What do you prefer in Yucatan Real Estate?

Posted in Mexico on March 22nd, 2012 by admin – 2 Comments

Many buyers classic homes while few want to relish the homes near the beach.

While deciding what property to buy in Yucatan, one of the most popular choices is Yucatan’s colonial homes which are old but retain a charm. These old homes can be found in the city of Merida. There are a large number of Merida homes which are always favorite with the expatriates from USA and Canada. These homes are quite well preserved. What makes living in Merida a delight is that this city has museums, art galleries, parks, cafes, restaurants, shops and the places of interest are within a walking distance.

The city’s architecture is heavily influenced by the colonial times hence the city has this old world charm which cannot be found in other cities of Mexico. For those to enjoy culture and art this is the place to be in Yucatan. This is the reason why Yucatan has a large population of expats from USA, Canada and Europe who have made Merida their home. This is the place to retire and relax if you like places like Merida.

In contrast, beachfront homes in Yucatan are situated in the sleepy port towns. What you get here are old classic homes in a different setting i.e. beachfront. While the settings are scenic one may miss out on the vibrancy of Merida. The small towns are very peaceful and perfect for unwinding.

In the end what you choose for Yucatan Real Estate depends on your budget and preferences.

What percent down payment do I need to buy a vacation home in Mexico?

Posted in Mexico on April 6th, 2012 by admin – Be the first to comment

In Yahoo Answers a question was posted

What percent down payment do I need to buy a vacation home in Mexico?

My wide(wife) and I want to buy a condo in Mexico, and we were wondernig how much we´ll need as a down payment. This information seems pretty hard to find online, and our normal mortgage broker couldn´t answer it. Also, does anyone have a suggested mortgage broker that finances Mexican properties?

We asked our real estate Mexico Real Estate Expert Agent. The answer was in Mexico mortgage loans are available with 25% down, interest rates start at 7.99%, and payment terms are over 20-30 years but keep in mind that loans are secured on the property in Mexico being purchased, not on US property.

Top 3 hotels in Rocky Point

Posted in Mexico on March 1st, 2013 by admin – Be the first to comment

When we travel, we try to obtain the best “deal”, in other words the best services for the less amount of money possible.  Isn’t it so?

Without a doubt, lodging accommodations is the key at the time of planning your vacation. Whether it’s with your significant other, family or friends choosing the right option will ensure you all the fun that you ’de expect out of your adventure; on the other hand a bad choice, can turn your dream trip into a nightmare and since we do not want that to happen, here are my top 3 choices for hotels in Rocky Point.

1. Hotel Peñasco Del Sol:   Also known as Plaza Las Glorias, this hotel has 200 rooms that have been recently redecorated and it is also in excellent location. This hotel has a privilege pool and Jacuzzi area that give visitors an exclusive view to the Sea of Cortes.  The restaurant Miguel’s has a great variety of local food as well as American food.  Peñasco Del Sol also offers its guests the beach club called “Azul” where you can relax and enjoy a refreshing drink all this while you sunbathe on the sand.  On a personal note being that I am a coffee lover I recommend you to visit the “Coffee bar” at the lobby, don’t miss it!

2. Hotel Playa Bonita: This is a Beach front property, perfectly located on the wonderful Sandy Beach area, it is considered to be one of Rocky Point symbols. Playa Bonita offers its visitors many attractions that they can enjoy during their stay without out having to leave the hotel.  Without a doubt one of its major attractions is the delicious food served at “Puesta Del Sol” where the most exquisite Mexican food is served and is also one of the few restaurants that will offer 100% traditional Mexican cuisine. This is definitely an interesting option for all national and foreign visitors. The service is excellent, the food is better and all the staff members will make you feel right at home.

3. Hotel Laos Mar: Located also on the Sandy Beach area. If you are on a budget but you still want to stay at nice, clean place then look no more. This is a perfect choice for that family vacation without having to break the piggy bank. This is the best option, Laos offers a beach view, big pool and a Jacuzzi, and the prices are just right. Laos Mar Hotel also offers a suite with a kitchenette fully equipped to cook your meals and make it a family affair.

As you can see in Rocky Point, there are options for everyone that will suit all budgets. Come and visit Rocky Point and make your own list of favorite places to stay or if you already have one and would like share it please post your comments.

Writer Bio: works as a manager for Rocky Point Ventures Mexico as a marketing manager. This company provides amazing luxury rentals Rocky Point Mexico area.

5 Tips for being a successful Landlord

Posted in USA on April 12th, 2013 by admin – Be the first to comment

For many people Orlando real estate is once again considered to be a potentially good investment. Median home values have already bottomed out and have been on the rise for well over a year now. However, there is still a long way to go before we see a normal housing market. Savvy investors sensing this opportunity are jumping into the rental market head first buying up investment properties left and right with the intention to rent them out.

 5 Tips for being a successful Landlord

Even new-bee investors are trying to get in on the Orlando rental market hoping to create a steady stream of monthly income. If you’re a new investor interested in buying houses to rent out, then there are some very important things that you should consider before you commit yourself to being a Landlord.

1- Buy at the right price- In order to do this, you should enlist the help of an experienced Orlando realtor. Have your agent research the recent comparables in the area to get a feel for pricing. In order to find steep discounts you should consider looking at some Orlando short sale properties. It’s important to know however, that by buying a short sale property you will most likely get a good deal but the process can sometimes take several months because the lender has to approve your offer before you can close. It’s also ok to purchase a property at fair market value as long as you’re thinking long term and the numbers work.

It’s important to know what your monthly overhead on a property is so that you can compare it to how much you can rent it out for and know exactly how much you will be making on that property.

2-Don’t think about Flipping it- If you want to buy a house with the intention of  renting it out, then you should follow through on that. Buying a house with the intention of flipping it is a whole different ball game with a different set of rules. Don’t change your mind midstream from landlord to house flipper thinking you’re going to make a huge profit because unless you got a fantastic deal on it, then you will probably be disappointed about what you can resell it for. After you consider closing costs, real estate commission, etc. you might even lose money.

3-Take advantage of extremely low mortgage rates- Even if you’re in the position to pay cash for an investment property, you should really consider taking advantage of some of the best mortgage rates in history. It’s really a great opportunity for people that can qualify to lock down a 15 or 30 year fixed mortgage. A good rule of thumb is- as long as the rental income exceeds the mortgage payment [with escrows] by a couple hundred dollars, you will be in good shape.

4- Think about hiring a property management company- Becoming a landlord can be very lucrative for some people if they are up to the task. Having plenty of experience as a landlord myself, I can tell you that it’s not for everyone. Landlords not only have to deal with maintaining the property, but they also have to be available to their tenants at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency situation. This can turn into a big headache, especially with a demanding tenant. That’s why you should look into hiring a property management company from the get -go. You should add this cost to your monthly overhead for the property so that you know if the numbers still make sense.

5-Get familiar with your county’s eviction laws- By being a landlord for any amount of time it’s inevitable that you will have to evict someone at some point. Even if you’ve done your due diligence on a potential tenant like running a background check, credit report, etc., eventually you will have a situation where a tenant stops paying the rent. Although an eviction is something that you can do yourself at the courthouse, I would strongly suggest that you hire an attorney or eviction company to handle this for you. There’s quite a bit of paperwork involved and if something gets filed incorrectly, you may have to start all over again. Remember, every day that the tenant stays in there without paying, translates to money flying out of your pocket.

This article was written by guest author John Conde

4 Essentials For Traditional Mexican Home Decors

Posted in Mexico on April 18th, 2013 by admin – Be the first to comment

If you see a home where in you find a fiesta of bright colors and a touch of a lot of energy, you might be seeing a Mexican style traditional home!

Loved for its bold and bright decorations, the Mexican traditional homes made use of brick and wood as building materials and usually had pillars and columns for interior decorations. They were, to a much extent, inspired by Spanish, Mediterranean or Moorish style architecture. Decorative lawns in front, wood beamed ceilings (to keep the heat out), intricately made doors and large windows are a few of the known characteristics of Mexican traditional homes.

However, there is so much to Mexican architecture – columns having pediment and tops with artistic leaf or vine designs – I have brought five essential features of these homes to you. In any case you may want to design a home that has stucco-style exteriors and rustic-engraved, warm interiors you can doubtlessly choose the Mexican interior designs.

Absolute carnival of bright colors:

Mexican decors are loved for exuberantly colorful appearance where the two opposite color palettes are used. With a blend of so many opposite colors – vibrant primary colors like deep reds, yellows, greens, pinks, or blues and earth tones such as tans, browns or dull reds – the homes look warm yet cheerful. Amongst the dusky and natural but deep, rich colors white is used as an accentuating color. The walls, in fact, are painted to suede effect look.

Elegantly manicured gardens:

Mexican homes do also have gracefully designed courtyard gardens that replicate the glamour of thriving forests and barren terrain. Typified by dense plants and trees, gorgeous water features such as fountains and streams, and Talavera styled plant pots they are usually meant for outdoor dining. You may find cooking stoves and dazzling lighting to encourage people to dine together under the sky. The gardens include succulents, cacti, herbs, vegetables, and ornamental meadow as well as stamped metal lamps. A little spice is added to the entire place by putting dried pepper wreaths. The furniture in the gardens (you could find enough sitting area in the garden) again is painted in lively colors such as blue or orange. A fireplace is built for making family and guests comfortable while they talk, eat and enjoy.

Romantically warm tiled floors:

Floors in the Mexican homes are usually made of clay, ceramic or limestone tiles and bricks! The naturally hard floors are designed using bright color (generally hues of reds, oranges and yellows) tiles put to create attractive patterns across widespread floors in living areas and other parts of the home including stairs, skirting boards, fireplace or borders of windows! The tiles that are made from clay or ceramic and are fired at high temperatures do not appear charred and provide a rustic charm to the interiors.

For the carpets are not that essential in such homes, they may prefer using woven rugs of rich colors and having geometric patterns.

Rustic pine wooden furniture:

Ideally manufactured from kiln-dried hickory, oak, alder or solid pine wood the Mexican furniture is characterized by heavy duty panels, metallic details, a lot of drawers and brackets, rustic finishes and dark iron hinges and knobs! Preferably including country-style pieces such as chairs, tables, beds, armoires, dressers, night stands, and chests the Mexican furniture provides an antique ambience to the entire décor. Uniquely designed and hand crafted items indeed provide an area a sumptuous feel.

Apart all these the various accessories such as wrought-iron or wooden lighting; dazzling woven blankets, cushions and baskets; wall hangings exhibiting Mexican weaving capabilities; pottery items; conventional masks, and Hojalata Mexicana tin work items are an integral part of Mexican home decors.

Author Bio: Ruby Tyagi enjoys writing for various topics including home decor and improvement; good housekeeping; environmental aid; home and garden and health and lifestyle topics. Her several works have been published online nationally and internationally.