Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with one of Riviera Maya’s leading minds regarding environmental and conservation programs.  Playa del Carmen properties are located along some of the worlds most beautiful beaches and coral reefs.  With some simple planning, the community can coexist and help conserve these natural attractions.  Paul Sanchez, Centro Ecologico Akumal director, has a long history and experience in ecological programs including directional positions as Biodiversity Policy Advisor for WWF Mexico Program and Pronatura.  He has also worked throughout many parts of the world on projects to help manage the Earth’s natural resources and manage national efforts to enhance Mexico’s environmental policies.

“I am new with the terms, the processes, and what programs exist for constructions and development in Playa del Carmen land, in order to have low impacts upon the environment….where does someone start to learn?”  I asked.  “Energy sourcing and water management are two great starting areas for discussion regarding the design and functionality of the Playa del Carmen properties in order for them to be environmentally friendly” was Paul’s response.

Mexico real estate, and all properties throughout the world,  should have the goal to use the maximum amount of energy from self generating methods.  In other words, instead of having only electricity cabled into your property from the grid (traditional city, state, federal sources), the goal would be to have alternative energy producers.  Solar power, wind power, or other self generated energy to operate a property’s consumption needs.  Given the position of Quintana Roo according to the earths latitude being near to the equator, the sun can generate a tremendous amount of energy.  You can position solar panels nearly in any location of your property and in any day of the year these panels can produce high voltage whereas if you are in the northern countries you will need to focus the panels in a southerly direction.  Wind mills on the other hand are practical only in places where wind speeds are above 10 mph or greater.  Good locations should have constant flows without any large peaks or large gusts throughout the year.   Coastal communities are good choices so long as provisions are made allowing for hurricane occurrences.

The other main concern for an ecologically friendly development should be in the management of water.  Here in Quintana Roo, the aquifer (an underground layer of water or unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, silt, or clay) from which groundwater can be extracted) is quite shallow ranging between 3 meters to 15 meters.  This water supply can easily be contaminated.  So water treatments should occur above ground and wetland systems are ideal for implementation to clean the grey water outflows.  The difference between grey water and black water is that the grey is made up from processes such as laundry washing, dish washing, and bathing.  Black water is basically sewage.   “We have some great examples of waste water treatment using constructed wetlands back in Akumal”  Paul pointed out   “Why don t you come out and I will give you a personal tour?”

How much would you be willing to invest into a new waste water treatment process to participate in helping the conservation efforts?

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

Owning a Puerto Vallarta Beachfront condo, with the amazing views, and the cool ocean breezes is a very fun way for keeping cool on hot blistering summer days.  Another way to keep your temperature down is to lock all the doors and windows, crank up your air conditioner and chill-out in a catatonic bliss as you dream of being in a Puerto Vallarta beachfront condo.   And let’s face it; on the hottest, most humid afternoons in the “dog days” of August, this can seem like a pretty good idea!  However, this solution is not very frugal or eco-friendly, so here are some other tactics that have worked well for me:

Get the air moving. Even a slight movement of 1 mph can make you feel a few degrees cooler.  Ceiling fans are the best; make sure the blades are pointed so the air is directed downward.  Portable fans are great in spaces where ceiling fans will not work.  Either option allows you to raise the thermostat on the A/C and still remain comfortable.

1. Install shades, drapes and blinds. The best way to keep your home cool is to keep the heat out!  There are some excellent blinds out now that cut out the UVA rays, allow for privacy and still let in the view.  Choose lighter colors that reflect the sun’s rays.
2. Keep down the internal heat. The largest indoor heat generators are the stove/oven and incandescent lighting.  Try to cook outdoors on the hottest days and use your range fan to exhaust heat outside the home.  Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescents wherever possible.  These produce one/fifth the amount of energy and hear for the same amount of light.
3. Plant trees and shrubs. Just several strategically placed shade trees can significantly reduce your energy bill.  Tree shaded neighborhoods are typically 3-6 degrees cooler here.  Avoid landscaping with unshaded rock or cement especially on the south and west sides of the home as this increases temperatures around the house and radiates heat after the sun has set.
4. Dress the part. Avoid wearing clothing made from synthetic materials.  Light colored clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton and linen not only feels cool, it looks cool too.  A nice sprinkling of talcum powder before dressing will keep you feeling cool.  And if this fails, have a couple of gel packs or moist washcloths handy in the fridge.  These feel great behind your neck on hot day.
5. Take advantage of cool places. Do your shopping, take in a movie, or enjoy a meal in an air conditioned restaurant during the hottest part of the day.

When all else fails and you need to use the air conditioner, make sure that the filters have been changed, nothing is blocking the air intakes and the system is fully charged.  Also make sure your Puerto Vallarta home is sealed tightly, there is no point in air conditioning the outside.  And when you are sweaty and grumpy, don’t forget to drink lots of water and think cool thoughts.  October will be here soon enough and you will be here enjoying perfect weather while your friends back home are facing six months of rain, sleet, snow and darkness!

Do you have a question about the Puerto Vallarta Real Estate market? Just ask!
Michael Green moved to Puerto Vallarta to take advantage of the unsurpassed lifestyle PV offers. Today, with over 12 years of experience, Mr. Green is one of the most recognized brokers in Vallarta. TOP Mexico Real Estate “Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

Typically as part of the closing process on your Puerto Vallarta home, the utilities will be changed over to your name.  If not, ask the previous owner to sign a letter authorizing this action and then register the change with the corresponding utility.  Your electric bill will come every second month, and your telephone and cable TV arrive monthly.

There is usually an option to “pre-pay” these bills if you will be away from your Puerto Vallarta home for an extended period.  You should also open up a bank account here in Puerto Vallarta.  In order to do this, you will probably need a copy of the deed you just signed (“escritura”), your photo ID and one of the bills we just talked about.   My advice is to find a bank where you can check your account and pay bills on-line. An institution with some idea of customer service is recommended, so if you see the line headed out the door as you approach the bank, and only one teller on duty, this is not a good thing!   Gas and water are often included in your monthly condominium maintenance fee, ask your building administrator.  The maintenance fee is typically paid monthly for most Mexico real estate properties (in advance), some associations pay quarterly or offer discounts for advance payment.  Your property taxes (“Predial”) need to be paid yearly at City Hall next to the main plaza downtown.  You will need to provide your Property Tax ID number or “Cuenta Catastral”.  Bring your bill from the previous year if you still have it, if not bring a copy of your escritura.  Typically if you pay in January or February you receive a discount.  You can also pay these online at: https://enlinea.puertovallarta.gob.mx/PredialEnLinea/Default.aspx

There is a checkbox in the top right hand corner where you can change the language to English.  You also need to check with your building administrator to see if there is an insurance policy in place against major damages.  You can also insure your contents.  I recommend using a large well established company in the event you ever need to make a claim.  Also, please note that many policies are written in pesos, so make sure you take out enough insurance!  You will also need to pay your bank trust yearly.  Typically this takes place on the anniversary of your closing with the first year paid in advance.  Again, do not expect the bank to send you a bill; it is your responsibility to make the payment, so mark your calendar! Rental income is a great way to subsidize the above-mentioned payments.  You may have been told that you can rent your condo here and receive the money in the U.S. (or Canada) and not pay taxes on it.  WRONG!!! It is completely legal to rent a property located in Mexico, but the income generated by this rental is taxable in Mexico! The Mexican tax authority “Hacienda” is getting tougher each year and if you rent your property and do not declare taxes you are running the risk of having the tax authority put a lien on your property or worse. So get yourself registered and declare your rental income.   Does all this sound like a lot of work and no fun?  Of course it is!  That’s why they invented Property Managers! My advice is to ask your local TOP Mexcio Realtor to recommend a good one and let them deal with all of the above and more.  There are many competent bilingual experts in town with access to specialists in law, accounting, cleaning and maintenance.  By renting your property an extra day per month, you can probably cover this cost.  And when you come to PV on vacation, you can actually enjoy yourself!

Do you have a question about Real Estate in Puerto Vallarta?  Just ask!

Owning Mexico homes just got a whole lot easier down in the Playa del Carmen real estate region.  Fiber optics have been functioning in our area for many years, but the benefits or some of the advantages of having the high speed internet have taken a few years to be introduced. 

Non-Mexicans owning Mexico homes would sometimes become quite complicated in regards to management and the upkeep of these south of the border properties.  There are several recurring payments such as water bills, telephone bills, cable tv, and of course the electric bills.  Many of these bills can be paid in several locations here in Mexico such as in a bank, in the grocery stores, even in the corner abarotes or convenience store on the corner.  But this did not resolve the problem for a person who lives 1000 miles away.  Property managers would be life savers and administer these activities.  And now with several companies and utility companies increasing their services, and introducing new features, people who own vacation or second Mexico homes now have an efficient manner to keep track of these routine obligations.   

One such utility organization, the CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad), allows the option for consumers to review their utility bill on line and allows you to make payments on line as well.  You will need to set up an account with a participating bank.  I will go over this in a later post.  For setting up your account within CFE; 

1.     goto   http://www.cfe.gob.mx/es/
2.     grab an old electric bill from all of your Mexico homes you wish to consult
3.     up in the right hand tabs, is an option to convert the page into English (although several of the pages remain in the spanish language)
4.     in the right hand side, you will see a reddish box for setting up an account.  click onto the REGISTRATE AQUI
5.     there are 4 fields to fill out
             user name
             password
             confirm password
             email address
6.     then the process will require that you grab your old electric bill,
             in the upper left hand corner, jot down
             -the name that appears on the bill
             -account number
         drop these numbers into the fields to set up your on-line consultation accounts
7.      now you can see an electronic copy of the bill outstanding
Mexico real estate and owning properties south of the border become more and more efficient each quarter.  The whole concept of buying south of the border, administering your Mexico home from long distance, selling, renting, renovating property in Mexico is becoming easier each year.  With ease in the up keep such as reviewing and paying your electric bills,  and with the day to day cost savings of living in Mexico,  we are preparing to see a substantial increase in Americans and Canadians who spend their winter months and even establish their year round residency in this cost smart region.

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years. In the summer of 2009, he received the first federally applied Mexico Real Estate Degree and Mexico Professional Real Estate License S.E.P. #5978657. He is the current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company’s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

“Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!”

The weather in Yucatan is Tropical. Welcome to life in the tropics If you are looking for real estate in Yucatan it gets hot and gets humid Hurricanes are common on the Caribbean side of the peninsula but much less so on the Gulf Coast Tropical weather can be severe However, the temperature does not get below freezing and it NEVER snows. If you dream of owning a Yucatan home or hacienda and you like to garden, you will love the year round growing season!

Mexico Real Estate Prices

You can get a lot of home in the Mexico real estate market at very reasonable prices! Our property prices start as low as $40,000.00-usd for a fixer upper on the beach or in Merida. Construction prices are very reasonable, currently running below $80.00-usd per sq. ft. to build new or remodel. Labor wages are low and you can hire domestic help for around $20.00-usd a day. Stretching your dollar is easy!

HEALTHCARE

Healthcare in Yucatan is on par with the USA, Canada and Europe. There are numerous good and clean hospitals and clinics Many facilities arestate of the art. Office visits are inexpensive Anyone living in Mexico may enroll in the national health program (IMSS). There are numerous well-trained physicians, dentists and clinicians throughout Yucatan Procedures, medications and treatments are usually much more reasonable here than in other parts of the world.

TRANSPORTATION

It is easy to maneuver throughout the Yucatan. Well-maintained roads intersect most of the peninsula. TheGreen Angels patrol the main highways and provide assistance to travelers The police also have units designed to help travelers with mechanical problems You can go anywhere by bus or mini van Public transportation is inexpensive Bus routes are well serviced with good frequency. Taxis are also readily available Taxi fares have recently gotten less expensive in Merida due to new competition While it is easy to have a car here, it is not essential. Traveling around the Yucatan is easy and affordable!

CRIME

It is safe here! Yucatan has one of the lowest crime rates per capita in Mexico. Violent crime is a rarity In Merida (Yucatan s bustling capital city) women walk the city streets at all hours without being intimidated or molested. Guns are prohibited. A strong police presence and a low toleration for crime provides for safe streets A sense of tranquility and safety pervades the community.

LOCAL ECONOMY

The local economy in the Merida real estate region is stable and growing. Agriculture, fishing, import/export, construction, construction materials, education, health care, tourism, real estate, legal services, government, retail services and entrepreneurialism provide a constant revenue exchange.

ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGNERS

There is a large ex-pat Yucatan retirement community across the state People from all corners of the globe find the Yucatan a warm and welcoming place to call home. TheYucatecan people kindly embrace most foreigners into their relaxed and friendly way of life.

That said, Mexico is not for everyone Type-A personalities, impatient types, demanders, whiners, complainers and those who expect Mexico to be likewhere they came from , are going to have a difficult time adjusting here.

If you are reasonably relaxed, not in a hurry, willing to learn a new way of living, socializing and experiencing life, living in Mexico and especially Yucatan can be richly rewarding Everyday can be an adventure From tending your tropical garden to exploring Mayan Ruins – from a solitary stroll on a lonely beach to a bustling and exotic market there is something here for everyone with an open mind, a willingness to learn and a youthful sense of adventure!

Mitch Keenan has been a Licensed Broker in the United States since the 1980s. He holds a GRI and a CRS from NAR (National Association of Realtors). With over ten years of living and working in the Yucatan real estate industry, Mitch brings American business ethics and Mexico business experience together to give buyers unparalleled service. 512-879-6546

THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

Mexico s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely!

As we approach the fall season, a new cost per kilowatt for electricity goes into affect here in Mexico Now this is a normal procedure as the CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad) has two tariff rates depending on the time of the year Many new owners of second homes down here in Mexico are unaware of such changes, and it is a good fact to know This may only occur in the state of Quintana Roo, I will research further which other states follow this tariff structureWhen you purchase Mexico Real Estate, you should always review your monthly operating or maintenance expensesOne of the important monthly expenses you will incur will be the electric bills I have written several posts regarding electric themes, you can see one of these at MEXICO ELECTRIC UTILITIES involving some activities with a client setting up an acocunt in Tulum

In the hotter period, the CFE charges less money than in the winter season This is due logically to the fact that in the summer, air conditioning is operated or needed much more than in the cooler fall and winter months The periods are from April to September for the less expensive rates per kilowatt, and then from October to March a higher rate is charged So from October to March, new rates will go into affect but only for domestic useage

In the past several years, we have seen much greater attention placed on new technology and materials to make homes and buildings here in Mexico more efficient to operate Thicker walls, windows that reduce the radiation, higher ceilings, new solar powered water heaters and a great variety of new processes and products being introduced to the Mexican building market All very good and very interesting items which I will research further for a future post

Thomas Lloyd graduated from Purdue University Krannert School of Management with a degree in Management/Financial Option Investments. He has been living, investing, and working professionally in Mexico for over 15 years and is federally certified as a realtor in Mexico. Founder and current president of TOPmexicorealestate, you can contact him at (512) 879-6546 or through the company`s web site www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

OK, now you have your Mexico Paradise Real Estate You have either received physical possession or have received legal possession or maybe both, and your next challenge… How do you get your Mexican Property Set up with an account in your name at the Electric Company

CFE (Comision Federal de Electricidad) is the institution where you will set up your account for electricity The electric company here in Mexico is a federal institution and it is not private Obviously the first thing you wish to do once you have your Mexico Property is to set up the accounts for electricity, set up the Mexico water accounts, gas, telephone and television But the first question; is the property a new construction where you will be ordering a new meter (new account), or is the property a resale, where you the new owner will be requesting a change of residence owner

Mexico Electric Contract; Setting Up a New Meter and Account

Before contracting the Mexico Electric account, the company requires a few items listed below (as listed out by the company):

1) Electric Cables must exist in the street

2) The nearest electric pole must be within 35 meters of the meter

3) The internal electric installation must be complete and safe for the residence

4) The exterior panel and base for the meter must exist and be properly prepared for insertion of the meter.

TheCFE will require a few documents and charge a fee to set up your new Mexico Property Electrical Account

a) Name of the new resident and address

b) $502 pesos (2008 second semester fees)**

c) copy of the new resident owner's identification (official id, passport)

d) copy of the of the purchase/sales contract

e) proof of address for the Mexican property (Developer may have previous electric bill, or phone bill etc)

f) Phone number

Once these documents are delivered and fees paid, it will take approximately 8 – 15 days for the Electric Company to visit your Mexico home and connect

Mexico Electric Contract; Changing the Registered Owner Name on an Electric Account

If you have purchased a residence that already has an existing meter, you will want to update your name to appear on the Mexico Electric account and bills

The electric company will require the following documents and fees.

a) copy of the purchase / sales contract

b) copy of the official Identification of the new owner

c) proof of address for the Mexican property such as recent telephone bill, recent gas bill, or better yet the last electric bill with name of the previous owner.

d) $300 pesos (2008 second semester fees) **

* It is important to ensure that your name is captured completely and as what appears on your official identification and as it appears on your new Mexico Title These electric receipts will be documents necessary for filing when you selling your residency See the post, Mexico capital gains taxes.

** The fees charged by the Electric Company may vary from state to state.

More Information on Mexico Electric Company

Once you have your electric set up and operating, some other side notes that might be helpful;

The standard here in Mexico for electricity is 110 volts Three prong outlets are not common on older structures, but the newer buildings have these redily available Adapters are easy to find in major office supply outlets such as Office Depot and Office Max as well as in Home Depot and Home Mart supply outlets It is always wise to buy a surge protector and electrical no-break aparatus for your computers

Most meters here in Mexico are either a 5 digit or a 4 digit reading The hand will point between two digits, the lesser value of the two digits is what is captured on the bill between readings.

In Mexico, 23% of the total electric consumption is consumed from residences Of this amount, 43% is calculated for ilumination purposes

Payments can be realized by internet for the electric bills.

Beatriz Lozano www.TOPmexicorealestate.com