By Laura Bly, USA TODAY Desperate to woo back travelers who cancelled trips in the wake of Mexico’s swine flu outbreak, more than 20 coastal resort hotels have launched a “flu-free guarantee”: Guests who catch the H1N1 virus in Mexico — and have the blood test to prove it — can get their next three vacations [...]
Come back to Mexico – come back
by Karen Fawcett TRIPSO The Mexican Tourist Board is launching a multi-million dollar investment plan that will include a global public relations campaign. It is also calling for U.S. authorities to lift the travel ban with the hope that doing so will restore confidence in Mexico’s being one of the world’s top tourist destinations. Its tourism [...]
Swine Flu Takes Toll On Mexico Tourism Industry

by Jason Beaubien NPR - Morning Edition May 14, 2009 · Americans Vicky Long and John Papadakous are savoring their Caribbean vacation in Mexico. The swine flu outbreak virtually emptied the white-sand beaches of Cancun, along with its bars and hotels, meaning there is plenty of staff to pamper the couple from Baltimore. The swine flu [...]
Mexican tourism could lose $4 billion from flu scare
Tue May 12, 2009 2:20am BST Reuters MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico could lose up to $4 billion (2.65 billion pounds) in tourism income after foreign visitors cancelled trips to popular beach resorts and colonial towns due to the flu scare, Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo said on Monday. Mexico was the epicentre of a swine [...]
Flu outbreak deeply affects Mexico’s hotels

07 May 2009 7:47 AM By Jan Freitag VP, Global Development, STR HotelNewsNow.com columnist [email protected] HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee—Prolonged economic headwinds and the global recession have caused severe declines in leisure and business demands worldwide, and until last week, Mexico’s hotel industry saw declines in line with that of other countries around the world. However, the outbreak [...]
Flu? What Flu?

by ELISABETH MALKIN Published: May 8, 2009 MEXICO CITY — If you are looking for a cheap travel destination, try Mexico. Short of war, Mexico has endured about the worst calamity that can befall a country’s tourism industry over the last few weeks. A few people who had traveled here came down with what looked, initially, like [...]
The Crisis Came. Mexico Didn’t Fail. Surprised?
By LARRY ROHTER Published: May 9, 2009 New York Times MEXICO CITY – Just for argument’s sake, let’s compare Mexico’s management of the swine flu epidemic that broke out here last month with China’s handling of SARS in 2002. The Chinese initially tried to deny there was an outbreak, were slow to combat its spread [...]
United, Continental slash flights to Mexico
By Julie Johnsson | Tribune staff reporter 5:27 PM CDT, May 1, 2009 United Airlines said late Friday that it would drop 60 percent of its flights to Mexico beginning Tuesday as fewer travelers head south of the border because of swine flu concerns. Chicago-based United plans to reduce its weekly roundtrip flights between the U.S. and [...]
Latin America: Mexico Senate Approves Bill Decriminalizing Drug Possession
The Mexican Senate Tuesday approved a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs in a bid to undercut Mexican drug trafficking organizations and free police to go after them instead of drug users. The bill was backed by the conservative government of President Felipe Calderon. Under the bill, personal use [...]
The Affluent Market for Vacation Homes: Full and Fractional Ownership and Destination Club Memberships
New Survey: Affluent Market for Vacation Homes Looks Gloomy for Full Ownership and Private Residence and Destination Clubs The potential market for vacation homes, including full ownership and private residence and destination clubs, has declined substantially from 2007 levels, reflecting losses in net worth and a negative 12-month outlook for the economy and personal income [...]
Is It Safe to Go to Mexico?
Tourism has suffered as drug-related violence across the border has surged. But canceling a vacation to Los Cabos or the Mayan Riviera may not be necessary. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123931839488506787.html By CANDACE JACKSON Teresa Bitler thought about spending Easter this year lounging on the beach in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, with her husband and two daughters. Then she changed [...]
Mexico peso surges on equity outlook, credit lines
MEXICO CITY, April 8 (Reuters) – Mexico’s peso strengthened for a second straight session on Wednesday, supported by expectations international credit lines would reduce currency volatility and as U.S. stock futures pointed to a higher open. The peso <MXN=> MEX01 firmed 0.8 percent to 13.376 per dollar, following a 1 percent jump on Tuesday, and [...]
Convention center opens its doors

Written by GR Staff Monday, 06 April 2009 Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez has opened Puerto Vallarta’s Convention Center, despite fears that the new facility won’t be able to break even. “We need to be looking at holding around 30 events during the year, almost one every week or 10 days,” said Ernesto Hauser, the center’s [...]
Spring-breakers heed call to avoid Mexico
By ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press Writer Posted: 04/05/2009 08:35:45 AM PDT PLAYAS DE ROSARITO, Mexico—A few years ago, thousands of American college students packed the streets outside Playas de Rosarito’s hottest beach bars during spring break. Cavernous clubs offered concerts, bikini contests and all-night drinking. This year, it is sometimes hard to find any tourist [...]
TV Blamed for Fear of Mexico

By ARTHUR FROMMER Published: Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 12:01 a.m. Last Modified: Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. Recently, my daughter, Pauline, tangled with a famous television talk-show host on the question of tourism to Mexico – and held her own. If you will go to www.crooksandliars.com and search for the term “Mexico” in the [...]
Investors Out $32M as Trump Ocean Resort Baja Goes Belly-up

Posted by Alex Finkelstein 03/09/09 3:00 AM EST Author Bio | Archives (BAJA, MEXICO) — There is no joy in Trumpville today. The mighty Donald has struck out – again. New York entrepreneur Donald J. Trump’s planned 526-suit Trump Ocean Resort Baja – 30 minutes south of Downtown San Diego – is nothing but a [...]
Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit holds steady
The State of Nayarit, where Riviera Nayarit is located, is among the strongest regions in Mexico for tourist visits as well as investment from Mexican and North American investors for tourism expansion which is an important source for job creation. A recent study by the Center for Research for Development (CIDAC) reveals that the state [...]
Mexico is About to Create a Mega Resort: Here’s How You Can Profit

Today’s Financial News – Posted March 2, 2009 The Mexican government is investing $1.5 billion in a stretch of Mexican coast. This is a real estate opportunity you could profit from. by Ronan McMahon Baltimore—TFN: Infrastructure improvements are one of the biggest drivers of overseas real estate values. I’m talking airports, roads, bridges, and cruise ship [...]
Costa Vallarta Real Estate Trends 2008-2009

by John Youden Published Aug 4, 2008 Updated Feb 11, 2009 I’ve been writing these articles for the past five years — five exceptional years, where the real estate market experienced rapid growth, appreciation and demand. In last year’s article, I reported that a downturn seemed to be approaching. Today, while updating and writing this [...]
Real Estate Featured at Christie’s Record-Shattering Yves Saint Laurent Sale

The triumphant sale of Yves Saint Laurent’s private art collection, taking place in Paris this week, defies the global financial malaise to prove once again that high-quality properties will find willing buyers in any economic climate. More than 1200 collectors and Christie’s clients bid a record US$264 million at Monday evening’s opening sale at [...]
We are proud to invite you to an inaugural cocktail reception to celebrate…

the affiliation of Allende Properties and Christie’s Great Estates Thursday, February 19th, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Allende Properties Cuna de Allende 15 Centro, San Miguel de Allende Kindly RSVP by February 14th, 2009 by email at [email protected] or by telephone 154.5000
New Financing Programs Now Available for Punta Mita Buyers

Developer financing for luxury properties now available at resort-home community on Mexico’s Pacific Coast PUNTA MITA, Mexico–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the first time, developers within Punta Mita are offering below-market financing rates for buyers of select properties at this prestigious 1,500-acre gated community on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. “Developer financing is a great opportunity for buyers at Punta [...]
Mexico’s peso falls to record low ever 14.57
Said “El Banco De México” Mexico’s central Bank, peso has dipped to a record low against the U.S. dollar. The currency slipped 2 percent to 14.57 on Monday before rebounding slightly to 14.51 by mid-afternoon. The peso has lost 45 percent of its value against the dollar since August, even as Mexico’s central bank sold more than $15 [...]
Anxiety Moves In To the Nicer Hotels
By JOE SHARKEY Published: February 2, 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/business/economy/03road.html?_r=2&ref=business BUSINESS travelers are generally fond of the hotel industry, which is a lot more than can be said of the airline industry. In the last 10 years, hotels have steadily improved products and services, and now we routinely expect consistency, convenience and comfort at hotels at most price [...]
Mexico’s 2008 Private Tourism Investment Up 34% To $4.64 Billion
Thursday January 29th, 2009 / 21h16 MEXICO CITY -(Dow Jones)- Private investment in Mexico’s tourism sector rose 34% last year to $4.64 billion, Tourism Minister Rodolfo Elizondo said Thursday. States that saw major investments included Quintana Roo, where the Caribbean resort of Cancun is located, as well as the Pacific coastal states of Nayarit, Baja [...]
Current Hot Topics in the Mexico Resort Real Estate Market
By Matthew A. Miller http://www.mexidata.info/id2135.html As the Mexico resort real estate market continues to gain popularity among North Americans, one common theme exists; an increasing demand for insightful and relevant information among the entire Mexican resort real estate community, including developers, realtors, owners, resellers and potential buyers. This is especially true in light of today’s [...]
Luxury vacation club is financially threadbare

Lusso Collection — offering access to multimillion-dollar getaway homes around the world — has filed for bankruptcy protection. By JIM BUCHTA, Star Tribune Last update: January 25, 2009 – 10:12 AM For a busy executive like weatherman Paul Douglas, vacation means exploring the world with the comforts of home but none of [...]
$24 Billion Vacation Rental Market Will Grow

The rapidly evolving vacation rental market, according to new research by PhoCusWright, will impact online agencies, hotels and online travelers. A new study to be released January 15, the “Vacation Rental Marketplace: Poised for Change,” says the vacation rental marketplace is gearing up to go after new business opportunities, at the expense of online agencies [...]
Real Estate Tax in Mexico
Taxes are usually paid in cash and all people are obligated, as provided by law, to pay them to the Mexican government. The Constitution establishes the rights and obligations of all citizens and one of these obligations is precisely the payment of taxes. Taxes are one of the principal ways by which the government [...]
New Real Estate Law: January 1, 2009
We would like to thank Mitch Keenan for this update on a new law related to selling property in Mexico. Any foreign person (non-Mexican citizen) selling property in Mexico will now be required to have an FM-2 Visa, in addition to electric bills and fidecomiso in their name(s) (as their names appear on their passports [...]
El Encanto – Punta Mita Update

El Encanto has sold out Phase One of its Condo La Vista condominiums and a second release is selling very well. As well, the three Villa El Mirador properties are ready for occupancy, featuring more than 4,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor living space in a split-level configuration. Also “move in” ready is a Residencia La [...]
The 10 Worst Assumptions of 2008
December 15, 2008 01:39 PM ET | Rick Newman | Permanent Link | Print An old military saying has become popular on Wall Street: “Amateurs study the plan. Professionals study the assumptions.” It’s too bad that nostrum wasn’t in fashion a few years ago, when it seemed as if nothing could go wrong in the [...]
LaSalle: Real estate valuations to fall in ‘09
By Arleen Jacobius Posted: December 16, 2008, 11:01 AM ET Real estate valuations are expected to fall next year, with the low point in the cycle expected in 2010, according to LaSalle Investment Management’s Investment Strategy Annual, a comprehensive survey of global real estate markets. Commercial real estate will decline in value in 2009 as [...]
Lending for ultra-luxury Western resorts: dumb, dumb, dumb
As resorts for the wealthy such as Yellowstone Club, Tamarack, and Promontory tumble into insolvency, you have to wonder what the lenders such as Credit Suisse and Lehman Bros. were thinking. Here’s another tale of toxic assets, poor diligence, and no backup plans. By Jonathan Weber If you want a stark example of the kind [...]
Investor Report: Diversify in Mexico
December 5, 2008 By Kenneth R. Harney http://www.homes101.net/news/n4296/ Investors looking to diversify their portfolios into land or rental properties — that are still gaining in market value — ought to look south of the border. But they should focus their shopping on the top “fly in” resort locations in Mexico — and avoid “drive in” [...]
Foreclosure Bargains in Mexico’s Touristic Communities
· Buyer Tips to Clarify Conventional Wisdom about Distressed Properties Buyers today have been regularly trained by the United States (US) media to be on the lookout for foreclosures as one of the staples of getting a great deal in the current real estate market. Yet buyers taking that conventional wisdom south of the border [...]
Destinations to Watch in 2009
by Christine Sarkis, SmarterTravel.com Staff – December 8, 2008 A destination in the midst of inventing itself. Another preparing for its year in the world spotlight. Cities and regions gearing up for year-long parties. Our top picks for destinations to watch in 2009 are bursting with up-and-coming, you’ve-gotta-see-this attitude. Not only are these destinations [...]
Capital Gains Tax (ISR) on the Sale of Homes in Mexico
This is a subject that everyone wants to know about and everyone wants to find a way to legally avoid. In an effort to keep you up to date, the following is the “cliff note” version of what you need to understand. In 2007 the Mexican government modified the rules pertaining to the exemption of [...]
Now that I have Bought Property in Mexico, What do I have to do to Keep Everything Current?
For a foreigner, buying property in Mexico is a new and different experience. Most foreigners spend time researching the procedure of buying property, setting up a trust or a corporation and becoming familiar with the different permits and costs required to close on a property transaction in Mexico. A lot of effort is put [...]
Puerto Vallarta Weekend News & Upcoming Events
If you want to stay on top of all of the latest Puerto Vallarta news and learn what you can expect during the coming week, be sure to watch The Weekend Beat every Sunday morning right here on BanderasNews. Hosted by William Michael, this weekly Puerto Vallarta video news report provides a brief overview of [...]
Comparing 2008 Banking crisis to Mexico’s 1994 Crisis
Although the two were created out of different circumstances, the end result seriously effected the banking and financial industries of both countries. For Mexico, 1994 was a complete financial meltdown. The peso de-valued, many of the banks needed to be bailed out, and credit dried up, literally for years. In 2008, for the USA, the [...]
MLS Activity compared to 2008
Here’s some stats I recently compiled from Multi-List Vallarta, comparing 2007 YTD to what has happened so far in 2008. Please keep in mind that these are based on the “re-sale” sales of the MLS service and do not reflect what may be taking place with new products with developments. As well, keep in [...]
Articles in the Mexico Real Estate 101 Category
Articles in the Mexico Real Estate 101 Category 5 Tips on Safely Buying Real Estate in Mexico Consult the National Agrarian Registry (Registro Agrario Nacional, or RAN) to check if the property is on Ejido land. Ejido land is land that has been set aside by the Mexican government for community farmers and can [...]
Mexico Mortgage Financing – Helping a Slower Mexico Real Estate Market
Mexico Mortgage Financing – Helping a Slower Mexico Real Estate Market http://www.mexicorealestateinvestment.org/ Since its introduction in the early part of 2005, the cross-border Mexico mortgage market — mortgage financing for foreigners purchasing vacation and retirement homes in Mexico — has been compared by many realtors and developers to riding a roller coaster. But now, a [...]
Real Estate Trends 2007-2008
The Vallarta Real Estate Guide For the past five years, we have prepared a list of trends we perceived to be taking place in the Vallarta real estate market. Information is gathered through interviews with real estate agents and developers, then compiled and reviewed for trends. Each year, interestingly enough, brings new trends, [...]
Want to buy in Mexico? Here’s what you need to know
Buy smart, just as you would in Canada, former Vancouverite recommends Michael Sasges, Westcoast Homes Published: Saturday, November 08, 2008 In Mexico, the asking price of a new-construction home is one-quarter to one-third the asking price of a comparable Canadian home. But property ownership by foreigners is restricted. The weather is lovely, but . . [...]
Potential Solution for Real Estate Developers facing slowing sales
Bruce Greenberg of Montaña Verde, a consulting and appraisal company that has been doing work in Mexico for many years, is currently teaming up with Deloitte Mexico (Deloitte as this time has not signd onto the program officially, but they are studying it), to offer a potential solution for real estate developers in Mexico during [...]
Mexico’s accumulated inflation rate hits 7-year high
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-08 10:09:05 MEXICO CITY, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) — The Central Bank of Mexico said Friday the country’s accumulated inflation rate surged to a 7-yearhigh of 5.78 percent over the last 12 months till October. The inflation rate, measured by the National Index of the Prices to the Consumer (INPC), rose by 0.31 [...]
How to buy Real Estate in Mexico

You need your own team when buying Real Estate in Mexico. If you are a foreigner buying in another country, how are you going to know what questions to ask if you don’t have any knowledge of foreign laws which govern your purchase? There are no federal agencies which oversee real estate or the agents [...]
Latin America better girded for financial crisis
Mexico City and Sao Paulo, Brazil – As leaders in Washington rushed to stem the growing financial crisis in the United States, Latin American leaders thought they’d be unscathed. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, when asked what repercussions he expected at home, retorted, “What crisis?” Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez called it the “crash [...]
Mexico’s Currency Rebounds After Central Bank Buys $1.1 Billion
Oct. 23 (Bloomberg) — Mexico’s currency rallied after the central bank bought $1.1 billion worth of pesos. The peso rebounded from a record low, snapping a four-day losing streak. Banco de Mexico’s purchase at two auctions today added to the $12 billion of pesos it has bought over the past two weeks to stem a [...]
Mexico peso hit by dollar demand, bonds sink
MEXICO CITY, Oct 20 (Reuters) – Worries more Mexican companies may be exposed to heavy currency derivatives losses hit the peso on Monday, while bond yields shot to their highest in more than two years. The peso <MXN=> MEX01 fell 1.32 percent at the central bank’s final 1:30 p.m. local time (1830 GMT) reference [...]
MexQuest Mortgage Closes $1 Million Dollar Loan In Mexico
MexQuest Mortgage Corporation, a leader in real estate financing for Mexico with corporate headquarters in Sacramento, California, reports their latest residential loan closing in Jalisco, Mexico in the amount of $1 million US dollars. One example of the many loans they close in Mexico, attributing their success to expert knowledge and understanding of the real [...]
Dollar’s value finally up abroad
In the current economic gloom, there’s a ray of travel-related sunshine: the increased strength of the U.S. dollar. Though no one can explain exactly why, the dollar has risen against every major foreign currency other than the Japanese yen, and it has increased substantially against some of them. Though the change in exchange rates hasn’t [...]
Mexico’s peso hits lowest level against dollar
MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s peso fell to its lowest real level against the dollar and the stock market dropped nearly 6 percent Monday to 21,611.5 as the country’s economy was pulled into the global economic crisis. The Central Bank said the peso’s daily benchmark fixed rate fell to 11.8 per dollar — a sharp drop from [...]
Mexican Peso Sinks to Record Low as Financial Crisis Spreads
By Michael J. Moore Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — Mexico’s peso plunged to a record low as the global financial crisis deepened, prompting investors to pull money out of higher-yielding, emerging- market assets. The peso dropped 4.7 percent to 11.8050 per dollar at 5 p.m. New York time. The decline is the biggest since October 1997, [...]
Dollar’s gain is good news for travelers
By Carol Pucci Seattle Times travel writer American visitors to Mexico will find their dollars buying more than they have in a long time. Above, La Parroquia de la Purisima Concepcion, the main parish church in Tequila, Mexico, is virtually in the center of town. The plaza is a popular gathering spot where tequila tours [...]
America’s wealthiest are picking Mexico over Hawaii in a hunt for value vacations
Oct. 6 (Bloomberg) — As U.S. markets spiral downward, America’s wealthiest are redeeming reward points, choosing million-dollar timeshares over luxury third homes and picking Mexico over Hawaii in a hunt for value vacations. Members of Hilton Hotels Corp.’s loyalty program who live in the 10 wealthiest U.S. zip codes redeemed 42 percent more reward points [...]
Mexico Real Estate Versus US Real Estate
A year over year decline in housing prices in the US are very rare, but the failure of financial giants like Lehman and Washington Mutual mean it will probably be a while before housing prices start recovering. Smart Money editor Jack Hough told the Wall Street Journal This Morning Podcast on September 30th that “I [...]
Survey Report: Mexico Remains Attractive to International Investors
In a survey released by KPMG this week, Mexico is the only Latin American economy that will increase its participation in the total amount of investment undertaken by multinational corporations in the region in the next five years. Increases are expected mostly in the services and manufacturing sectors. The results were reported as part of [...]
Want to Find Treasure in the Sierra Madres?
Do you remember the 1927 novel, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre”, which was about a couple of down-and-out Americans that joined up with a crusty old timer to prospect for gold in Mexico? It was later adapted into a film by John Huston in 1948, who returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 1964 to [...]
Hot to buy Real Estate in Mexico

You need your own team when buying Real Estate in Mexico. If you are a foreigner buying in another country, how are you going to know what questions to ask if you don’t have any knowledge of foreign laws which govern your purchase? There are no federal agencies which oversee real estate or the agents [...]
Mexico’s Mortgage Industry Flourishing Amid America’s Financial Collapse
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Leading Mexico mortgage broker MEXLend closed a record number of mortgages for 2008, proving that despite the dire circumstances of the American financial market, Mexico’s mortgage industry is not only healthy, but thriving. “This has been an excellent year for purchasing property in Mexico,” says Terence L. Reilly, CEO of MEXLend. “The [...]
How Far Will The Strong Canadian Dollar Go in Mexico Today?
Written by Jim Scherrer Tuesday, 23 September 2008 By: Jim Scherrer Upon retiring from Houston, Texas more than eleven years ago, we were very fortunate to have chosen Puerto Vallarta, Mexico as our retirement destination. Fortunate, because during the past decade, more specifically during the past eight years while the PAN Party has governed Mexico, [...]
Who Controls Paradise?

RON STODGHILL The New York Times COSTA Alegre, Mexico CRUISING along the swerving, mountainous roads of Mexico’s western coast, past trees and vines, blue lagoons and scattered wildflowers, Goffredo Marcaccini stops his Jeep and thrusts his head out the window. “Ahhh,” he croons, inhaling the morning air. “The smell of the earth! Nice, like the [...]
Punta Mita’s Four Seasons Resort Ranked #1 Golf Course in World by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine
Punta Mita’s Four Seasons Resort Ranked #1 Golf Course in World by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine Upscale Resort in Mexico’s Hottest Development Also Takes Top Honors in Accommodations and Service PUNTA MITA, Mexico, June 21 /PRNewswire/ – The Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita — the flagship resort of the innovative 1,500-acre, master-planned community [...]



























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