Land, Luxury, Leisure…Explore Pacific Mexico

High net-worth consumers rated Christie’s Great Estates the most prestigious real estate company in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI) survey from the independent New York City-based Luxury Institute.  Respondents who would recommend Christie’s Great Estates  say they have “high-end properties,” “exclusive listings,” “great customer service,” and an “excellent reputation.” Sotheby’s International Realty was rated a very close second and Corcoran [...]

 
 
Forbes magazine recently published its annual list of billionaires. The 2008 list is based on the billionaires’ net worth on February 11th, 2008.
According to Forbes, the world’s wealthiest man is Berkshire Hathaway investor Warren Buffet, at US$62 billion. In second place is Mexican telecoms tycoon Carlos Slim, at US$60 billion. In third place is Bill [...]

With housing values falling all over America, many savvy investors have turned their attention to real estate south of the border. There are already approximately one million Americans living abroad in Mexico who have tapped into the potential for appreciation in this young market. Many trends suggest continued growth in the market, including 70+ million [...]

 
Starwood Capital’s latest opportunistic fund, Starwood Global Opportunity Fund VIII, has received $100 million (€63 million) in commitments from two US pension funds.
The $15.8 billion Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) approved a $75 million commitment to Fund VIII at its July investment committee meeting last week, deputy chief investment officer Phil Griffith told PERE. [...]

 
When purchasing real estate in any part of Mexico, it is important for buyers to know their “Bill of Rights.” Most gringos venture into the country in search of a little piece of paradise without fully understanding the rights that they have as foreigners. They hope for processes that will give them real estate protections [...]

 
Some Developers Holding Off Building or Scaling Down

Although it is difficult to establish to what degree at this time, it is becoming apparent that some developers are either putting their project(s) on hold, or releasing in phases, because of the slowdown in the market. In 2007 there were 50 new real estate developments that were [...]

 
 
One of Mexico’s hottest new vacation destinations is quickly establishing an outstanding reputation for excellence. The 2008 AAA Travel Guide has awarded its coveted Five-Diamond Award to two resorts in the area and the Four-Diamond Award to three other hotels. Three Nayarit restaurants also earned the Four-Diamond designation.
 
“AAA’s Diamond Rating System is the most respected [...]

 
During a recent international event in Mexico, a handful of lightweight questions were asked about illegal immigration and emigration, with the basic response to the latter by government officials boiling down to the often heard “Mexicans have the constitutional right to travel when and where they chose.”  And the milquetoast questioners let this answer slide without [...]

The Same Word yet Two Countries Apart
 

 
Transaction security is essential to a healthy real estate market. However, many new buyers are surprised to learn processes that they take for granted in the United States are either optional or don’t have an exact equivalent in Mexico. This column will explain the key differences pertaining to the [...]

 
  Buyers, Sellers, and Brokers Benefit from Internet Technology
 
 

 
The rapid growth in use of a new Internet technology over the past two years by Mexico real estate brokers has resulted in a de facto Mexican multiple listing service (MLS). The new system better serves buyers and sellers of real estate throughout coastal and other regions of interest [...]

“A Field of Dreams” is what I call vineyards in northwestern Mexico’s Baja California wine country. I think every person who plants grapes has dreams of creating something personal, special and significant.

 
As a grape grower I maintain an intimate relationship with grapevines, my own private Italian family of Nebbiolo grapes. I’m blessed with spoiled Italian [...]

 
The procedure for a real estate closing for foreigners in Mexico is different than the process north of the border. This checklist helps demystify the process of buying property and creating a bank trust in Mexico through a cash sale, still the most common type of transaction.
1.   Buyer and Seller agree to a purchase price [...]

Whether your retirement is fast approaching or just something you find yourself often dreaming about, you’ve probably imagined spending it in some far-flung tropical haven. But moving to a country that you know little about is a lot of hassle, right? It’s probably not worth the time and effort, you think. Besides, all your family [...]

What we can establish as being “a success”? Well, in 2000 Puerto Vallarta had roughly $50 million in resort real estate sales (“resort real estate” is defined as real estate purchased primarily by retirees or second-home purchasers). There were rarely homes selling for more than $1 million and few large real estate developments. In 2007, [...]

Foreign investment in Mexican real estate is on the rise and many favorable factors conspire to keep this trend moving forward.
 
Investors and developers are increasingly looking to Mexico as a land of opportunity. While Mexico’s economy is closely tied to that of the United States and is expected to be impacted in some measure by [...]