You’ve found the perfect place to purchase in Bahía de Banderas. Now, meet your Notario. Although the translation of “Notario” is “notary public,” the Notario in Latin American countries has a very different role than the notary in the United States or Canada, who authorizes signatures. The Mexican Notario is an attorney, at least 35 [...]

That beautiful home or condo on the bay is now yours, and you’re planning to enjoy more time in Vallarta. Not meant as a dire prediction, but a practical approach, you may need to spend some time in a lawyer’s office in Mexico, as well. The contracts for that new business, the will for certain [...]

Mortgage financing is now available in Mexico, although it is just being introduced and still working through growing pains. Purchase-only financing is available (no remodelation loans) for single family residences and condos with a 20-year mortgage (25 & 30 year amortization loans are on the way) with a four-year fixed loan rate. Rates vary but [...]

The coveted coastline of Mexico, now available for foreign investment, is experiencing a luxury development boom. The well kept secrets of Pacific Mexico’s dramatic cliffs, coves and sand have long attracted the Blue blooded and Hollywood set looking for a quiet escape. Since opening up to foreign investment, Mexico has seen an explosion in luxury [...]

Plunging into Baja Leading the charge south of the border, Southland buyers are snatching up bargain-priced retirement or second homes on the beach. By Ann Brenoff, Times Staff WriterOctober 22, 2006 THE trick to buying a home in Mexico, say those who have done it, is to not leave your brain at the border. The [...]

Gringos turn tide crossing borderBoomer retirees invading Mexico Mike DavisSunday, October 15, 2006 The visitor crossing from Tijuana to San Diego these days is immediately slapped in the face by a huge billboard screaming, “Stop the Border Invasion!” Sponsored by an rabidly anti-immigrant vigilante group, the Minutemen, the same truculent slogan reportedly insults the public [...]

MEXICO CITY, Oct 13 (Reuters) – Three consortiums have submitted bids to build a new Mexican hydroelectric dam called La Yesca, one of the largest projects launched during outgoing President Vicente Fox’s six-year term. The consortiums are led by Mexico’s ICA (ICA.MX: Quote, Profile, Research)(ICA.N: Quote, Profile, Research), Italy’s Impregilo (IPGI.MI: Quote, Profile, Research), and [...]

DESTINATION MEXICOMEXICO BRIEFINGCozumel rebuilds, new ports sought Almost a year after Hurricane Wilma destroyed or heavily damaged the two piers that handled most of Cozumel’s cruise ship traffic, both are still months away from being reopened. The Punta Langosta pier near San Miguel, Cozumel’s only city, might be open by the end of the year, [...]

Other activities beckon besides surfingSayulita, Mexico From the far southern longboard breaks of Punta Mita to the beach-breaking tubes at San Pancho to the boat-accessed reefs of Chacala, Nayarit delivers consistent, warm-water surf for all levels. It is renowned as one of the best surf coasts on the planet. Sayulita offers a great right break [...]

Finance North America Makes it Possible to Pull Equity From Property in Mexico SAN DIEGO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ — Even as Mexico’s real estate marketheats up, long-time owners throughout the country are discovering a hiddengoldmine in the form of equity in their homes and land there. As recently as last year, the primary way of [...]

Travel Insiders Reveal Early Indicators for Fall Travel and Beyond; Travelocity Summer Data Analysis Confirms Record Fares While Offering a Sneak Peek at Consumer Behaviors for the Holidays SOUTHLAKE, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sept. 21, 2006–Following a record-high summer travel season, Travelocity forecasts more busy skies and full rooms ahead for the holidays. The latest travel data analysis [...]

What a boomer wants Housing, community trends emerge for baby boomer generation By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch Last Update: 7:49 PM ET Sep 14, 2006 CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — The country’s more than 77 million baby boomers represent more than a quarter of the U.S. population and have a substantial build up of spending power. As more [...]

The world’s top “hideaways” The tribe of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report, a bible for luxury travelers, has spoken.Have you been to any of the hideaways highlighted in its 25th annual readers’ survey?Top U.S. city hotel: The Peninsula Beverly Hills, for the third time in the past five years. A lot of the credit has to [...]

CFE: 20 firms register for La Yesca hydro project Published: Tuesday, September 5, 2006 16:18 (GMT -0400) Mexico’s state power company CFE reported 20 firms have registered to build the US$800mn-1bn, 750MW La Yesca hydro project in Jalisco and Nayarit states. Federal procurement website Compranet shows the companies registered are: Mitsubishi; Isa Ingerniería; Gusta Infraestructura; [...]

El Banco – North Shore Boutique DevelopmentTim Koogle, former CEO of Yahoo! Inc. and current venture capitalist, first spotted El Banco while on his honeymoon in May 2003. He was so enchanted by the white sand beaches, rugged cliffs, and lush vegetation that he purchased El Banco, over 120 acres of pristine ocean-front property located [...]

August, 2006 – Real Estate News FONATUR Signs Up Spanish Developer – New Community Planned for Nuevo Vallarta – FIABCI World Congress – Punta Mita’s Four Seasons Resorts Golf Course Ranks #1 – Introducing Costa Vallarta Boutique Villas FONATUR Signs Up Spanish DeveloperThe Spanish group FADESA, who have been very active building hotels and condominium [...]

July, 2006 – Real Estate News Venegas Goes International! – Venegas Million-Dollar Sale #1 – Venegas Million-Dollar Sale #2 – Las Moras Starts Second Stage Venegas Goes International!Venegas Realty has changed its name to Venegas World Star Realty and is now part of the World Star Realty International Offices. The World Star Headquarters will be [...]

Mortgage Financing – Do your Homework! Just like the old days in California the Gold Rush is on again right here in Puerto Vallarta. This time the gold is real estate equity, of which there is an abundance here after 30 years of ‘all cash’ sales, scarce financing and burgeoning real estate development. Gold Rush [...]

June, 2006 – Real Estate News Playa Amor Gaining Momentum – El Banco Breaks Ground – Finally! St. Regis Resort, Punta Mita Breaks Ground – Silvergate Bank Expands Financing Options – La Vida Breaks Ground Playa Amor Gaining MomentumTriggered by the announcement of selling out of Tower 10, Playa Amor, situated on the North Shore [...]

Mortgage Financing Have you seen that perfect property on the bay, but you’re not quite prepared to cash in your US or Canadian investments to make it yours? Are you set to make the move to Puerto Vallarta, but just a bit shy of ready cash for a condo? Now you can stock up on [...]

In response to the many concerned calls and emails I have been getting over the past 24 hours concerning the Hurricane John that brushed to Pacific Coast of Mexico yesterday, I wanted to let you know that all is well – in fact the whole issue became a ‘non-event’ with little more than heavy clouds, [...]

Mexico draws land investors Money flows into coastal resort areas Foreign investment into Mexico is on track to hit $20 billion this year By EVELYN IRITANILos Angeles Times Real estate experts in Mexico worry that the giant sound they hear is the softening U.S. housing market sucking money Americans have poured into vacation homes south [...]

Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates Unveil 2006 Fall Travel Trends Survey: Las Vegas Comes Up Aces Again; Florida in Top Ten Multiple Times; and International Travel Rebound Continues Monday August 28, 12:14 pm ET European Vacations on Rise as Italy Leaps Up Survey; Overall Positive Travel Outlook MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ – While conventional wisdom suggests [...]

Mexican Resorts Show No Sign of Catching U.S. Housing’s Cold Despite worry, the flow of foreign money into vacation sites in Baja and elsewhere hasn’t slowed. By Evelyn Iritani, Times Staff WriterAugust 26, 2006 Real estate experts in Mexico worry that the giant sound they hear is the softening U.S. housing market sucking out the [...]

Mexico’s tourism industry nets $11.6B in six years (08/18/2006)By Jorge SidronPrivate investors have pumped about $11.6 billion into Mexico’s tourism industry in the last six years, exceeding goals set by the federal government for the same period by almost 30%, according to Sectur, Mexico’s ministry of tourism. In fact, the original tourism investment goal of [...]

Internet Gurus Swap Virtual for Real Estate High-flying Internet pioneers have traded online businesses for real estate opportunities, reports Forbes magazine.Here is what some of these former electronic high-flyers are doing now: Steve M. Case, former chairman of AOL Time Warner, is now the majority owner in Miravel, a spa in Arizona. Thomas Jermoluk, former [...]

Former Yahoo! Chairman Develops Land in Mexico Former Yahoo! Inc. Chairman and CEO Tim Koogle is developing 100 acres of oceanfront property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. El Banco will feature estate homes, beach villas, and a boutique hotel. Estate lots are priced from $4.75 million, and the 14 beach villas to be finished in late [...]

Real Estate Execs Look Abroad for Growth More than 61 percent of real estate executives plan to invest in property outside the United States this year, according to a study released last week. The Bryan Cave Real Estate Executives Forecast Survey polled 343 public and private real estate company executives, investors, opportunity funds, commercial mortgage [...]

Bella Vita Retreat – Lose Weight and Look Great on the Beaches of Mexico Bella Vita Retreat, known for their boot camp retreats, takes their signature programs, Beach Boot Camp and Bella Weight Loss Retreats to the beautiful sands of San Pancho, Mexico. Charleston, SC, August 08, 2006 –(PR.COM)– Bella Vita Retreat is heading straight [...]

Best Mexico beaches By The Associated Press NEW YORK — There’s 750 miles of coastline between Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo on Mexico’s West Coast, and along the way you’ll find everything from expensive resorts to hippie surf towns to quiet enclaves. The August issue of Conde Nast Traveler provides recommendations for lodging, dining, activities and [...]

Magnificent Mexico Our affordable, accessible neighbor to the south has something for all Published: Nov/Dec 2002By Susan Kaye Mexico has never looked better. It’s so easy to reach, with more flights having been added this year. Throughout Mexico, the vivacity of the people creates an instant Mi casa es su casa atmosphere. Add in the [...]

Golfers Buy New Combination of Vacation Home and Real Estate Investment Property What happens when you combine a golf vacation home with a luxury resort hotel, a condominium, and a real estate investment property in a sunny, tropical location like Miami, Florida or Fort Lauderdale, Florida where you can golf all year long? You get [...]

Americans buying up beachfront property in Mexico Web Posted: 06/15/2006 01:00 AM CDTAngela KochergaKENS 5 Border Bureau Mexico used to ban foreigners from owning oceanfront property, but now Americans can buy homes right on the beach, and that’s sparked a boom in once-remote regions. In the state of Nayarit, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, breath-taking beaches [...]

Americans buy into luxuryBy Adam Thomson Published: June 21 2006 03:00 Last updated: June 21 2006 03:00 Ever thought of living in a hot, dry climate where the sea laps gently against the sand and the sun turns the distant hills various shades of gold and amber every afternoon? For most of the rapidly retiring [...]

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TX-Looking to bridge the gap of misperceptions, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu took hundreds of investors across the border into Mexico in a webcast presentation focused on development trends and tax tips for investing south of the Rio Grande. The hot properties, as would be expected, are residential and hospitality, with beachfront development at [...]

The Mexican property market is gaining an advantage from the amount of inward investment coming into the country, according to a new report. Some $11.6 billion (£6.15 billion) of private investment in the country’s tourism sector has led to the property market in the country gaining a lot more exposure to overseas investors. The latest [...]

ST. REGIS HOTELS & RESORTS CONTINUES TO EXPAND GLOBALLY WITH SECOND NEW PROPERTY IN LATIN AMERICA WHITE PLAINS, NY – December 19, 2005 – Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today a joint venture agreement to build a new St. Regis Resort in Punta Mita, Mexico. Scheduled to open in late 2007, the [...]

Chicago, IL (OPENPRESS) July 29, 2006 — Exceeding US$11.6 billion, private investment in Mexico’s tourism sector has already surpassed federal goals for the 2001 to 2006 period by 29 percent, reports Sectur in its latest comprehensive study on the subject. Domestic and foreign private investment reached the original US$9 billion goal in June 2005, after [...]

Friday, July 28, 2006 Today’s owners of million-dollar homes are typically younger baby boomers who work for a corporation, maintain diversified investment portfolios, and have household income of less than $500,000. Their homes can include such amenities as entertainment rooms, designer kitchens and wine cellars, according to the 2006 Coldwell Banker Previews International Luxury Survey. [...]

SPECIAL REPORT June 12, 2006 Real Estate: Latin Boom Latin America’s real estate sector is booming, thanks in large part to a growing number of US retirees buying homes. Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica are leading the way, but also Argentina is seeing a boom. BY JOACHIM BAMRUD Donald Trump is busy these days. Apart [...]

Second-Home Buyers Head South As the price of beachfront property in the United States escalates, more people are looking south of the border for vacation homes RISMEDIA, July 13, 2006-(KRT)- As the price of beachfront property in theUnited States escalates, more people are looking south of the border for vacation homes. That has created big [...]

Sotheby’s Int’l Realty Luxury Network Expanding in More Than 30 Countries around the World RISMEDIA, July 20, 2006-Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. announced the Sotheby’s International Realty R network is now operating in 18 nations and has executed master franchise agreements to expand into 16 additional countries and territories. Since September 2004, more than 100 [...]

Smart buyers know that resort real estate is very big in the United States right now, but many are wondering if sales have peaked in the United States. Because many are wondering how much more the United States can up the ante on the resort real estate, some buyers are looking outside of the United [...]

Pittman: Mexico set for housing boom, real estate appraiser predicts DAVID PITTMAN Tucson Citizen Mexico in 2006 is similar to the United States in 1940, a country set toembark on a post-depression housing boom. That is the view of Bruce D. Greenberg, a real estate appraiser active in the United States and Mexico. Greenberg believes [...]

Mexico’s elections A nation awaits Jul 13th 2006 MEXICO CITY From The Economist print edition With court challenges under way, a clear winner looks unlikely before September AP ON JULY 12th demonstrations in support of Andrés Manuel López Obrador swept Mexico. But they were not what the presidential candidate of the centre-left Party of the [...]

Americans looking for land deals migrate to Mexican coast 03:34 PM CDT on Thursday, June 15, 2006 By Angela Kocherga / KVUE News Mexico used to ban foreigners from owning oceanfront property. Now, Americans can buy homes right on the beach, and that’s sparked a boom in once remote regions like Nayarit which sits along [...]

Mexico becoming more than a spring break destinationStrong work force, proximity allow neighbor to compete with Asia By Ryan Johnson Like a large chunk of students at the UA, I went to Mexico over springbreak. I even went to a tequila factory. But I’m pretty sure I came away with an extremely different impression ofthe [...]

Pacific Hamlet could become Mexico’s next hot stop By Alfredo Corchado SAN FRANCISCO, Mexico – Maybe it was the impossibly bright orange sunsetover the Pacific Ocean, the sound of waves crashing onto the shore, brieflydisturbing the peace and the silence around us. Or it may have been the eclectic crowd – old hippies, yuppies and [...]

Monday, July 3, 2006 Mexico Plans Controls for the Sea of Cortez and its Bordering Land Areas By Barnard R. Thompson The Mexican Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), onJune 21, 2006 published a notice in the Official Daily (Diario Oficial de laFederación) of not just national but too international interest andimportance. Notice that [...]

Mankarios Partnership To Spearhead New Luxury Projects7/6/2006By Glenn Haussman DALLAS – Hot on the heels of its successful gig managing more than $1.5 billion in assets with Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, The Mankarios Partnership is moving into the next phase of its evolution. The company, with its expertise in luxury hotel development, asset management [...]

Fadesa invests 27 mln eur in land for in planned Mexican tourist resort MADRID (AFX) – Fadesa Inmobiliaria SA said it has invested 27 mln eur to acquire four stretches of land in Nayarit, on the Mexican Pacific coast, to develop a tourist resort. In a statement, Fadesa said it plans to build a 640-room [...]

A Mexican trendsetterBy Andréa R. VaucherInternational Herald TribuneFRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2005 COSTA CAREYES, Mexico Approach Costa Careyes from the sea, and the vibrant colors of the houses pop out at you. The indigos and ochres echo the plumage of the exotic birds that inhabit this jungle paradise; the purples and vermilions are as dazzling as [...]

How The Internet is Helping Puerto Vallarta’s Hot Marketby Brock G. Squire Puerto Vallarta is growing by leaps and bounds. From Internet access, to the luxury Four Seasons Hotel at the luxurious Punta Mita Resort, to the anticipated convention center, to the pot-pourri of international visitors. Hollywood continues to return to Vallarta with not a [...]

Real Estate News Vallarta real estate, following strong after 2004 sales numbers doubled those of the previous year. It is difficult to give absolutely accurate numbers, since there is no reporting system for the real estate that developers have sold. Vallarta real estate, following strong after 2004 sales numbers doubled those of the previous year. [...]

Cross-Border Financing In MexicoBy Doug Jones – June 2006 When purchasing property in Mexico, the name of the game has been “cash only” – that is until recently. Today, there are financing options available in Mexico to Foreign Nationals (non-Mexican Nationals) that can closely resemble options you may be used to seeing in the United [...]

Real Estate Trends for 2006 The Real Estate Guide December 2005 The growth of the Vallarta real estate market continues to be very strong, with sales tripling for the local real estate association’s MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and doubling for developers compared to the 2003-2004 season. This type of growth is unprecedented for Puerto Vallarta [...]

PUNTA MITA, Mexico,April 12 /PRNewswire/ –With a wealth of rich culture and history, combined with a picturesque setting, Mexico is quickly becoming the most sought-after opportunity for resort real estate. The luxurious gated community of Punta Mita has risen to the occasion and grown into the position of a much whispered-about destination among those in [...]

Price of Land in and around Vallarta Rose 500% in Five Years If you ever considered buying property in Puerto Vallarta, our strong suggestion to you is don’t put it off much longer! To say Vallarta and the entire Bay of Banderas where it is located is experiencing a real estate boom would be wildly [...]

Las Terrazas Golf Villas to Debut in Punta Mita in June 2006 Punta Mita Properties, the innovative 1,500-acre, master-planned resort and residential community justnorth of Puerto Vallarta, announces new 27-unit Las Terrazas Golf Villasopening this June. Surrounded by Jack Nicklaus’ Signature Golf Course, a breathtakingoceanfront 19-hole championship course, Las Terrazas features expansivefloor plans and upscale [...]

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts breaks ground on luxury property in Punta MitaMonday, May 22, 2006 Steven J. Heyer, CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. , Osvaldo Librizzi, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Latin America, and a host of dignitaries gathered today in the magnificent tropical paradise of Punta Mita to celebrate [...]

Porta Fortuna Resort and Residence Development Announced in Punta Mita, Mexico; Phase One Slated for Completion in First Quarter 2008 PUNTA MITA, Mexico–(BUSINESS WIRE)–June 2, 2006–Inspired Resorts is pleased to announce the unveiling of Porta Fortuna and The Chopra Center & Spa in Punta Mita, one of Mexico’s most prestigious and fast growing resort communities. [...]

The coveted coastline of Mexico, now available for foreign investment, is experiencing a luxury development boom. (PRWEB) April 8, 2005 — The well kept secrets of Pacific Mexico’s dramatic cliffs, coves and sand have long attracted the Hollywood set looking for a quiet escape. Since opening up to foreign investment, Mexico has seen an explosion [...]

Punta Mita Answers Key Questions About Mexico’s Hot Real Estate Market Wednesday April 12, 7:47 am ET Upscale Resort Community Capitalizes on Growing Trend; Team of Real Estate Experts Makes Purchasing Resort Homes a Convenient, Personalized Process PUNTA MITA, Mexico, April 12 /PRNewswire/ — With a wealth of rich culture and history, combined with a [...]

What’s Doing In Puerto VallartaBy TIM WEINEROctober 7, 2001 Puerto Vallarta first appeared as a dot on the map of Mexico in 1918, and for two generations thereafter remained a little village. Then Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton showed up. They quickly became the world’s hottest couple. He was starring in John Huston’s film of [...]

Valuation of Property in Mexico Valuing a Property for Tax: If you own a house in the USA, Canada or Europe, you are required to pay tax to the government, usually based on a rate-able value of the property. In Mexico, the Rate-able value is known at the Catastro, and is set by an officer [...]

Buy or Build, or “Fixer-Upper”? Buying land and commissioning a house on it will provide you with much better value for your money: The price of land and construction will be less than an equivalent house bought built.The downside of this, of course, is that you have the additional time, effort and expense of project [...]

Outline Property Purchase Procedure If you have hired a lawyer (which is recommended but not compulsory) then he/she will likely act as an intermediary between you and the Notary Public / Seller. The exact process will vary in each case, but you (or your lawyer) will follow a process that goes along these lines: Find [...]

The Role of the Notary Public in Mexico The Notary Public is the most important person you will deal with when you make a property investment in Mexico. Do not confuse the role of the Notary Public in the US or UK with its counterpart in Mexico: they are quite different. In the UK for [...]

Ejido (Agricultural) Lands Ejido lands have a long history in how they came into being. Essentially, they are similar to “commons land”; after the revolution, communities and peasants were handed strips of land, in the main, to grow crops on, and they are called “Ejidos”. You CAN buy Ejido land, but the sale requires the [...]

Financing Your Mexican Property Investment Historically and in many cases today, most property/real-estate deals in Mexico are cash only. Mexican Banks are now beginning to offer mortgage products for the purchase of real-estate in Mexico, although 30-40% deposits are required and interest rates are not as attractive as those in the US, Canada and Europe. [...]

Costs and Taxes When you buy property in your home country, you are usually faced with the associated costs like agent fees and taxes. Mexico is no different, although the net value of these costs as a percentage of the property values may be lower overall, but this is not guaranteed as professional fees have [...]

What can a foreigner buy in Mexico? The regulations on the sale of real property to foreigners are found in Mexico Foreign Investment Law. The law gives a Mexican company with foreign capital many more rights than a foreign national. A foreign national can acquire land almost anywhere in Mexico with the permission of the [...]

What can a foreigner buy in Mexico? The regulations on the sale of real property to foreigners are found in Mexico Foreign Investment Law. The law gives a Mexican company with foreign capital many more rights than a foreign national. A foreign national can acquire land almost anywhere in Mexico with the permission of the [...]

The History of Land Ownership in MexicoThe History of Mexican Land To really understand how ownership in Mexico works, it is important to understand the history of property ownership and its evolution in Mexico. If you picture a country that has been dominated by foreign owners since the early 1500′s, you will begin to see [...]

Manifesting Your Construction Recording the Cost of Your New Construction WHAT IS MANIFESTING? Manifesting is simply recording the amount you spent on your construction, or remodel, in order to add this to your cost basis. Adding to your cost basis is the key to reducing your Capital Gains Tax. Proper documentation and Manifesting Your Construction [...]

Capital Gains in Mexico In a classic western movie called “The Searchers”, starring John Wayne, an Indian spoke in his native tongue, and a Cowboy asked what he said. John Wayne replied, “It’s not so hard to understand if you speak Niyuki Comanche.” Well, the same goes for understanding the Capital Gains Laws in Mexico. [...]

Buying Real Estate in Mexico – Separating Fact from Fiction The “Wild West Days” of buying property in Mexico are over. Banking on the words “That’s the way we do business here!”, and trusting “Thy Seller”, have given way to U.S. Title Insurance and bonded escrow accounts. During the last ten years, property in Mexico [...]

Real Escapes: Mexico Dreaming By Taylor AntrimForbes.comApril 7, 2005Original article on Forbes.com For real estate fantasists, nothing beats an empty stretch of beachfront. Just add house.Back in 1996, Huey Rodeheaver of St. Louis, Missouri, bumped north from the Mexican resort town of Ixtapa in a rented jeep, searching for “pretty beachfront.” He was preparing to [...]