Mazamitla Cabin Constructiom

Since 2019 I've owned two beautiful lots in a nice development in Mazamitla.  I would appreciate help with three things:

1) The name of an architect who does mountain construction design (which, at more than 2,000 meters altitude, is very different from lower altitude design).
2) Information on the rental market in Mazamitla -- rates per night for a very nice place with 3 bedrooms, and number of rental nights that I can expect.
3) A property management company that does check-ins, inventories and cleaning after guests leave.

I've reviewed AirBnB's extensive rental data for Mazamitla.  It's very helpful, but I need more "hands on" data.  

I speak Spanish, and prefer to have a Spanish-only architect and property manager, but would like to talk to all who have mountain experience.

All information will be appreciated.

Airbnb is not the best place to look at whole house rentals. Check Booking.com, VRBO and Expedia as well. Mazamitla isn't a destination for vacationing gringos so you would be focusing on the Tapatio market. I imagine it will be primarily weekends with some weeks here and there during holidays and student vacations. I have been renting vacation casitas in Ajijic for 12 years.

I have a house at 2400 meters and the construction is not that differnt , what is differnt is the style of the house.Also yo have to think of the cold and rain to make the house cozy as well as heat if ou want to use it in the cold nights or cold season. Any architect doing houses in Tapalapa or Mazamitla would do , Many come from Guadalajara

The construction here at high altitudes is as different as it is between Southern California and Denver -- due to different climates, more wood construction (no termites at high altitudes), and often lots that are not flat.

I am a developer, and my architect is advising me to find a specialist to design this rental property.

CanuckBob wrote:Airbnb is not the best place to look at whole house rentals. Check Booking.com, VRBO and Expedia as well. Mazamitla isn't a destination for vacationing gringos so you would be focusing on the Tapatio market. I imagine it will be primarily weekends with some weeks here and there during holidays and student vacations. I have been renting vacation casitas in Ajijic for 12 years.

Our target client is a higher end Mexican resident of Guadalajara, Colima, etc. We are doing a lot of market research -- talking to developers, owners, property managers, etc. I cited AirBnB because it publishes a lot of data on its rentals in Mazamitla, and is a dominent rental agent there.

Most properties there are listed on multiple platforms -- including Booking.com

You might be interested in the following:

https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data/app/mx/jalisco/mazamitla/overview

mudgirl wrote:Why would you want a "Spanish only" property manager? Even if your target market is well-off Mexicans, it would seem counter-productive to have a property manager who couldn't communicate with English-speaking guests, unless you are going to reject bookings from non-Spanish speakers.

My mistake.  I meant to say "Spanish only architect".  Thanks for pointing that out.

There may not be termites but there are lots of wood worms or whatever these things are called and with wood they do a lot of damage.My house has a lot of wood that was dipped into a nasty product before being used and I have a constantaintenance problem because of the wood worms.
I had a house for 22 years an Ajijic and another one for 20 years in the highlands of Chiapas so I know about the construction in both places
More wood is used in the mountains and the lack of termites does not stop of damage and maintenance ..I live in a very traditional area and the problem with wood is endemic
Wood here is not kiln cure so bugs have a great time matter the altitude..I also have adobe which in a very wet climate is also a problem

brigitte wrote:There may not be termites but there are lots of wood worms  or whatever these things are called and with wood they do a lot of damage.My house has a lot of wood that was dipped into a nasty product before being used and I have a constantaintenance problem because of the wood worms.
I had a house for 22 years an Ajijic and another one for 20 years in  the highlands of Chiapas so I know about the construction in both places
More wood is used in the mountains and the lack of termites does not stop of damage and maintenance ..I live in a very traditional area and the problem with wood is endemic
Wood here is not kiln cure so bugs have a great time matter the altitude..I also have adobe which in a very wet climate is also a problem

I'm simply saying that cabins in the mountains are generally different than houses at lower elevations. Wood beams, wood ceilings, pine walls, etc. An architect has to know how to design, construct and plan to maintain them. Most architects don't work with so much wood, and don't know how to.

In addition there are the lower ceilings and double pane glass, because of the temperature -- and often the land is not flat.

If you think that any architect will know that, good! The question remains "does anyone know an architect that does this type of design?"

mudgirl wrote:Use a wood that the bugs don't eat- parota, amapa, primavera. Pine is the worst choice.

You are right but pine is what is used traditionally in the mountains probably because of it availability and price but it is also prone to be attacked by bugs since it is not cured properly.

In the states there is an insecticide they spray on the sand before the cement flooring is poured. It is guaranteed for 20 years but my applier said they did not really know how long it was good for. At least 20 years and maybe 30 or 40 years. I also used treated lumber for my wall structure. Other houses in my area had problems with termites but I never did. You had to be licensed to use the spray.