Archive for October, 2009
Thinking Of Buying Real Estate In Mexico? How Do You Choose The Right Broker? What You Need To Know Before Making A Decision
Did you know that real estate licensing in Mexico is not mandatory? That anyone can sell real estate without having to go through training specific to the field? There just recently became available a program to obtain a Mexico real estate professional degree and license but again this is not mandatory. Yes unfortunately this is all true. So how can you as a consumer protect yourself in such an unregulated market?
Even though the field is not yet regulated there is an association that was established to ensure good business ethics among its members. This association is called A.M.P.I The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals A.M.P.I. National was founded in 1956 in Mexico City with the intention to raise the technical level of the profession and establish codes of ethical business practice. This group is diligently pursuing the matter of licensing as well as ongoing training requirements for the real estate field.
This group has been striving towards a higher level of professionalism and has been recognized by NAR National Association of Realtors in the USA. Because of their high standards of ethics A.M.P.I. members are now recognized as NAR International Affiliate Members. A.M.P.I. is also a member of ICREA International Consortium of Real Estate Association an alliance of leading national real estate organizations in the worlds major marketplaces.
The constant pursuit for professionalism in the real estate field has led to the development of courses that members can now take and one day such courses will be a requirement to receive the real estate license. For example this year in the Cancun real estate region the A.M.P.I. organization will sponsor a six day course for C.I.P.S Certified International Property Specialist as part of the ongoing training for members.
As professional Mexico brokers and agents in the market place we get to see first hand some of the questionable practices of unprofessional independent or part time brokers and it is frightening to see the risk unsuspecting consumers are exposed to. Many foreign consumers are unaware that the real estate profession is not regulated. You should always investigate the background of a broker before entrusting them with your business. Beware some brokers may use the A.M.P.I. logo without being a member of the association. Some may even use the REALTOR logo if they were a licensed broker in the US but they may not be a member of A.M.P.I. Selling real estate in the U.S. is very different from here in Mexico so being a REALTOR is not really of great benefit for the consumer.
In hot real estate markets in Mexico such as Cancun and the Riviera Maya it is common to find waiters taxi drivers etc. moonlighting in real estate to try their luck at making a hefty real estate commission. These part timers may not have bad intentions but their lack of experience could result in a costly mistake for you.
There are still some horror stories from buyers of preconstruction developments throughout Mexico. In many of these situations the buyer bought directly from the developer. Many consumers think that if they buy direct and avoid a broker they will get a bigger discount. Unfortunately that is not the case. There is always a commission paid. If there is no broker then the commission is paid to the inhouse sales staff that works directly for the developer and represent his interests. Without your broker there is no one looking out for your interests. It is especially important in the current market to always have a knowledgeable broker one who can recommend developments that are safe for investment. There are so many new preconstruction Mexico condo projects on the market which creates the possibility that some of them will not complete construction. Your broker will know the factors that are important in determining the risk involved based on the developers track record marketability of the project guarantees to the buyer and market conditions that affect sales.
Since the boom of foreign buyers in the last few years professional brokers have realized that the way to do business is by transparent transactions. Many have realized that we have to adjust the Mexico purchasing process to one that the foreign buyer understands and gives them the greatest protection.
It is unfortunate for both buyers and professional brokers that many brokers in Mexico still have not adopted transparent business practices. This not only puts the consumer at risk but stories of fraud and deception always come back to haunt the real estate field. Thankfully A.M.P.I. continues to push forward to find ways to better protect and educate consumers to ensure the safety of their investments.
There are fewer fraudulent sales every year but they still happen. Buying real estate is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. To make sure you are working with an A.M.P.I. professional go to http://www.ampi.org/ Dont be afraid to ask for references and do check them.
About the writer: Cancun Real Estate by Cyndi Ader originally from the US has been living in Cancun Mexico for 17 years. She is a member of A.M.P.I. The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals and is currently a member of the International Relations Committee. She is also an international affiliate of NAR National Association of Realtors. She is the owner/broker of Cancun Properties Real Estate and specializes as a buyer’s broker. for more information 5128796546. Where 9 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips Knowledge to help you buy safely !
Things To Know About Panamas Infrastructure
Panamas infra structure and Panama real estate has been on a rapid growth in the recent years. The value for Panama property has increased a lot. This is because of the continuous development the government of Panama in Panama real estate. Much effort has been put into the development of Panama real estate and there has been many property development projects undertaken. After the treaty with the United States there has been much effort put into the development of Panama property and its infra structure. These efforts have come from the government in collaboration to the government of the United States. There has been much talk into the expansion of the Panama Canal. This will not only help in the increase of trade but also in the increase of tourists. Tourism is big industry in Panama. Tourism has played a major role in the development of the Panama economy. This is because Panama owing to its location makes an ideal vacation stop. People from all over the world come to Panama on their holidays. It is estimated that over one billion dollars are spent by tourists in Panama property. Therefore it becomes one of the major industries of Panama. There are many incentives from the government that have led to the growth of these industries. The various Panama property development projects look to tap the untapped beauty of the undeveloped areas and turn them into luxurious holiday resorts. This makes the country a good host for tourists form all over the world.
Panama is a perfect vacation spot for another reason. It is very economical compared to the other vacation stops. The tourists get to enjoy many facilities and this helps to attract more tourists to the country. Much is done to ensure the safety of the tourists. The tourist police are set up exclusively for taking care of the tourists and to help them enjoy the beauty of Panama property. Regular tours and grand hotels as well as festivals keep the tourists coming into the country. The mountains of Panama are developed as well. Luxurious cottages are developed into the mountains of Panama that make this place a grand heaven for the development of tourism. Also there are luxurious transportation services that help the tourists to more around from one place to another comfortably and luxuriously. This also helps the tourists get a good look of the country without any problems. As such it is not odd that people who come here on vacation tend to buy property in Panama to settle down in Panama property. There are various reasons as to why this happens. The government incentives are a great attractor to the real estate dealers. The real estate in Panama is booming. This presents a great opportunity for many people from all over the world to invest in the real estate market and gain good profits. With the increasing infra structure of Panama this is becoming more and more prevalent. The growth and the development of the country has attracted many investors from all over the world and it one of the fastest developing countries in the world today.
About the writer: Real Estate in Panama is the market you are interested in? Check the offer of Cpanama Real Estate Corp. Laurie Cooper will help you to choose right Panama property for you.
The Top Homes For Sale In Atlanta Are For Lovers Of The Countryside
Many individuals today are moving to the Georgia region. They are discovering that they like the countryside and they like the houses that are for sale. There are some specific places in Georgia as well that individuals seem to gravitate to. One of these is Atlanta. There are a lot of top homes for sale in Atlanta today and a lot of these are created by new home builders in Atlanta and other closeby communities.
These new home builders are committed to creating a lot of beautiful houses for the individuals who either live in Georgia and need to upgrade or are moving to the Georgia region and are looking for a new home. There are a lot of individuals who will buy a home that someone has already lived in but others are very specific about getting just what they need. This is where all of the new home builders in Atlanta come into play because they are needed by these individuals who need new houses.
The Georgia mountain communities are also becoming popular today since there are a lot of individuals who like the lifestyle that these communities offer. The Georgia mountain communities allow for a subdued lifestyle where individuals can have larger plots of land many open spaces and still be close to the individuals and places that they need to be close to.
This makes living in one of the Georgia mountain communities a big plus for a lot of individuals especially if they have come from a place where they were in a big city always around other individuals and a fast pace that they could not get away from. A lot of the new home builders in Atlanta and other large cities will build in these Georgia mountain communities giving individuals many options for their houses as well.
Yet another popular place is the Waleska golf course communities. A lot of individuals enjoy golf course living. Golf is a popular sport and as many individuals retire and look for something to do golf will likely become even many popular with specific groups of individuals. Because of that Waleska golf course communities are gaining in popularity with a lot of beautiful houses being constructed for those who need the golf course lifestyle.
Naturally not everyone is looking for that but the beauty and greenery of living in one of the Waleska golf course communities often attracts a larger number of individuals helping these communities to prosper.
About the writer: Lake Arrowhead is an exceptional residential lake and golf community so close to the conveniences and attractions of the south’s largest urban center yet so very far away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Visit http://www.lakearrowheadga.com for more information.