Puerto Vallarta real estate is famous because of this areas beautiful beaches, its infinity of natural attractions and its interesting places to explore.  In addition to these benefits, Puerto Vallarta real estate is constantly developing a stronger culture for art, and currently offers a wide range of styles and tastes of art for residents and potential property buyers.

Puerto Vallarta currently has an established community of artists, including painters, writers, artisans and sculptors.  In addition, artists come from various places, not only in Mexico, but from around the world, to display their works in a variety of settings, ranging from modern galleries to art displays on the boardwalk.

One example of the current artwork this city enjoys is the many sculptures found in various parts of the city.  Puerto Vallarta offers an ideal setting to admire sculptures outdoors.  You can find sculptures made of bronze, iron, stone or resin, adding another touch to the beautiful landscapes of the sea and breathtaking sunsets.  The outdoor sculpture museum offers this ideal combination, and is more than worth a visit both for tourists and for art-loving residents.

What might be called the “art corridor” begins in the south part of the boardwalk with the famous landmark known as “Los Arcos.”  These very traditionally Mexican arches were recovered from an hacienda in Guadalajara.  Another example of art rich in tradition includes the “Fountain of Friendship.” This is a sculpture which represents brotherhood, depicting 3 dolphins; according to a legend of the Chumash natives from the south of California, several people were rescued from a shipwreck by dolphins.

Halfway up the boardwalk, you will find a group of stone sculptures in the form of chairs, decorated with shapes of sea animals.   The sculptures are called “La Rotonda del Mar.”  The sculptor, Alejandro Colunga, is from Guadalajara, and has held exhibitions of his work in various countries throughout the world.

The cultural and artistic atmosphere of Puerto Vallarta shows both Mexican and international influences.  Puerto Vallarta is a city that is that is constantly becoming richer in culture, and balances exhibitions of recognized artists with opportunities for new talent.  Puerto Vallarta real estate is an ideal choice for anyone wishing to live in a beachfront paradise for various reasons; a near perfect climate, modern services and stores and excellent infrastructure to name a few.  As the city has expanded an its economy has strengthened, its cultural side has also developed, adding to the list of reasons to make Puerto Vallarta your home.  To find out more about living in Puerto Vallarta and finding your dream home here, contact the TOPMexicoRealEstate   NETWORK; “Your Expert Property-Finders.”

 For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Puerto Vallarta real estate slowed down considerably because of the global recession, then by the lull in tourism triggered by the swine flu travel advisory.  Although the global economic situation continues, Puerto Vallarta´s resilient charm and beauty are bringing the tourists back again.  This is good news for  Puerto Vallarta real estate, showing that the city’s key industry is resilient and will continue to be strong.

Among the good signs are that hotel occupancy in Puerto Vallarta is rising weekly.  There has been a slow increase in the percentage of visitors over the past several weeks which the industry hopes will be a positive sign for the Winter high season to come.  Several factors have played a role in this.  While tourism has been on an increase throughout Mexico, specific initiatives for this area have also had an impact.

Several initiatives were introduced to the area over the summer including a concert called the “Jalisco en Vivo” concert which was held in Puerto Vallarta during this past summer.  The concert, which was planned with the primary goal of rebuilding tourism, attracted a local, national and international audience.  Among other factors, this concert helped the effort to slow down and eventually reverse the drop off of tourism; the week before the concert had seen a 14.3% decrease in hotel occupancy, while the weak of the concert felt less of an impact, with an 8.6% decrease.  During the third week after the event, hotel occupancy has increased 5.7%.

There is hope that the initial success of the concert will be repeated on as the concert is aired on T.V. throughout Mexico, Latin America, parts of the U.S. and some places in Europe.  The program received strong ratings on Mexican T.V., and the concert should continue to draw tourists’ attention – both Mexican and international – to Puerto Vallarta.

Another program, this time on the state level, is giving free guided tours and excursions from Guadalajara.  These program includes 40 destinations of the state’s 11 main tourist destinations (including Puerto Vallarta), offering 120 excursions for more than 5000 tourists.  The trips include transportation and guided tours, and were offered until the end of August.  The program was promoted in over 60 information booths, and has seen an investment of about 1,200,000 pesos.  Although the focus of this program is local tourism, the presence of more tourists will support tourist based businesses in areas entirely dependent on this industry, helping to boost the industry while international tourism continues to rise.

These and other factors are helping tourism in Puerto Vallarta, the city’s main industry, move upward again, and quickly.  Those interested in Puerto Vallarta real estate will see this as a good sign, as we wait for the global recession to turn around.

 (512)-879-6546  THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Puerto Vallarta real estate always offers many, diverse activities for residents of the city.   Mexico retirement groups and foreign winter visitors enjoy participating in projects that protect and care for the areas nature and its creatures– one of Puerto Vallarta real estate’s most important attractions.  During the summer months there has been an increased focus on protecting newly born sea turtles.

In the months of June / July the nesting season for the Olive Ridley Turtle – the most common sea turtle in the Puerto Vallarta area – began; the season lasts until November.  The natural nesting cycle of the turtles includes abandoning the eggs for the 50 to 60 day incubation period, when the eggs hatch, and the newly-born turtles instinctively head for the sea.  While it is a natural part of the process that many are taken by predators, including seagulls, it is important to ensure that a large number arrive safely to the sea, since these turtles are a threatened species.

In Puerto Vallarta, there are various organizations devoted to the protection of these turtles, which provide opportunities for volunteers and retirement groups to take newly born sea turtles to the edge of the water and help increase their chances of survival.  The programs not only help prevent loss due to natural predators, but also make sure that swimming and other potentially disruptive sea activities are put on hold during the time that the turtles go to sea.  The volunteers are organized, with a line drawn at the edge of the ocean so they don’t accidentally step on the turtles others are releasing.

This month volunteers from Puerto Vallarta itself, as well as from numerous other countries, such as Korea, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, the United States, Israel and Finland, have begun to arrive to beaches in Puerto Vallarta and the surrounding area to help in this important process.

Just as nature provides a key element in the attractiveness of Puerto Vallarta real estate, residents and visitors alike do their part in protecting this threatened species, thus ensuring that its existence continues to add to Puerto Vallarta’s beauty.

 For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Let s start out by assuming that you re a pretty savvy investor; your 401k, IRA, or personal investments have kept up with the S&P 500 average during the past ten years and you ve lost only about 35% of your life s savings! Did you realize that the Mexican Exchange Traded Fund (EWW) which represents the Mexican stock market, even though it was annihilated during the current recession along with all other markets throughout the world (but is recovering rapidly), has advanced by 200% during the same time frame In other words, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1999 would now be worth $65, whereas if it were invested in the Mexican EWW fund it would now be worth $200. Please refer to the ten year graph below in order to see the comparisons between these two areas of investment and perhaps you can speculate as to where might be the best market to place your next bet!

One of the most significant reasons for this steady and rapid growth in the Mexican stock market (Bolsa) must be attributed to the policies of the new governing party that has been in control since 2000. Mexico has been governed by a couple of pro-foreign investment Harvard alumni during most of the timeframe shown above and will continue under the same leadership for at least another three years. The PAN party, led first by President Fox and currently by President Calderon, has brought Mexico from a Third World Country to a Newly Industrialized Country standing in a matter of seven short years. Among their numerous accomplishments, they have cracked down on corruption, have promoted free market capitalism while maintaining a relatively firm peso/dollar relationship, and have elevated tourism to the top of their list of strategic objectives.

We have lived within the Puerto Vallarta real estate during the entire ten year period and have witnessed the changes and growth firsthand. As the economy has boomed, unemployment in Vallarta has been virtually eradicated while the population has doubled, prices for materials, labor, and land have tripled, and of course, real estate prices have also tripled.

Now, let s compare this growth and Mexico real estate value appreciation focusing on PV to what has been experienced in the US. The latest government released graph below from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows that average housing prices in the US appreciated by nearly 70% from 1999 through 2006. Since then, the rate of appreciation has dropped precipitously until the fourth quarter of 2007 when values actually started depreciating Throughout all of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, prices have plummeted by about 10% and as you can see in the graph below, we can project prices to fall by another 5-10% before they once again start appreciating. In other words, the average investment in housing in the US made 10 years ago will have increased in value by 40-50% by the end of 2009. Even though housing values have recently been crushed, real estate has still way outperformed the stock market during the past ten years; hopefully, your real estate gains have more than offset your stock market losses!

With the US real estate market currently experiencing a serious recession, no real appreciation in housing values is expected for at least two more years. In summarizing, most Americans have enjoyed roughly a 40-50% gain in their property value over the past ten years and can expect the equity in their residence to be, at best, essentially dead money for the next couple of years.

The situation regarding the resale of existing homes and condos south of the border is entirely different than in the US. In Mexico, there are seldom any promotions or transfers requiring a housing upgrade or relocation, i.e., business related issues almost never require the sale of a resort property. Also, very seldom do owners decide to upgrade or downsize once they own a retirement property. More importantly, almost all real estate purchases in Mexico have been done on an all cash basis and therefore, regardless of the economy, there are no foreclosures on these fully owned properties. Mexico Mortgages became readily available about five years ago however they require at least 20% down and substantial documentation proving one's ability to pay. (Sorta like the good ol' days in the US!) With this kind of financially solid buyer and this level of equity, there are virtually no foreclosures in Mexico. Although the rate of sales of existing properties has slowed to a snail's pace, in the absence of foreclosures, prices of resale properties have held up fairly well; certainly not plummeting as in the US.

In summarizing, those of us that have been fortunate enough to be invested in Mexico during the past decade have fared very well. Even though we've felt the impact of the financial downturn during the past couple of years, our Mexican stocks and Mexican properties have more than doubled in value while those in the US have lagged well behind.

As we look to the future, we see very promising growth in the Mexican Bolsa as well as in Mexican real estate sales. In fact, FONATUR, the Mexican Tourism Board is still forecasting explosive growth in the Nayarit Riviera area, just north of Puerto Vallarta, during the next decade; only time will tell. As they say,past performance is no guarantee of future results ! Assuming the global economy eventually rebounds, it is a given that the millions of baby boomers, just starting to retire, will be heading south for the benefits that Mexico has to offer. When this stampede of boomers hit the beaches in Vallarta, real estate prices that have been essentially flat for a couple of years, will continue escalating.

Aside from the fact that we have seven months of perfect winter weather in PV from November through May, when the average temperature is 73*F with virtually no rain and blue skies, we have eight magnificent golf courses, hundreds of tennis courts, world class deep sea fishing, hundreds of fine restaurants, clean food and water, and 50,000 other gringos to play and party with, our portfolios of stock and real estate investments south of the border areen fuego !

If you re recently retired or considering retirement in the near future and you re the savvy investor that you think you are, you really ought to check out the investments that lie south of the border; enjoy your retirement to its ultimate, and put your dead money to work for you in beautiful Puerto Vallarta.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Upon retiring from Houston, Texas more than ten years ago, we were very fortunate to have chosen the Puerto Vallarta real estate area as our retirement destination. Fortunate, because during the past decade, more specifically during the past seven years while the PAN Party has governed all of the Mexico real estate markets, the Vallarta area economy has virtually exploded with growth resulting in a doubling in population and a tripling in real estate values, thus attracting all of the modern day conveniences that you would expect to find in any other US or Canadian resort destination.

In Vallarta, located on the same latitude as Hawaii, we have some of the finest weather on the planet for seven to eight months per year. The “high season” of November through May provides about 220 rain free days having an average daily temperature of 73 F. It is absolutely ideal weather for doing whatever pleases you; and you can rest assured, everything that might be of interest to you is available in this Puerto Vallarta retirement destination!

Because the summer months in Vallarta are similar to those in Houston, i.e., hot, humid, and rainy, most of us retirees head north for the summer. We have spent the past three summers in the Lake Tahoe area; however, the summers of 2001, 2002, and 2004 were enjoyed in beautiful Victoria, B.C., Canada. During those years, the Canadian dollar was at an all time low. In 2004, the Canadian dollar was equivalent to about .66 US dollar or about 66 cents, US currency.

At that time, there were a number of beautiful condos on the Inner Harbor of Victoria that were termed, “leakers”. Rain and moisture were somehow able penetrate the walls, probably around windows, and then migrate down between the inner and outer walls, causing substantial damage to the buildings. Each of the condo owners were assessed an average of $80,000 for the repair work and the buildings were draped in tarpaulins for months while the restoration work was done. Consequently, many of the frustrated and dollar poor residents were anxious to unload these troubled properties.

There we were, with strong US dollars in our pockets and eager sellers all around, and like fools, we did nothing! Of course, since then the buildings have been fully restored to better than new condition, and being in an absolutely prime location, they have tripled or quadrupled in value. During this time period of price appreciation, the Canadian dollar has increased in value by 50%, relative to the US dollar (and the Mexican peso, which has held steady with the US dollar). Therefore, for those of us holding US dollars, those “leaking” condos in Victoria have become almost cost prohibitive.

That being said, there are now many fortunate Canadians holding valuable real estate in Canada and strong Canadian dollars when compared to the Mexico exchange rate. It s therefore time for those rich Canadians to start shopping for their winter retirement destinations! What better place to shop than in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where three or four years ago the Canadian dollar would buy 7 pesos, whereas today, it ll buy close to 11 pesos

Of the nearly 50,000 North Americans in Vallarta, we estimate that 30-40% of them are Canadians. This percentage will surely increase as the Canadian dollar strengthens and the US real estate prices and the US dollar weaken. Just imagine, summers in Canada and winters in Vallarta; retirement just doesn t get much better than that! The head of the Puerto Vallarta Chamber of Commerce has recently estimated that the greater Vallarta population will reach 600,000 residents by 2015, and therefore, if it were located in Canada, would rank among the top ten largest Canadian cities! By 2015, there will probably be about 100,000 North Americans in Vallarta, half being Canadians. Just imagine, more Canadians living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico than in Brandon, Manitoba or Prince Albert, Saskatchewan!

There are over 100 Puerto Vallart condo complexes currently under various stages ofconstruction in the greater Vallarta area with more than 7,000 units recently placed on the market. During the next decade, Fonatur, the Mexican tourism agency, has forecasted at least 20,000 additional units to be built along the Riviera Nayarit, 40 minutes north of the Puerto Vallarta airport. This doesn t even include the incredible expansion plans for the land south of Vallarta which is slowly but surely being converted to privatized land, available to foreigners. There is certainly no housing slump along the Mexican Riviera, and an infrastructure that s improving daily.

In summarizing, now, is the perfect time for all of you loonie laden Canadians to head south this winter and check out the wonderful opportunities that await you in sunny Puerto Vallarta. You'll be amazed to learn how easily you can afford to live in luxury while enjoying your favorite pastime activities with fellow retirees in Paradise.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

When we moved to the Puerto Vallarta real estate region a decade ago, our friends back in the States frequently asked if we felt stranded in the Third World. The answer was no; perhaps the Second World! Prior to the demise of the USSR, the Second World consisted of the communist bloc countries. Since the collapse of the iron curtain, there are no longer any Second World countries, so perhaps we can promote Mexico and the Mexico real estate industry to the status of the New Second World! Actually, Mexico along with China, India, Brazil, Turkey, and others are recognized as Newly Industrialized Countries or NIC S. These NIC S have more advanced economies than the developing countries of the Third World, yet have not attained the level of developed countries of the First World. Regardless of what World we were in, it was a cultural shock and required a number of changes to our daily living habits.

As an example, the Mexican TV had only five or six channels which were either old movies from the US with Spanish subtitles or Mexican shows obviously directed to sixth graders. The only channel that we could understand and relate to was CNN with it s biased, almost anti-US commentary that was only a bit more palatable than the sixth grade Mexican shows! Newspapers and magazines from the US were few and far between and the news was usually history by the time they were made available here. Mail delivery was so pathetic in Vallarta ten years ago that the only way to be assured of receiving mail, including newspapers and magazines, was through Mail Boxes Etc. which delivered from El Paso to Vallarta once a week. The service was fairly priced and we had a good chance of receiving most of our mail. Ten years ago we had dial-up, ultra slow Mexican speed internet service. It worked most of the time but was pitifully slow and got disconnected constantly, especially if there was a threat of rain.

Ten years ago, the grocery, drug, and hardware stores varied from absolutely horrible to almost acceptable. The choice of foods and supplies was limited but enough to survive. We had bottled water, Microdyn to clean fruits and vegetables, pills to keep us free of amoebas and bacteria, and the rest of the basics needed to live in the tropics known as Paradise! We did have a decent golf course, world class fishing, and an absolutely perfect climate with Pebble Beach type views from everywhere. Most importantly, we were meeting a bunch of similar minded, adventurous, Mexico retirement couples from North America that came to enjoy a new pace of life. One could probably say that we were stranded in the Third World but the benefits of living in Paradise just about offset the drawbacks and limitations associated with this new style of life.

During the past decade, Puerto Vallarta, known as PV or Vallarta by the local residents, has changed dramatically. The population has exploded to 350,000 inhabitants, most of which are now speaking or at least understanding English. We have many new businesses and stores including a Super Walmart, Sam s Club, Office Depot, etc with all the latest in electronics, hardware, and building supplies. The many new huge and modern grocery supermarkets are equal to the finest in the US with a complete selection of frozen foods and most of the other food products that we 50,000 Americans and Canadians are accustomed to, all of which are imported from the States. Vallarta has grown to the point where there are now seven beautiful golf courses with more under construction; hundreds of tennis courts, and of course, Vallarta still has the world class deep sea fishing. The medical care in Vallarta has changed accordingly with the population boom. There are three new hospitals and numerous modern clinics. The water is as pure as in the States and the food purchased from the modern air-conditioned supermarkets is equal to the finest in the US. There are a number of new, huge cinemas, new theme parks, and hundreds of world class restaurants in Vallarta.

Now, let s return to the idea of being stranded in Paradise. Today, most all North Americans have satellite TV with 350 channels from the States or Canada. We all have high speed internet service with exactly the same information at our fingertips that we would have anywhere in the States. Most of the Americans and Canadians use Vonage or a similar telephone provider for almost free and unlimited calls to their friends and family back home. Mail service in PV is excellent, however all mail is routed through Guadalajara or Mexico City and serious delays still happen in these cities. Therefore, any items of importance are sent via DHL, FedEx, or UPS. Most items mailed by DHL will be received within 48 hours and are easily tracked on the internet. American newspapers and magazines are current and can be purchased at news stands located throughout Vallarta.

With the thousands of houses and condos currently under construction, the totally new city infrastructure, and the future ten year building plan underway, PV is no longer a developing economy; it s a booming economy! With all the modern internet technology, nobody should ever feel stranded in Vallarta unless they desire the old Mexican pace of life which can be had by simply avoiding the technology.

There are a few things for certain in Vallarta; none of the retired North Americans will have to go to work tomorrow, the weather will be perfect for doing whatever pleases them, they will enjoy being with their friends, and with two to three hour flights leaving for the US all day everyday, none of them will feel stranded in the Third World!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Mexico! Just remembering your first trip across the border to Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Matamoros or any other border town probably conjures up thoughts of poverty. Our first introduction to extreme poverty was 25 years ago near the outskirts of Mexico City and we ll never forget it. Although poverty still exists in Mexico, it is nothing like it was due to the stable peso and the Mexican economy booming for the past decade.

Furthermore, comparing resort cities in the Puerto Vallarta real estate market to the border-towns is like comparing Beverly Hills to Bangladesh! We have been coming to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, referred to as PV or Vallarta by the locals, and have owned property here since 1984. In 1997 we purchased a beautiful new Puerto Vallarta Home home and made it our permanent residence. It has been a wonderful investment in the Mexico real estate market, having tripled in value during the past ten years. In 2002 we invested some money in the Mexican Bolsa, or stock market, at 3.25 pesos per share. That investment currently trades at 11.55 per share, yielding a 255% gain. During those five years the Mexican peso has held firm at about 10.8 pesos per US dollar.

When we moved to Puerto Vallarta ten years ago, women sitting on sidewalks nursing their babies, hand out, and cup in front were commonplace. The few cars and old buses were often dragging or missing their mufflers, were often dinged and dented beyond recognition, and always such a variety of colors that it was virtually impossible to ascertain their original color. The streets and sidewalks were filthy and need of repair and stores looked like what one would expect in a sleepy little Mexican fishing village. Unemployment was high and help readily available for $10 per day. None of the streets had signs or centerlines, making driving your basic free-for-all. Ten years ago, prices in the stores and restaurants were relatively low because labor was cheap, they had only locally produced products, and very few had air-conditioning. Even in Vallarta, there was some degree of poverty, yet one could survive due to the low standard and related cost of living.

Things have changed drastically in Puerto Vallarta during the past ten years. The Mexican economy is booming and it s especially true in Vallarta as a result of tourism. There is virtually full employment with the majority of the younger Mexicans speaking some degree of English since income is approximately three times as much if one speaks and understands English. Ten years ago, we had a cruise ship visit PV every other day whereas now, with the new marina, we have two or three cruise ships here daily. The International Airport is roughly four times the size it was ten years ago with flights arriving and departing constantly. A second International Airport is currently in the planning stages. The prices of the Puerto Vallarta real estate have roughly tripled during the past ten years as have the prices of materials and labor.

With the economy booming and full employment, the majority of the locals now own their own cars and a good portion of them are new. Most all the buses are new and clean and seldom do you ever see a clunker with its muffler dragging behind. In fact, the standard of driving has been substantially improved because the locals are proud of and take care of their new cars. All the streets are now clearly marked, often lined with palms, and kept immaculate. All of the thoroughfare roads are either new or have been doubled in size with new bridges, lighting, etc. There are so many cars now in PV that congestion and parking have become the main problems in our beautiful Paradise. Three new parking garages have been built downtown during the past four years; one above ground and two below ground with public parks above. The old stores are either being renovated or torn down and replaced with beautiful new buildings. Because there is such opportunity available in Vallarta, the level of education is constantly improving at the new University of Guadalajara campus which provides the ideal setting for thousands of young Vallartenses to receive advanced educations. The booming economy has attracted some of the finest doctors and dentists in Mexico, many educated in the States or Europe. housing sophisticated state-of-the-art equipment have been built in the past five years. Fine restaurants abound in PV, all having clean and modern kitchens, providing employment for thousands of workers as do the many modern hotels. New high rise condos and those currently under construction are seen everywhere providing great employment for thousands of construction workers.

In the evenings duringhigh season , November through May, when everyone is out dining or partying, the streets almost resemble New York with the yellow taxis everywhere. In fact, the Malecon, or walkway along the beach, has more people visiting the sites and shopping at midnight than it does at noon. The sleepy little Mexican fishing village is no longer sleepy nor little, with a population now exceeding 350,000 residents. During thehigh season , PV rocks for about 18 hours a day. One must wonder whether those sidewalk women ever got jobs or moved to Los Angeles. There is certainly no poverty to be seen in Vallarta today!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 THE www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Attention, baby boomers; don t be late for the party! If you haven t noticed what s going on in the Mexico real estate market, but only heard about illegal immigration north of the border, the following may prove to be quite awakening and informative.

The Puerto Vallarta real estate market started out as a sleepy little Mexican fishing village located in the foothills of the Sierra Madres on Banderas Bay along the Mexican Riviera. The population has literally exploded since the filming ofThe Night of the Iguana in 1963. Vallarta has grown from 2,000 inhabitants prior to 1963 to the current figure of 350,000 inhabitants in 2007. Today, the population of greater PV makes it the second largest city in the Mexican state of Jalisco, only behind Guadalajara. Please refer to the following graph in order to track this explosive growth and its projection for the next ten years:

Putting this in perspective, you ll notice that the above chart indicates that Vallarta has now reached the size of St. Louis and assuming the projected growth holds true, it will be equal in size to Cleveland within ten years. The significant note of interest is that St Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, etc., will all probably show little to no, perhaps even negative growth, while PV is expected to grow by another 50% during the next ten years.

Now, we ask, what s going on down there First, let s consider who s moving there. The entire industry of Vallarta is based on tourism and the immigration of North Americans. The US data from the IRS returns indicates a growth from 200,000 US citizens a few years ago to 750,000 Americans living in Mexico in 2005. Of the 750,000 Americans, we can only estimate that 50,000 Americans and Canadians now call Puerto Vallarta home. With the tens of thousands of condos and villas currently under construction or in the ten year planning phase, we can only imagine that by 2017, the North American population in greater PV will be somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 retirees. The following are some of the reasons for this explosive growth:

Climate–The seven monthhigh season of November through May has an average daily temperature of 73*F with virtually no chance of rain.

Scenery–Vallarta, located in the foothills of the Sierra Madres on the Banderas Bay, one of the largest and most beautiful bays in the world, is in the center of the Mexican Riviera on the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful beaches, rocky cliffs, mountain sides overlooking the bay, tropical flowers and wildlife, and all the sights that one would expect to find in Paradise.

Safe–With tourism being the life blood of the economy, North Americans areoff limits regarding any sort of criminal activity. Since guns are strictly prohibited in Mexico, burglaries, robberies, etc., are virtually unheard of. The primary objective of most all of the young generation of natives is to assure all North Americans a pleasant and safe visit to Paradise so that they ll return soon and often. Fear of a terrorist attack in Vallarta Forget it!

Friendliness–In 2001, a readers poll taken by Conde Nast magazine listed Vallarta as the friendliest resort destination in the world. The locals treat North Americans with dignity, respect, and as friends, family, and almost as royalty.

Clean Food and Water–The explosive population growth has caused a complete revamping and expanding of the city infrastructure. This includes the road system, power generation and distribution, and of course, water treatment and distribution systems. The water is pure and safe to drink from the tap throughout the city. All food products are now available in the many new modern supermarkets equal to the finest in the States. Food for home or restaurant consumption is closely monitored for cleanliness and controlled as in North America.

Medical care–Two new huge modern hospitals and one smaller modern clinic in Vallarta are fully capable of handling all emergencies as well as complicated surgeries. Modern dental clinics are also in Vallarta offering crowns, caps, implants, as well as all the basic dental practices. All of the doctors and dentists speak English and many of them have had at least some professional training in the States.

Friends–Every North American that you see in Vallarta, and they are easy to spot, is either on vacation or retired, i.e., none of them have to go to work tomorrow! They are all open to new friendships and new comers are always welcome. It s one big party with no looming pressures of the office or the commuter drive in the morning.

Language–Because the economy in PV is based on tourism, it is imperative to speak English. Therefore, it is estimated that at least 80% of the younger generation is now speaking or at least understanding English. Communication is not a problem in Vallarta and there is no need to learn Spanish.

Travel Time–Although Vallarta is on the same latitude as Hawaii, it is only two to three hours from most of the US cities. Even the roads coming down from the US are now all super modern toll highways and the drive to PV can be made in two days from the border.

Connectivity–With high speed internet service available citywide, internet based telecommunication, and satellite TV available everywhere, you have the same contact with the world that you would have anywhere in the US or Canada.

Activities–World class deep sea fishing has been for years, and will always be, a major activity in Vallarta. There are now seven beautiful golf courses with more under construction. There are hundreds of tennis courts, water activities, night life galore, and too many clubs and organizations to mention. If you have nothing to do in PV, it s only because that s your choice!

Cost of Living–The cost of basic staples is about the same as in North America, however, housing is roughly half the cost and housing related taxes are a fraction of those in the States. All services are a half to a third of those in the US including medical and dental care because labor rates are so much lower. The cost of dining, outdoor activities, etc., are pretty much in line with those in the States.

Economic Security–The Mexican peso, at approximately 10.8 pesos per US dollar, has held firm for the past ten years. There are no devaluation concerns at this time as the Mexican economy booms.

Political Security–The PAN party has ruled in Mexico since 2000 and will remain in power at least until 2012, assuring a twelve year consecutive run of Mexico being governed by Harvard graduates! Needless to say, they are pro-US and friendly to the North.

Investment–Property values have tripled during the past ten years and are expected to double again during the next five years. With the booming economy, the Mexican stock market has also tripled during the past ten years. There is no slow down of growth in the foreseeable future.

Hopefully, the above 15 items will provide some explanation for the booming economy and explosive growth in Vallarta. They say that the party s not over, that it has only just begun. The Mexican National Tourism Development Foundation (Fonatur), has designated a 30 mile stretch of pristine Pacific Ocean shoreline north of Vallarta as the new Nayarit Riviera, where more than five billion dollars will be invested during the next ten years creating 30,000 new jobs as they build close to 20,000 new condos, villas, hotels, etc. As the North Americans continue to flock to Paradise, the infrastructure growth and future planning activities continue at a torrid pace.

If you re retired or close to retirement, you ought to check out Vallarta before it s too late. If you re fortunate, you ll be included in the next 150,000 gringos that migrate to Paradise!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Attention all baby boomers; are you starting to think about retirement but your cash is tied up in 401k s, IRA's, pension programs, retirement funds, stock options, or your residence and you re not quite ready to liquidate any of these assets Have you been watching retirement properties continue to escalate in price and are concerned that the cost of your retirement dreams might be beyond your reach when you re ready Well, perhaps you ll find the following information quite enlightening and hopefully it will alleviate some of your concerns.

We discovered an affordable virtual Paradise in the Puerto Vallarta real estate market, our permanent residence ten years ago and are sharing its features and benefits with you. In 1997, prices for real estate, land, labor, and construction materials were about a third of prices today in Puerto Vallarta, known otherwise as Vallarta or PV. Ten years ago, prices for food, clothing, household goods, etc. were quite reasonable in Vallarta but selection was poor. Ten years ago, virtually all financial transactions were cash, including the purchase of many Puerto Vallarta homes and land. Although the real estate prices were a half to a third of those of comparable amenities in the US or Canada, in the absence of mortgages, one needed total financial resources in order to purchase retirement property in Puerto Vallarta. North American banks were reluctant to provide mortgages in Mexico and Mexican banks lacked the available capital.

During the past ten years with the Mexican economy booming, the peso stable, and Vallarta exploding with growth, the situation has changed dramatically. Today, mortgage capital from a number of American mortgage firms is readily available in PV. Interest rates are generally 2% to 3% above the prevailing US rates. Mortgage insurance is also now available as is title insurance. Because the economy is so stable, strong, and growing, the mortgage companies are offering financing up to 70% of the appraised value, thus opening the market to a flood of new baby boomers about to retire to Mexico.

Now that North Americans can acquire their dream retirement villa or condo in Puerto Vallarta prior to full retirement, let s consider some of the associated expenses. As arule of thumb , $200/ sq. ft. would be an average price for a beautiful ocean or bay front condo and approximately $250/ sq. ft. for a villa facing the bay. Almost all properties have sweeping 180 views of Banderas Bay, the entire city of Vallarta, and the Sierra Madres and are comparable to the finest properties in the California seaside areas. As a typical example, a 2,000 sq. ft. condo might cost $400,000 and require a little more than $120,000 initial deposit with the balance being mortgaged at 8% for 15 years. Such a fixed rate mortgage would require payments of approximately $30,000 annually. Trust fees are about $500 per year and property taxes are roughly .12% of the appraised value or $500 per year. Condo association fees are usually about $4,000 per year bringing the total out-of-pocket expenses to approximately $35,000 per year. It must be remembered that the equivalent property in the States could easily be $1,000,000 with taxes alone of $20,000 per year! In order to reduce the $35,000 per year expense in Vallarta, many of the about-to-be-retired condo owners rent out their condos during the seven monthhigh season of November through May. Rental income for a $400,000 condo should average at least $2,500 per month. Do the math and you ll understand the relative ease in owning real estate in Mexico prior to full retirement.

Now that you have a place to retire, let s consider the other living expenses and compare them to the equivalent in the States or Canada. All of the following information isrule of thumb and based on knowledge and experience derived from living full time in PV for ten years, while owning property here for 23 years. Food purchased in supermarkets and meals in restaurants are of the same quality and price as in the US. Clothing, hardware, electronics, and everything else imported will cost about 50% more than in the US. Furniture costs are equivalent to those in the States. Fuel for your automobile and electricity for your residence will cost about the same as in the US. Car prices are roughly 20% higher in Vallarta so bring your own car to Mexico! Auto insurance is about the same and although house and condo insurance is available, very few people seem to have it. Health insurance is the same, however healthcare, in any of the three new and modern high-tech hospitals in PV, is substantially less expensive. It would be safe to assume that health and dental care costs are one half to one third of the same medical services in the States. Fees associated with hobbies such as golf, tennis, fishing, etc. are about the same as in the States. Labor for house work, gardening, handyman, etc. is a third of such costs in the US. Skilled tradesmen such as electricians, plumbers, air-condition repairmen, etc. charge about the same rates as in the States. You can find self proclaimed skilled tradesmen for a third the price, but you ll get what you pay for!

Next, let s assume that you re retiring and going to spend thehigh season in Paradise where it almost never rains, the sky is blue, and the average daily temperature is 73 F. You ve purchased your million dollar condo for $400,000, drove your SUV loaded with clothing, personal belongings, and dog with it s proper immunizations to Vallarta, and you re ready to begin enjoying life. Your food, energy, furniture, insurance, hobby related expenses, property maintenance expenses, etc. will be about what you re accustomed to back home. Property taxes will be an insignificant fraction of what they would be in the States, medical and dental care will be a half to a third, labor around your residence will be a half to a third, and most all other service related expenses no more than one half of those in the US or Canada.

Finally, for the kicker! During the past ten years, we ve seen property values triple in Vallarta. The tourism boom is only beginning at this time with a ten year building plan that borders on being incredible. The Mexican government in conjunction with global developers and a handful of Billionaires, yes with a capital B, are currently in the planning stages and just beginning construction of a mega-resort retirement destination zone near Vallarta. Prices in PV are sure to double in the next five years. The Mexican law assures all foreigners that they are consideredpermanent residents if they spend more than 50% of their time in Mexico for at least five years. That translates intopermanent resident status if you live in your dream condo or villa during thehigh season for five years. As apermanent resident , you are exempt from Mexican capital gains tax upon the sale of your property in Vallarta. So, let s say that you decide to sell your dream condo after five years and return to the hectic pace back home. While the housing market is softening in Florida and California, the market continues strongly upward in Vallarta and in five years the value of your condo is estimated to be $800,000. Assuming that you financed your purchase

and that you paid $120,000 initially and another $175,000 in mortgage payments and condo fees, without any rental income, you should have around $570,000 equity in your residence at the time of sale. That $275,000 profit should more than offset all expenses that could possibly be incurred even with the highest standard of living in Paradise. Using this hypothetical scenario, the $275,000 gain over five years equals about $55,000 per year. It s difficult to spend more than $3,000 per month living like a king in Paradise, therefore the seven monthhigh season should not cost much more than $20,000 leaving $35,000 for travel and living expenses during the five summer months, or $7,000 per month. If you can t make it on that, it might be time to go back to work! By the way, your monthly social security checks will be electronically deposited into your account regardless of where you live.

In summarizing, if you re thinking about retirement within five years and would like to enjoy your life to it s fullest, you can probably buy that million dollar retirement dream residence in Vallarta today, even if you re short on cash!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

How would you like to have a really intelligent, honest and well educated president How about a Harvard graduate Well, would you believe that Mexico has a 12 consecutive year run of Harvard alumni presidents

Prior to the new millennium, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) or its predecessor revolutionary parties, had held power for over 70 years in Mexico and was a member of Socialist International. They promised to take care of and protect the poor; however after several decades in power, the PRI became the symbol of corruption and electoral fraud. La Mordida, orthe bite , is the term for bribery in Mexico and was the traditional and customary way to get things done. Police and state bureaucrats made their living taking Mordidas which was the basis for corruption in Mexico. Thanks to the PRI philosophies toward nationalization, expropriation, authoritarianism, and state control of the economy, Mexico held a Third World status for 80 years. With those philosophies, foreigners probably did not see Mexico real estate as the best place for investments, or for that matter, anything else.

The situation in Mexico changed dramatically in 2000 when Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN) first took over power for a six year presidential term lasting until 2006. Prior to his presidency, Fox had earned a Top Management Skills degree from the Business School of Harvard University and had then worked his way up to the presidency of Coca Cola Mexico and head of all Coca Cola Latin America. While President of Mexico, Fox established a new Ministry of Security and Police, doubled the pay for police officers, and cracked down on crime by improving the Mexican judicial system which had been rife with corruption and ineptitude. The Human Development Index (HDI) is a comparable measure of life expectancy, literacy, education, and standard of living for countries worldwide. During Fox s presidency, Mexico maintained an HDI of 0.8 which represents high development. In comparison, many countries such as Canada, France, and Great Britain, generated low increases and even some decreases in HDI figures. Real wages dropped 305% from 1976 to 1999, however since PAN has been in office, real wages have not only stabilized, but are starting to increase. Fox represented the Alliance for Change. He was one of the few Mexican presidents to avoid a major economic upheaval during office, whereas previously, the Mexicans were accustomed to devastating peso devaluations. During the ten years that we've lived in our Puerto Vallarta real estate region, the peso has held firm at about 10.8 pesos per US dollar.

Fox s term expired in 2006, when his successor, Felipe Calderon, also with the PAN party, won a very close election. Calderon holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and will serve as President of Mexico until 2012. He supports balanced fiscal trade, flat taxes, lower taxes, and free trade. His motto is to Drive Mexico Into the Future which represents privatization, liberalization, political freedom, and market control of the economy.

These two Harvard graduates have taken Mexico from a Third World Country to a Newly Industrialized Country (NIC) in a very short period of time and are continuing to advance the economy. As an NIC, Mexico has joined the ranks with countries such as China, India, Brazil, Turkey, etc. en route to becoming First World Industrialized Countries. Recently, Mexico has changed from being a beneficiary to a full contributor to the United Nations Development Program. The Mexican Bolsa, or stock market, has more than tripled during the ten years that we've lived in Vallarta. The PRI party, still holds local power in the poorest states of Mexico; those where the inhabitants have the least education and are still waiting for subsidies from the government. However, the state of Jalisco where the capital is Guadalajara and the second largest city is Puerto Vallarta, is one of the many states where the local PAN party is in power. This change in power has been quite remarkable and evident in Vallarta during the last seven years. Mordidas are seldom seen anymore in PV because the public officials are not willing to jeopardize their decent paying employment for a small bribe. The economy along the Mexican Riviera is booming today as an explosion of growth due to tourism and North American immigration has brought phenomenal amounts of money to the region. This in turn has created full employment of the locals and a very positive outlook for them as their standard of living constantly improves. During the past seven years, the Mexican government has spent billions of dollars improving and upgrading the infrastructures throughout the resort destinations. Puerto Vallarta has new water treatment facilities, power distribution systems, hospitals, university, upgraded airport, maritime terminal, highway system, etc. and is being prepared for the next five years of growth.

We have owned property here in Puerto Vallarta, located in the foot hills of the Sierra Madres overlooking Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean for 24 years and have made Paradise our permanent residence for the past ten years. During the first 15 years, there were virtually no changes made here and the property values reflected it. However, during the years that PAN has been in power, the changes have been obvious and dramatic. Our villa has tripled in value and is expected to double again in the next five years as the baby boomers discover Paradise. For any American or Canadian considering investments such as real estate in a foreign country, it s imperative to understand the stability of that foreign government. Fortunately, Mexico has been governed by US friendly Harvard graduates for the past seven years and will be for at least the next five years, thus assuring a safe and secure investing environment for retiring North Americans. Apparently, politics can have an influence on Paradise!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

The termGolden Years seems to have all kinds of connotations; to some it may mean the beginning of the end, to others more fortunate it means the years of freedom with gold! Yes, to many of the latest generation of baby boomers about to retire or recently retired, theGolden Years have become the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, i.e., the free time and the financial ability to enjoy their favorite activities and perhaps even serve a purpose to their community. Retirement often coincides with important life changes; over time, a retiree will virtually eliminate the frequent social contacts with previous work-related associates, will have a completely different spending pattern, will have the time for new or inactive hobbies, sports, or other activities, might sell a long term residence, and yes, may even move to a new location. Upon retiring 13 years ago, we moved to a secluded gated community in Clearwater, Florida. It was very nice, however it seemed that all the neighbors were still working and seldom around during the days and therefore nobody knew anybody in the neighborhood. We met some nice folks at the local country club; however most of them could only play one day per week or on Saturday because they too had jobs that occupied their time. When you did run into a group of retirees, like over at the local shuffleboard courts, they seemed to be geezers on their way out! We were still young, at least at heart, and wanted to play every day and every night. We finally had the financial ability and free time to do whatever we wanted to do, only needing friends and good weather to do it.

We had been vacationing at our condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, known as PV or Vallarta, since 1984 and we knew that the climate in PV was absolutely perfect from November through May, its seven monthhigh season . We had no idea what there was to do in Vallarta other than lay on the beach and drink cervezas or sip on margaritas nor did we know whether or not there were any otherAmericans or Canadians retiring in Puerto Vallarta. In 1997, we sold the condo and purchased a luxurious new Puerto Vallarta home on the mountainside overlooking Banderas Bay and El Centro, the downtown area of PV. Our plan was to spend six months in Clearwater and six months in Vallarta per year. The first six months of November through April were spent in PV and the second six months of May through October in Clearwater. Perhaps that wasn t fair because the extreme heat in Florida made that summer miserable, especially after having so much fun during the previous six months in Vallarta. The average daily temperature in PV had been 73 F with virtually no rain the entire period. While in PV that first year, we must have met over fifty nice couples and absolutely none of them had to go to work tomorrow!

Other than a couple of golf courses, one that was playable, the other a cow pasture, a couple of tennis courts, great deep sea fishing, and a couple of small charity related clubs, there really wasn't a whole lot to do in Vallarta during the gorgeous daytime. The nightlife was somewhat better with parties at someone's house, condo, or restaurant almost every night. The North American community was relatively small and very open to newcomers. After the first year of splitting time between Florida and Vallarta, we decided to sell the house in Clearwater and travel or cruise during the summer months of June through October and spend thehigh season in Vallarta.

During the ten years that we've lived in PV, things have changed dramatically. Today, the size of the American/Canadian community and the Puerto Vallarta real estate market is difficult to estimate with thousands of new houses and tens of thousands of new condos having been built. The population of our sleepy little Mexican fishing village is now roughly 350,000 inhabitants and we can only guess that there are 50,000 Americans and Canadians here at any given time during thehigh season . You can be assured that none of them have to go to work tomorrow and that they're all in search for the same things; they are here to enjoy life and reap the benefits of years of hard work. With perfect weather, the remaining challenge is to find the things to do that are most enjoyable. With good people, time, and money, those things came to Vallarta!

There are now seven magnificent golf courses in Puerto Vallarta with three more either in the planning or construction phase. There are too many tennis courts to begin to count them and of course, deep sea fishing will always be here. There are art classes, dancing classes, computer classes, language classes, and classes for just about anything you ever wanted to learn but never had the time. There are card clubs, fitness clubs, acting clubs, car clubs, writing clubs, and clubs for anything of interest to retirees. Another huge group of organizations in Vallarta has to do with charitable activities; this includes the InternationalFriendship Club, Becas Foundation, Toys for Tots, Feed the Children, Make a Wish Foundation, etc., which most of us are involved with to some extent. There are so many daytime activities now in PV that one can be as busy or as relaxed as he wants to be. The nightlife borders on being ridiculous during thehigh season with the Malecon, or walkway along the beach, being more active at midnight than it is at noon! There are hundreds of fine restaurants and numerous parties every night. With so much fun available, we ve learned that in order to survive, sometimes you just have to say no! To pass away the time at home, we all have satellite TV with 350 channels and high speed internet service.

Today in PV we have clean water, clean food, safe living conditions, and modern health care. Most importantly, we have many good friends that are all here to enjoy life doing whatever pleases them under absolutely ideal weather conditions. All of our friends are successful retirees, have good health, and appreciate the perfect climate with an average temperature of 73 F and clear skies. One of the main differences between Clearwater and Vallarta is that in Vallarta, every single American or Canadian that you see is here to enjoy the good life, is open to new friendships, and has the day off tomorrow! Anyone retired or about to retire is really missing the boat if they don't at least consider Puerto Vallarta as their retirement destination.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Life! Ah, there s nothing we d rather have! If only the Puerto Vallarta condo salesman would have known that extended life was included in the selling price of the condo back in 1984. Twenty three years ago, while visiting Mismaloya, just south of the Puerto Vallarta real estate region, we were approached by a super Mexico real estate condo salesman. His pitch was that after making the original deposit, the rental income would virtually pay for the condo. We fell for it and bought the full ownership condo and returned to Puerto Vallarta, known as PV or Vallarta by the locals, a couple times a year for many years while still working in Houston, Texas We found that the week or ten days during each visit was so relaxing and stress free that one could totally recharge his batteries before returning to the hectic, high stress business life back in the States. After a week or ten days of sleeping like a baby, it was difficult returning to the routine grinding mill with the associated sleepless nights. The pace of life in Puerto Vallarta, where everything can be done manana, was like being on another planet when compared to Houston. We always looked forward to the next trip to Vallarta and hated to see it come to an end.

We retired in 1995 and sold our Mexico condo in 1997 when we bought a luxurious newly constructed Mexico home on the mountainside overlooking Banderas Bay and El Centro, the downtown area of Vallarta. Oh yes, the condo never did pay for itself! In 1998 we decided to make PV our home during the seven monthhigh season of November through May and travel or cruise during the balance of the summer months.

During the ten years that we ve resided in PV, we ve had the opportunity to meet thousands of retired North Americans. These successful Americans and Canadians have been retiring to Puerto Vallarta in order to enjoy the many activities such as golf, tennis, fishing, etc. under ideal weather conditions. They are all active in the nightlife where dining is world class and parties are too numerous to count. These retirees range in age from 55 to 90 years old but they all have certain things in common. They are all very active, young at heart, and here to enjoy life to the maximum. For the most part, these retirees have the financial wherewithal to live almost anywhere, have traveled throughout the world, and have found Vallarta to have some of the finest weather anywhere, especially during thehigh season when the average daily temperature is 73 F with .6 inch of rain per month, which if it does occur, will do so in the evening. The majority of our friends spend thehigh season in PV and then return to the US or Canada for the summer months.

Now, to relate the interesting part of the story; these retirees never seem to get sick or even catch a cold while spending their winters and living in Puerto Vallarta. Year after year for ten years, they return for another seven months of fun and games under glorious weather conditions. All too often, they talk about all the health related problems they had during the previous summer and the hospitalization required. Serious problems including heart attacks, angioplasties, by-passes, tumors, hip and knee replacements, etc. as well as less serious problems including pneumonia and all the other health related problems associated with aging. The odd thing is that there are two beautiful, new, modern, high tech hospitals in PV staffed with highly educated, experienced, and qualified English speaking doctors and very rarely do any of our friends ever need these services. We seldom hear complaints of ailments for seven months as these folks just seem to keep on going like Eveready batteries. It s not until they return home, that bad things seem to happen.

During the ten years that we ve lived here, we have had only one friend die here. He was 93 years old and had just returned from a cruise following his summer in Seattle. We have had numerous friends die during the past ten years, but all the rest of them passed away during the summer while back home in the States or Canada We have no idea what happened to that condo salesman, but if our paths cross again, we d like to thank him for the gift of life. We feel better and some say look younger than we did when we retired to Vallarta ten years ago. Our personal experience tells us that due to the pace of life in PV, one has no excuse for losing sleep. With plenty of sleep, activity during the day under ideal weather conditions, and optimistic, fun loving friends all around, ailments are seldom seen in Vallarta. In fact, a number of our friends are not just hoping to see tomorrow, but they are hoping to shoot their age on one of the seven magnificent golf courses or catch a record setting marlin, tuna, or sailfish tomorrow! Although there is no empirical proof supporting our case, we suggest that anyone interested in having fun, feeling better, and living longer, give the Paradise known as Vallarta a try for retirement.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Years ago, the rule throughout Mexico was, don t drink the water. We moved into our Puerto Vallarta real estate market in 1997 and one of the selling features of our beautiful new, Puerto Vallarta home was an in-house water purification system. It is not common to see water purification systems in the Mexico real estate market but the one in our Mexican home had dual cartridges, one charcoal, the other chemically treated paper, and dual ultra violet lamps for additional treatment. We also had filtration units below the kitchen sink as well as in the refrigerator.

Even with the household treatment, purification, and filtration systems, we were told to thoroughly rinse all vegetables and fruit in water treated with Microdyn, a chemical used for killing bacteria, etc. For additional protection, we were instructed to take a three day treatment of pills every six months in order to prevent becoming ill from amoeba or bacteria. With all the aforementioned filtration, purification, and medication, we still used bottled water to brush our teeth and were suspect of ice cubes! Of course, when dining in restaurants, we would have only bottled drinks and would rely on our semi-annual drug treatment to protect us from getting sick.

Approximately seven years ago, our Puerto Vallarta real estate region, known as Vallarta or PV by the locals, constructed new water treatment and purification systems throughout the city. During the past seven years, we have become more and more lax when it comes to maintaining our in-house purification system. In fact, we haven t changed the ultraviolet lamps for more than five years and the charcoal/paper cartridges for two years. The ultraviolet lamps have been dead for at least three of those years; however we did rinse the paper filter cartridge a year ago. The sale of Microdyn in Vallarta has probably dropped to almost zero, since all fruit, vegetables, etc. are purchased in large, modern, and clean supermarkets, comparable to Safeway and Kroger in the US. The bottled water truck that used to pass our villa, ringing its bell on a daily basis, hasn t been seen in five years.

Ten years ago, the local grocery stores were filthy, non-air-conditioned, and with flies everywhere as one might expect in Mexico. The situation was dramatically changed when Sam s Club and Walmart moved to PV five years ago. In order to compete and survive, all new grocery stores had to be large, clean, air-conditioned, and ultra modern. The existing stores either remodeled or closed the doors.

Ten years ago, only a handful of restaurants were air-conditioned and their kitchens were all totally unregulated as was their source of foods. Today, they are all inspected on a regular basis and if they don t meet the strict standards, they are red tagged, locked up, and sometimes put out of business. The last thing the restaurateurs can afford is to have tourists return home sick. During the ten years we ve lived here, we ve met many visitors, mainly on the golf course. Only a handful of them complained of stomach pains or head aches and in every case, they admitted that their problems were brought on by an over-consumption of margaritas or cervezas during the previous evening, and it wasn t the cubed or crushed ice! There are hundreds of fine restaurants in Vallarta offering every type of cuisine imaginable and there should be no fear of food poisoning in any of them.

Today, the risk of becoming ill in Vallarta from drinking the water, eating in restaurants, or shopping at the local supermarket is about the same as in Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles. Of course the corner taco stand could be suspect and water taken from some village in the hills twenty miles out of PV could create problems, however, the thought ofdon t drink the water never occurs to us anymore in Vallarta.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Ten years ago, the fear of needing emergency medical or dental care while south of the border ranked close to the fear of running out of gas while crossing the railroad tracks; both had you calling for spiritual guidance! In 1997, shortly after we moved to the Puerto Vallarta real estate market, referred to as PV or Vallarta by the locals, a friend of ours elected to have a substantial amount of cosmetic surgery done here in PV. At that time while living in Mexico, there were a number of small hospitals and clinics in town, however only two that she considered. One was of the 50 s vintage and the other more like the 60 s because it had window air-conditioners in the three patient rooms. My son, a surgical veterinarian in California, would have been reluctant to practice his specialty in the other hospitals and clinics! The surgical procedure on our friend was satisfactory and although none of the nurses spoke English, the attention and care she received during recuperation were excellent. At that time, retiring to Puerto Vallarta was not imaginable and good medical care was difficult to find and if anyone needed major medical care, they would need to go to Guadalajara or fly to the States. In 1997 there were a number of dentists in PV, but they were pretty scary looking places, resembling those you saw in the 60 s, although a couple of them did have window air-conditioners. Ten years ago, if you had a broken arm, toothache, etc., you were best off flying back to the good old USA for care.

Now, ten years later, the entire Mexico real estate market has changed In Puerto Vallarta for example we have two huge, ultra modern, fully equipped hospitals and one smaller, yet still modern hospital in Puerto Vallarta. Of course, many of the small dilapidated hospitals still exist, but would not be considered by North Americans. The small AmeriMed Hospital is fully capable of handling most emergencies, conducting most testing, and is adequate for all but the most serious problems. Across the street from AmeriMed is the new San Javier Hospital which was built about five years ago. This ultra modern hospital is capable of handling just about every medical problem imaginable. They recently performed emergency open heart surgery on a cruise boat passenger. San Javier has an MRI machine, cardiac catheterization, angioresonance, neuroradiologic, mammographic, ecosonographic, etc. equipment. Of course the patient recovery rooms meet the highest standards, equipped with everything you would expect in a fine US hospital. The newest hospital is the Cornerstone Hospital which was built two years ago and meets the same standards as the new Cornerstone Hospitals in Texas. Cornerstone has the only Radiology Clinic in Western Mexico with state-of-the-art CAT scan and MRI equipment. It is the center for dialysis and lithotripsy as well as having emergency pediatric care, full cardiac services, an ophthalmology department, a 24 hour emergency room, an intensive care unit, an on-site pharmacy, recovery room, and beautiful, almost plush, patient rooms.

Between San Javier and Cornerstone, we are fully covered for any matter pertaining to orthopedics, trauma, nephrology, urology, anesthesiology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, endocrinology, rheumatology, neurology, cardiology, general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, hematology, dermatology, and just about anything that ails you. These hospitals accept most all international insurance and the majority of the US veteran benefits. In fact, the veterans here indicate that they are receiving better care in Puerto Vallarta than the overcrowded VA facilities in the US. Virtually all the doctors and nurses in these hospitals speak English. Furthermore, the majority of the doctors have received part of their education in the States or Europe. There are two main differences between these hospitals and those in the States. They are price and service! Surgical procedures and hospital services are a third to a half of what they are in the States. The attention, care, and follow-up far exceed that in the US. The doctors and nurses really care and treat each patient as a friend. They seem to be more interested in treating and curing the patient than they are in collecting the money. Most doctors carry cell-phones and are available for consultation 24 hours a day.

Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery has become so popular in Puerto Vallarta that many Americans and Canadians come here specifically for a nip and tuck. So many, that a major spa specializing in postoperative care is currently in the planning stage, allowing those in the market to come to Paradise, enjoy the Puerto Vallarta Beachfront living for a week or two and return home looking ten years younger!

Today, there are a few exceptional dentists in Vallarta, each with state-of-the-art offices meeting US standards. Root canals, caps, crowns, and implants are done on a daily basis in beautiful, high-tech, and sterile offices. Again, they are all fluent in English and their prices are a third to a half of what they are in the States. For that reason, many North Americans are also coming here for new caps, crowns, and implants- maybe the same people that come for the cosmetic surgery!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com NETWORK

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

Have you heard the horror stories about traveling or living in Mexico Worst yet, can you imagine retiring in Puerto Vallarta Well, being the adventurous and courageous retirees that we are, in 1997 we bought a beautiful new mountainside villa overlooking Banderas Bay and El Centro, or downtown in the Puerto Vallarta real estate market. The villa is actually a compound, surrounded by 10 foot walls with a walk-in gate and doors for car entry. Our initial thought while closing the doors during our first evening in our new villa was to hire a couple sentries to guard the villa at night. One could be positioned in front and the other down below on the backside facing the bay, thus providing the security required in this Mexico real estate region. Well, we never got around to hiring those guards and furthermore, we ve never heard of anyone being burglarized in the neighborhood for the past ten years. Municipal Police do cruise through the neighborhood a few times every night and we do have excellent street lighting; however crime in the neighborhood, known as theBeverly Hills of Vallarta , is virtually non-existent.

Ten years ago, we would be pulled over by the local police every two or three months for any of a myriad of concocted reasons. It was the typical corrupt Mexican police shake-down where after you handed him 200 pesos or $20, you were no longer guilty of breaking any laws or committing any crimes. You instantly became his amigo! That corruption is seldom seen anymore in Vallarta and we haven t been pulled over by the police for a number of years. In fact, they seemed to have gone 180 degrees the opposite direction being very friendly to all Americans and Canadians. The city of Puerto Vallarta, referred to as PV or Vallarta by the residents, has exploded in population during the past ten years to the current level of 350,000 inhabitants. That growth can be attributed solely to tourism. Virtually every job in PV is based on tourism and without the influx of foreigners from the US and Canada, Vallarta would still be a sleepy little Mexican fishing village. Because tourism is so important, the young locals are taught to treat the Americans and Canadians with dignity, respect, kindness, and as friends. The very last thing they can afford is to have tourists encounter problems while visiting Paradise and to return home with negative feelings about Vallarta. The objective of each and every Vallartense is to assure all tourists an enjoyable and safe time while visiting so that they look forward to returning. The young Mexicans are taught that safety is the prime concern of all visitors and to harm a tourist would be equivalent to taking food or money out of their own family household.

As a side note of interest, there was a film,South of the Border shot here in Vallarta by the Disney Company. It s a cute story about a chihuahua, owned by a Beverly Hills socialite, that got lost while she was visiting a spa in Mexico. A group of local Mexican chihuahuas found this pup, took care of and entertained it, and then assured its safe return to Beverly Hills. The film was released in 2009 and helped promote the social, cultural, and economic relations between Mexico and the US. The bottom line being, that the safety and security that one feels in Vallarta is quite comforting and is demonstrated in the film through the life of a chihuahua.

Serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, etc. are unheard-of in Vallarta. Security is such that armed robberies are virtually non-existent. One reason of course is, guns are not permitted in Mexico. The penalty for carrying a firearm is much more than anyone would ever want to pay.

The one crime that persists in PV is related to drugs. Although the Mexicans seldom use them, they are plentiful for those tourists too ignorant to understand the consequences. The penalty for drug possession and use is so severe that anyone dependent on drugs is best off avoiding Paradise. With full employment in PV, even the art of pick-pocketing is no longer practiced here; it s just too easy to find a job! The US and Canadian Consulates in Vallarta are well staffed and ready to assist any tourist with just about any problem that could arise while visiting here.

Even though Vallarta has reached the size of Anaheim or St. Louis, it s still a small city where everyone seems to know what others are doing. Any crime committed by a local would be known about by many others immediately. Not to be picking on Anaheim or St. Louis, but when comparing Vallarta to cities in the US of similar size, our hunch is that it s much safer in Paradise!

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

Donde esta el ba o Como esMeta usted That pretty well sums up two years of high school Spanish taken as a college prep course almost 50 years ago! Of course, why would anyone ever need to know Spanish having never met a Mexican, let alone thought about buying property in the Mexico real estate markets My, how times have changed!

After living in Houston for 25 years, we discovered that Mexico was only two hours away and that it had some very intriguing qualities to offer. In 1984 we bought a condo in Mismaloya, south of the Puerto Vallarta real estatemarket, and made semi-annual visits to Vallarta for 13 years before buying a villa in the foothills of the Sierra Madres, overlooking Banderas Bay and El Centro, the downtown area of Puerto Vallarta markets. When we moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, known as PV or Vallarta by the locals, ten years ago, our Spanish vocabulary consisted of about five words. Fortunately, a few taxi drivers, most restaurant waiters, and some caddies spoke, or at least understood, a little English. In order to survive here, it was imperative to understand and speak some degree of Spanish. During our first month in Vallarta, we purchased text books, manuals, dictionaries, and hired a tutor to come to our villa twice a week. We worked diligently for almost six months, learning Spanish words, paraphrases, tenses, etc. so that we would have a chance of communicating with the locals. To assist our learning process, we watched our Mexican TV which had about five channels; CNN, Mexican shows aimed at sixth graders, and American movies with Spanish subtitles. We would then turn off the volume and try to understand the movies by reading the subtitles. Not much fun, but the price you had to pay in order to live in Paradise where the average daily temperature during thehigh season of November through May is 73 F with virtually no chance of rain!

We spent that first summer back in the States and upon returning to PV, we got lazy and discontinued our studies. Satellite TV became available in Vallarta and we no longer had the five Mexican channels, but instead had 350 channels from the US. Fortunately for us, the tourism boom in Vallarta was just beginning to occur ten years ago. During the past ten years, there have been thousands of new houses and tens of thousands of new Puerto Vallarta condosconstructed, new hospitals, a new University of Guadalajara campus, new airport, new maritime terminal, etc. built in Vallarta. As tourism increased, so did the requirement for speaking English by the locals. If they could understand and speak English, they could obtain the higher paying jobs where interaction with tourists is a routine occurrence. Jobs such as waiting tables, caddying, taxi driving, police department, clerking at front desks in hotels, offices, hospitals, airport, etc. and management positions in stores and other businesses could pay three times as much as construction work, daily labor, cleaning, etc. where there is no requirement for English speaking skills. The difference in wages was so obvious and substantial that during the past ten years, most all of the younger generation of people in Vallarta are taking English classes in school and understand and speak basic English. Even those that haven t had a day of classroom English have a good understanding ofEspanglish and we therefore have absolutely no problem communicating with anyone in Vallarta.

Virtually all educated Mexicans in PV such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects, bankers, nurses, teachers, etc. are fluent in English. In fact, the majority of these people seem to prefer speaking English with Americans and Canadians. Typical music in restaurants, bars, hotels, and even dental offices are the popular American songs. American magazines, newspapers, and books are available throughout the city, whereas ten years ago they were virtually non-existent.

In summarizing, having knowledge of Spanish is no longer a prerequisite for visiting or retiring in Vallarta. The majority of the retirees that live in a Puerto Vallarta retirement home have little Spanish speaking ability and get along just fine. Most all tourists by plane or cruise ship have no knowledge of Spanish and they too have no communication problems. Obviously, Vallarta is not typical of Mexico, however for those considering a trip to or retirement in Vallarta with no Spanish speaking ability, should not be concerned about a language barrier here. At the rate things are changing in PV, who knows, English could become its primary language in another generation!

Author Jim Scherrerhas bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

The Puerto Vallarta real estate market attracts people for various reasons The beaches, the mountains, and of course the golfing Are you tired of shoveling snow, scraping windshields, and wading through slush throughout the winter Would you prefer having the ability to play golf everyday this winter If so, you should consider Puerto Vallarta, one of the most popular Mexico real estate markets, otherwise known as Vallarta or PV by the locals. Being the same latitude as Hawaii and located on the Mexican Riviera, Vallarta has an average daily temperature of 73 F for seven months from November through May. The average high during those months is 82 F while the average low is 64 F. During those months, there is an average of one wet day per month with .6 inch of rain, which if it exists, will occur during the evening. The weather is absolutely ideal if you are thinking of a Puerto Vallarta retirement life, or very ideal for golfing every single day during that seven month period.

When we moved to PV in 1997, there were only two golf courses in the area. One was a decent tract, at least good enough to get some practice and keep the swing in tact. The other was a cow pasture and really not worth playing at any price. Ten years ago, you never saw visitors arriving at the airport with their clubs.

Today, there are seven very fine courses in PV with at least three more in the planning stage or currently under construction. As an example, the Nicklaus course at Vista Vallarta was the setting for the 2002 World Cup Tournament, the 2006 Blue Agave Seniors Tour, the Annual TaylorMade Tournament, the 2001 NCAA Tournament, and numerous others. The Weiskoph course at Vista Vallarta is probably favored by most of the locals because of its beautiful layout and risk-reward holes. Both courses are built in the foothills of the Sierra Madres with elevation changes and an abundance of bougainvilleas and other natural vegetation. These two courses at Vista Vallarta are what you would expect in Paradise, but only four miles from the PV Airport. The Nicklaus course at Four Seasons in Punta Mita stretches along the Puerto Vallarta beachfront coastline and has what is believed to be, the only natural island green in golf. In fact, hole #3 has two greens, 3a and 3b. The natural island green, 3a, can only be played while the tide is out because there is no access to it when the tide is in! There are two fine courses in the Nuevo Vallarta area with El Tigre, designed by Von Hagge being preferred by the locals. Marina Vallarta, a Joe Finger course, is a real test of skill requiring accurate iron shots. This course is located on BanderasBay near the marina and has lakes and water that comes into play on at least half the holes. Bring plenty of balls, and oh yes, watch out for the crocodiles! The Flamingo course designed by Percy Clifford and located about five miles north of the airport, was the original course in PV. Ten years ago, it was rated a notch above a cow pasture, however, five years ago, millions of dollars were invested in the course upgrading it to a masterpiece that is thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Traveling 80 miles south of PV, there are a couple of the best kept secrets in the world of golf. Barre de Navidad, by Von Hagge and El Tamarindo, a Robert Trent Jones masterpiece, are two truly magnificent courses, rarely visited by anyone. They are manicured to perfection, lightly played, located on the Pacific Ocean, and ready for any avid golfer willing to drive the scenic highway south of Vallarta.

All courses in the area are available to the public, offering memberships to residents or packages to visitors. Guests of most local hotels receive discounted daily rates. With virtually no chance of rain and absolutely ideal temperatures, everyday throughout the winter is perfect for golfing.

During the ten years we ve lived in our Puerto Vallarta home, we ve spent only four entire summers, June through October, here. They are tough with temperatures and humidity similar to Houston. Highs are near 90 F and it rains almost every other evening, usually between 4:00PM and 9:00PM. During those fouroff season summers, we were unable to play golf only twice and those two times were due to residual water from the prior night s rain. It seldom rains in the daytime during the summer months and the courses are virtually wide open for play.

For those of you that worry about the water, the food cleanliness, the safety, or the language barrier in Mexico, don t! Forget about the mythsdon t drink the water andbe careful what and where you eat . The water system throughout PV has been purified for about seven years, equal to that in the US. There are hundreds of fabulous restaurants in Vallarta with every kind of cuisine imaginable. The grocery stores are on a par with Safeway and Kroger in the States and with Sam s Club and a mega Walmart, everything is available in Vallarta. The majority of the younger locals are now speaking English, as do all taxi drivers, waiters, and of course, caddies. Safety and cleanliness are of high priority to the native Mexicans, assuring return visits by all tourists.

In summarizing, next winter when you ve had enough cold and blizzards, consider Vallarta for a golfing vacation. You will not find a more hospitable climate or people in the world.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallartahis permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

Foreclosure, by definition, is the legal procedure for satisfying claims against a mortgagor in default who has not redeemed the mortgage; satisfaction may be obtained from the proceeds of a forced sale in a Puerto Vallarta real estate property or in any property in general.

There are many reasons why mortgagors may fall into default but historically it happens when the mortgagor loses his job, loses his health, or for some other reason is unable to make his mortgage payments in a timely manner.

Today, the majority of reasons for default are totally different. Many recent mortgagors were able to obtain loans with little or no credit history and little or nothing as a down payment. They received adjustable rate mortgages and if they were ever able to afford their monthly payments, they were no longer able as soon as the interest rate increased and consequently the mortgagee was forced to foreclose on the buyer. As the foreclosure rate in a given region started to increase, so did the availability of distressed property sales. Of course, an increased volume of distressed properties in the neighborhood resulted in a rapid depreciation of the neighboring properties. With the value of a given property well below its mortgage payoff balance, many mortgagors merely elect to abandon their property and walk away from their mortgage; thus the mortgagee is forced to foreclose on these borrowers as well.

This vicious circle of foreclosure events is currently occurring at an unprecedented rate in the US. Headlines such as “US Foreclosures Up 24 Percent in 1st Quarter “,” US Banks Step Up Home Foreclosures “,” Las Vegas Tops Foreclosure List”, “Sun Belt States Lead Q1 U.S. Mortgage Foreclosures” and “Foreclosures May Hit 1.5 Million in U.S. Housing Bust” are seen in the news on a daily basis.

Okay, know that we fully understand the cause for and frequency of the recent foreclosures and knowing it's a buyer's market, perhaps, if you still have a little money left over after the recent stock market sell off, you might be considering shopping for a foreclosed property at a distressed sale price in a resort such as Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. If so, you might as well forget it; you'll not see a foreclosure sign in the Mexico real estate market!

The following is taken verbatim from Condo.com, one of the major websites dealing in worldwide condo sales:

Mexico Foreclosures Condo.com is the best way to find free foreclosures listings in Mexico. Find foreclosed condos, foreclosed condos, foreclosure properties and other foreclosure investment opportunities in Mexico. Search bank foreclosures, REO properties, preforeclosures, HUD homes and more foreclosures in Mexico.

Sorry! There are no search results found No For-Sale listings available

Well, that pretty well sums up your opportunity to “steal” a nice condo in Puerto Vallarta! There are numerous reasons why foreclosures are essentially nonexistent in Vallarta however the primary reason is that up until just recently, all purchases were done strictly on a cash basis. Mortgages in Mexico are now available, but only with a substantial down payment. With a solid credit history and income stream, one might be able to purchase a property in Mexico with only 20% down, however most of the mortgages are with down payments approaching 50%. As you can imagine, it takes an awfully good reason to walk away from a property when you have that kind of investment in it! Consequently, with 98% of the properties owned outright and the remaining 2% with well funded mortgages, there are virtually no foreclosures in Paradise!

Because there are no foreclosures, there has been no significant depreciation of values in Puerto Vallarta. That's not to say that there's not been a leveling off in prices or that the developers are not more inclined to “negotiate” today than they were a year ago. To the contrary, prices on newly constructed condos have never been better than they are today and bargains can be found throughout the city. This is to some degree due to over building during the past ten year boom period and partly due to the reduction in prices of steel and other construction materials as well as the decrease in construction labor rates as the Peso recently devalued by 30% relative to the US Dollar.

For the reasons regarding foreclosures outlined above, you should never see your investment value plummet in Vallarta as it has in many desirable locations throughout the US. Because the North Americans have been recently hit so hard financially combined with the fact that the local developers have overbuilt, Puerto Vallarta is a true buyer's market. There are 1,000 s of new condos currently on the market in PV and with interest rates at an all time low, the time to buy will never be better. So, why wait; come on down and explore the possibilities; just don't look for any foreclosure signs! Any North Americans still holding cash will never find a better time or place to invest it; besides, where else can you live in a climate better than Hawaii, 2-4 hours from home, all the amenities of home, as many or more activities than at home, and at a fraction of the price

Author Jim Scherrerhas bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

So, you ve reached a point in your life where you think that you ve learned a little about business, finance, contract negotiating, real estate, etc. and have at least a layman s knowledge of law pertaining to each. Being that savvy, you might also be aware of the incredible retirement locations in Mexico and the values south of the border; furthermore, you might even be considering Mexico as your retirement destination. If so, you might as well forget everything you ve learned and leave your law degree at home!

Mexico, as beautiful as it is, has a somewhat different way of doing business and a completely different set of laws. Additionally, all legal transactions, including Mexico real estate transactions, are done in Spanish. Therefore, for those of you that may be considering locations in Mexico as possible retirement destinations, the following information should give you some insight as to how the Mexican real estate industry works, list some of the possible pitfalls, and most importantly, give you the guidance required to assure a pleasant and safe experience.

In 1984, we made our first Puerto Vallarta real estatepurchase; a condominium in Mismaloya, about seven miles south of town. Our second purchase, two years later, was the adjacent condo. A year later, we removed the wall between the two condos and remodeled them into one very spacious three bedroom condo. For thirteen years, while still working in Houston, we thoroughly enjoyed visiting Vallarta two or three times a year.

At some time after the purchases of the two condos, we noticed that our original escrituras (legal property documentation similar to a title or deed that is held in a fidecomiso or Mexico bank trust) showed the property values to be about one third of what we actually paid for them. When we inquired about the discrepancy, we were told that the lower values were used in order to reduce our annual property taxes.

It wasn t until many years later, when we decided to sell the condo, that we learned that Mexico capital gains taxeswere due on the huge difference between the selling price and the documented purchase price. Ouch, we owed substantial taxes on a paper gain, when in fact; there was very little real gain! We then learned that the condo developer entered the extremely low sales prices on all the escrituras in the condo complex in order to evade paying substantial capital gains taxes. As we later learned, the developer could have entered the selling price, the appraised value, his cost of construction, or just about anything imaginable into the escritura, and we, being the na ve Americans that we were, were at his mercy!

Upon the sale of the Puerto Vallarta condo, we bought a beautiful new mountainside villa with a panoramic view of Banderas Bay, El Centro, and the Sierra Madres. We saw the new villa advertised in one of the local magazines and asked our realtor friend to show us the property. He showed us what seemed to be every property in town, before reluctantly taking us to see the villa in the magazine. Some time after buying the villa, we learned that our realtor friend received only 10% of the commission on the sale because that was all the listing agent was willing to pay. The listing agent ran the ad in the magazine and didn t feel that an agent representing a buyer was necessary in order to sell this beautiful new villa. Therefore, our agent spent a couple days showing us nothing but Puerto Vallarta listings administered by his agency before caving in to our demands and taking us to the villa of our dreams; one that we have thoroughly enjoyed for more than a decade.

These experiences revealed the tip of the real estate iceberg and after living here for ten years, we've finally been able to expose the entire iceberg and share some of the details below.

To begin with, there are no Mexico licensed real estate brokers or agents in Mexico! In fact, there is no mandatory licensing for real estate agents in all of Mexico because the Federal legislation process has yet to accomplish it and therefore such legislation remains in limbo. In Puerto Vallarta, where there are in excess of 80 real estate agencies, there are probably more than 500 real estate agents with minimal qualifications. With the booming real estate market and economy that exists today, it s quite obvious why we have such a diverse group of agents and brokers in Vallarta.

In order to have some degree of continuity from agent to agent, a voluntary association for real estate personnel exists in various areas of Mexico. The Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios A.C., known as AMPI, is quite active in Vallarta with the membership of approximately 50 of the 80 real estate agencies in Vallarta. Although membership in AMPI is not compulsory and has no bearing on the capabilities of the agents representing the buyers or sellers, it is considered to be the standard bearer for listing agents in the area.

A second real estate association, mainly consisting of Mexican agencies based in the Vallarta area, is Asociacion de Profesionales Inmobiliarios de Vallarta A.C., known as APIVAC.

These associations schedule periodic conferences, conduct educational programs, and hold various meetings where they attempt to keep their members and the public current on activities in the area as well as changes in the Mexican law as it pertains to real estate. They have codes of ethics and they do attempt to establish uniform sets of operating policies and procedures, some of which are in writing, others understood but not documented. They bring real estate personnel together where their members voluntarily agree to abide by their organizations statutes and codes of ethics while attempting to operate with some degree of continuity and professionalism. For sure, these associations are better than nothing but still not to be confused with associations such as the National Association of Realtors or NAR in the US. Dual agency disclosure, designated agency, full disclosure, confidentiality, imputed knowledge and notice, implied knowledge, fiduciary duty, loyalty, and vicarious liability are foreign concepts to the majority of real estate agents in Mexico. Consequently, misleading or inaccurate statements often made by many of the agents can put both the buyer and seller in intolerable predicaments in Mexico.

Although AMPI and NAR do have a working relationship, one example of the differences between AMPI and NAR is that NAR provides its member agencies with standard statewide listing forms, pre-qualification forms, Mexico escrow account and earnest money forms, standard purchase agreement forms, letters of intent, etc. In Vallarta, there are no such forms provided by AMPI or APIVAC. Each real estate agency has its own listing form or uses a form provided by an outside privately owned publisher, which clearly depicts the listing agent as receiving 100% of the commission upon sale of the property. Also, NAR has written and enforceable guidelines regarding the handling of commissions and the sharing of commissions between the selling and buying agents. Although there are guidelines in Mexico for real estate commissions, they are still flexible, and to some degree negotiable with the seller. The listing agent can then negotiate commission sharing with the buyer s agent.

All other forms vary from agent to agent and are not necessarily written in the best interest of the buyer. Also, most forms and contracts for North Americans are in English; however the Spanish version is the only document that has any legal standing in Mexico. Therefore, regardless of what you read in English, a Spanish speaking Mexico attorney should always represent you along with your agent.

Another major difference between the Mexican based associations and NAR has to do with the Multiple Listing Service or MLS. In the States, the MLS is controlled and monitored by NAR and is available to all NAR agents. In certain Mexican cities, including Vallarta, there is an MLS; however it is not controlled by AMPI or APIVAC. Instead, it is privately owned and operated by a local publisher and is available for property searching to the public at no charge. AMPI members are able to list their properties on the Vallarta MLS, with the general public as well as the other AMPI and APIVAC members having access to the listings.

Once you understand the inner workings of the real estate industry in PV, you need to learn a little about Mexican real estate law. It can be quite complex regarding trusts, escrows, mortgages, treatment of taxes, etc. and is often open to interpretation by a state appointed attorney, known as a notario. A small percentage of the realtors in Vallarta have a fair understanding of Mexican law as it pertains to real estate transactions; however the vast majority of them are sorely lacking in this field. Even with little or no knowledge of the law, they will be anxious to advise you, right or wrong; therefore, the best law to follow is caveat emptor, or buyer beware!

Because of the many pitfalls that a buyer can encounter while purchasing real estate in PV, we learned over twenty years ago that it is wise to interview realtors with scrutiny, keeping in mind that most all will be promoting their own listings first and meeting your needs second. It s just human nature and with virtually no control in Mexico, it s pretty much assured. Also, because almost 100% of them have listing agreements with the sellers, they are legally bound to act in the best interest of the sellers, and not necessarily in the buyer's best interest. Because the buyer usually has no contractual agreement with the realtor, he will in all probability get theshort end of the stick in this conflict of interest.

Of all places, in Mexico you should select an agent that is 100% dedicated to helping you find the property that meets your needs and satisfies your requirements; preferably, a contractual agreement with an agent with no listings, no axe to grind, no ulterior motive, and is exclusively representing buyers and their best interests.

A true buyer s agent in PV should have no property listings, should have complete access to the Vallarta MLS, should know the areas and growth trends in and around Vallarta, should be able to professionally negotiate on the buyer s behalf, should have a decent understanding of Mexican real estate law, should have a working relationship with the local Mexican notarios, real estate attorneys, escrow and title agents, mortgage bankers, insurance agents, inspectors, appraisers, and lastly, your representative must have a thorough working knowledge of the local real estate industry and understand the idiosyncrasies associated with it.

Buying your dream home or your Puerto Vallart beachfront condo should be one of your best experiences, however without due diligence, it can be a nightmare. Obtaining an exclusive buyer s agent with 100% dedication to you is a prerequisite for assuring a pleasant beginning of your retirement in Paradise.

Author Jim Scherrer has bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten yearsA retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background. He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago. Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent. He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents. For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”

As we all approach retirement, we often dream of someday owning a piece of Paradise, somewhere in Florida, Arizona, Hawaii, or even retiring in Puerto Vallarta; someplace with a climate conducive to kicking back and enjoying life to its fullest, year round.

To more than 50,000 retirees, Puerto Vallarta, located on the Mexican Riviera along the Pacific Ocean at the same latitude as Hawaii but six hours closer and with a lower cost of living, has been selected as their primary or part time retirement destination. Unlike the arid zones of Arizona, magnificent ocean views are available everywhere in Vallarta. Unlike the flat land and low elevations throughout Florida, the Sierra Madres provide the back drop to all of the Vallarta area providing a beautiful array of tropical flora and fauna.

The city of Puerto Vallarta lies on the innermost part of the 25 mile diameter Banderas Bay. The total land perimeter of the bay is approximately 60 miles, however only about 40 miles of shoreline is available for foreign ownership. This available land extends from Mismaloya, 10 miles south of Vallarta, to 25 miles north of Vallarta near Punta Mita in the state of Nayarit. An additional stretch of Pacific Ocean shoreline extends about 15 miles north of Punta Mita with certain portions available for foreign ownership, thus providing the total Greater Puerto Vallarta area roughly 55 miles of beachfront property.

With Greater Vallarta s large area of magnificent land, its climate similar to that of Hawaii, and a pro-growth Mexican government with many new investment incentives, the area has virtually exploded with new residential construction and consequently, with new Mexico real estate agencies. Aside from re-sales, these listing Mexico Real Estate agents, are currently marketing in excess of 100 new condominium complexes containing more than 7,000 new condominiums under various phases of construction. An additional 20,000 condominiums are in the conceptual or planning stages and are scheduled for construction during the next 15 years.

In order to promote these Puerto Vallarta real estate properties, there are currently over 80 listing agencies serving the area with approximately 500 agents, all having a fiduciary duty to the developers and property sellers. That being said, in order to avoid a conflict of interest, they must pay their dedication and loyalty to those with whom they have contractual agreements and represent; the developers and sellers. Of course, these Mexico real estate agents will do everything within their power to sell one of their own listings first, prior to considering the listings of others, in order to satisfy their clients as well as double their own commissions.

Now that we have established that the area in and around Paradise is huge, the quantity of new villas and condos is overwhelming, and 500 Mexico real estate listing agents are putting forth their best effort to please their clients, the sellers; certain questions

arise. How in the world do visitors to the area go about locating their retirement in Puerto Vallarta destination without searching through 80 agencies What assurances do the prospective buyers have that they are getting exactly what they want, in the location that best suits their objectives, and at the best price available How, in Mexico where all legal contracts are in Spanish and the Mexico real estate laws are somewhat different, can the prospective buyers be assured that they are being treated fairly when the Mexico real estate listing agent is representing the developer or seller

To answer those questions and for numerous other reasons, the use of a Mexico buyer's agent is a prerequisite for any foreigner considering the purchase of real estate in Puerto Vallarta. There are a few agencies in the Greater Vallarta area that claim to be Mexico buyer's representatives; however most of them also have listings within their agencies. In order for prospective buyers to be absolutely confident that they are receiving 100% loyalty and dedication, they should attempt to employ the services of an agency with absolutely no listings, no biases, and no ulterior motives; one who knows the area well, that has access to all listings, and that has the legal team, property inspectors, appraisers, mortgage bankers, Mexico escrow agents, etc. working on the buyer's behalf.

Agents that exclusively represent buyers are quite common in the US and Canada, however they are few and far between in Mexico Such agents do request signed contracts with the buyers stating that they are acting on the buyer's behalf, however there is generally no charge to the buyer since commissions are shared by the listing agent.

Listed below are some of the benefits associated with using an Exclusive Buyer's Agent in Mexico:

Exclusive Buyers Agent- Represents no sellers and has no listings

EBA- Avoids dual agency and conflicts of interest

EBA- Owes complete fiduciary duty and loyalty to buyer

EBA- Maintains buyer information as strictly confidential

EBA- Has access to all properties on the market

EBA- Is unbiased in showing all properties available

EBA- Conducts an objective comparative market analysis

EBA- Thoroughly researches property pros and cons

EBA- Obtains appropriate inspection reports and appraisals

EBA- Strives ethically to gain bargaining advantage for buyer

EBA- Negotiates for buyer to optimize purchase agreement

EBA- Obtains most favorable legal and financial professionals

EBA- Prepares contracts in Spanish with accurate English translations

EBA- Works with 100% buyer dedication throughout entire process

EBA- Charges the buyer no fees for representation services

EBA- Often saves the buyer time, money, and provides peace of mind

In summarizing, the prudent buyer will always locate and use a Mexico Exclusive Buyer's Agent when searching for his/her retirement residence in Mexico; where caveat emptor, or buyer beware, is the rule to follow. In so doing, the retiree will be assured a stress free and enjoyable first retirement experience in Paradise.

Author Jim Scherrerhas bought and sold real estate in Puerto Vallarta for almost a quarter a century and has made Vallarta his permanent residence for over ten years. a retired entrepreneur from Houston with an engineering degree and business background He was a co-founder of a Houston based manufacturers' representative firm almost 30 years ago.Current member of (REBAC) real estate buyers agent counsel and (NABEA) national association of buyers exclusive agent He is the owner broker of Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Buyers Agents.For more information (512)-879-6546 www.TOPmexicorealestate.com

“Where 12 TOP real estate experts from ALL regions of Mexico come together to share their Tips & Knowledge to help you buy safely !”