The second floor of The Elements holds this 1,500-square-foot condo, and the position matters here. From the balcony you catch a partial ocean view, while the large windows along the living area frame green jungle canopy instead of another building's wall. It's a quieter orientation than most units in the building get, and it means the afternoon light comes in filtered through palm fronds rather than direct glare off the sea.

Inside, the layout runs open-concept through the living, dining, and kitchen areas. Marble floors carry through the whole space, and the kitchen comes fully equipped with a granite-topped island that doubles as a breakfast bar. Pendant lights hang over the island, and the dining table sits six comfortably with the living room behind it. Glass sliders along one wall open the whole room to the balcony and let the Caribbean breeze move through. The kitchen has stainless appliances, a wine fridge, and enough counter space that two people can cook without bumping elbows.

The two bedrooms sit on opposite sides of the unit, which gives the layout real privacy for guests or roommates. Both fit king beds. The primary suite has its own bathroom with a walk-in shower and a double vanity, and the second bedroom uses the hallway bath. Closet space is built in, and the finishes read neutral and modern — no dated tile or fixtures to deal with.

The Elements is a gated beachfront complex on the north end of Playa del Carmen, close enough to walk to 5th Avenue's restaurants and shops without being in the middle of the noise. The pool is the long, palm-lined one you see from the lobby — wide enough for actual laps, with a row of loungers and umbrellas along the deck. Residents get access to the building's beach club, which has its own restaurant and bar on the sand, plus a gym, business center, and concierge at the front desk. On-site property management handles rentals if you want to put the unit in a rental program when you're not using it.

At $615,000, the unit comes furnished and ready to occupy or rent. One covered parking space is included. The building's location puts Cozumel ferries, Mamitas Beach, and the main restaurant strip within a short walk, and Cancún International is about an hour north.