Tiffany Paige
Licensed Real Estate Advisor · San Miguel de Allende
One of the most rewarding parts of real estate is seeing what happens after the keys change hands. A new owner brings a different imagination to a property, a new way of living, caring for the land, and considering what it might become.
That is the inspiration behind What They Made of It, my new series about buyers and the lives they create after the sale.
There could not be a better story with which to begin.
One year ago, my dear friend Rob purchased a unique property in El Batán from another dear friend. Once known as the Eco Farm, it is now becoming Queerhaven: a restorative, regenerative place where queer and trans people can find safety, connection, and space to imagine what comes next.
I had the privilege of representing both sides of the transaction. The closing involved three clients in the United States, two here in San Miguel, two powers of attorney, one SRE permit, and more back-and-forth than a telenovela. But from the moment I met Rob, I knew he would be an exceptional steward of this property.
Seeing What Others Might Miss
Rob remembers falling in love before he even arrived. The drive down the dirt road, through rocky outcroppings covered in cactus and mesquite, made him feel he was approaching somewhere special.
At the property, he found mature mesquite trees, wild land beside the river, greenhouses, chickens, a young food forest, and seemingly endless birdsong. He also saw the considerable work ahead. But more importantly, he noticed how the place made him feel.
“I saw the way my body relaxed as I walked the wild trail along the river,” he told me.
Nearly a year later, that feeling remains: “I’m listening to the birds as I type, and it’s doing something wonderful to my nervous system.”
Some buyers might have considered the property too secluded. Rob saw refuge. After more than 30 years in real estate, he could recognize its good bones, but his vision went far beyond renovating buildings.
The idea for Queerhaven had lived in his imagination for years: a safe place where queer and trans people could step away from life’s pressures, restore themselves, and regroup for whatever came next.
“I want to create a space that is conducive to regeneration and healing for those of us who need it most,” he explained.
Transforming Through Care
Rob is putting his own stamp on the property while respecting what was already there.
He has planted more than 50 fruit trees and nurtured the existing food forest. He gave away the goats and sheep so the rear portion of the property could be rewilded, then planted mesquite, huizache, native cacti, and wildflowers to create habitat for local wildlife.
The first residential unit has been remodeled with a contemporary kitchen and bathroom, mini-splits, and functional storage. The original carrizo ceilings remain, complemented by lighting chosen to celebrate their texture and character.
Other improvements include rebuilding the front wall, upgrading the water and pressure systems, and installing a metal roof designed for insulation and rainwater collection. The captured rainwater will irrigate the food forest and provide healthier water for the tilapia pond.
There is still much more to come: additional renovated units, renewed patios and gardens, a lush oasis around the pond, and eventually a separate home that will allow Rob to welcome more guests. One day, he hopes Queerhaven will host intimate queer weddings.
“Nothing would make me happier than to have couples use this lovely space to join themselves in matrimony.”
A Home for Every Kind of Occupant
Rob’s favorite places include the patio overlooking the pond and hills, the wild riverfront with its ponds, willows, and towering Sabino tree, and his own compact home, where his cats happily watch the fish and fantasize about the birds.
But what makes him proudest is not a particular room or renovation. It is creating systems that support a better life for Queerhaven’s future residents, and for the plants and animals reclaiming habitat there.
“I want this property to represent high-quality living for all of its occupants, human and otherwise.”
That sentence captures the heart of Queerhaven. This is more than a renovation. It is a story about sanctuary, community, and extending care beyond buildings to the land and every life it supports.
I first met Rob as a buyer, and we quickly became friends. Recently, I was fortunate to receive a private tour and see his vision taking shape in the growing food forest, the restored living spaces, and the community already beginning to gather there.
The most meaningful real estate stories often begin after closing, when the right person finds a place and sees not only what it is, but what it could become.
Happy one-year anniversary, Rob. I am so proud of what you are creating and grateful to call you my friend.
Welcome to What They Made of It.
