Mazatlán is a “real” city of almost a half-million people. When you move here, you can choose to be part of the American/Canadian community, speak mostly English, and ease your way into Mazatlán aided by people who have come before you…
Or within a few hundred yards, you can live in one of several Mexican environments, speak only Spanish, and immerse yourself in Mexico’s rich culture.
There’s even an in-between world where bilingual Mexicans and Spanish-speaking expats happily share the same neighborhoods.
Mazatlán has a large and well-maintained colonial center. Many colonial centers are just a few blocks of Spanish colonial architecture, but the historic district in Mazatlán is quite large, offering a wide range of price, style, and state of renovation.
Expats who come here to live (or stay seasonally) usually end up in the historic district in Centro. Sometimes it’s when they first move here, and sometimes they migrate to Centro a few seasons later.
Investors, however, will find good deals all along the waterfront, which is over 10 miles long. Each sector has its fans among the city’s visitors, and rental traffic is brisk.
One thing that sets Mazatlán apart from Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen is that it’s predominately a Mexican destination. There are plenty of expats in Mazatlán, but they’re a very small presence.
In Mexico’s beach markets, you’ll get the most intrinsic value for your money in Mazatlán.
What To Expect On The Market
We found this two-bedroom, two-bathroom oceanfront apartment with a spacious balcony. The unit comes fully furnished and the building has private beach access. It’s on the market for $339,999 which comes out to $3,177 per square meter.
Drawbacks To Mazatlán, Mexico
Mazatlán is a market that has grown significantly in the last decade. Back in 2022, the average price per square meter in Mazatlán was $2,440, which means a 30.3% growth in the last year. Is Mazatlán’s market peak on the horizon?
Currently, this market is still significantly cheaper than Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, which are two other popular comparable markets, but we will keep a close eye on how it keeps evolving in the coming year.
You’ll find the best deal on a beachfront property in Mazatlán… but you may indeed find higher returns in Puerto Vallarta or Playa del Carmen, depending on the property’s location. As with anywhere, a low price doesn’t always translate into higher returns…
If you plan on living in your rental property part of the year, you need to be aware that Mazatlán is a predominantly vacation destination for locals. This means you might need more Spanish-speaking skills than in other Mexican destinations and you won’t find as many expats, either.
A beneficial aspect of this is that Mazatlán is not dependent on U.S. tourism and economy. Locals will keep your rental units occupied when the North American tourists return home.
Start Your New Life Today, Overseas
Why You Should Be Interested In Mazatlán
A good rental market exists in the winter, when North Americans flock to Mazatlán… but it’s also good in the summer, when Mexicans come for their annual vacation. There are plenty of good property managers to keep your place booked and care for it when you’re not there.
You can drive here. The trip from the Arizona border is just one long day or two easy days of driving. If you fly, the flight from Phoenix or LAX is less than two hours, and the international airport is only 30 minutes from downtown.
Mazatlán offers almost 11 miles of mostly contiguous, beautiful beaches, bordered by warm, clean, swimmable waters. The adjacent boardwalk is five miles long, most of it with adjacent bike lanes. The two longest beaches are each three miles in length.
Prices are great. Whether you’re dining out or buying a property, you’ll find prices to be remarkable at today’s favorable exchange rates. The best property bargains are often priced in Mexican pesos or Canadian dollars, but almost all properties are low when compared to other beachfront markets around the world.
In fact, properties in Mazatlán cost less than half the price of those in Puerto Vallarta or Playa del Carmen, even though most of Mazatlán’s inventory is front-line or on the beach.
Sincerely,
Lee Harrison
Contributor, Global Property Advisor
Editor’s note: Investing in overseas real estate opens up a world of adventure, fun, and profit. It’s the best way we know to build and protect your wealth. That’s why you won’t want to miss next week’s International Property Summit.
