I understand the association fees and they may or may not include electric, gas, and sometimes TV. But daily cleaning? Should he daily cleaning be for those who rent the units and the rental guest pays for that? Also for the fee for using your unit is excessive if its $13 per day (sort of comission on your rental fee to the owners?) and then a higher fee for outside guests? I personally would never buy a unit in such a complex where they charge me for staying in my unit or for daily cleaning which I can do myself if necessary. Which complexes have the daily fees which I think is more for rentals than owner usage?
I've looked at a few as well in recent months and noticed the same thing. I think the condo fees are more for regular costs related to maintaining the building and facilities, while the daily fees are for variable costs that would be incurred only when someone stays the night there (like maid service, electricity, etc). More nights = More maid service = More money to pay Less nights = Less maid service = Less money to pay In other words, I think it's to differentiate between normal condo fees and variable costs... and/or just a roundabout way of the condo getting a commission. I find it all a bit excessive and makes it hard to turn a profit, but it seems to be pretty standard. :S
Solymar has a one fee system. They have the maintenance fees, seperate electric based on usage (that may change soon) and seperate water and gas fee. Otherwise no maid fees or any other daily fees. If you need a maid then you have to hire someone to clean for you. Otherwise you are on your own. Note though Solymar has a lot of issues other then this to deal with, but you can find a cheaper unit there for sale.
Villas Marlin has a one mainteance fee system. Each owner pays their own electric, water, gas etc. The maiteance fee is simply a monthly fee to maintain common areas, and expenses to run the condo. More like the USA system. VM is probably the nicest of the older condos and they have 1 bedroom units and KM 13
Girasol is run down and you want to avoid it. 60 to 70% of units are owned by one person and that person is now renovating the units. The problem is one person controls the HOA as a result, not a good situation. Salvia is the best of the bunch there by km 8.5 of the older smaller unit buildings. But again look at Villas Marlin, a very nice place and great common areas and good location
Condos We have the one fee system in Bellamar Condos (Km. 4) Maintenance every month, insurance once a year and occasionally extraordinary expenses. Water is $60 pesos/month, electric per usage, cable, gas included
Steve we have been searching downtown for a similar rental to ours on the hotel zone (but smaller !!!)- we cant find anything cheaper that is comparable. .I dont want to pay more money for a smaller house and no view .However I am getting tired of driving so much back and forth to school, tennis , club etc.I guess we will keep searching.
I'm not sure how much you're paying currently but have you checked out the area around us and between us and Galenia? Also Alamos? Granted no lagoon views and the lots are fairly small with a house, in a conjunto it's fair to say the views are fairly similar wherever. It's the driving that would be the decider for us, we spend around 3,000 pesos on petrol a month for school runs, you're twice or three times the distance away from school. Add in car depreciation, time spent driving every day, increased prices in the HZ at the minis supers etc, earlier wake up time and stress of dealing with crazy drivers, convenience to supermarkets, sports clubs, shopping malls etc. Difficult to quantify all of those in Peso's terms but maybe worth paying a little more in rent for the same or a little less and save in other ways? You must have a great deal for your current location, but if it were us I think we'd gladly pay extra if needed to save on all of the above, and the views are always there just a 15 min drive away.
