Lake Chapala has a huge variety of housing options! There are both gated communities with guards at the entrance, and gated communities without guards, each with varying levels of common facilities. In this blog we'll take a look at the 6 best gated communities with guards and we'll tell you about their common facilities and HOA dues. Although price points vary in every community, I have picked 6 where you can find some or all of the homes under $300,000!!

Nuevo Chapala

Location: Behind Soriana at the far northern end of the town of Chapala.

Price: Most homes between $150,000 - $300,000

Common Facilities: pool

HOA Fees: $40-70/month

Demographics: 20% foreigners/80% Mexican

Notes: Nuevo Chapala is a big flat field and there are many lots still available to be built on. Lots are small and homes in general are small. Popular with the locals as weekend get-away homes.

Birds Of Paradise

Location: On the libramiento up from the Walmart

Price: Between $140,000 - $180,000

Common Facilities: pool, jacuzzi, library, gym, clubhouse and large kitchen/dining hall for events

HOA: Approximately $290/month. HOA fees are quite high but include things not commonly included like filtered drinking water, gas, and outdoor building maintenance.

Demographics: 95% foreign/5% Mexican

Notes: 1000 square foot condominiums are all 2 bedroom/2 bathroom and there are both ground floor units and upper units. There are also 6 ground floor “stand alone” units that do not have units built on top of them.

El Dorado Villas

Location: Right beside Birds of Paradise on the libramiento just up from Walmart

Price: $250,000 - 300,000 plus

Common Facilities: large infinity pool, large clubhouse with kitchen/library and two pool tables, large and well equipped gym and two tennis courts

HOA: approx $200/month

Demographics: 80% foreign/20% Mexican

Notes: El Dorado has THE BEST common facilities Lakeside!

El Parque

Location: Accessed from the first traffic light just east of Walmart

Price: $200,000 - $300,000 for smaller homes

Common Facilities: large pool, jacuzzi, clubhouse with kitchen, outdoor BBQ area, and library.

HOA: $150-180 mo. (approximately)

Demographics: 90% foreign/10% Mexican

Notes: El Parque originally started off as an RV Park but they have all been replaced by houses. The “roads” in the complex still have the quaint feel of an RV Park as they are just narrow paths of asphalt. Terrific location in San Antonio

Cielo Vista

Location: On the libramiento up from the Walmart

Price: $250,000 - $300,000 plus

Common Facilities: pool, tennis/pickleball court, gym, library, and clubhouse

HOA: $40-60/month

Demographics: 70% foreign/30% Mexican

Notes: There is an older section of 2 streets which typically sell in the $250,000 - $300,000 range and then there is an newer section further back against the hillside that are usually well over $300,000, but there are some streets with smaller homes that also sell in the $250,000 - $300,000 price point.

Puerto Arroyo

Location: West Ajijic, about a 7-8 minute drive from the village

Price: $250,000 – 300,000 for smaller units closer to the highway with no views

Common Facilities: pool, clubhouse with kitchen, gym, and outdoor BBQ area

HOA: $140-180 monthly (approximately)

Demographics: 70% foreign/30% Mexican

Notes: Puerto Arroyo is built by a company called Interlago who has created several very popular housing communities Lakeside. Their style of homes features many of the things that both Mexican and expats love. Boveda ceilings and granite counter tops along with excellent common facilities.

For all your questions about moving to Lake Chapala, contact us! We're always here to help!

Michaela & Ricardo are your FULL SERVICE Real Estate Agents. Along with our Retirement Seminars, our over 22 years of combined experience Lakeside, and our network of area Professionals, we help guide you to from beginning to forever in your Retirement Journey to Lake Chapala, Mexico.