Wednesday
Feb082012

February 2012 Newsletter - Fun, Sun, Golf and Tennis

DateWednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:14PM

Hello from paradise,

Jeff Berwick here.  I thought I'd write this month's newsletter since I've now been back in Acapulco for the last three months after spending a few months in Cabo and then, recently, I visited the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas in January.

And, after visiting over 100 countries in my life, I have to say, there is NO PLACE on Earth with a more perfect climate than Acapulco (if you like a hot, tropical climate).  Many people don't realize that even so-called "tropical beach" places can be quite cold.  As example, the average high in Cabo San Lucas barely reaches the 70s (21C) for a high in the winter.  The house I was staying at luckily had a fireplace or we would have nearly froze to death many evenings.

And I just returned from the Bahamas.  It was my first trip there and was I ever surprised and disappointed at the weather.  It too barely reaches the 70s in the winter and when I was there it was rainy and cold.

Acapulco, from December to May is guaranteed to be sunny and hot (85-90F, 29-32C) every single day.  And the rest of the year is basically the same except there may be an evening rain shower from time to time, usually lasting about 15 minutes and serving to freshen things.

And, as for other so-called sunbelt places, all of California, Arizona and Florida can be very wet and cold in the wintertime.

I actually can't think of any place with weather better than Acapulco.  And because the mountains surrounding the bay keep the rain out, but drizzle rain down from the mountaintops, it keeps the entire bay lush green all year, even though it can be months in between rain showers.  It is truly a magical place and I am so glad to be back after a long period of travel and staying in Cabo for a few months.

GOLF AND TENNIS

Turtle Dunes Country Club has opened in Acapulco. The course designed by Oklahoma-based golf architect Tripp Davis is located with the Princess Diamante master-planned community.  This is yet another world-class edition to the golf options here in Acapulco.  Every course is within a 20 minute drive of AcaCondos, with one course being a 5 minute walk away.

And the crown jewel Of the golden swing, the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, one of 11 ATP Tennis World Tour 500 events, concludes the four-tournament "Golden Swing" through Latin America. The event, held at the Fairmont Acapulco Princess, is a favourite destination amongst players - particularly clay court specialists. In 2007, Acapulco won the ATP World Tour award for best tournament of the year in its category.

Acapulco has and always will be the hangout for almost all of Mexico's rich and famous and they all come out for the star studded tennis tournament in Acapulco.  It is a fun and enjoyable time.

Speaking of tennis, there is a gold and tennis club 5 minutes from AcaCondos.  My 7 year old son takes tennis lessons there for an hour, four days per week for very little expense from very good instructors.

SUITES FOR SALE

We are aware of a suite that has come up for sale at a firesale price.  It will be sold for sure in the next few days so we aren't even going to put it up on our site.  It is a good location suite, on the 27th floor of the South tower and is available for $43,000 USD... or $62,500 completely renovated.  If you are interested, email or call us ASAP.  It will be gone very quickly for that price.

The remainder of the suites still for sale are as follows:

STAY WITH US AND TRY LIVING HERE BEFORE YOU BUY

As always, we offer discounts on staying in any of our already renovated suites that we rent out for other owners.  You can see the suites here: http://LTGPS.com.  If you are interested in coming down and looking at the suites we have for sale let us know and we'll give you a discounted price.

BACK TO THE BEACH

That's it for another month.  I'm heading back down to the beach.  What a surprise, hot and sunny. 

Best,

Jeff Berwick

 

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Friday
Jan062012

January 2012 Newsletter - New & Improved Acapulco and Happy New Owners

DateFriday, January 6, 2012 at 08:21PM

Happy New Year from Paradise in Acapulco!

It was a beautiful new year's celebration here in Acapulco with the usual, completely unorchestrated and spontaneous fireworks show in the bay.  In Mexico, owning some fireworks is like owning a dog in the western world... every third person has some.... and not just those little Roman Candle type.  They own the full launcher and performance-grade fireworks!  So, when the fireworks show begins in Acapulco Bay, expect about 20 minutes of complete poetic chaos.

AcaCondos owner, Jeff Berwick, recently wrote a great piece about Acapulco in his world famous financial newsletter, The Dollar Vigilante.  For those who don't know, Jeff is an entrepreneur, writer and speaking celebrity on anything to do with freedom, investment and the expat lifestyle.  He is literally on the road for 200 days of the year but every chance he can he spends back here in Acapulco.

Here is what he wrote recently upon returning after a few months to Acapulco:

Acapulco has been great.  I was away for a few months, mostly based out of Cabo San Lucas since September, but Cabo just made me realize how special Acapulco is.  For one, you might as well be in the US in Cabo... there is nothing Mexican there, save for the Carlos and Charlies and Senor Frogs to make timid and unadventurous Americans feel like they've just experienced another culture.  Secondly, the weather in Acapulco is second to none in the world if you like hot and sunny every day of the year.  It ranges between 29C/84F to 35C/95F every single day of the year.  In Cabo right now you need a jacket at night... Here they don't know what a jacket is.

As well, the US caused "war on drugs" violence all but stopped here a few months ago.  In reality, it was NEVER an issue... not for anyone who lives in the tourist area... nor for anyone who had no involvement in the drug trade.  But, it did scare off a lot of tourists.  Well, now, nothing has happened for months.  I've asked around and no one knows why.  I think I know why, though.  Down here they are still all very connected... and they are all very family oriented and, in general, of anarchist tendencies (anti-government).  So, after a certain period of government caused problems the people of Acapulco said, as a whole, "enough is enough".  They self-healed.  Mothers, fathers, brothers, uncles and aunts just said to all their siblings who may have been involved in the honorable free-market business of supplying products to consumers, that the violence needed to stop.

It's one of the things I love most about down here.  The people.  Only someone who has spent time here to understand the culture would even scratch the surface of it.  But, for months now, the city, almost as a living being, has said, "stop".

And, almost without hesitation, the world returned to Acapulco.  I wasn't here, but there was an amazing Red Bull airshow in Acapulco Bay (the 2nd most beautiful bay in the world, IMHO.. the first being Rio de Janiero).  The video is pretty cool (below).  For those wondering, I live right in front of that large rock right in the middle of the bay in the AcaCondos building.

In recent weeks there have also been many other events including the 1st Mexican Gymnastics Open which featured world class gymnasts from around the world and concerts on the beach, like Wisin and Yandel (world famous latino artists: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3nnvpscjUY).  The streets are full and the mood is festive.  Acapulco is back.  It was never going anywhere... this place has been a survivor for 500 years, originating global trade from here to Manila 400 years ago!  Something which still has most of the people in this region of part-Asian blood... and celebrating Chinese New Year fervently each year.

And, what I've realized personally is that my heart is here in Acapulco.  My wife is from here and my daughter was raised here.  And I am so happy to be back... and so happy to see it is self-healing from all the depredations of the US Government's tyrannical "War on Drugs", which is just a war on freedom.

 MORE HAPPY NEW OWNERS

You've likely followed the progress of two Canadian friends who purchased 2503S in the spring.  They purchased it and rented it out for the summer and then in September and October we gutted the unit and did a full renovation.  The two of them then drove their motorcycles all the way down from Canada to Acapulco and have been staying in their condo here for the last month.

Here is a picture of one of them on his motorcycle as he entered into Acapulco:

And here is a picture of them both (middle), another long time owner (right), and Jeff Berwick (left), who you can always find at the owner's pool 1-2 hours per day whenever he is in Acapulco, soaking up the free Vitamin D:

As you can see, there is always a lot of sad faces around here. :)

The new owners of 2503S gave us the following recommendation:

“ We recently purchased suite 2503S and had the people at AcaCondos fully renovate our suite. It is our little piece of paradise that we were hoping for. Both Jeff and Mike have been very helpful in getting us settled in and comfortable in our new surroundings.  We stayed in one of the suites at Las Torres Gemelas Private Suites (http://LTGPS.com) for a holiday last winter and this winter we are owners. We are looking forward to enjoying our condo throughout the cold Canadian winter months year after year. Ron and myself are very happy with our purchase.  Thank you guys! ” - Scott & Ron

MORE UNITS SOLD

And, we are happy to report, yet another unit has been purchased by yet another interesting and fun person.  2809S sold this month to an English man who now flies helicopters in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.  He bought the property mostly as an investment property (averaging around 7% per annum after all expenses) but he plans to come here whenever he can get away from the Middle East for some beach fun and sun.

UNITS FOR SALE

That means, at this time, we only have one remaining studio unit under $70,000.  And we have one double sized luxury unit (Jeff Berwick's old haunt, before he had two kids and two dogs) and one penthouse unit.  And, we've got at least 11 prospective buyers coming this winter/spring, so if you've been wanting a unit, move fast.

THAT'S ALL FOR THIS MONTH

I want to get back to the pool with everyone else... it's a party every day here on the beach!  But, as always, I'll leave you with the note that if you'd like to come down and check out any of our suites that we'll give you a discount to stay in any of our other owner's suites that are for rent at Las Torres Gemelas Private Suites.

All the suites are outfitted with flawless, highspeed internet and 200+ US/Canadian HDTV Channels... and, did I mention, we're right on the beach in one of the most beautiful bays in the world in the tropics?  Need I say more?

We'll hope to see you down here soon!

Best,

Michael Bach

Manager

 

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Thursday
Dec012011

December 2011 Newsletter - Renovations Complete & Ready for High Season

DateThursday, December 1, 2011 at 01:09AM

Hello from Acapulco!

The high season has just begun to get underway and all of our suites are either full with the owners of the suites or guests, staying at our boutique hotel concept (http://LTGPS.com).

AcaCondos founder, Jeff Berwick, spent almost the entire last month on the road in places like Argentina, Montreal and San Francisco and he writes in:

"I really, really don't know how people can live in Canada or the US in the winters... it is SO cold in most places and SO depressing.  Having the sun go down on a cold, windy, grey day at 3:30pm is a recipe for depression!  I arrive back in Acapulco on December 1st and will spend most of December there and just the thought of being on the beach, drinking a corona, eating fresh seafood and surrounded by laughter, music and dancing is what has gotten me through this month."

2503S RENOVATIONS COMPLETE

We are now 100% complete on the renos for the new owners of 2503S and both the owners are on their way down from Canada now on their Harley Davidsons!  Last we heard they were in Cabo San Lucas.  They are probably very excited to see the renovations we've done to their suite since they bought it in the late spring.

Jeff Berwick tells me that this is our best renovation yet.  Practice makes perfect and we've done quite a few now so we've found all the best craftsmen and all the best furniture and appliance vendors to completely renovate a beach condo quickly and to exacting standards.

Here are the photos of the renovated unit!:





PANORAMIC 360 VIEWS NEW! (Click on the picture for panoramic view)

Also, Jeff bought an app called "360" for the iPhone for the price of $0.99 and took the following stunning 360 degree views.  Click on the images below to see the full 360 degree view of Suite #2503S:

And here is a view from the main pool area at AcaCondos taken just today... another beautiful day in paradise:

UNIT SALES

Here are the current suites we have available for sale:

Here is the living room area of 2906S... not a bad way to spend the winter months, watching some hockey, football or movies on the Canadian/US satellite HDTV hookup on the large screen, 65" Samsung LED!

COME DOWN THIS FALL AND STAY IN OUR SUITES

As always, we offer discounts to people interested in coming down to check out the suites we have.  You can stay in one of our renovated suites to see how you like staying here before you buy.  And we'll give you a good discount on your stay.

Email me directly at michael@acacondos.com for more info.

That's it for this month!

Regards,

Michael Bach

Manager

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Sunday
Oct302011

October 2011 Newsletter - Great Weather, New Staff & Unit Updates

DateSunday, October 30, 2011 at 02:26PM

Hello from Acapulco!

New York and most of the US North East was hit by a large snowstorm this week.  This likely explains why we had a busier October than normal.  Often, October is one of the quieter months of the year in Acapulco but this year we had many guests in our boutique hotel, Las Torres Gemelas Private Suites.

AcaCondos founder, Jeff Berwick, has been traveling a lot over the last few months and he wrote back to us here in Acapulco to tell us how much he misses the Acapulco climate.  Here is what he stated:

"I miss Acapulco weather so much!  In the last few weeks I've spent a lot of time in Phoenix (where 110F was common) and then in Cabo (where it is also deadly hot in the summer).  And then last week I was in San Diego, which is usually quite a nice climate... but it was cloudy, rainy and freezing cold!  I had to take hot showers every few hours to try to keep warm.  All the travels remind me of why I love Acapulco weather so much.  It is 90F/32C and sunny pretty much every single day of the year.  I am now on my way to Argentina for a few weeks... hopefully it won't be too cold there and then after that I will be in Montreal - which will be assuredely freezing cold - and then San Francisco, which is almost always rainy and freezing cold in November.  By the time I return to Acapulco in early December I will kiss the ground when I arrive!"

 As you can see, Jeff keeps busy!  If you didn't know, he is quite a famous writer and speaker in the field of freedom, finance and expatriation.

He recently was interviewed by TheDailyBell.com, which is a large website focused on free-market thinking.  The interview was really enlightening about Jeff's background... I learned a lot from reading it.  You can see it here: "How Jeffrey Berwick Built a Billion-Dollar Tech Company, Lost Almost Everything – Then Bounced Back with 'Dollar Vigilante'"

NEW STAFF

We've been really busy here.  With Jeff traveling the world almost constantly, he's left me in charge of all the day to day operations of AcaCondos and LTPGS.

We've been busy all month renovating 2503S for the new Canadian owners of that suite.  We should be done in the next few weeks and will have photos available for the November blog.  The owners are driving down from Canada on their Harleys in December and we think they'll be very happy with the complete renovation.

The hotel has been busier than normal, as I mentioned, so I have hired a new person to help.  We now have 5 suites available for rent and so when they are all full, especially with the penthouse suite often housing 6 guests, it can be a lot of work around here.

But, that's all good news!  The more renters we have the better the income for those who have suites and want to earn rental income when they are not here.

UNIT SALES

We've had a lot of interest for the units we have for sale this month as Jeff has been mentioning AcaCondos quite a bit in the media interviews he has done.  Many people are planning to come down to check out the suites, starting as early as November.  So if you had an eye on any of the suites currently for sale you may want to give us a call soon.

Here are the current suites we have:

Here is the view from 2906S... not a bad way to spend the winter months, watching some hockey or football on the Canadian/US satellite HDTV hookup on the large screen, 65" Samsung LED!

COME DOWN THIS FALL AND STAY IN OUR SUITES

As always, we offer discounts to people interested in coming down to check out the suites we have.  You can stay in one of our renovated suites to see how you like staying here before you buy.  And we'll give you a good discount on your stay.

It's a no lose proposition!

Email me directly at michael@acacondos.com for more info.

That's it for this month!

Regards,

Michael Bach

Manager

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Saturday
Sep242011

September 2011 Newsletter - Revolucion, Renovations & Relaxation

DateSaturday, September 24, 2011 at 01:12PM

Hello from the most beautiful bay on Earth, Acapulco!

Michael Bach here.  I am the new Manager of AcaCondos and Las Torres Gemelas Private Suites and am happy to report in with my first blog entry!

DIA DE LA REVOLUCION

September 15th was Mexico's version of the 4th of July.  Or Dia de la Revolucion, as they call it here.  Acapulco is the #1 vacation spot for Mexicans and so they all flocked here for that day.  It is a wild day and night.  The streets are packed and the mood is celebratory.

After that, they all leave and we don't see them too much until Halloween... or as it is called here, the Day of the Dead... which is a nice holiday where they honor family members and friends who have passed away.

The two quietest months of the year in Acapulco are June and October... and that is why we were happy that the new owners of apartment 2503S chose to wait until October to renovate their unit.  They purchased it in the late spring but we warned them that renovating during the hectic tourist seasons of July and August is difficult... so we found a way to rent their unit for the summer, which paid for all their maintenance expenses, and we have now begun renovating their unit.

RENOVATIONS

Renovations are fun for us.  We get to tear apart an entire suite, literally down to its shell.  We then redo all the electrical and plumbing which is over two decades old... and then we begin from scratch.  The current unit looked like this a few days ago:

We give away all the furniture to people in need of furnishings and soon after, it will look like this:

And then, not much more than a few weeks later, like a butterfly, it will end up looking something like this:

By this time next month it should be nearly done and we'll have the full upgrade photos here.

RELAXATION

That is one of the best things about what we do here.  You don't have to do anything.  You buy a suite... either already fully renovated (like #2809S available for $72,500 and earning 7% per year in income AFTER expenses) or you buy an unrenovated suite (like #2909S available for $69,500 including all renovations and all new furnishings)... and you just come down and stay there whenever you want.  And when you aren't there, if you want to earn income, put it in our rental pool for our boutique hotel concept, Las Torres Gemelas Private Suites (http://LTGPS.com) and we will manage it and earn you rental income on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.  We do such a good job of managing the suites and making renters happy that it is rated #1 on Trip Advisor for Acapulco!

There simply isn't any other service like it that we know of in Mexico.  Everything is 100% turnkey.  And the units have everything to make a foreigner happy.  It has full Canadian and US HDTV satellite TV, high speed internet/wifi and top brand appliances and furnishings.  All for under $75,000!  For a studio suite on the beach in the center of Acapulco Bay!

And if you are looking for anything larger we have a double sized unit available (#2906S for $153,000) and a 2 bedroom, 2 level penthouse on the 30th floor (#3003S for $161,900).

RENT BEFORE YOU BUY

As well, if you are interested in checking out any of our suites, just send me an email to michael@acacondos.com and I'll give you a discounted rate to stay in any of our suites so you can try it staying here and see how you like it.

Those who have followed us for the last few years have noticed that the price of our units goes up over time.  That is because as we sell more units it becomes harder to find good quality units for a cheap price... so if you are thinking of buying, the sooner you buy the better.  These units should be worth 50-100% more than what we are selling them for in my opinion.  And as we sell more units the price of the remaining units will continue to increase... it's just supply and demand.

Jeff Berwick, the founder of AcaCondos, found this amazing bargain... it is surrounded on both sides by apartment buildings that start at $300,000 per condo and go into $1 million+.  He realized that all we needed to do was renovate these suites and their value would easily double... and that's what he's been doing.

Since I've worked here I've realized what a great deal they are and am actually trying to convince my parents in Denmark to buy a place.  Both as an investment and as a vacation home as they visit me each winter.

I've lived in Acapulco for ten years and love it.  And I wish AcaCondos existed when I first moved here!

Acapulco is a fun, amazing place, as this article from the Irish Times describes: Over the Edge in Acapulco.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS FALL/WINTER!

As the weather starts to turn nippy in the northern latitudes we've already begun to receive lots of interest for coming down this fall in winter and the suites we rent out are already nearly fully booked.

So, we hope to see you down here this fall/winter!  If you'd like to visit in the high season, from December to April, look to book now as those months get booked well in advance.

Salud!

Michael Bach

Manager

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