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Three Agencies joined MLSVallarta in May

MLSVallarta is proud to announce that three new members joined MLS this past May. Luis Jimenez, who has been active in the Vallarta real estate markets for many years, added his company Tu Casa Properties, located in Marina Vallarta.

Lloyd Grupo Inmobiliario, located in Bucerias, and which has been involved in Vallarta & Nayarit real estate for more than 20 years, joins MLS via Michael Murphy.

And Hector Santana, who has been involved in Vallarta real estate for the past fifteen years, has added his company V Luxury Real Estate located in Central Vallarta, to MLSVallarta as well.

Having trouble with Spanish in Vallarta?

There certainly is a good amount of English-speaking people in Vallarta, who work in the stores and shops, so not knowing a lot of Spanish you can get by rather reasonably. Especially these days where the youth coming out of the local high schools speak very good English, compared to years past. It is not uncommon to find that the cashier at Commercial Mexicana speaks English nearly as well as you do. But for the times when that isn’t the case, there is a solution.

Download the App Google Translate onto your phone. It’s free and it can be a lifesaver when you need it most. It works like a regular translator where you can type in a word or phrase and it will give you back the answer with a choice of 103 languages (limited to 52 if you don’t have an Internet connection). But that can take time, typing it in, while perhaps a line of people are gathering impatiently behind you in, let’s say, a bank! But this translator also offers a conversation mode, providing two-way instant speech translation in 32 languages. Simply speak into the phone and it will give back the translation in whatever language you have selected. The other person can listen and reply in their language, and it will provide you the English translation. No need to tell it which language is being used, it detects it automatically and provides the correct answer in your language. After passing the phone back and forth a bit and getting used to it, you can actually carry on a rather normal conversation!

But what about those times when there isn’t anyone around and you need to read a sign? Well, it has a mode for that as well. Simply select the language you want it translated to and then hold up the camera to the sign. Right on the screen, you’ll see the sign now magically showing the text in English instead of Spanish (or whatever language the sign may be in). Or, you can take a picture of the sign and it will then do the translation for you. This may work better for you because if you are moving around a little too much, it has trouble converting the text reliably.

Google Translator, and best yet it’s free!

Translate between 103 languages by typing
Offline: Translate 52 languages when you have no Internet
Instant camera translation: Use your camera to translate text instantly in 29 languages
Camera Mode: Take pictures of text for higher-quality translations in 37 languages
Conversation Mode: Two-way instant speech translation in 32 languages
Handwriting: Draw characters instead of using the keyboard in 93 languages

Mexico’s Declining Oil Dependence – Thanks due to the Tax Department

Recently in Bloomberg Business it was discussed how, even though global oil prices have sent Mexico’s currency to a record low and forced the nation to cut spending and raise interest rates, the country is actually less dependent on oil revenue than at any time in the past decade. While revenues from oil production have traditionally funded more than one third of the government’s spending, last year this dropped to less than 20 percent.

Why? Tax collection.

The government in the past few years has implemented a sweeping tax increase aimed at weaning the nation off its dependence on crude sales. Mexico raised the maximum income tax rate to 35 percent, increased the sales tax in states along the U.S. border and applied an 8 percent levy on junk food, among other measures. But mostly, as any business or taxpayer in Mexico will tell you, they’ve just gotten a lot better at collecting the taxes that should be paid and removing any means that in the past have allowed for people to avoid paying what they should be. They are so good at it they should consider exporting their expertise to countries like Greece, who really could use some assistance. Intake from non-oil sources surged last year from five percent in 2014 (and the average over the past ten years), to over 25%. Tax increases and collection were responsible for most of that big gain.

Laura Gelezunas joins Boardwalk Realty

Laura Gelezunas has been a familiar face around Puerto Vallarta since 2003 when she opened Media Diva International and began providing quality video production for local businesses and individuals. Having spent over ten years in US broadcast news Laura unleashed her skills by providing a variety of businesses with publicity. For the past 13 years she has been promoting luxury properties by producing videos, taking photographs, writing real estate descriptions for magazines and websites, doing social media, blogging and blogging. So making the transition to real estate sales was a natural one. Her lifestyle and real estate videos can be seen on her YouTube channel. Laura brings over 20 years of marketing and sales experience along with intimate knowledge of the area and the people. She is familiar with the neighborhoods, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, banking, immigration and how to make the adjustment when moving to Puerto Vallarta, whether full or part time. And now she’s part of the team of real estate specialists at Boardwalk Realty. You can contact Laura at: 322-224-0014 or [email protected].

13 Reasons To Buy Property In Mexico

Lee Harrison of the “Live and Invest Overseas website, recently wrote why he believes there are very good reasons to buy in Mexico today and why he recently purchased a oceanfront home in Mexico. He writes, “I had avoided Mexico for years, but I tell you now, based on my recent experience, Mexico is hands down the easiest option for Americans and Canadians looking to live or invest abroad.” He gives 13 reasons why:

#1 This country is a culturally familiar neighbor…

After living in South America 15 years, I’d forgotten Mexico‘s familiarity, which shows up in many small ways. … like eating Mexican food… or seeing full-size, V8 American SUVs and pickups on the road instead of those wimpy Chinese vehicles… or even seeing the cattle ranchers, with Arizona-style cowboy hats and belt buckles. There’s a lot of American influence in Mexico, and a lot of Mexican influence north of the border, which gives Mexico a very familiar feel. But Mexico also has a rich culture that we aren’t that familiar with… a colorful culture with fascinating traditions, fiestas, arts and artisans, music, and dance.

#2 Easy and fast residency…

If you want to become a resident of Mexico, the process is quick and easy… both for temporary and permanent residents. Like many countries, you can use income to qualify… such as a pension or social security. But what’s really unusual is that you can qualify for residency with savings, such as a 401k or IRA balance. Best of all, my visa paperwork did not require any notary seal, apostille, or translation, as it does in most countries. Just bring your English pay stubs and be on your way…

#3 Six-month visa-free stays…

If you don’t want to fuss with residency at all, you can get a six-month tourist entry by just driving over the border. If part-year living is what you have in mind (or operating a vacation rental), then the six-month tourist entry can do the trick.

#4 The dollar is strong…

The U.S. dollar is at historic highs against the Mexican peso, resulting in some terrific bargains. The cost of living is unbelievably low (even in expensive areas), and the cost of real estate priced in pesos is at bargain levels… at least for now. Both the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar are enjoying amazing buying power in Mexico…

#5 Mexico has the best food in Latin America…

Forget those beans-and-rice countries, eating guinea pigs, or the bland-and-boring food that you’ll find in much of Central and South America. Mexican food is rich and savory, with loads of exciting options. From its new upscale Mexican gourmet dining, to its mouthwatering seafood, to spicy salsa, tamales, tacos, and enchiladas, Mexico can’t be beat. What about Brazil? I lived in Brazil, and the food is great… but Mexico’s is better.

#6 You can drive there…

When traveling from the U.S. or Canada, it’s a pleasure to simply drive over a land border and continue on your way. No worries about overweight bags, luggage limitations, or restrictions on liquids, flammables, and other airline annoyances. Even pets are a breeze. In some parts of Mexico, you don’t even need a vehicle permit to bring your car or truck. Where you do need one, you can get the permit and the insurance online before you leave, and just drive right through. Of course if you’d rather fly, Mexico is our closest neighbor… with good flight service to the United States, and lots of non-stops to Canada that don’t pass through the United States.

For the other seven good reasons, visit Live and Invest Overseas.

Cost of Living Compares for Vallarta and Other Cities

Over at the website My International Adventure, Robert Nelson has an interesting interview with the founder of a website that provides cost of living comparable for the city you are currently living in, to one you may be considering moving to. Gerardo Robledillo, originally from Madrid, has spent most of his adult life working in the information technology industry, and in 2010 decided to launch Expatistan, a crowd-sourced site that provides free cost of living information including housing, healthcare, traffic, crime and pollution data:

Robert asked Robledillo how Mexico compares with other regions and countries in the world. “Mexico is among the cheapest countries in the world to live,” he says. “It is in the bottom 25 percent at the same level as Turkey, most of the Eastern European countries and compares favorably to the cheapest parts of Southeast Asia and North Africa.” Compared to the U.S., “Generally, housing, beer and entertainment are about 50 percent cheaper in Mexico,” he said. “Again, this is not all Mexican cities and all American cities. You have to compare your U.S. city with the city in Mexico that interests you. Doctors and cigarettes are even less expensive, on average about 70 percent. The biggest saving of all is in domestic services. The average hourly cost of a maid in Mexico is US$3 versus US$21 in the United States.”

He continues, ““Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and other popular tourist destinations tend to have higher prices that reflect the nature of their economies,” he told us. “Expats will do better in non-tourist areas and large cities like Guadalajara. It is the second largest city in Mexico, but because it is inland and not a major tourist magnet, prices are better and more stable.”

For more on this topic, check out the interview at My International Adventure. To compare cost of livings by city/country, check out Expatistan, or Numbeo, which provides also provides cost of living comparables.

Favorable Statistics so far for Puerto Vallarta in 2016

Puerto Vallarta performed very well for the first quarter of 2016 for hotel occupancy and total airport and cruise ship passengers registered for 2015.

For the first quarter of 2016 hotel occupancy in Puerto Vallarta was 82.5%, its highest level in a decade, 4.5% more than in the same period of 2015
Nuevo Vallarta finished the same period with 86.7%.
In 2015 the Puerto Vallarta International Airport saw its most passengers since 2008 when there were 3,241,000 registered, finishing last year with 3,518,000 passenger registrations.
TAR, Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Iceland Air opened up five new routes to Puerto Vallarta Airport with 31 weekly frequencies.
Puerto Vallarta also recorded an improvement in the arrival of cruise passengers in 2015 with 322,000 people visiting the port, 34 percent from a year earlier, and a level it hasn’t seen since 2008.

Statistics provided by the Mexico Tourism Ministry

Billionaires vs Millionaires in Hawaiian Resort War

There’s an interesting “war” going on in Hawaii, written up in Bloomberg Businessweek, that is putting the 1% against the .001%. And it is making it very difficult for resort homeowners who usually rent out their properties.

The Hualalai resort on Hawaii’s Big Island is owned by Michael Dell and operated by the Four Seasons. There is a Four Seasons hotel along with more than 300 homes and condominiums, with seven restaurants at the hotel that are frequented often by homeowners and their guests. But it just got a whole lot more expensive for homeowner guests.

Although there are a number of conflicts taking place to put owners against owners, the rental problem is an interesting one. If you rent out your home, your guests (or you, out of your rental fee), have to pay the resort $150 for each adult and $75 for each child for access to its facilities. So for a family of four, they would have to pay $450 dollars a day just for the right to be within the resort. During peak season the rate goes up to $250 a day per adult.

Concerned homeowners, those who have been renting their properties out for several months the year, are faced with losing tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual rental income, along with the fact that resale values may plummet once prospective buyers learn about the extra charge for anyone who rents.

A class action suit of 75 homeowners against the resort management has commenced. The Four Seasons says the aggrieved homeowners should read the fine print of their contract, as the management has always had the right to charge fees and restrict use of the hotel facilities.

The problem is that the hotel had been offering these services for free for many years and now is taking those services away. And homeowners who had built up a nice rental business and were used to no-charge free access, are now taking a big hit.

There is a Four Seasons in Punta Mita but no such problem exists. There are plenty of outside facilities besides the hotel’s for homeowners to use and it has been well understood from the beginning of Punta Mita that the hotel facilities, such as the spa and restaurants, are not for homeowners unless there is space – reservations are required.

What do we learn from this? Read the fine print!

Riviera Nayarit’s Newest Development – Costa Canuva

Riviera Nayarit’s newest mega-development, Costa Canuva, is situated just north of Guayabitos and south of Chacala, encompassing 4.3 miles of shoreline and 630 acres of beach, estuary and mountains. When complete it will offer five hotels and residential ownership opportunities within a beachfront village with 2,500 residential units, It will most likely be catering to the Guadalajara market as the development is less than a two-hour drive from Mexico’s second largest city, and airlift it limited in this region.

The development will have a golf course designed by Greg Norman and Lorena Ochoa, the first course created by the Mexican golfing champion, with two of the holes will present spectacular sea views. As well, an extensive list of other activities will be available at Costa Canuva, such as the 20 kilometers of cycling tracks to be designed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), and a canopy park including ziplines.

The development of the Costa Canuva village represents a $1.8 billion USD investment in the region’s economy and is expected to create 6,000 direct jobs and 18,000 thousand indirect jobs locally. The project is being spearheaded by Portugal’s Mota-Engil, one of the largest construction and infrastructure management companies in Europe and the only Portuguese company in the World’s Top 100 Construction Companies, according to Engineering News-Record.

Costa Canuva was previously launched as Costa Capomo, initially to be a Fonatur project for this coast, along with the Litibu project next to Punta de Mita. With the slow sales of Litibu and lack of interest by sub-developers, Capomo never really got off the ground. But with changes to the overall project by the new Portuguese development company, the name was changed and the project was relaunched.

Punta Mita Property Auction

An auction for a property in Punta Mita, held by Concierge Auctions, will take place on June 2nd in cooperation with Jason Edwards of LPR Luxury. The property known as Casa del Faro, has eight bedrooms, 12 bathrooms and a separate guest or staff house. The property was designed for outdoor living including beach access, a spacious patio and pool (with built-in loungers), ocean views, a bar area and outdoor kitchen. Previously offered for $8.1 million, Casa Del Faro will sell at or above the $5.7 million reserve limit.

“Casa Del Faro is an oceanfront paradise like no other located in the most exclusive enclave of the Punta Mita Resort. Between its gorgeous views, authentic Pacific-Mexican design influences and endless amenities, it’s as though you’re living in your own private resort,” Edwards stated. “It’s exciting to be a part of the auction, knowing that buyers globally will be tuned into the unique opportunity to own such a beautiful Mexican getaway.”

For more information contact Jason Edwards at LPR Luxury (La Punta Realty) at (329) 291-6800 or 888-978-4850 from the USA or Canada.