How To Buy Real Estate in Mexico
by Fabiola Kinder

2008 - My Perspective
by Bruce Greenberg

PROPERTY AREAS:
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Acapulco
Cancun/Riviera Maya
Central Mexico
Colonial Route
Ensenada
La Paz
Loreto
Los Cabos
Manzanillo
Mazatlan
Puerto Peñasco
San Felipe
Vallarta

REAL ESTATE GROWTH in Mexico
A Golfer's Paradise

by Chuck Kinder

Not all golfers seeking second, retirement or investment homes or condos are
looking for golf course communities.  After all, not all residents of golf course communities are golfers, but they do like to be near great golf in Mexico.
Real Estate marketers seek out golfers as a desirable target group known for their higher net worth, premium spending for airlines, hotels, restaurants and real estate.  Golfers tend to travel and love to play golf year round, which is something that México can offer.
The fact is, today the economic balance in real estate has shifted from a sellers market to buyers delight, especially in the search for homes in the US. The Mexican real estate market should expect the same, no doubt, but not as much, nor for as long a period.
Mexico has over $300 billion worth of build out value in the planning stage or in process of development.  Mexico has several advantages to help counter downward pricing pressures.  Buoyed by the US Dollar’s weakness and the pesos’ close ties in housing prices, the Europeans and their stronger Euros are looking at Mexico as a bargain real estate market.  One year ago, a couple from Germany considering purchasing a $300,000 USD oceanfront 3 bedroom condo in the Riviera Maya was looking at paying 240,000 Euros. Now, with a weaker dollar, they would be looking at paying 198,000 Euros, a bargain from their point of view.  All of Latin America is aware of Mexico’s real estate growth as an investment opportunity with plenty of direct flights from Rio, Buenos Aires, Lima and Bogotá.
Canadians are feeling the same way about their dollar exchange value.  For years they have been the stepchild with a deflated Canadian dollar.  They now have a renewed interest in investing because of a double digit increase in valuation.  Longtime savers and frugal spenders, they can now can take advantage of their new purchasing power to have their dream homes in Mexico.
Sustainable, eco-sensitive, smart homes are the buzz words of the day, and projects that promote these concepts are reaping the benefits and separating themselves from the competition.  The Villages at Loreto Bay, under the watchful eye of Citibank group, is one of the leaders of this movement with a highly successful development in Loreto, in Baja Sur. Here at Loreto Bay they are focused on the restoration of the Estuary with the goal that every hectare of (2.2 acre) water reclaimed creates ONE TON of commercial fish per year and provides new life and habitats for birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. More and more, developers are thinking the same for their projects.
John Solis, former president of Koll International and a development consultant, strongly urges project developers to give back to the communities that they are working in, and to improve the highways and airports, making conditions better for the sake of lifestyle and investments.
Mexico’s home mortgage credit is a new vehicle now available in quantity with competitive rates for Mexican nationals and foreign investors for the first time, thus opening a new segment of buyers and investors.  BBVA Bancomer is the market leader for residential and commercial lending for acquisition and construction loans.
The growth of world class golf in the key areas of Los Cabos, Vallarta and Cancun  Riviera Maya have helped stimulate and enhance accumulated appreciation of real estate projects.  Large development groups from around the world have taken an aggressive search for raw open land with or without SEMARNAT (Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Nationales) permits to build master planned communities.
The US and Spain lead the way with experienced and well financed companies planting the seeds for over 30 new golf courses with designer labels like Nicklaus, von Hagge, Fazio, Dye, Love, Player, Norman, Doak and even Michelson. 
You can bet that all of these courses are real estate plays:  hotels, full ownership and fractional ownership homes, villas, and condos, and to some degree, time shares, residence clubs, or exchange clubs.
Mitch Brinton, Executive Director of The Markers, heads up a private golfers residence club that will have up to 325 owner-members who have equity in over 36 deluxe estates in all of the best golfing spots around the world.  Membership gets you up to 56 days in a beautiful villa with all services, including advance tee times, at all of the best courses in each area. 
The Marker’s first Mexico location is at Cabo del Sol.  Their members have access to the Cabo del Sol Ocean course, rated number one in Mexico by Best’s Golf Guide to Mexico and rated in the top 100 in the world by Golf Magazine.  Several more home sites are being planned throughout Mexico.
Where to live and invest is a matter of preference, knowledge of locations in Mexico, proximity to airports, health services, safety and sanitation.  Typically golfers who have traveled about Mexico have experienced one or more destinations, and are attracted to areas with multiple courses to choose from, among daily fee, resort courses, or private country clubs.
Although beach destinations are the favored location for many US and Canadian second home or retirement investors, inland cities are getting on board and are becoming attractive due to the low cost of land and housing, living expenses, fee simple title, and thriving US ex-PAT communities. Areas such as Lake Chapala near Guadalajara, San Miguel de Allende, Morelia, and Monterrey are fast becoming terrific communities befitting old world colonial, with modern health services, wonderful restaurants, and private country club amenities at respectable rates.
Billionaire Carlos Slim has taken on the health care issue in his own grand style by establishing some very high end medical centers called Grupo Star Medica catering to the US baby boomers, with the first two locations in Puerto Peñasco and Los Cabos…after all golf is for life.
We have created a directory of select and recommended real estate projects and golf course communities in most of Mexico’s key locations.  Some are private, guard-gated golf communities, while others are individual, stand alone condos, villas, single family homes, or townhouses near golf courses.  For your convenience we have an updated website featuring these same properties at www.MexicoGolfRealty.com.
Financing, at approximately a 70% loan-to-value, at a reasonable rate, amortized over 20 years, is available from a handful of well-funded, professional companies such as BBVA Bancomer, GE Capital, GMAC, Latin American Financing, Finance North America, and Platinum Capital. 
Some projects offer prospective buyers their own financial package. There are several national real estate firms including Prudential, Century 21, Re/Max, Coldwell Banker and Realty Executives that have English speaking agents who offer personalized service and who understand lenders’ documentation process. Mexico has become more American consumer friendly with the availability of title insurance and escrow companies, which give assurance, security, and safety throughout the closing and ownership process.
About the only thing left is to pack your clubs, clothes, and sun lotion and head south for a look at your next new home.  For a primer and your own quick tour-guide of
golf and real estate in the BEST areas in Mexico... read on.