House Hunting in Guatemala: Among Volcanoes in Antigua for $299,000
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Loading... - Lucia Manzo
- 14 Jul 2022
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A Two-Bedroom Townhouse in Antigua, Guatemala
This two-bedroom townhouse sits in a gated community on the outskirts of Antigua, the colonial city and UNESCO Heritage Site surrounded by volcanoes in the highlands of central Guatemala, about 25 miles west of Guatemala City.
“It’s close to Antigua, but not in the hustle and bustle of the commercial areas,” said Glenn Wilson, an agent with Century 21 Antigua Fine Homes, which has the listing. The 39-home development is laid out as “a big square, and in the middle of the square there’s a park with benches, gardens.” From various places on the grounds, he said, residents can eye the dormant Agua volcano.
Built circa 2010, the 1,991-square-foot cinder-block home is accessed through its one-car garage. Mr. Wilson said that sometimes in gated communities in Antigua, the garage isn’t used for cars, which are parked just outside instead. These repurposed garages create extra space for storage, or for a family or sitting room or, in others cases, a bedroom. “I’ve seen all kinds of uses for it,” he said.
“Because it’s a corner house, there’s a lot of windows,” Mr. Wilson said, “so you have nice, natural light coming in.” The great room’s handmade fireplace, with a hefty wraparound wood mantel, is “more than enough” to heat the residence in the winter, he said, and air-conditioning is unnecessary given the region’s mild climate. The home conforms to modern earthquake-safety building codes.
A bedroom near the entrance has an en suite bathroom. From the living room, ornately tiled steps ascend to the main bedroom, which is lofted. With a walk-in closet, an en suite bath and access to a small private terrace, the bedroom is a sanctuary despite being partially open to the ground-floor space below.
The city of Antigua, with about 50,000 residents, is renowned for its colonial architecture and religious monuments, most notably the 17th-century Santa Catalina Arch, as well for the volcanoes on its horizon. Restaurants and shopping are within walking distance from this property, while Antigua’s Central Park is a 30-minute walk or a 10-minute drive. Guatemala City and La Aurora International Airport are 25 miles east, though the drive takes about an hour.
Market Overview
Guatemala does not have a centralized multiple listing service, making it difficult to track price trends, agents said. Mr. Wilson said that demand for homes in Antigua — a tourist and retirement destination for Guatemalans and foreigners alike — picked up last year, fueled largely by buyers able to work remotely. Read More...
