One of the many motivations to buy Playa del Carmen real estate is close contact with ancient mysteries of the Mayan culture.  Tomorrow a very special annual event, a boat crossing called the “Sacred Mayan Journey,” will take place in the strait between Playa del Carmen and the island of Cozumel, also allowing Cozumel real estate owners to enjoy the part of the event on the island.

2011's Opening Ceremony

As the website for the Sacred Mayan Journey points out:

The Sacred Mayan Journey will take place at Xcaret for the 6th consecutive year. This event recreates one of the most ancient traditions of the Mayan culture; the yearly pilgrimage of the Maya, who braved the ocean on their canoes and crossed to the island of Cozumel to worship the goddess Ixchel.

The event will begin in at 5:30 in the evening, May 17, 2012, at Xcaret park, just south of Playa del Carmen.  Some of the features of the event include:

• an incredible display of folklore and music, with more than 300 artists
• an interactive Mayan Market
• Mayan dances and ceremonies
• blessing and departure of the oarsmen in their canoes (5:30 AM on May 18)
• ancient Mayan welcome dances and songs (Cozumel)
• ancient rituals and ceremonies for the goddess Ixchel
• return journey (Cozumel 5:30 AM on May 19)
• welcome and concluding ceremonies in Xcaret

This year, the 6th after the ritual’s re-instatement, is especially important since 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar, marking the beginning of a new era.

The event is a beautiful way for residents to delve into the ancient mysteries of the Mayans, and offers something exciting for future residents to look forward to in years to come.

See more at the official website:

http://www.travesiasagradamaya.com.mx/TSM2012-EN/index.php

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

The celebration of 2012 as the “Year of the Maya” has sparked a growing interest in knowing more of Yucatan Peninsula’s pre-Hispanic culture, especially among German tourists.  The boost in interest from Europe’s economic giant could also be good news for the market of Yucatan homes for sale, and Yucatan real estate in general, with a boost in exposure and interest to a variety of international buyers.

Chichen Itza

European tourists, especially Germans, often practice what could be called “knowledgeable tourism,” i.e., their travels are not only entertainment, but also focused on broadening the knowledge they already possess (usually with some reading ahead of time about the sites they are visiting), and getting to know the culture they visit first hand.

This renewed interest in the Mayan culture is being exploited by the European media, and recently, for this very reason, a representative of the German magazine Die Welt was on the Yucatan Peninsula to report on the main sites of the ancient civilization, and to describe the preparations being made ​​to concerning the end of the Mayan calendar.

The representative of Die Welt accompanied by staff from the Trust for Public Relations Tourism Promotion (FPTRM) visited various archaeological sites as well as some popular eco-parks. Die Welt magazine has a circulation of 400 thousand copies weekly.

Of the 160,000 Germans who visit Mexico, well over 80 percent visit the Yucatan Peninsula.

The new excitement, backed by enthusiasm for knowing more, and media coverage in widely read magazines promise to bring increasing attention to Yucatan in Germany and Europe; the new attention is also likely to make a growing number of these same tourists consider buying Mexico real estate and/or living in this charming, mystical part of Mexico.

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

From us at TMRE, to all Mothers out there!

All of us here are TOPMexicoRealEstate want to wish all those mothers out there a very happy and wonderful Mother’s Day!

(Mexico celebrates Mother’s Day on May 10th, regardless of the day of the week, but even if you’re living in Mexico, Happy Mother’s Day today anyway!)

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; “Your Expert Property-Finders”

Good news for Cancun’s tourism industry is good news for Cancun real estate; tourism brings investment into new stores, restaurants, road up-keep, entertainment, golf courses, new resort complexes with nice options in Mexico condos for sale, etc.  So, when tourism grows, those buying in Cancun can expect good things.

The good news is that so far, 2012 has been very promising for tourism in the area, as well as for Mexico as a whole:

• From January 1 to April 29, 2012, there was a total occupancy of 185,550 rooms
• This is 7.6 percent higher than the same period in 2011
• It is 3.7 percent higher than in 2008, considered the best year in Mexico’s tourism industry
• It looks like 2012 is going to break that record!
• Cancun, along with Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey and destinations of the Maya World (Tulum, Merida, etc.) have the highest occupancy, offering the most drive to these numbers

Cancun’s growth was well above the average at 10.8%; this means anyone considering buying in Cancun this year is considering a really good move.  Life in Cancun is wonderful, and Mexico’s healthy tourism, driven by a large extent by the huge success of the Cancun area, will only make it better!

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

Let's hope you're not going to try this!

An important consideration for Americans and Canadians who are going to buy Mexico real estate and are making Mexico their new home is, what to do about their possessions from their home country; do they sell them all off, and buy new things down here in Mexico? Keep them in storage? Ship them down?

An important factor in making the decision is knowing what your options are.  While international shipment services are available, we’ve recently been made aware of some service options that seem very well tailored to the needs of most people moving down here.  The following are options soon-to—be expats will want to look for and consider:

• The movers take care of clearing customs – you don’t need to worry about it
• A variety of prices for any budget tailored to your needs and requirements
• A range of services to choose from:
  • Self-service – you do your own loading and unloading at both origin and destination but the carriers will do all the driving and clearing customs; this is usually quite affordable
  • “White glove approach”- includes all the packing and wrapping required for international shipping, loading and unloading as well as customs clearance
  • Small shipments – many Mexico condos for sale and even Mexico homes for sale are sold furnished, but you would just like to bring a taste of home – a few important items, or something of sentimental value; very accessible prices can be given for shipping just a box or two

There are service providers available that offer all of the features mentioned above.  If you

Know your options for shipping to Mexico!

are in need of such a service, contact us and we will refer you to a reputable company; you can use our contact us form, leave a comment in the comment box below, send an e-mail or call by phone:

• info@topmexicorealestate.com
• 512-879-6546 (US phone)

We will also be posting more info on this blog as we gain more information about these services.

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

One important attraction for those buying Cozumel real estate for their retirement is the close contact with the area’s Mayan history and culture; for those enjoying Mexico retirement in Cozumel, next week brings an exciting event with a sacred Mayan boat journey.

Last year's sacred journey

The Sacred Mayan Journey is an annual ritual event that involves various ancient traditions, including a boat journey from Playa del Carmen across the strait to the island of Cozumel, as well as dancing and various ceremonies.  This year will be the 6th annual Sacred Mayan Journey, which was started in 2007 to remember and keep alive ancient Mayan traditions.

The event will take place on May 17, with the ceremonies beginning at 5:30 pm in Xcaret Park, just north of Playa del Carmen.   These ceremonies will include offerings to the goddess Ixchel and a ritual of purification, as well as a new fire ceremony with priests from the state of Chiapas and dances of fertility and time.

The boat journey itself will begin on May 18 at 6 am, including 268 canoeists, of which 175 are men and 93 women. 94% of the 286 canoeists are Mexicans and 6% are foreigners. The scene and ceremonies will include a total of 488 participants, in addition to spectators.

On May 18, the canoes will arrive to Cozumel between 12 and 2 pm.  The canoeists will be welcomed by dances, and special ceremonies commemorating death and fire to prepare participants for a visit to the sanctuary of Ixchel on Cozumel; on the following day, the boats will return to Playa del Carmen.

According to project director, this event will generate an economic benefit for the island of Cozumel, as it will bring occupancy for 246 double rooms for visitors to participate in the ceremonial event.

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

Here’s a very important tip for anyone and everyone who wants to know something about Mexico real estate; if you read something on our blog and you have a question about more details, go ahead and leave your question in the comment box!  Even if you have a question that’s not related to the blog post, feel free to leave your question in the comment box.  We will answer your question ASAP, using our years of combined expert experience in the industry, sending the answer directly to your e-mail to get it to you more directly and quickly.

Your leading source for information!

If we cannot answer your question, we will do our best to put you in contact with an expert in the appropriate area of expertise.

Just this Monday (May 7) a soon-to-be owner who had been seeking information for a month and a half left the following comment/question in our comment box:

I have the opportunity to buy 50% into a house located in Sonora MX. Can I be added onto the existing bank trust as a primary beneficiary and reflect 50% ownership? The trust expires in 3 years and my intent is to buy out the remainder ownership and establish a new bank trust in my name only.  I have been looking for legal help for advice and to assist with this process. No luck so far. Can you help with both of my questions?

Within the day, our editor responded and forwarded the question to one of the experts on our team, Bjoern Koch, who, on the same day, replied with this information:

While I cannot give you any legal advice, based on my experiences with Bank Trust here in Mexico I can give you my opinion. If the property is held in just an individual name you can ask for an assignment of trust or trust modification. However adding you as a main beneficiary of the Trust will also mean creating a new trust agreement as the terms have now changed and therefore you will need to go through the entire closing process of establishing a new trust.

You should consult with an attorney on this, but when I have been asked the same question in the past this was my answer which later has been verified by legal counsel.

The soon-to-be buyer was delighted that finally TOPMexicoRealEstate was the only place that could offer an opinion and direction on this issue:

Thank you for the quick response. It has taken 1 1/2 months just to get this information. No one else would even give some sort of direction. This information has helped greatly.

The buyer now has a sense of direction, known what next steps he will take!

You as a reader can take two important points away here; one is the steps involved in changing a bank trust for partial ownership, and the other is: when you need clear, reliable information quickly on buying real estate in Mexico safely, you know who to ask! Remember:

OUR EXPERIENCE; thousands of Property transactions & years of assignments in Mexico AT WORK, PROTECTING YOUR INTERESTS

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

While Mexico real estate buyers and even many expats already living in Mexico don’t pay much attention to Mexico’s elections, federal policies can have an important role in shaping various aspects of lifestyle for Americans and Canadians living here.

For example, the policies of the PAN (National Action Party) – have been largely credited with Mexico’s economic growth over the past decade during the presidency’s of Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon.  During this time, Mexico has become the world leader in new highway infrastructure, opening access to many new areas for expats to travel to and even live in on a very low budget, and telecommunications such as excellent cellphone coverage, high-speed internet and wireless networks have become commonplace.

At the same time, the drug related conflicts that harmed various pockets in the north of the country have been a central issue in this year’s presidential debates.  President Calderon’s (PAN) policy of war on drugs has led to escalated conflicts; some criticize his policy as creating unnecessary violence, others hail it as a decisive and firm stand that will end the power of drug lords bringing better long-term results in the future.

While favorite expat areas, such as Playa del Carmen real estate and the entire Yucatan Peninsula, are largely free of this kind of violence, these conflicts remain one of the first questions that soon-to-be expats will (justifiably) ask.  The policy of Mexico’s next president – to be elected in July – on this and economic policies will be important for how Americans and Canadians feel about making this country their new home, and for those interested mostly in investment.

Results Mixed After Big Debate

As the election date of July 1 draws near, however, Mexican polls show mixed results of who is currently the country’s favorite candidate.  This week brought an important landmark with a televised debate from the 4 presidential candidates.

Reuters, among other sources, has cited poll results giving a clear lead to one candidate, with a breakdown as follows:

Enrique Pena Nieto

Enrique Pena Nieto – According the poll cited by Reuters, Pena Nieto “retains a clear lead” with 36.3 percent favoring him as the next president, nearly 13 percent above his nearest rival. Pena Nieto is the candidate of the Institutional Revolution Party (PRI), which held the presidency from the end of the Mexican Revolution a bit less than a century ago until Vicente Fox (PAN) was elected president in 2000.  The party still holds largely unrivaled support in the country’s rural areas.  Pena Nieto was the most recent governor of the state of Mexico, which is surrounds the capital district of Mexico City and is largely covered by its suburbs.  During his time as governor, he had a large number of modern new highways built in the state.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador – Lopez Obrador is the candidate for the leftist PRD (Democratic Revolution Party); he came in a very close second place in the 2006 election – so close, that he and his supporters spent several months claiming he was the real winner of the election, shutting down an important street in Mexico City with a camp-out protest.  Investors generally feel that his hard-left policies would hurt the country’s economy and possibly slow down Mexico’s rapid modernization, yet he has fairly strong support especially in the country’s very large low-income urban population.  The same poll from Reuters put him at second place with 23.4 percent, well behind Pena Nieto.

Josefina Vazquez Mota

Josefina Vazquez Mota – Almost neck-in-neck with Lopez Obrador is Vazquez Mota, the candidate for the conservative National Action Party (PAN) – the same party as Mexico’s current President Felipe Calderon. She has 22 percent support according the poll.  Yet, most polls have put her ahead of Lopez Obrador.

Gabriel Quadri – Quadri is the candidate of the relatively new and small New Alliance Party, which has strong ties to the country’s teachers’ union.   He shows low popularity at around 2 percent.  Yet a different poll showed that a very high number of viewers – 18 percent – felt he performed best in the May 6th debate.  Other polls place his support for president as high as 10 percent, but in all cases, he is the least popular of the 4.

In contrast to this very clear lead in the polls cited by Reuters, one popular and fairly reliable election website (www.eleccion2012mexico.com) indicates a virtual three way tie between the main candidates, as follows:

• Pena Nieto (PRI, frontrunner according to Reuters) – 32%
• Lopez Obrador (PRD, leftist party) – 32%
• Vazquez Mota (PAN, same party as current president Calderon) – 33%

Graph showing polls from www.eleccion2012mexico.com

Results from polls over time, showing change in popularity

While most polls tend to show that there support is strongest for Pena Nieto, results are still too varied to predict with a great deal of confidence.  As the election date of July 1 draws nearer and further results turn up, we will continue to post updates.

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

Buyers interested in investing into Mexico real estate can see a good sign in today’s news that the Mexican stock exchange has set a record; for the first time in history, the main price index (IPC – “Indice de Precios y Cotizaciones”) rose above the level of 40,000 points!  The rise is a good indicator for the strength of the Mexican economy which has been performing very well over the past decade, and can give confidence to a variety of investors, including those buying Mexico homes for sale.

The Mexico Stock Exchange (courtesy of Wikipedia)

Today’s rise in the Mexican Stock Exchange was shaped by substantial gains for America Movil (AMX) which is Latin America’s leader in telecommunications and owns the highly successful Telcel cellphone brand, headed by billionaire Carlos Slim, currently the richest man in the world.  America Movil is worth 43% of the IPC and rose a +4.9%.

This performance sheds important light on two points of interest for real estate buyers.  One is that the Mexican economy is continuing to perform well.  This means investment will continue into the country’s infrastructure, such as highways and airports – areas in which Mexico has excelled over recent years. Large international retailers such as Walmart also continue to invest in the country’s growing economy offering expat residents better access to international goods and services on the same level as they are used to from back home.

Carlos Slim, the World's Richest Man, Head of America Movil

Another important point is that Mexico’s infrastructure and economy for communications technology continues to grow.  In a country where regular telephone service wasn’t a guarantee that long ago, broad-reaching cellphone network coverage, excellent cell phone plans with free smart phones, high-speed internet and high-quality wireless connections (often free in public spaces in a growing number of communities) are now common place.  Many of these benefits come as a result of the growth and success of America Movil’s Telcel brand, and things look promising that Mexico is going to keep moving in this direction.

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

One of the many reasons people buy Mexico real estate is to witness and even participate in the country’s rich history and traditions. Cozumel real estate owners are among those with the unique balance of being a modern tourist destination which also preserves its age-old traditions.

Just recently, on May 3, Cozumel finished the celebration of its “Cabeza de Cochino” festivities (“Pig’s Head” in English.) At the festivities, warm conviviality prevailed with the hundreds of families and residents of the El Cedral community who gathered to witness the traditional dance of the Pig’s Head, in the community’s main palapa (a traditional thatched-roof structure.)

Residents and Visitors Celebrate

The festival is very traditional, yet it is becoming increasingly popular; this year the governor of the state of Quintana Roo (which includes Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum as well) attended with family members and other dignitaries.

“It’s a big party involving all residents of the island” explained the governor, emphasizing the family-oriented nature of the festivities.  “Above all it is important to promote Cozumel’s cultural tradition. This is a traditional family holiday and so we have to keep it, so we will continue doing so.”

As with most celebrations in Mexico, there is a religious angle, combining Christian festivities with local and often pre-hispanic traditions.  On the most important night of the fair, the Day of the Holy Cross, about 92 families participated in traditional dances, with women dressed in evening dresses for the occasion and men with Mayan-style pants and white guayabera shirts, very traditional to the Yucatan Peninsula.  Of course, music was a very important part of the festivities!

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

The list of nominees for the World Travel Awards 2012 was recently released and – no surprise to those of us who live here – Tulum and its beautiful beaches is among them! Besides the fact that shows future Tulum real estate buyers the quality of the beaches this town offers, this kind of publicity also offers other benefits for buyers who invest in the near future.

The beautiful beaches of Tulum

This year, the World Travel Awards, known as the “Oscars of Tourism ” sees nominations such as Bocas Del Toro in Panama, Jaco Beach in Costa Rica, Plasencia Belize in Belize, Playa Santo Domingo in Nicaragua, Roatan Bay Islands in Honduras, West Bay Beach Roatan in Honduras and as well as the beaches of Cancun just down the road from Tulum.

Tulum’s beaches are one of the world’s best kept secrets so far; while those who have seen them in person will swear by them, they are just being more fully discovered by the world of international tourism in recent years.  As this discovery has happened, they have been suddenly showing up in very high international rankings.  Just last year, Tulum ranked #3 worldwide in TripAdvisor’s “Travellers’ Choice” awards.

As Tulum gets noticed more by rankings like these, it will continue to gain more attention from international tourists as well as those interested in real estate.  This is good news for anyone who invests in properties in Tulum in the near future; prices are still lower and the best locations near the beach are just opening up.

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

One of the main draws for those who buy Yucatan real estate and make this warm-weather paradise their home is the colonial charm that the area offers.  Besides the possibility of owning a beautiful colonial home, there are many nearby sites to visit including beautiful colonial towns and haciendas, the old estates of the former upper class.

These places offer a mixture of culture, cuisine and Yucatan flavor which enchant all your senses. Besides the romance of living in a colonial city like Merida, Valladolid, Izamal and other towns are magical places.

Merida, the charming "White City"

MERIDA

If you live in Yucatan, Merida is likely the place you will live, and thus the starting point for your adventures and discoveries. For near 500 years, the “White City” has served as the political, business and cultural center of the Yucatan Peninsula, and a starting point for exploration of the Mayan world. Founded in 1542 on the ancient Mayan city of Tho, in colonial times it became the seat of Spanish government in the Peninsula. Now with museums, parks, markets and outdoor cafes, Merida is fascinating and cosmopolitan. It has slightly more than 830,000 inhabitants, mostly descendants of Spanish and Mayan.  Mayan can still be heard as a common conversational language in the streets.  On Paseo Montejo, for example, you can find restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes, banks and businesses that offer all amenities.

Throughout the week there is a varied calendar of cultural and entertainment, including musical memories, dances, concerts and serenades  - all deeply rooted in the traditions of Yucatan – in major parks and public spaces.  Many of the activities are free.  The city is an ideal place to get around riding a bike.

Valladolid's Town Square and Church

VALLADOLID

This picturesque city has very quaint and beautiful neighborhoods. It is located 160 kilometers east of Merida, heading to Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and 25 miles from the majestic Chichen Itza.

Valladolid has played a central role in two major events in the history of Mexico: the Caste War in 1847 and the first spark of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. It is now known as the capital of the East Mayans, a title deserved by the architectural beauty of its ancient colonial buildings like the Convent of San Bernardino de Siena, from the sixteenth century, and the Cathedral of St. Servatius, in the baroque style of the early eighteenth century, the Old Town Hall, the Churches of San Juan de Dios, Santa Ana, San Roque, Santa Lucia, La Candelaria, The Loom and the Central Park.

Izamal's Beautiful Hacienda

IZAMAL

This town has been an important center since before the Spanish Conquest, existing as a Mayan ceremonial center; according to some scholars, it was founded in the fourteenth century by the Mayan priest Zamna.

Located right in the middle of the peninsula, 45 miles from Merida and 40 miles from Chichen Itza, Izamal is called the City of Three Cultures because it thrived during three historical periods, which are expressed with their pyramid, the courtyards of the homes, their convents, whose charm comes from the silence of the majestic walls that marked forever the trace of Spanish influence, and its streets, buildings, squares, houses and churches, all with a harmonious visual rhythm of one color: yellow.

Thanks to its historical and cultural significance, Izamal was declared Mexico’s first “Magical Town” in 2001 (a special designation given to towns which preserve history and culture in way most accessible to visitors), which has enabled it establish itself as a cultural tourist destination par excellence, besides offering quality products and services.

The town’s most significant festival is that of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception from 7 to 13 December.

The Hacienda of Temezon - Now a Beautiful Hotel

SOUTH TEMOZON

Temozon is 35 minutes from the Merida International Airport. Rooms and suites are located in the original hacienda building, which was completely restored and adapted to the needs of a beautiful hotel. Each room is named after their original function – for example, pharmacy, school, the kitchen. All rooms have a hammock to allow guests to sleep in the Mayan style. The interior decoration style is from two centuries back – a time of greater prosperity for the plantations and haciendas.

Living in Merida or other parts of Yucatan, you can enjoy the discovery of these and many other beautiful colonial gems!

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

Currently, the development team of the Group of 20 (G20) is meeting in Los Cabos, to define the results in development that will be presented to the Heads of State and Government attending Summit in June of this year, especially the priority areas proposed by Mexico, like the inclusive green growth, food, security and infrastructure, among others. While important issues are being discussed at the meeting, the choice of location also points to some benefits for Cabo real estate buyers.

G20 Representatives

The choice of Los Cabos for this kind of meeting indicates a very high level of security, which is often a concern for Americans and Canadians choosing to live in Mexico; this fact shows that the overblown news reports and the impression they give of insecurity are not justified.  It also indicates a high level of development, showing that Los Cabos offers the best of modern services.  Any American or Canadian who already lives here will be able to vouch for this fact very easily; life in Cabo is modern and comfortable, while still being so much more relaxing.

As for the meeting itself, topics for discussion include social protection, private investment, job creation, human resource development and trade. In terms of green growth, the group will move forward in the definition of a guide or platform of good practices for developing countries. In food security it continues to work toward an agreement on cooperation to strengthen the competitiveness of small farmers in developing countries.

This is the third time that the Working Group on Development (GTD) is meeting.  The group is being includes representatives from the European Community countries and the G20 members, as well as participation from international organizations including United Nations, World Bank, the Bank African Development Bank, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Similarly, guest countries participating include Chile, Colombia, Sweden, Benin, Cambodia, the latter two representing the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), respectively.

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

Tacos al Pastor

Everyone knows that Mexico’s food is excellent.  What most people are less familiar with is the broad variety of food traditions that differ between the regions of the country, and the other benefits that those living in Mexico gain from the food here; food is certainly one of the many great reasons to choose to buy Mexico real estate and live in this beautiful country.  The following are the factors that make food in Mexico such an important factor.

The Flavor – Everyone knows the Mexican flavor to some extent; some even know the full enjoyment of authentic Mexican food in its best form.  Whether it’s tasty tamales or the rich, spicy sauce known as “mole,” (pronounced moe–lay) Mexican food is something very unique, offering a perfect combination of flavors like cumin, cilantro, oregano and tomatoes.   Believe me, if you’ve had great Mexican food in the U.S. or Canada, it only gets better in Mexico.

The Variety – One of the reasons why Mexican food is better in Mexico is because of the

Pan de Muerto - Special bread for "Day of the Dead"

variety of styles that exist throughout the country.  For example, those who choose a market like Morelia real estate, and live in the central area of the country will enjoy the traditional triple-t’s – tacos, tamales and tortas (a type of sandwich full of meat, cheese, avocado and various vegies) – as well as other regional traditions like a delicious corn soup called pozole.

Those who buy Yucatan real estate will enjoy quite a different food tradition which has been shaped by the area’s Mayan heritage, such as papadzules, similar to enchiladas, but filled with boiled eggs and covered with a pumpkin seed sauce.

Those who prefer beachfront locations like Playa del Carmen real estate will enjoy a combination of foods from around the country, but with seafood specialties like “ceviche” which is like a seafood salad, not to mention to very well-priced freshly caught local fish.

Mole sauce and chicken

Health – While tamales and tacos may be the last kind of food you associate with healthy eating, in one important sense it actually turns out to be much easier to eat healthy in Mexico than in most parts of the U.S. or Canada.  One reason for this is the access to great seafood already mentioned.  The other reason is that locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables are available all year round at excellent prices.  Even cheap and easy “street food” includes large cups full of cut fruit, smoothies and 100% natural, freshly prepared fruit juices.

While I do have to warn you that Mexican “fast food” (tacos, etc.) and baked goods are so tasty, so omnipresent and so cheap that it’s hard to resist, it’s nevertheless much easier to live healthy with less self-discipline since there are so many good, healthy and tasty options so easily available everywhere that are also cheap.  This leads to the last point …

Savings – As mentioned already, food in Mexico is very well priced.  Whether you are the kind of expat that would shop at Walmart or go to the local market and small shops, you will find that your weekly grocery bill is much smaller than it would be in the U.S. or Canada, even when you treat yourself to something special.

So, if you like the great flavor of Mexican food, variety of styles and new things to try, healthy living and eating well on a low budget, those at least 4 excellent reasons to consider moving down here (if you don’t already live here.)

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

AMPI - Mexico's Professional Real Estate Association

Mexico Real Estate Update ………….

From The Settlement Company®

Welcome to our first Quarter newsletter for La Paz real estate and the rest of Mexico in 2012. We are off to a slow start this year in the Tourism and Real Estate Sectors. Mexico, in large part due to industrial activity, is riding out the global economic crisis. The real estate market in the tourist zone remains soft, but there are some a few bright spots and REALTORS® are entering the year with cautious optimism. The global economic crisis and the misleading and sometimes inaccurate reports emanating from the U.S. are not helping us. One Puerto Vallarta real estate company Tropicasa is pushing back. The company is running full page advertisement in Vallarta Lifestyles.  The advertisements   “Travel Advisory: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico” poke fun at the alerts.

Mexico Pushes Back Against Texas and U.S.Travel Alerts

The Governor of Quintana Roo and the Mayor of Los Cabos, B.C.S. have energetically rejected the claim of the State of Texas that Cancun and Los Cabos are not safe destinations for Spring Breakers. Both agreed that the warning is absurd, frivolous and without fact.

Meanwhile, at the national level, the President of the Mexican Hotel Association has lashed out against Travel Warnings that are sometimes inaccurate if not false. Speaking at the annual hotel convention in Irapuato, Guanajuato Fernando Olivera had this to say on the subject. “It is unfair that the United States spends more than $250 million to lure Mexican tourists to the U.S. while belittling Mexico. Perhaps the income from Mexican tourists is one way to help combat the economic crisis of the country to the North.””

AMPI and NAR Renew Working Agreement

The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) and the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) have renewed their working relationship and affiliation.

Below are some of the key points outlined in the agreement:

·         AMPI will prepare a marketing program and will encourage its members to become members of NAR’s International Section.

·         NAR will promote AMPI international memberships to its members, particularly those in the border and tourist areas. Marketing to NAR members will include active and on-going promotions to Certified International Property Specialists, (CIPS) and the International Real Estate Federation(FIABCI)

·         AMPI to hold a CIPS Institute in Mexico City in July and NAR/AMPI will work to identify current AMPI-CIPS designees who could monitor the course and become certified as instructors.

·         NAR to promote participation in the Tourism Symposium in San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato in late September, 2012 and AMPI trade missions for Texas Realtors®t in Cozumel, Quintana Roo, as well as the Annual AMPI Conference to be held in Guadalajara, November 1-3

·         Any AMPI Broker office with 100% membership in the NAR International Section shall have the right to use the NAR logos in its office windows and advertising.

AMPI has 79 Sections spread across the Republic. The National Association of Realtors® is the largest trade organization in the United Sates with more than one million members.

Commenting on the initiative, Jennifer Wiziarde Manger of NAR’s Global Network said, “We are pleased to have Mexico as one of the sixty countries (eighty organizations) connected to NAR. Our members and AMPI members work with professionals across the globe who share a common code of ethics.”

Mexican Housing Industry Predicted to Remain Stable

Ariel Cano Cuevas is the Director General of Vivienda, Mexico’s national housing agency. He delivered the key note speech at the recent Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) Toma de Protesta (Inauguration) in Mexico City. During the presentation he announced new initiatives for two social housing agencies, INFONAVIT and FOVISSTE. He concluded his remarks by predicting the housing industry in this country will remain strong throughout 2012.

Sharing the Presidium with Ariel were;  Adan Laracilla from Pueblo, outgoing President of AMPI, Sergio Gomez  Rabago, AMPI’s new President from the State of Mexico, Guillermo Salgado AMPI’s new Vice President from Cuernavaca ,Alfredo Rabell Manaon, Supervisor of Mortgages for INFONAVIT, Javier Gonzalez Rubio, Director General of FONATUR ( the economic arm of Mexico’s tourism industry) and Joao Teadora de Silva. Joao is President of Brazil’s Federal Council of Real Estate Agents.

Several real estate officials from outside Mexico attended the event.  These included Joao Teadora da Silva, Katia Cubel,  Frederico Mendonca, Jucelia Silva and Marta Mendonca all from Brazil.  Among U.S. representatives at the TOMA were, Jennifer Wiziarde, Coordinator for Latin America for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and Alston Boyd, who came from Austin, Texas. He is the International Chair of the Texas Association of Realtors, and is also NAR’s Presidential Liaison for Central America. Thijs Stoffer, C.E.O. of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, came from Switzerland to attend the TOMA.

Ariel Cano Cuevas officiated at the Inauguration ceremony. Those being sworn in were AMPI’s new President, Vice President, and ten new members of AMPI’s National Advisory Board. Linda Neil of AMPI La Paz/Los Cabos was among those taking the oath. She will head up AMPI’s International Commission. As well she has been named NAR’s Presidential Liaison to Mexico. John Glaab of AMPI La Paz has been appointed Sub-Director of AMPI’s Seniors Real Estate Section (SRE) program.

Other events during the week included a breakfast of Past Presidents and a one day leadership class. Attending were members of the Advisory Council, Regional Coordinators and the Presidents of AMPI’s 75 Sections.

AMPI’s forty first Annual Conference will be held in Guadalajara from October 30th to November 3rd. One full day of meetings will be in Tequila, Jalisco.

Consistent Growth in Mexico’s Auto Industry

Mexico’s Auto manufacturing industry continues to grow. Mexico has become one of the world’s leaders for production of automobiles. . Adding to this is the announcement last week b the Audi division of Volkswagen. A new plant in Mexico is scheduled to open in 2015 according to the German newspaper Der Spiegel. Final detailed plans will be announced at a meeting in Mexico City on April 18. The first product to be manufacture in this country will be the all terrain vehicle Q5. AUDI in making the announcement recognized the high level of productivity in the Mexican auto industry and its marketing ability as a NAFTA country.

News From Baja California Sur

Historic Number of Whales Born in B.C.S.: During the past five years more than 3, 553 whales have been born in the lagoons and coastal waters of Baja California Sur. Commenting on this, Marco Antonio Gonzalez Vizcarra, local delegate for the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources had this to say,” The Mexican waters and the ecosystems of the Gulf of California provides a safe   and friendly environment for the reproduction of the species. (Grey whale.)

Preparations are well under way for the G-20 Economic Summit I Cabo this June. Hilary Clinton and other Chancellors met at a planning meeting in Cabo San Lucas during March. Work on the new Intentional Conference Center named after Hotel and fishing fleet pioneer Luis Bulnes is underway 24/7 . A new bypass road is being constructed from the airport in San Jose to the new international conventions center.  Rentals in Hotels and condominiums have been brisk. A corps of media from around the world will cover the Summit. It is sure to have a positive impact on the Los Cabos and San Jose economy.

New Boutique hotel for La Paz…. Our Mayor, Esthela Ponce Beltran, laid the “la primera piedra” (corner stone) last week for the new boutique hotel, to be called Hotel  La Posada. Among other dignitaries attending this event were Ruben Reachi Lugo, Secretary of Tourism for B.C.S. and Carlos Estrada Talamantes. His company DECOPE will construct the new facility. Carlos and his company are well known for their social and economic contributions to Baja California Sur.

The new hotel will be located on the property that for many years was Posada Humperdinck. It was a favourite gathering place for locals and tourists, to gather to watch the sunset, with a cocktail.

There will be 24 Master Suites of 110 square meters, a restaurant, bar, spa, gymnasium and swimming pool. Mayor Ponce said, “It will be a site for use by all Pacenos. The hotel will be an additional piece of infrastructure for our tourism industry. I congratulate the investors.” The investment group is headed by Julio Bonis Alvarez.

Strong surge in remittances

Mexicans living in the United States are increasing the amount of money they send home in the fastest pace in a year boosting the outlook for the world’s best performing major currency. Remittances jumped 19 percent in February, the biggest monthly increase since March 2011. To US$ 1.79 billion, the central bank said April 2. The peso has surged 8.5 % this year the most among the major currencies tracked by Bloomberg. According to Alberto Ramos a  Latin American economist at Goldman Sachs, Remittances which totaled  US$ 22.9 billion in 2011 are Mexico’s third largest  saucer of foreign income after automobile and oil exports, the nation’s mining chamber said in a March report.

ALERT FROM THE MEXICAN NAFTA TEAM

NAFTA works is the newsletter published by the Mexican NAFTA team in Washington, D.C. Below is an important message from the team.

April 2012, Volume 4, Alert 6
Important Alert
In accordance with article 41 of the Mexican Constitution, during election campaign periods and up to the conclusion of the election period, dissemination of information of government information in public media must be suspended. Therefore, from March 30th through July 1st, 2012, the NAFTA Works® monthly publication will be suspended, including access to previous volumes due to the fact that they may contain programs, actions or achievements of the current Administration.

NAFTA Works volumes for April, May and June of 2012 will be issued on a weekly basis during the month of July.

Mexico’s High Tech Industry is Flying High

Pounce Electronics has announced that it will construct a new manufacturing facility in Morelia Michoacan.  It will be located in the Information Technology Cluster adjacent to Tres Marias a new “city” that has been constructed in suburban Morelia. Tres Marias is a project with new homes, building lots, condominiums, a PGA type golf course, equestrian center, other athletic facilities, and a  spa.

Pounce will manufacture “chips” for use in the automotive, telephone industries and hospitals.

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

In Mexico, tourism and religion have had a long history of overlapping in various forms.  A recent congress for “religious tourism” in Cancun has drawn some attention to how these may be important for Mexico real estate buyers.

Campeche's Cathedral, on the Yucatan Peninsula

First of all, “religious tourism” has a very broad scope, covering two main types of travelers.  One is trips made as for primarily religious reasons to shrines of international importance, such as the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where, according to Mexican tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to the native Juan Diego shortly after the Spanish Conquest, or to the “Cerro de Cubilete” the hill with the large statue of Jesus on top, where the Pope recently gave a sermon.

However, religious tourism in Mexico is also much broader, including people who visit cathedrals, churches, convents, shrines, pyramids and other sites of present or past religious importance for reasons of pure interest in seeing the sights and learning about history and culture, apart from religious beliefs.  This kind of interest presents a fairly strong appeal to expats who choose to buy in markets such as Yucatan real estate, or also Morelia in central Mexico, where they experience direct contact with this kind of history on a daily basis.

The Virgin of Guadalupe, a common image in Mexico

Another point of interest in the same congress was the role of religious leaders in promoting responsible tourism; several Mexican religious leaders at the congress voiced their support for sustainability in tourism regions like Mexico.  Such advocacy of responsible tourism can benefit markets like Playa del Carmen real estate, where buyers  appreciate the value of the natural beauty, such as the coral reef and cenotes.

The congress brought together over 200 participants from over 40 countries.

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

It looks like in the future there could be a new time zone for owners of Playa del Carmen real estate, which would include the entire state of Quintana Roo, also affecting Cancun real estate and Tulum real estate owners, as well as a number of other destinations in the state.

North America's Current Time Zones

This last Tuesday (April 24, 2012) the Mexican senate approved the creation of the new time zone.  Currently, like most of Mexico, Playa del Carmen and then entire state of Quintana Roo belong to the Central Time Zone, meaning that the time in the area lines up with cities like Dallas or Winnipeg (except for a couple of weeks in the spring and fall since Daylight Savings Time begins later.)

With the new proposed time zone, the entire state would belong to the Eastern Time Zone, lining up with cities such as Miami, New York, Detroit, Toronto and Montreal.

The proposed change is being justified for two reasons; one is that it would offer a later sunrise and sunset, giving tourists a greater opportunity to enjoy the sunshine which draws most people to the area.  Proponents say this would make the area even more competitive with Caribbean Islands for both vacationers and expats.

This same point would reduce energy usage during the evening since less lighting would be necessary in the hours after the (later) sunset time.  It would also (according to senators) promote a greater number and variety of recreational activities in the evening, which is ideal for an economy based on tourism.

The other reason is that it makes Cancun International Airport, the main access point for the region, coincide with a greater number of major airports in the United States (22) and Canada (8), again being more attractive to a greater number of travelers.

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

I always get people calling me up or sending e-mails asking for something very nice and very affordable.  While I could pick out a few great options that match this description in Playa del Carmen, perhaps my favorite for 2012 has been Awa condos.

A rendering of the complex front

Let’s take a look at why Awa meets the “very nice” description:

• It’s near the beach
• The complex will be beautiful
• The units will be spacious and well-designed
• The gated community is upscale
• The developer is experienced in making nice, low-priced condos
  

The Beachfront near Awa Condos

And affordable?

Well the condos start at only $135,000 USD; besides being affordable in the absolute sense, they are also the best price per square foot currently available in the Playa del Carmen area, since the units are also comfortably spacious.

The pool and common area

Take a look at our page for Awa condos or contact us for more info.

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

Puerto Aventuras is a very nice gated community, with tree-lined streets, 3 marinas and a golf course just 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen.  With a number of restaurants, shops, a mall and even a church and a school, the community feels more like a small town than a gated residence.

The beachfront at Puerto Aventuras

We’ve realized that buyers like Puerto Aventuras real estate a lot; it most certainly holds a very unique and high appeal.  For this reason, we’ve recently given it its own listing page here on our TOPMexico website for your convenience.  While the community is definitely upscale, nice and comfortable, it offers properties of all types for all price ranges and a variety of lifestyles.  We’ve picked a selection of 4 properties that gives a little taste of the range of possibilities.

1. Golf Course Lot – $87,000 USD

A lot like this, located right on the golf course in one of the Riviera Maya’s most prestigious communities not only points to a great lifestyle, but also a great investment!

A satellite view of the lots location on the golf course

See our Puerto Aventuras property detail for this lot for more information.

2. Luxury Condos with Golf, Marina and Ocean views – $145,000 USD

These beautiful condos in a very nice complex have a surprisingly accessible price; the marina, golf and beachfront are not only within sight, but also within walking or biking distance.

A view of the pool and common area at night

See our Puerto Aventuras property detail for this condo for more information.

3. Oceanfront Condo – $269,000 USD

In this condo, you’re right on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches; I need not say more – just check out this view:

The view of the beach and ocean from these condos

See our Puerto Aventuras property detail for this condo for more information.

4. Casa Daniela – $495,000 USD

A very spacious, 4-bedroom home with 3 bathrooms on a large lot (480 m2 / approx. 5000 sq. ft.) and much more:

A view of this large, beautiful home

See our Puerto Aventuras property detail for this home for more information.

Again, this is just a glimpse of what’s available.  Take a look at our new Puerto Aventuras real estate page for more, or feel free to contact us.

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

Just talking to buyers over the past few years, I’ve put together a little list of the top 10 reasons to buy Mexico real estate.  Take a look.  Which ones would be your reasons to buy real estate and live in Mexico?

Warm Weather - Mexico has a wide variety of climates, but in most places even “winter” is comfortable for wearing shorts and sandals. Some of the central hill regions are cool enough for sweaters and a fire in the fireplace.  You can choose. (Snow isn’t on the menu …)

Mexico's Beautiful Beaches

Beautiful Beaches – Mexico has thousands of miles of coastline, and many of these are defined by absolutely beautiful beaches, including the white, soft sand and aqua-turquoise water of the Caribbean beaches around Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Low Cost of Real Estate – Buying a nice home near the beach, on a golf course in another great location here isn’t just a luxury for the rich.

Low Cost of Living – The expenses of living here are much less than in the U.S. or Canada.  This allows you to enjoy life more.

Modern Services – Mexico has modernized considerably over the past two decades; there are now international stores like Walmart, world-class hospitals, professional golf courses, etc.

Close to Home – Mexico is only 2-5 hours away by plane.  Flights are also very well priced.

Warm, Friendly Culture – Mexico’s people are very friendly and welcoming to expats.  They also like to celebrate – a lot!  Colorful festivities, music and artwork are a part of day to day life.

Mexico Real Estate is always close to nature - Puerto Vallarta

Beautiful Nature – Mexico’s nature ranges from vast deserts, to majestic mountains to subtropical jungle.  All of it is absolutely beautiful.

Lots of History – Mexico is full of ancient pyramids, colonial cities, historic sites, museums and much more.  Those who love history love Mexico.

Health – While Mexico has a (well-earned) reputation for fried meat, greasy tacos and tasty tamales; yet, it’s surprising how easy it is to eat healthy here.  Fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as fish caught the same day, are easily found in many places, and very well priced.  Warm weather makes it easy to be outside and active without thinking about it as “exercise.”  Most expats find that they’re healthier in Mexico quite effortlessly.

Which reasons would you choose for buying real estate and living in Mexico?  Would you add any reasons?  Let us know in the comment box!

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