Are interested in any of the following?

• Golf Course Living
• A Home Near the Beach
• Life on a Resort
• Excellent Home Investment
• Owning a Custom Home in Paradise

If so, you will be interested in the interview we had here at TOPMexicoRealEstate with the architect for Riviera Homes, a new development of luxury homes near Tulum, and one of the most exciting opportunities in Bahia Principe real estate.

TOPMexicoRealEstate interviews Riviera Homes Architect – Custom Golf Course Homes

In this video, several key points include:

• The homes are on a beautiful golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II
• The design of the homes can be modified for the needs of each buyer
• The home design allows for easy and elegant future expansion and modification
• The beach is a short golf cart ride away – these are some of the most beautiful beaches to be found in the world

Resort real estate has proven to be an excellent investment in the Playa del Carmen – Tulum area, and the exclusive golf course location of these homes is very promising for future value.

A rendering of what a beautiful home at Bahia Principe could look like

Watch the video for yourself and visit our Bahia Principe real estate page for more details!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Every year Cozumel real estate owners get the pleasure of celebrating the island’s lively and colorful Carnival!  This year, the island is already preparing for the upcoming festivities which will take place during the week from Wednesday, February 15 to Wednesday, February 22, 2012, with the biggest festivities on Mardi Gras, Tuesday Feb. 21.

Bright, lively costumes in Cozumel's Carnival

Residents and visitors can look forward to bright costumes, lively dances and colorful floats for the main parade which heads down the “Malecon” or boardwalk along the downtown beachfront.  In Cozumel, the costumes and dancing take on a somewhat Mayan theme, reflecting the island’s heritage.  Of course, there will also be lots of music and dancing, and plenty of great food.

Those who own Mexico beachfront for sale on Cozumel will enjoy close access to enjoying the rich history and culture in these festivities.

On Cozumel, the festival has over 130 years of history and it’s one of the best Carnival festivals in the region.

Candidates for King and Queen of the Cozumel Carnival, 2012

The King and Queen of the festivities have already been chosen, and they will be crowned at the beginning of the festivities on Feb. 15!

I look forward to seeing everyone and enjoying the festivities together for this exciting celebration on Cozumel!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A Float in the Mari Gras Parade

Last week I put up a post offering the exciting news that there is an exciting new development available from Viliv, one of the most successful – not to mention best priced – options in Playa del Carmen condos for 2011.  But the other side of the coin, and news that is just as exciting, is that there are still 4 units left over at Viliv!

A view of the condos, from the pool

During late 2010 and 2011, these condos sold like hotcakes fresh of the griddle; excited buyers are now enjoying their new life in a beautiful unit, a nice complex and an excellent neighborhood.    Besides the fact that there are still units available, other parts of this exciting news include:

• Prices are still low! Starting at $140,000 for the remaining units.
• You can get a mortgage in Mexico to help fit this condo into your budget
• You can already see the nearly-completed complex, and appreciate its success

The open-concept kitchen with its beautiful tile work

These 2 bedroom Playa del Carmen condos have proven to be everything promised

• Beautiful tile work, counters, and other finishes
• Very nice open-concept design
• Plenty of balcony and terrace space
• Comfortable pool and lounge area
• Gym & exercise area
• Walking distance or very short bike ride to the beach

The quiet streets of El Cielo, exclusive gated community

The community is coming along nicely, with more nice developments and individual homes showing up all the time; there are bylaws to ensure that new developments will maintain and even improve community image.  There are also the following features:

• 14 green areas
• Bike trails
• Gated, 24-hour manned entrance
• 10 minute drive to downtown, malls and new shopping areas

Why wait another winter to be enjoying life in Paradise?

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Recently, we’ve discovered an exciting new opportunity in beautiful, ecological beachfront lots for sale on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula called “Playa Kuka.” Before we talk about the Yucatan properties at Playa Kuka, let’s talk a little about the context of the properties – the surroundings in which they are set.

Flamingos at Rio Lagartos, Near Playa Kuka

Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

If you have heard of Rio Lagartos on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, you know that this is a magical place.  Most tourists know it for its wild flamingo breeding grounds and natural habitat.  Visitors arrive by means of a rustic boat ride through the reserve to arrive at a place where the natural, green landscape is filled with the splendid pink of the flamingos wading in the water.  The good news is that living on one of the beachfront lots, you will have good road access!

Yet, the flamingos are most certainly not all there is to Rio Lagartos.  There are more than 250 species of waterfowl which nest and breed in the estuary around which the reserve is centered.  Rio Lagartos covers an area of 31,750 acres.  There is a very large variety of flora and fauna, including mangrove growths and many species of birds, reptiles and fish.

The Fishing Village at Rio Lagartos

The Town

On the east end of the estuary, there is a classic Mexican fishing village called El Cuyo.  This village is quaint with colorful homes and the waterfront is lined with fishermen’s boats, which head out early every morning for the daily catch. These people live in the same relaxation close contact with nature that they have for centuries.

The Beaches

In the reserve, there is a total of 50 miles of beachfront; the beaches have soft sand, they are wide and they offer a beauty that can only be fully appreciated in the untouched natural surroundings, and unspoiled lifestyle of the relaxed fishermen.

It is on these beaches where Playa Kuka, one of the more unique opportunities in Yucatan properties, is located, and you can find lots 10 acres in size with 100 feet of beachfront for surprisingly low prices!  Here you can have your ecological dream home built and live in luxury and harmony with nature!

The beaches where your future dream home could be

Rio Lagartos is a magical, natural place full of rustic roads, surrounded by vegetation, birds and wildlife. Live here will definitely be relaxation in a way most of us have only ever imagined!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

If you’ve ever been to Tulum, you know that one of the best ways to describe the town is “magical.”  Yet currently, Tulum’s municipal government is seeking to gain the official “Magic Town” status from Mexico’s federal government.  This status would bring additional investment into preserving and developing the town’s quaint, typical Mayan atmosphere and into promoting it abroad.  This, in turn will bring benefits for Tulum real estate.

Magic in Simplicity

Most recently, the Municipal Council has carried out the first meeting for the committee responsible for gaining this official “Magic Town” status for Tulum. The Magic Town program requires the participation and coordination of efforts from the local government, private companies and individual community members.

With the new status, special attention would be paid to highlighting and preserving symbolic attributes, legends, history and important facts about Tulum, a place that has a certain mystique, the combination of ancient and modern, combined with the special status of 2012 in the Mayan calendar of its ancient culture, to make it like no other place.

Mexico real estate in the town already hold very high appeal for Americans and Canadians who enjoy this rare combination of ancient mysteries, diverse nature and modern luxury.  When the new status is gained, it’s very likely that attention on this booming market will gain yet another boost, yet another good sign for investors!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A fruit stand in Tulum - life is relaxing!

A beautiful cenote

Two features which many Americans and Canadians look for when they buy Yucatan real estate are the area’s lush, green jungle, and the other is the relaxation of living in close contact with the mysteries of the ancient Mayans.  The recently opened “Mayan Cenote Park” in Chemax, Yucatan (February 2, 2012) combines the best of these two factors for residents.

The park, designed so that visitors can enjoy an unforgettable experience with nature in the Mayan jungle and ancient traditions is 10 hectares in size (about 25 acres) and is the largest ecological park in the area.

Part of offering experience with the ancient mysteries of the Mayan people are the natural wonder of the area’s “cenotes.”  These magical sites, which were sacred to the Mayan religion, are naturally occurring fresh-water pools at the entrances to the area’s underground cave and waterway system.

The main attraction is a cenote with an 80 meter diameter (about 260 feet), a depth of 24 meters (about 80 feet) and a height of 22 meters (about 72 feet) from ground level, at the opening of the cave, to the water’s surface.

A tour is offered inside one of the caves where visitors can enter by means of a traditional ladder, 34 meters long (about 110 feet). Visitors can practice sports like zip line and rappelling.

The park is located in the municipality of Chemax, near Valladolid, about 1 hour away from Merida.  The town is also about 2 hours away from Playa del Carmen, hence benefiting Playa del Carmen real estate owners as well as yet another beautiful attraction and place to relax in harmony with nature.

Grand opening of the restaurant, with various dignitaries

The construction of the park cost $56.6 million pesos, or about $4 million USD.

The park also includes areas for hammocks, thatched-roof “palapa” shades, handicrafts for sale, lockers, a restaurant with seating for 800 people, a kitchen and space for those who enjoy photography.

New attractions like this park promise to make Yucatan grow not only as a world-class tourist destination, but also as one of the leading Mexico real estate destinations.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

The Grand Opening at the Cenote

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed Awa condos in Playa del Carmen yet.  The good news for you is that here at TOP Mexico real estate, since we’re always keeping an eye open for the best deals on top quality, we did notice.  These are in fact the two main attractive points about Awa – the price and the quality.

Before we talk about the price of Awa, let me tell you a little bit about the back ground.  If you’ve been in contact with us, or even just visiting our website over the past year, you probably noticed some Playa del Carmen condos for sale called Viliv that showed up in a nice new gated community at the north of town just over a year ago.  Like Awa, these condos offered a very nice design, great location and, most noticeably, a surprisingly low price – including penthouses.  As you may guess, these sold like hotcakes.  Currently, the units in this beautiful development are all but sold out.

Awa Condos, Playa del Carmen

Too bad you missed the boat, right?  But this is where Awa comes into the picture.  The developer was so pleased with the success of Viliv that they decided to do it again.  Right next door, they’re building a new condo complex – Awa.

For you as a buyer the fact that Awa’s from the same people as Viliv means a couple of important points:

1. The developer is reputable – you can talk to some of our buyers from Viliv to see how happy they are!
2. The quality will be excellent
3. The price is the best in town
4. They will probably sell like hotcakes

Oh, yeah, before I forget, let’s talk about the price; starting at only $137,000 USD Awa condos are the best price per square meter in town!

A preview of what the interiors will look like

Here are some other points you might like about Awa:

• It’s walking distance to the beach
• It’s in a nice gated community, with 24-hour manned security and bylaws to protect the image
• There are beautiful penthouses for very attractive prices
• There is a pool and a nice common area
• The open-concept design and finishing details will be of the best quality
• There is a variety of property types, including one stand-alone home
• It is a small complex offering a neighborly atmosphere
• Downtown is only a 10 minute drive away, as well as new malls and shopping areas

Contact us to find out more about Awa.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

El Cielo, the community where Awa is located

A View of the Caribbean Beach from El Taj

Imagine owning a condo – full ownership, fully titled – in one of the best hotels in all of Mexico … and imagine the investment potential if this condo-hotel were awarded by one of the world’s leading travel sites?

The good news is that you don’t have to imagine.  This has actually just become a real possibility with El Taj condo hotel in Playa del Carmen! Recently, based on user ratings and comments, Trip Advisor has awarded El Taj with the #2 place among the Top 25 Hotels in Mexico.

El Taj is located in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen, directly on the one of the worlds’ most beautiful beaches, steps away from the shopping and dining of Fifth Avenue, Playa del Carmen’s trendiest street.

First of all, the user ratings speak very well of this hotel; of about 280 users, who have actually been to and stayed in El Taj, 230 rated the hotel with a full 5 stars, or “Excellent.”

El Taj - #2 Hotel in Mexico - Traveler's Choice Awards

Users point to features like the splendid views of the beach and the ocean, the excellent service, the beautiful, oriental-inspired design with Bali-inspired décor and the walking distance to all the tourism activity of Fifth Avenue as reasons for their high rating of the hotel.

El Taj also receive the 12th place award for Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Mexico and the 22nd place for the Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in Mexico.

All of this leads to two important points.  The first is that it would be one of the best hotels in

Playa del Carmen's Beachfront Downtown, one of El Taj's most important features!

which to own Playa del Carmen real estate for your own vacationing.  In addition to the high praises from the users, other features include:

• Direct access to some of the world’s best beaches
• A beach club
• Underground parking with an elevator
• Design by Jack Perlman (award winning architect)
• Kitchens fully equipped with best quality appliances

The other point to consider is the investment potential.  The attention drawn to El Taj from the recent Trip Advisor award is expected to give the hotel a significant boost on top of its current success.  This is good news for anyone looking for a Playa del Carmen condo for sale for either purely for investment income on that property or for a bit of cash to balance expenses while they are not using the property.

Take a look at our listing for this property here – El Taj condo hotel – and consider investing in Mexico’s top condo-hotel!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Wow,  at the end of this post you will see one heck of a Mexico real estate TOP DEAL.
But before showing you this property, I wanted to share some things going on here in the Tulum real estate region.
December and January have been buzzing along for Mexico real estate TOP deal buyers picking up some great discounts in the Riviera Maya zone.  I know our team over here has been working closely with several buyers who have been…. waiting patiently and looking for those great deals that pop up.  And they are being snagged up quickly over the past two months.

So… what the heck is going on in the Tulum real estate market?

Lots.  and exciting stuff.

I have been driving out, talking, meeting new developers, new properties that are coming out on the market.

“2012 is going to be a crazy year for tourists coming into town,  soooo many people are visiting because of the excitement of the Mayan 2012 final calendar year”  -  owner of a bed and breakfast

And as I am chuckling to myself … A European back packer and her partner walk in to ask the owner of the B&B…
- do you have any rooms for rent?
-No,  did you try around the corner?
- Yes,  booked
- What about Jungle Butterfly BB?
- Yes, booked

After chatting with the owner of this Tulum real estate a little bit more, I take a drive over to the brand new Chedraui grocery store.  Wow.  Nice.

So what is the big deal… a new grocery store…so what?
The thing is if you have not been to Tulum before… there were no larger sized grocery stores.  With Chedraui you have a wide variety of brands, foods, snacks, wines, meats that are now available which the smaller shops in town did not carry.  My wife loves it now because when we run to the beach, she can make one stop, put together a great pick nick with  wine, cheese, grapes, even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids.  All at one stop just down the road towards the beach!

Ok,  lots to talk about in the Tulum real estate which I will be doing over the next various weeks here on the TOP Mexico real estate blog.
Stay in close contact,  trust me you will see some Great things…. even if it is a simple photo of one of the beautiful Tulum beaches.

Ok, here is the big bang at the end of the post.

check this Mexico real estate TOP DEAL.
$135,000  with 140 m2!

click here to see more details and photos    Tulum 140 m2 Condo for Sale

Call or write to me for more specifics or to run out and see this property while you are in town.
We can come up with a strategy together on this.
(984) 267-2449

Or…. share with us your dream home, and we will help you find it
Click here 

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

The 6^th January is “Dia de los ReyesMagos” (King’s Day), Epiphany Day.  Children love this day as it’s when they receive a present (from the kings as opposed to Santa Claus), have a piñata, eat the sweet bread “Rosca de Reyes” and drink hot chocolate.  A government agency “CROC”, provided all of the above to the children of Mahahual and the part of Mahahual’s “malecon” (promenade) where it was held was crammed with children having fun.

We have a new Costa Maya real estate listing in “Las Casitas”, New Mahahual, the area near the Costa Maya cruise ship port.  It’s a three bedroom, 2 bathroom home, with a swimming pool in the back garden for only US$120,000.  Check out the listing: MLS: CMY-HO0-2548

Vacation Rentals of Costa Maya homes has been busy over the holiday season with enquiries still coming in for the rest of the high season.  If you do have any plans to come and visit Majahual/Mahahual or the Costa Maya area over the next few months, check out our Costa Maya rentals.  This gives you the perfect chance for you to experience Caribbean beach living before you invest in your own property.

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

The “Mahahualenas”, a group of ladies who do charitable works in our Costa Maya real estate region, organized the children’s Christmas party again this year and it was a huge success as usual.  This year it was held at the football field in the town centre.  Santa came, photos were taken, presents were given out and piñatas were hit, sweets being scattered everywhere.  At one point, in my role as translator, I was squashed under the piñata with kids at my feet grabbing sweets and squealing in delight!

The first road in town is now being paved, formerly a sandy track.  Businesses along the road are pleased as there’ll be no more continuous cleaning of their fronts due to the dust blown up from passing traffic as before.  In the south the road has been graded so that the potholes have been filled; a huge relief to homeowners and vacation rental guests along that part of the coast.

Real Estate in Costa Maya at the moment is slow, but steady.  It’s a buyer’s market for sure, with people taking the advantage of the huge discounts being offered by some property owners.  Recently two discounted “casitas” houses in New Mahahual were discounted further and then sold immediately afterwards.  In my last blog the listing CMY-LTW-1517 in South Mahahual, reduced to only US$175,000 for 30m of prime beachfront, was snapped up.

Check out the listings to see there’s a variety of properties on offer to suit all budgets in Costa Maya at the moment.  From as little as US$21,000 for a lot in New Mahahual, close to the beach (listing 2537), US$35,000 for commercial/residential property in Xcalak (listing 1701) and US$90,000 for 20 metres of Caribbean beach front property (listing 2531).

There seems to be an equal amount of real estate investors from Mexico and abroad at the moment.  The Mexicans know exactly what happened with tourist locations such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen to the north and don’t want to miss another opportunity to own beachfront property before it’s all gone.  The foreign investors tend to be looking for a slower pace of life, where people have time to be with friends and family and enjoy the natural beauty of this area; scuba diving, snorkeling or simply chilling on a Caribbean beach with a book.

If you haven’t visited Mahahual, Costa Maya, already, now’s your chance to explore and the only cold thing you’ll have here is a beer!

Rebecca Loto is from the United Kingdom and has been traveling and living in Latin America for nearly ten years. Costa Maya has become her home residence in the past 5 years where she and her husband have settled and have become involved and active in various community organizations. Rebecca brings British business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

As we start up the first week of 2012, we wanted to share some more of the  25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya project, we are excited to share with you the seventh beach – Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen.  To start we want to remind you of two points; one is that we have already released 6 TOP BEACHES for your enjoyment!  Each one has High-Definition videos, beautiful pictures, descriptions and maps!  The other point is that there are still 18 more to go, with the same spectacular features, plus some will have a hidden treasure.  If you visit any of the beaches, you can also check in and leave tips in Foursquare.

All of these exciting features allow you to enjoy these 7 beaches (plus the 18 to come) from home, to help you forget about the cold for a while.  More importantly, they will allow you to pick out which one(s) you like the most and make plans to spend a day on each one on your next visit to Playa del Carmen.

Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen is one of the top beaches because of its great location and its up-and-coming hip atmosphere.  It’s pretty much at the end of where all the current action of downtown Playa del Carmen is taking place, with a long stretch of quiet, developed beaches to the other side.  The beach is currently a nice balance of being a happening place while still being close to the quieter areas of town.

Yet, the most significant thing that’s happening in Coco Beach is that the quiet beaches to the north are currently seeing upscale condo and hotel development.  This means that Coco Beach will soon be a very central “meeting point” between the original downtown area and the newer tourism growing in the north end of the Playa del Carmen real estate area.

Coco Beach is already a hip and happening place.  There’s a nice restaurant on the beach, a pizza shop nearby and nice, upscale condos in the residential community.  It’s also a nice romantic place to enjoy a bottle of wine as a couple in the evening.

We’re sure that once you’ve been to Coco Beach, you’ll won’t be content with vacations anymore – and if it’s not Coco Beach, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with one of the other top beaches as your future home …

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Thanks to everyone for allowing us here at Top Mexico Real Estate to help you in your search for a new home in wonderful Mexico.  All the best for you and the ones you love.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

If you’ve been to the Playa del Carmen real estate areas, there’s no doubt that you know downtown’s most famous landmark, and the wide, beautiful beach that goes with it – El Faro Beach in Playa del Carmen with its Lighthouse.  Because of the combination of a gorgeous beachfront, all of downtown’s activities, and some excellent restaurants right on the beach, we’ve chosen El Faro as the sixth beach of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya series.

The name “El Faro” refers to the landmark itself, and is Spanish for “The Lighthouse.”  What’s nice about El Faro Beach is that it can be enjoyed as a part of any activity you choose to enjoy in Playa del Carmen.

Often, when we go out for dinner or a cold drink downtown, this beach becomes part of the outing; we either enjoy the restaurants right next to the sand, or afterwards, we’ll head down and enjoy a walk on the sand later on.

Walking along the beach we see people playing volleyball, relaxing on blankets in the sand, enjoying nearby lounge chairs, wading in the water, swimming, and just about any other activity you can think of.  Anyone who enjoys the dining and shopping of Fifth Avenue – the main downtown pedestrian street that runs parallel to the beach – can easily take a short walk (a small city block) down to El Faro Beach.

It’s also a well-known landmark, easy to find.  Once you arrive to the beachfront in any part of downtown Playa del Carmen, you’ll see this landmark.  It’s a favorite place of ours – and many other people – to meet on the beach, either for dining or for enjoying the sand.

We’d love it if we could meet you here at El Faro not too long down the road; in the meantime enjoy the beautiful HD videos and pictures on our page for El Faro Beach in Playa del Carmen.  Look for our next beach coming in a post this week.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

When most buyers think of Mexico beachfront for sale, they think of a Mexico condo for sale, or sometimes a home, directly overlooking the ocean with the sand at their front door.  While there is very good reason for this appeal (who wouldn’t want to live like this?) in most cases it is worth considering a property a couple of blocks back from the beach itself.  The following are a number of factors to consider when making this choice.

Price – In established beachfront communities that have already become popular with tourists, properties directly on the beachfront tend to have elevated prices.  Buyers on a more limited budget may find that excellent homes or condos are available for a significantly lower price only 3 or 4 blocks away.  Playa del Carmen real estate is a good example of a place where people can buy a property slightly back from the beach and still enjoy a pleasant, 5 to 10 minute walk to the water, while enjoying virtually all the same benefits.

Convenience – Sometimes properties back from the beach actually offer even more convenient access to surrounding services. This factor depends on each buyer’s needs.

Weather – Some locations, such as the north shore of the Yucatan, will have a tropical storm now and then during certain seasons of the year.  While there is very little risk, some people feel more comfortable buying a block or two back from the water, which is actually considered the prime location in some communities.

Availability – On the other hand, if a buyer is considering a less developed area, the properties available may only be on the beachfront or one row back.  Prices in these areas tend to be low anyway, and it may not make any sense trying to get a better deal on a property back from the beach.

Rental Appeal – Some owners count on renting out to other vacationers to generate income when they are not using their property.  Often in this case location directly on the beachfront holds higher appeal.

When making their choice, each buyer should consider their needs together with these factors to determine if it is better for them to buy directly on the beachfront or a couple of blocks back.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely”

A Saturday afternoon, and we all decided to go on a pick nick in a region that has been increasing in attention, the Tulum real estate area.  When you pull into the Tulum pueblo off of highway 307 from Playa del Carmen heading south, the first stoplights give you a choice of turning west towards Coba, or east towards the beach.  This afternoon we took several friends, Stephen from Canada, Richard from D.C., and John from Calgary.   As we drove down the road towards the beach these were some of the comments;    “The new gas station, oxxo stores and the bike paths are very impressive”  ” A lot has changed in a year, this is very nice, look at the rest areas along the bike paths and look at all the people riding down to the beach!”  “Look at the new Chedraui store”

This was the perfect place to buy food and drinks for the pick nick.  What a great selection of food!  This is quite impressive for Tulum.   It really is getting larger with over 5 banks, Bodega Aurrera grocery store also has opened, and many Italian, Argentinian restaurants are located in the downtown zone.

So the new Super market, is located on the road towards the beach.   What is really interesting is that it is right across the street from the new development, Aldea Zama.   Imagine if you are living in a house or say in a new property such as the Real de Zama condos for sale,  the new Chedraui store is close enough you can jump on a bike and ride over to this new grocery store!  And it looks as if everyone is moving around in Tulum on bicycles.

As we arrived to the beach road,  we saw so many bicycles tied up to palm trees, tied up to the road side where people would just park, walk across the dune and get to the beach.  These are some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches.  They are wide, talky white powder, and the waves are large enough to do body boarding.  I could absolutely imagine living in any of the Tulum condos for sale, jumping on a bike on a week end, peddling down to Chedraui picking up some refreshments, and peddling on down to the beach for the afternoon.  After, riding home to shower off and to prepare for a night on the town….What a life.

We found a place to park the car along side the road and the above, the  picture shows what lay awaiting for us on the other side of the dune!

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

In this brief article, the idea of a “Fideicomiso,” or “Bank Trust,” is briefly discussed.  This bank trust allows non-Mexicans can buy Mexico real estate in the “restricted zones.”  There are 3 main points to cover:

1. If you are buying in the “restricted zone” a bank trust is obligatory (see definitions below)
2. If you are buying outside of the restricted zone, it is not necessary, but possible.
3. It is a perfectly safe way of owning property in Mexico, and offers the full rights of ownership.

Now, let’s define what these concepts actually mean.

The Restricted Zone

The restricted zone is identified and described in the Mexican Constitution, defined by the following limits:

• 50 kilometers (33 miles) along all of the Mexican coastlines
• 100 kilometers (66 miles) along all Mexican borders (United States and Central American countries of Belize and Guatemala)

If you buy Playa del Carmen real estate, for example, which is directly on the coastline, you need to use a Bank Trust.  If you buy Lake Chapala real estate, which is more than 50 km from the coast and more than 100 km from the U.S. border, you do not need to buy through a Bank Trust, and you can own directly, just like a Mexican citizen.

The Bank Trust

According to the current Mexican Constitution, as established in 1917, foreigners could not own land in the Restricted Zone.  However, during the past few decades, the Mexican government realized that there was great potential for drawing investment to the country by allowing foreign ownership in these areas – especially on the beachfront.  For this reason, the government of Mexico set up the system called a “Fideicomiso” (in Spanish) which allows foreigners to own in this area.  The Bank Trust works as follows:

• the property is held in a trust through a Mexican bank
• the bank is the trustee
• the buyer is the beneficiary
• the Bank Trusts are active for 50 years and are renewable after that – do not be confused, this is NOT a “lease”
• a small annual fee must be paid annually to the bank holding the trust
• the buyer designates a substitute beneficiary, who becomes the beneficiary in the case of death (this actually makes inheritance much easier

Because of this last point, some buyers choose to buy through a Bank Trust even when it is not obligatory.  The process of gaining a Bank Trust has become very common and straight forward; it is a perfectly safe form of ownership and American or Canadian buyers should feel comfortable buying in this way.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

On November 1, we released the first of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya.  Today, I wanted to show you the fifth of these beaches, Xcalacoco Beach in Playa del Carmen.  Xcalacoco Beach is a beautiful stretch of beaches complementing the new resort and condo developments which are located on this beach. On this beach, you can relax in the warm sun, warm your feet in the soft, white sand, and watch sailboats go by – all adding up to complete relaxation.  A cold drink might be in order, or maybe just a lounge chair in view of a rustic old dock.  Xcalacoco is the meeting point of isolated old beaches of the Playa del Carmen real estate region and the newest in resorts, condo developments and gated communities. The beach is located just north of town, about a mile or two from the first downtown area beaches. Visit our Xcalacoco Beach page and see:

• Videos – These include a video postcard designed especially for your relaxation, as well as some detailed high definition views of Xcalacoco.

• Pictures – You will want to see and share these beautiful scenes from Xcalacoco Beach; the only thing which could be better is actually to be here!

• Descriptions – Read more about the beach – what there is to do, what the atmosphere is like, etc.

• Map – Find out where the beach is; after all, once you get the chance to come down here, you’ll want to experience it for yourself.

If you get a chance to escape the ever more frigid weather of the north and come down to Xcalacoco beach, you may also wish to make a check-in at Foursquare and let everyone else know what it’s all about. Also, feel free to visit our Top Beaches page to enjoy the first 4 beaches!  Watch for our next beach in 2 days (Friday, November 11th) by following this blog or checking our 25 TOP Beaches page! In the meantime, enjoy Xcalacoco!

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

After working my entire career in the financial industry…the last 30 as a financial advisor specializing in wealth management and retirement and estate planning, I think I have a good overview from working with so many clients on their retirement plans and dreams.  Now I am dealing with the same issues but mixed in with the Mexico real estate industry.

Unfortunately, retirement and certainly early retirement is only that…a dream.  Largely due to the increasing cost of living in the USA, the retirement goals are becoming cloudy, deferred or in some cases a big question mark.  Health care, living costs, taxes (income and property)…..all making it difficult to feel comfortable about retirement and the financial impact.

Those lucky to be considering retirement now or in the near future at least can feel fairly secure that social security and medicare will be in tact.  But for those late baby boomers or the next generation, the financial discussion about the future of these critical issue are for sure up in the air making retirement planning even more difficult.  Their financial pressure are sure to mount as they start focusing on their later years.

It is becoming more obvious to more and more people these days that the best solution is relocating outside the US and a Mexico retirement seems to be the first choice of many Americans.  They are enjoying a better living on far less dollars.  But I know many people not familiar with retiring to Mexico think it is too much of a hassle….leaving friends and family….different rules and laws….and even the language issue.

But Mexico offers many benefits and advantages for retirees.  In this series of articles we will explore many of them for your consideration as a better alternative of a better retirement lifestyle.  Your quality of life in your Mexico home will be beyond what most people can imagine.   The lower cost of living will allow a more luxurious  lifestyle and less concern on the purse strings.

Money Magazine has reported that over 250,000 Americans are leaving the U.S. every year for good.  So consider the following articles in the 9-part series to better understand the exciting alternative of your very own Mexican casa and a new adventurous retirement south of the border.

Doug Morgan 512-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com THE TOP Mexico Real Estate NETWORK; “Mexico’s leading specialists for finding and purchasing Mexican properties safely !”