Mexico Real Estate

Health Care: Is it Driving US Citizens to Move Overseas?

There are literally thousands of web sites, blogs and social networks devoted to Baby Boomers. Some great, others good and some that are, well, how shall we say, average.

"Ten Web destinations Baby Boomers Should Visit" is a new monthly column that will appear on several syndicated Boomer-centric high-value content sites.

Our objective is to provide Baby Boomers with the broadest variety of expertise, opinion and unique perspective offered on the Internet. Each month we will feature ten distinctively different web destinations together with our point of view with regard to why they have been chosen. Here's our first installment of

Ten Best Baby Boomer Websites and Communities:

VIVA MEXICO!... It was on this day in the early hours of  September 16, 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, Influenced by the concepts of liberty, equality and democracy proposed by the French philosophers Rousseau, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and by the war of Independence of the United States, rang the bell of his little church in Dolores calling everyone to fight for liberty in a famous speech, known to history as the Grito de Dolores. This was the beginning of the Independence War,  which lasted 10 years.   

VIVA MEXICO!... is the yearly GRITO from millions of Mexican mouths all over the world.  Today,  it will be to celebrate the 199 anniversary of Mexico Independence. It is an always emotional celebration throughout the Country.  Streets, houses, buildings and cars are decorated everywhere. On every street and plaza there are vendors selling flags, balloons, sombreros, reguiletes and pinatas. Flags wave from practically every house and building. People of all ages celebrate.

Keep Reading VIVA MEXICO

Through selective reporting, presenting information without context and insufficient analysis, U.S. media outlets have helped perpetuate the mistaken perception about Mexico

 http://www.boomersabroad.com/blogs/impact-of-us-media-in-mexico-without-context-and-insufficient-analysis.html

New rules requiring passports or new high-tech documents to cross the United States' northern and southern borders are taking effect Monday, June 1, 2009, as some complain the tightening of security and others applaud it as long overdue.

The rules are being implemented nearly eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks and long after the 9/11 Commission recommended the changes. They were delayed by complaints from state officials who worried the restrictions would hinder the flow of people and commerce and affect border towns dependent on international crossings.

In 2001 a driver's license and an oral declaration of citizenship were enough to cross the Canadian and Mexican borders; Monday's changes are the last step in a gradual ratcheting up of the rules. Now thousands of Americans are preparing by applying for passports or obtaining special driver's licenses that can also be used to cross the border.

The new rule, which also affects sea crossings, is the final implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a security measure crafted from recommendations from the 9/11 Commission.

Citizens traveling by land or sea will have to have a passport, passport car or other travel document that is approved by the Department of Homeland Security to get back into the country.

Travelers used to be able to use identification such as a driver's license or birth certificate. These will now not be accepted if you are coming into the country by car or boat.

READ MORE REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION

Private Tourism Investment in Mexico Totaled US$2.803 billion during First Four Months of 2008

Mexico's Tourism Minister noted that during the past 16 months of President Felipe Calderón's administration, Mexico has accumulated US$6.267 billion; as a result it has achieved 31% of its six-year goal of US$20 billion.

June 19 - Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo inaugurated the 22nd Annual Convention of the Mexican Association of Tourist Developers (AMDETUR) on "Tourism, the Engine of Development for Mexico," at which he told businessmen that Mexico has shown favorable results regarding private tourist investment by accumulating US$2.803 billion during the first four months of this year.

Accompanied by José Carlos Azcárraga, President of AMDETUR, the SECTUR director stated that as a result of the confidence of investors in the tourism sector, 31% of the six-year goal of $20 billion USD has been achieved, since over the past 16 months of President Calderón´s government US$6.267 billion in investment in tourism have been generated.
"55% of this investment comes from national capital, while the remaining 45% corresponds to foreign investors, mainly from the United States and Spain," Elizondo said.
"The presence of those of you who are tourist investors and developers confirms your enormous confidence in Mexico, and your willingness to continue combining forces and coordinating actions that will enable us to increase tourist flows and investments and thereby contribute to Mexico's economic development," declared Elizondo.
He went on to say that in order to continue promoting tourism in Mexico, the National Tourist Promotion Fund (FONATUR) will participate in major projects such as La Pesca in Tamaulipas, as well as two tourist real estate developments in Puerto Escondido and Baja California Sur.

The Tourism Secretary said that tourism in Mexico will be further reinforced by President Calderón's support of this industry, one example of which has been the creation of the National Infrastructure Fund.
"This fund provides the possibility of financing tourist projects for the state, which in turn will facilitate the construction of the tourist attractions we have planned, as well as the improvement of urban services in already consolidated destinations."
In particular, he reported, the Tourism Secretariat has formally submitted a package of seven investment requests for providing basic services such as drainage, safe drinking water and the installation of wastewater treatment plants and other urban works for seven beach tourism destinations, including Cancún, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Loreto, Los Cabos, Puerto Peñasco, Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Maya.

Lastly, Secretary Elizondo urged businessmen and investors to continue trusting in Mexico and to create a sustainable, orderly development for the benefit of the industry and Mexico's economic and social development.
"The point is not to do business to the advantage of a few and to the disadvantage of many, but to ensure that investments in Mexico are attractive and profitable for investors, while distributing wealth that will create well paid jobs and provide local benefits."
"I urge you to continue to invest in Mexico and for our growth to be orderly and planned and have a long-term vision rather than one based on doing business in a day," he stated.

Real Estate Options in Mexico Cater to a Diverse Demographic
By Tom Kelly

Baby boomers - the healthiest, wealthiest and largest segment ever seen on the North American landscape - have coupled with discriminating retirees to form a huge target for Mexican developers all seeking to effectively deliver the different possibilities of Mexico's diverse landscape.

The baby boomer generation continues to drive the search for second homes, not just in the United States but in Mexico and throughout Latin America as well.

According to a new survey from the National Association of Realtors, vacation and investment home sales declined with the overall market in 2007, but still accounted for 33 percent of all existing and new-home sales.

Boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, number approximately 77.8 million people in the United States alone. Many of them are returning to Mexico, rediscovering their spring break haunts, and charting a way to buy and vacation now and retire later in the sun. Every year, they are being joined by more and more Canadians, Europeans and Asians - many of whom place a premium on their return on enjoyment.

Sales to Americans have slowed in Mexico - mirroring a pattern in the States - yet many of the fly-in destinations are experiencing steady sales, thanks mostly to the international boomer profile.

According to Barbara Caplan, baby boomer marketing specialist with the research firm Yankelovich, five trends that define boomers are youthfulness, individuality, community, awareness of technology and a home-family core.

"Boomers aren't redefining age. They're redefining youth," Caplan said.

Baby boomers - the healthiest, wealthiest and largest segment ever seen on the North American landscape - have coupled with discriminating retirees to form a huge target for Mexican developers all seeking to effectively deliver the different possibilities of Mexico's diverse landscape.

It's the different possibilities - they want to provide a variety of options - that have proved successful for marketers and sales people. A prime example is MexicoAlive (www.mexicoalive.com), a Puerto Vallarta-based marketing company operated by Mexico City native Benjamin Beja that strives to offer consumers affordable, well-located, attractive condominiums starting at $145,000 along with elegant waterfront residences with price tags well more than $1 million on the Bay of Banderas, one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations.

The down payment programs at two developments are extremely flexible, especially for investors. While the minimum down payment is 20 percent, MexicoAlive will accept $9,000 at signing and then the difference in monthly payments, interest free, until the buildings open.

For example, if a buyer decides on a $140,000 unit, the 20 percent down payment would equal $28,000. After the $9,000 at signing, the buyer would make payments of approximately $1,000 for 17 months. When the building opens, the buyer would have long-term financing in place or pay cash for the unit.

"I had a friend who was wondering where all the affordable new condominiums had gone in the Nuevo Vallarta area," Beja said. "That got me thinking that we needed to provide all buyers a greater array of housing opportunities."

Beja has been a world traveler, visiting more than 100 countries. He attended the prestigious National University where he received highest honors when graduating in 1991 with a degree in law. A master's degree in business administration from Harvard University followed postgraduate studies in Japan. Like many Mexican real estate companies, MexicoAlive hosts "Discovery Weekends" to promote residential projects and educate visitors on the nuances of buying and living in Mexico. Potential buyers spend three days learning about the process of how to hold title south of the border while soaking in the Puerto Vallarta sun, culture, food and drink. There is no hard selling, which has proven to be a key to the company's success. Many buyers and real estate agents who attend have spread the word about the casual atmosphere and have returned with other interested friends and customers. The company averages 40 visitors for a Discovery Weekend and $3.5 million in sales. It plans to expand the concept to a dozen other Mexican destinations.

"People don't like making decisions when somebody is pushing them," said Shawn Fetcher, a Tacoma native and MexicoAlive's director of international sales.

"We want people to have a great time, learn something about the country and go home with a better idea of why we think Mexico is so wonderful. Sure, we'd love it if they made an offer on one of our properties but we are certainly not going to grind on them to do so. At the end of the day, we want them to be absolutely satisfied with the time they had with us."

MEXICO BUYING GUIDE

The U.S. State Department estimates that there are twice as many people buying a home in Mexico today than there were just a decade ago. Many are buying in new waterfront resorts targeted to Americans in popular destinations like Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Sonora and the Baja Peninsula.

The appeal is more than just the thought of permanently toasty weather. The cost of living, from housing to health care, is significantly lower in Mexico than it is in the U.S. That makes the country especially attractive to retirees on fixed incomes, as well as to younger telecommuters and others with portable jobs fleeing high-cost U.S. cities. Increasingly available creature comforts like high-speed Internet access are making the country more attractive to Americans. In Baja, there's even a Costco with an oceanfront view.

Buying south of the border has its risks, however, so keep these thoughts in mind:

1. Beware of high-pressure sales tactics. Even the fanciest resorts sometimes participate in aggressive sales tactics, offering discounts on meals or popular side trips if you'll listen to a real-estate pitch.

   Some good advice: Walk away from anyone who pressures you. If you get roped into signing a deal, remember that you have five days under Mexican law to cancel the contract and get back your deposit money.

2. Obtain title insurance. By Mexican law, foreigners can't own real estate outright within 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) of a border and within 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) of any coastline. Of course, that's just where Americans most want to live. So the Mexican government allows foreigners to buy through bank trusts, with the bank holding title to the property. That generally works well, unless there's a challenge to the title. Although title insurance is more readily available than it was a decade ago, it isn't offered on every property. If you can't get it, pass on the deal.

3. Check your finances. Often, Americans are lured to Mexico by its comparatively low cost to buy or build a house. But they overlook other costs, which can be much higher than they are stateside. In general, acquisition fees are high, about 6%, and include a mandatory real-estate transfer tax, a fee for a government-appointed notary to handle the transaction, and a bank appraisal fee. And while Mexican property taxes tend to be low, capital-gains taxes on the sale of investment property can reach 35% -- a pretty big bite. For more information, check out Tom Kelly's excellent book, "Cashing in on a Second Home in Mexico" (2005, Crabman Publishing).

SIMPLE STEPS TO MEXICO HOME OWNERSHIP

A dream home in Mexico is closer than you think. Decide how you will use your new home. Is this purchase a vacation property, second home, investment opportunity, or retirement choice?

1) While you're investigating buying real estate in Mexico, there are several factors to consider. In deciding where you'd like to live, you'll need to consider things like weather, cost of living, activities that you can participate in that are close by, and how you or your family members (whether living with you or just visiting) fit into the place where you're looking?

2) Determine if the new location offers you a selection of things that you're interested in. For example, if you're looking for a quiet and relaxing place to get away from it all, does your new property afford you that opportunity? If you like more adventurous activities, will you have access to them in your new place? If you need to travel to do what you love (for instance, if you like to take ski trips in winter), does the location have good transportation (public transportation, airports, etc.)? Many people who plan on buying a home in Mexico discover that some of the best destinations, like Puerta Vallarta, offer a blend of both - plenty of space to relax and catch up on the easy life, but filled with activities far and wide to keep things interesting.

3) Is the location close enough in general? Can you drive there? If not, can you fly easily? And if you fly, what arrangements will have to be made for when you are there, and when you're away? And wherever you decide to live, is it close enough (or easy enough) for your friends and family to come and visit?

4) Purchase your property with a reputable real estate entity like MexicoAlive. Having a knowledgeable and trustworthy agent (or broker) makes the search for just the right property easy and pleasant, and will help you find what you're looking for, faster.

5)Ask questions - get to know your potential neighbors, both on the property and nearby. Consult with locals and local officials, visitor centers and/or chambers of commerce to get the inside scoop on where you want to live. The MexicoAlive staff is happy to connect you with others who have chosen to purchase luxury vacation homes with us.

6) Research the property and the destination as much as possible. There's a multitude of information available in travel books and on the Internet, including descriptions of properties and locations, fellow traveler's and buyer's reviews, and images of the area you're interested in.

7) Come visit. If you're interested in any of our MexicoAlive destinations, it's easy to book a discovery package to get acquainted with our luxury vacation properties. This is the best way to try the property on for size, visit local restaurants, see the sights, and generally get to know us. It's a good idea to ensure that your passport is in good standing. Passports will be required for traveling to many parts of Mexico to research a potential second or retirement home.

8) Get your finances and personal life in order. Make sure you have a solid understanding of what you can afford to spend on a second or retirement home. Determine what steps you need to take at home to take on the responsibility of a second home, before you start buying real estate in Mexico.

9) Get started on the next, and possibly most exciting, step in your life - a luxury home in one of Mexico's most sought-after destinations, brought to you by one of the most trusted providers of vacation homes in Mexico.