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Some questions about Aguadilla

Last activity 17 March 2017 by ReyP

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seoulguy

It looks like Aguadilla might be the best choice for safety and convenience, but since I only know SJ, I would like some input from locals, so ....

1. Housing market looks tight and expensive for rentals ... am I right?
2. What is the best barrio in terms of easy access to shopping and services?
3. Otherwise, is the layout easy to navigate on bike? I don't drive, so, yes, I know all about cars and PR.
4. Are there any local realtors who are reliable and deal in the rental market --- I'm not talking upscale.
5. I've heard the word "quiet" ascribed to Aguadilla, or "shuts down after 5PM" -- that's what I want. Is it?
6. I know medical services are scarce in PR, but can you find a primary doc and specialists in Aguadilla?

Thanks

DM

westernprguy

Last year, I looked to rent in Aguadilla aND found sever al decent options.   It's neither the most nor least expensive place, but I think it's reasonable for a city & close to amenities.
It's big enough for most medical specialties.   I have used several there, to avoid driving to Mayaguez.
Hoping other folks in the Oeste will chime in their opinions.

chrishamrick103

I'm looking in the same area! I've found prices there to be cheaper than the Eastside for the most part when talking value. At least, I think. I've been having a heck of a time finding a 4 bedroom for less than $1,000 per month. But found two nice places on the west side for less than that. I too am wondering whether the quietness and convenience is there. It ain't quiet in Dorado, that's for sure!

seoulguy

Thanks to westernprguy and chrishamrick103. I'm surprised about Dorado. What with all the gated communities, I would have expected an opposite response. Online I did find one furnished house for $700.00, and I would have snapped it up if I were there.  So, I cannot furnish a place; an empty house does me no good, and I need another BR for home office.

Meanwhile, the horror stories about poor Internet service and electric bill glitches (see other posts) are scarey and would be more than stressful.

D

mac00677

If you live up in the hills, you may have the connectivity issues, but Aguada, Aguadilla, and Isabela are great towns to live in. We are in a 1.2 acre plot, fully fenced, 4br 3ba, and our electric is less than when we lived in a small 4room home in the hills of Rincon... loved Rincon, but that house was RUSTIC! We are currently paying $650/mo. so the deals are out there. My wife and I did our own legwork, driving around, looking at homes. I was picky, and my wife was getting a defeatist attitude; "We're NEVER going to move!" Well, we did finally move, and are very happy here in Isabela.

When I was looking, (exclusively on Clasificadosonline.com), I omitted any home that started with "URB", I wanted to be in a less populated neighborhood, so "Campo" & "Barrio" were key words that attracted me. If you need a 3br, and you specify that, you will not see anything but a 3br (so, an affordable 4br may pass you by). Maybe you already know these things, I'm just sharing my take on the home shopping thing.

Best of luck!

ReyP

seoulguy wrote:

Thanks to westernprguy and chrishamrick103. I'm surprised about Dorado. What with all the gated communities, I would have expected an opposite response. Online I did find one furnished house for $700.00, and I would have snapped it up if I were there.  So, I cannot furnish a place; an empty house does me no good, and I need another BR for home office.

Meanwhile, the horror stories about poor Internet service and electric bill glitches (see other posts) are scarey and would be more than stressful.

D


Get a phone with an unlimited data plan from ATT or TMobil, this will be your back if the Internet service provider is down, also when on the road with a laptop.
A generator will supply you electricity. Some are automatic and will kick in if there is an issue. How big depends on your needs, it can also connect to the house so your entire house can be serviced by the generator. There is propane version and gas version.

chrishamrick103

Internet! That's what I'm worried about too. I called liberty Ave they said they could service the house. Funny thing, the previous tenant was a member here on the forum. And I spoke to them a month ago about buying their truck. I reached out to them on here last night when I realized it was the same couple. They only stayed 4 months and that's curious.... They also told us through text that they used att hotspot because one of the companies said they couldn't service it. I need fast internet!

On the bright side, liberty is better than Comcast in price, data caps (there are none), and speed. That's been my experience in Dorado.

But yeah we're in a gated community and kind of hate it. Last night the music didn't stop until after midnight. Literally, a tour bus came and dropped off the new airbnb tenants next door, and the boys were loud last night and the night before. It's like 30 of them over there!

Also, we have to go through two gates to get to our place here in dorado. But the homes that face the main road get burglarized despite the security. The criminals hop the fence and then go back over it so technically they never enter the neighborhood. Something to consider. Don't get anything facing main roads!

seoulguy

Thanks to all for the replies; it's a great help.
Choice of community; it's limited by the lack of transportation, not driving now and don't expect to, so proximity to services is a must; Dorado sounds like it's infected by the Metro area. Heatmap shows only Condado and Ocean Park relatively safe. Have considered Rincon Cabo Rojo, but no car, no go.
Electric: it's not the lack of service, it's the misreading of meters and coming up with wild charges. One thing about Tucson, never any problems with H20 or Electric, all digital.
Internet: only way to go is Direct with Internet, no cable. I run a business that depends on transfer of considerable data on a daily basis, so no screw-ups allowed.

So, to mac00677 (sounds like a zip code; Aguadilla is 00623), you look too young to be retired -- Honeywell employee?  Understand the defeatist problem very well. Would love acreage, but it's not going to happen, and neighborhoods change. Like chrishamrick103, one day it's livable and the next day it's not. I'm just hoping the economic malaise that trickles down through the local communities is not as bad in NW PR.

D

ReyP

seoulguy wrote:

Thanks to all for the replies; it's a great help.
Choice of community; it's limited by the lack of transportation, not driving now and don't expect to, so proximity to services is a must; Dorado sounds like it's infected by the Metro area. Heatmap shows only Condado and Ocean Park relatively safe. Have considered Rincon Cabo Rojo, but no car, no go.
Electric: it's not the lack of service, it's the misreading of meters and coming up with wild charges. One thing about Tucson, never any problems with H20 or Electric, all digital.
Internet: only way to go is Direct with Internet, no cable. I run a business that depends on transfer of considerable data on a daily basis, so no screw-ups allowed.

So, to mac00677 (sounds like a zip code; Aguadilla is 00623), you look too young to be retired -- Honeywell employee?  Understand the defeatist problem very well. Would love acreage, but it's not going to happen, and neighborhoods change. Like chrishamrick103, one day it's livable and the next day it's not. I'm just hoping the economic malaise that trickles down through the local communities is not as bad in NW PR.

D


If you do not drive but require businesses close by, that severely limits where you can live. While a supermarket may be 1/2 mile away, the pharmacy may be 2 miles in the oposite direction and doctors may be farther away.
Close to businesses usually mean living in an Urbanización, which topically means noice and homes close together. You may want to rethink about Puerto Rico if not driving.

Dora787

The only place I would consider living without out driving is the Metro Area. San Juan, Condado, Ocean Park would be good.  You would have buses and the
Train close by. Also you could live within walking distance to many things. Really the only option if you don't want a car.

Dora787

Also Aguadilla is not convenient everything is actually really spread out.  There is not a neighborhood with easy access to shopping and no it wouldn't be easy to navigate by bike at all whatsoever!! No way.

mac00677

I am retired, (Army Airborne) and the zip is Rincon... I no longer live there, but live in Isabela now, 00662.

mac00677

Rincon!

dumplingmx

I live in Isabela and spend quite a bit of time in Aguadilla. I love them both but if I didn't drive I would choose to live in Condado or Ocean Park or even Isla Verde. Maybe Rincon but even there I would want a car.

Aguadilla has good restaurants and other amenities like Crashboat  beach but would be hard to navigate without a car.

ReyP

chrishamrick103 wrote:

Internet! That's what I'm worried about too. I called liberty Ave they said they could service the house. Funny thing, the previous tenant was a member here on the forum. And I spoke to them a month ago about buying their truck. I reached out to them on here last night when I realized it was the same couple. They only stayed 4 months and that's curious.... They also told us through text that they used att hotspot because one of the companies said they couldn't service it. I need fast internet!

On the bright side, liberty is better than Comcast in price, data caps (there are none), and speed. That's been my experience in Dorado.

But yeah we're in a gated community and kind of hate it. Last night the music didn't stop until after midnight. Literally, a tour bus came and dropped off the new airbnb tenants next door, and the boys were loud last night and the night before. It's like 30 of them over there!

Also, we have to go through two gates to get to our place here in dorado. But the homes that face the main road get burglarized despite the security. The criminals hop the fence and then go back over it so technically they never enter the neighborhood. Something to consider. Don't get anything facing main roads!


Find the property in AirBnb and complain to the management of Airbnb and to the owner. 30 people is probably much higher than the property should accept and the noice needs be eliminated. Give them hell.

chrishamrick103

Great minds think alike! Already took care of that. These weren't the loudest guests to date unfortunately. And I did exactly that. Found the same villa with the same Painting on the wall I can see from mine. The listing was on home away and I got his number. We're the best of friends now! (sarcasm)

ReyP

I have heard that AirBnb tends to attract the younger crowds and the noisy ones. I heard some owners have switched to home away for that reason. But nothing is perfect.
Some owners also had issues with damages to the property during these parties.
While others had issues with naturalists bearing it all out.

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