city of one million, for a variety of reasons. The diversity is a big
one. It's a mix of Old World and modern times: Europe and the Americas,
the indigenous and Latin cultures.
The town is sophisticated,
home to a world-class symphony orchestra, theater, art galleries, and
museums, as well as high-end dining. But it's not all "high brow." The
unique Yucatecan culture (strongly influenced by the Maya) is on full
display, from foods like the roasted pork dish, cochinita pibil, to traditional dress worn by older residents, as well as frequent festivals and fiestas.
And the scenery is
outstanding, too. Historic churches sit on tidy and well-landscaped
public parks, alive with people in the early evening hours.
The parks also play host to
weekly free folkloric performances. A typical evening's entertainment
might include romantic guitar ballads, poetry readings, and folkloric
dancing. And these are not tourist events: the audiences are primarily
locals of all ages. And it's all accessible by foot or a quick taxi ride
if you live in the centro.
Aside
from low costs and cultural activities, Merida excels on other quality
of life factors as well. Medical care is also top notch, with two
hospitals in town, Star Medica and Clinica de Merida, offering
U.S.-standard care, if not better, with specialists in every discipline.
Plus,
the beach is just 30 minutes away by highway. And the modern city, with
gleaming shopping malls and big-box stores, can be found on the
outskirts of the colonial zone. Many expats enjoy getting their produce
from local farmers' markets and head out of centro for imported foods from home.
All that, plus the chance to live in a restored historic colonial home, makes for a great way of life.
