Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - Sotavento updates

Sotavento updates (reply)

Keytime — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 01:18:03 +0000

And at last count there were 6 men working on the structure. So, you can copy and paste your message 12 months from now and the results will be the same. Based on my experience, they will be entering the maintenance mode before the enter the completion mode.

Sotavento updates (reply)

jjjorge — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 22:45:37 +0000

Sotavento completion projected for WINTER 2022 you say? hmmm

As the Sotavento marketing machine fires back up in Spring of 2023, I thought I might circle back to this message board...

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 01:49:20 +0000

Start a new thread, please. We paddle by them on the water and drive by them on the road most days. They are doing "things." Wish they would do shitloads more!

Sotavento updates (reply)

Toby@Zihua — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 23:41:58 +0000

Hello Sra Polanco,
Any updates you could share about the new Delivery date of the Sotavento project?
Winter 2022 is just 20 days away, I didn’t see much differences since last spring.
Thank you

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 00:28:24 +0000

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:59:37 +0000

Remember too that in this very thread completion was going to be winter 2022. Missed yet another one.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:57:07 +0000

Definitely has changed. No Banditos presence, and the food selections are limited, at least have been for months. Just checked, they don't have a menu posted now.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 23:53:02 +0000

They have called it the Sotavento Beach Club since the beginning I think. In the past the food service was provided by Bandido’s. Perhaps this has been changed.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:50:29 +0000

Construction is moving along about at the same speed.

It's no longer Banditos, but the Sotovento Beach Club. To our knowledge it is now a place to rent a chair and get food. I don't think it's open at night.

Sotavento updates (reply)

DanCip — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 20:40:41 +0000

I checked your link on “current” photos and was directed to a 404 error message?.. Are there any updated photos? My wife & I were there in April, next door, and I only saw a few workers on property. There were some intermittent sounds of construction. The one thing we did hear all day & night, up till about 10:30 PM, was the constant disco/house beat music playing at Bandido’s Restaurant & BAR (kinda ruined the beach surf sound vibe).

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 21:40:39 +0000

Interestingly, there has been at least one person living at Sotovento for several months.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Padrino — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 21:11:52 +0000

This is why there are lawyers and contracts. However, one wonders if a down payment and a sales contract would have sufficed in this particular instance.

Sotavento updates (reply)

DanCip — Sun, 06 Mar 2022 20:07:50 +0000

My wife & I have been visiting Z every year since 2004 and we've always been interested in purchasing a unit at the Sotenvento which was always advertised as new construction "coming soon". On June 17, 2015 we committed and "contracted" with Trevor to reserve Unit 2015. We offered to put money down to demonstrate our commitment to purchase but Trevor told us that he didn't have the capabilities to process our credit card but told us not to worry about that because we had his word that this unit would be reserved for us. We visited our unit several times on several visits while they were under construction (each time offering to put down a deposit).

On or around September 2018 we received we call from Aaron Swartz telling us that Trevor was no longer sales manager the project (its a shame because over the years we liked spending time with him) and that they would NOT honor our request and told us that the unit that we had reserved for $375,000 could only be offered to us for ~$550,000 because of their zoning costs (see communications below).

Well needless to say we could not afford to pay that high-of-a-price. We asked from some kind of a discount on the unit since we had been waiting for 3 years for this opportunity but they were a firm "NO". So we had to walk away from our dream purchase. Frankly, based on my personal experience, I wouldn't trust them. For us they didn't keep their commitments.

aaron.schwarz@sotaventoresorts.com
Fri, Oct 19, 2018, 7:21 PM

to me

Hello Mr. XXXXX

My name is Aaron Schwarz and I am the new Director of Sales and
Marketing for Sotavento Residence Club. As you have seen from our
monthly updates, construction is now in full swing and initial occupancy
is slated for Winter 2019.
I am writing you concerning unit 105, which you have reserved. Several
exciting changes have occurred with this condo that I would like to
discuss with you. The most significant is regarding the Federal Zone. As
you are aware, the previous zone cut directly through unit 105, meaning
that the majority of the terrace could not actually be owned by you.
After considerable time and expense, the Mexican government has agreed
to push out the limits of the zone to allow 105 to be a complete unit,
without split ownership. The upside is that this obviously means the
condo you have reserved can be entirely yours, but has had an additional
price premium attached to it because of the expanded square footage and
the cost of having the Federal Zone moved.
Please let me know when we are able to speak by phone so that I am able
to walk you through the various changes and options.

Best Regards.

Aaron Schwarz

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 21:39:19 +0000

Congratulations on getting in on the ground floor. That said, looking at an S&P 500 index found from 2008-2021 the return would have been around 325% or about 11.25% annually. Didn't it essentially go bankrupt a couple of times anyway, since the current developer is the third that has been involved. I do hope for it's success, but there is no way in the world, given the 13 year history of development, I would buy now. I hope that they do finish as predicted, but wouldn't bet a lot on it. Perhaps, I can be one of those that helps pay your condo fee. Years ago I might have considered buying, but although we are both healthy now, at some point in the future we won't be and I don't think when that time comes I would be comfortable living in Zihuatanejo given the state of medical care there. While there are plenty of places in Mexico where the care is equivalent to care in the states, Zihuatanejo unfortunately has a ways to go.

Sotavento updates (reply)

daveJ — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 19:19:47 +0000

I bought a unit in 2008 and have lived through the all the setbacks but at this time I wouldn’t sell my unit (I know, no one would buy but if I could sell, I wouldn’t). I knew the risk, similar unit in Hawaii cost three times as much and I couldn’t afford that. I also want to be on the beach, not three streets away, so at the time it seemed like a good deal. Over the years the people who bought in early found each other, many who follow this site, and we all agreed to hang in there. There were many opportunities when even one of us could have forced the project into bankruptcy, but the project’s location caused all of us to conclude it would someday be completed. I was there in 2019, when the north tower was demolished, an indication that new money flowed into the Sotavento, and hopped to move in around late 2020. Alas, Covid struck, again delaying everything. I’m now hope to enjoy Christmas 2022 in my unit. I also hope my unit will earn enough revenue when I’m not there to cover the condo fees and pay for all my sunset margaritas at Patty’s. Would I buy into this project today? Depends if you want to be on the beach or three streets away.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 22:59:22 +0000

While I hope you are correct, finishing in the next 6 months seems to be quite optimistic.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 22:55:43 +0000

I do hope you are successful, when completed it will be a nice addition. That said, before contemplating any possible purchase, I’d want it to be finished. There are just too many unknowns at this point.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Angelica Polanco — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 20:27:48 +0000

A detailed Project Plan in the format that you asked before is confidential, but the Completion of the Project is forecasted to be Winter 2022.

Sotavento updates (reply)

mcnuttja — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 18:15:30 +0000

Why in the world would a Completion Date Plan be confidential?

Sotavento updates (reply)

Angelica Polanco — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 17:11:46 +0000

My apologies Jerry but that information is confidential.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Angelica Polanco — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 16:15:22 +0000

No one on our team ever anticipated a global pandemic and the devastating impact it would have on the progress of Sotavento.
This unprecedented situation caused construction financing challenges and Villa sales to be drastically impeded by travel restrictions. But despite all this, we have been able to retain ownership of the property and actually complete an immense amount of work.
First we commissioned a detailed engineering review of the two existing buildings to assess the feasibility of upgrades to current seismic standards. We determined that the north tower needed to be demolished as it could not be properly upgraded.
Additional work we completed includes:

Extensive site stabilization
Replacement and upgrading of Infrastructure and services
Seismic upgrades to the south tower
Weatherproofing the south tower
Construction of the beach club and sales offices
Construction of the south tower circulation and core areas

As we are emerging from this situation, I assure you that we are working relentlessly to implement every conceivable strategy to advance the project and expedite completion. It is our hope that everyone will be patient, will put the past behind us, support the work we are doing, and have confidence in our ability to achieve success.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Talley Ho — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 01:11:46 +0000

Well said.

Sotavento updates (reply)

Timmac — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:53:07 +0000

While I have no reason to doubt the number of units sold and also appreciate the need for confidentiality, my understanding is that construction is ongoing and that no actual units are occupied. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong. What is the projected date of completion? I had been told, prior to Covid, that the projected date was the first quarter of 2021.

Sotavento updates (reply)

ZihuaRob — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:36:41 +0000

Check their quite beautiful we-B.S-ite here
https://sotaventoresort.com/interactive-villa-map/

Be nice, now. They have a photo of our home on their website. I think it's a lovely website!

Sotavento updates (reply)

ZihuaRob — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:34:52 +0000

Ms, Polanco,

Please be informative and tell me how many units have been sold and are currently being used by the purchasers of said units. Not interested in "deposits to hold" only actual closed deals. Otherwise your project has no credibility.

Thank you.

I believe Srta. Polanco is being informative and courteous. I ask that everyone please remember that while skepticism may be warranted, discourteousness isn't.

Gracias,
La Gerencia