Luxury without roots: Who benefits from the real estate boom in Baja California Sur?

Because if we don't balance the profits with the consequences, there will soon be nothing left to sell.

Desarrollos inmobiliarios

By Valentina Lozano

Over the past five years, Baja California Sur has witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon: towers rising from the sea, designer residences perched on cliffs, golf courses extending into the desert, and new developments announced every month with promises of sustainability, exclusivity, and a connection to nature.

Yes, there is investment. Yes, there is economic growth. But there's also a question that has been haunting me for some time: who is this real estate boom really serving?

The positive: investment, employment and global projection

There's no denying it: the real estate boom has brought concrete benefits. According to data from the Public Property Registry, more than 3,800 new sales transactions were registered in the state in the first six months of 2025, especially in Los Cabos, La Paz, and Todos Santos. This translates into economic benefits, jobs in construction, growth in the service sector, and long-term tourism attraction.

Foreign investment has arrived in the form of luxury hotel brands, developers with Californian capital, and Canadian funds who see Baja California Sur as a still "underexploited" gem. Some see it as a dream come true: living by the sea, with year-round sunshine, security, and quality of life.

The negative: exclusion, environmental pressure and loss of identity

But developments don't arise in a vacuum. They arise in delicate ecosystems, in communities that were already here and that are often overlooked .

Urban expansion in areas such as El Centenario, Pescadero, El Sargento and San José del Cabo has brought with it increasing pressure on aquifers , conflicts over land ownership and a silent gentrification that is forcing local families out of their own neighborhoods, where land prices no longer match their incomes.

The talk of "sustainable development" sounds good in brochures, but in practice, many projects are built without prior consultation, without comprehensive environmental studies, or with permits granted in secret. In the name of growth, we are selling our sights without considering the consequences.

And now what?

It's not about halting development. It's about guiding it with awareness and a long-term vision . Some municipalities have already begun reviewing their land use plans, but there's a lack of real will to say "no" to projects that don't meet the minimum standards of equity, legality, or respect for the environment.

I propose three urgent axes:

1. Comprehensive review of permits granted in coastal zones and protected natural areas.

2. Establishment of a state policy on affordable housing for local residents.

3. Real citizen participation in urban planning processes.

4. 
   

Because if we don't balance the profits with the consequences, there will soon be nothing left to sell.

Baja California Sur can't just be a showcase of luxury. It must be home. For everyone. With roots.

— Valentina Lozano, Journalist and Real Estate Analyst in Baja California Sur