Summer always seems a time to focus on the developments, to review how they’re doing, to see what is new on the coast, to reflect on changes and consider the evolution of the market. In reality, it’s a good time to do that all year long, but it’s during the summer that we publish the Development Guide in Lifestyles, something that has become quite a tradition in the real estate industry. The guide is kept on hand all year long for reference, making it a valuable tool for brokers and developers.
For me personally, it puts me in touch with the developers and those who represent them, at least on an annual basis. Some of them I know through other contexts, others I’ve been involved with in a project, and still others I know through real estate events and news coverage. So during the early summer, as the heat begins to show its strength, I’m on the phone and the Internet playing tag. This year the response has been better than ever with over 50 developments included. Watch for it in the upcoming Lifestyles.
Every year when I work this project, I feel the need to mention something about market awareness. In selling or presenting a product, an essential responsibility is to study the market, to know what’s out there, to know what is comparable, how this project differs, what makes it unique, etc.
Is it the location? You know what they say about real estate when it comes to location. If that’s the key, bring it to the forefront. Is it the style of the development, the design, the ambience created for the residents? What is different about it? What elements can describe it in a few short words? Is it contemporary? Mexican contemporary? Mexican traditional? Vallartan? French colonial? One can argue that each of these styles can be somewhat ambiguous so be aware of the specific elements that generate character or design traits.
What are special features? How does the development fit in with the surrounding environment? Are trees, valleys, water, maybe cliffs, allowed to form key elements in the design or is the land cleared and the towers stuck down into the earth?
Speaking of the above. There continues to be a schism of awareness among designers and architects when it comes to using terrain to its best advantage or just getting down with a bulldozer. I can’t imagine that people don’t see the difference. Even in a recent interview with the investigator and marine biologist Dr. Juan Luis Cifuentes Lemus, he mentioned the common method of planting palm trees to replace native varieties. “Even the birds don’t roost in palm trees nor do palm trees offer shade. While palm trees do nothing for the environment, trees are the lungs of the earth. They give the impulse to the cycle of rain. When rainwater falls, one single drop of water may take years to return to the sea when there are trees and natural vegetation. Each living organism can partake of that drop of rain in the cycle. When there are no trees, the rain falls and the water drains right to the sea in minutes. There is no sustenance.”
Obviously, judicial practice may require some removal due to disease or damage. But compare a landscaped property where trees have been respected and even honored. Numerous developers are becoming aware of the importance of trees. Would that it were more.
I made a recent trip to California for a class and noticed the major effort in some areas to promote green industry, to market green developments, to foment and encourage recycling programs within neighborhoods. I would challenge developers to actually tell the public how they plan to integrate certain issues within their design: water (where does it come from, where does it go?); garbage (where does it go? Is there a long-term plan to recycle, to consider separation of glass, plastic, organic materials?); trees and vegetation (which varieties are native to the area, how many trees were allowed to stand?); and finally, is there a plan to use sewage effectively by treatment? When it comes down to it, we recognize that these issues are not only universal, of paramount importance, but are local and affect us all at some level.
Awareness is changing. Even if it’s a marketing strategy, we need to see that these are questions that people are asking in other areas. They are issues much more commonly discussed. It’s time that we take a pro-active stance to preserve what we can of our environment and make the choices that affect us all in a positive curve.
Speaking of green, after the first rains, brief as they may seem so far, the hills are showing their colors again. The tabachines seem especially colorfully brilliant or brilliantly colorful and the green of the hills is more than welcome!
During the two weeks of “Restaurant Week” in May, I took the opportunity to visit some of my favorites, and always try to make it to one of the new participants. This year I enjoyed dinner at Frascati in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a comfortably classy restaurant with a good menu that seems to have caught on with the locals as well as visitors, judging by the diners. During the summer, don’t forget to dine at your favorite hang-outs. It’s a good time to enjoy an evening out when the pace isn’t quite so hectic. At least in the restaurants.
My thoughts and condolences go out to those at Applegate Realtors with two deaths within a short period of time. First, while I was out of town, the sudden death of Miguel Morris, a friend who always wore a smile, who was always enthusiastic, a “can-do” kind of guy. I will miss him. Just a few days later, Moray and Ivan Applegate lost their father, don Bernardo Applegate Perez, one of the pioneers of real estate in Vallarta. Again, condolences to the family and survivors of both men.
