Top Mexico Real Estate » Thomas L. Lloyd

Mexico Condos for Sale – Walk Thru Video of Exciting, Luxury Complex @ Coco Beach, Playa del Carmen

ThomasLloyd — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:07:53 +0000

As always, we’ve been working hard to find the best Mexico condos for sale for you. Recently, we’ve discovered the Heliko condo complex in Playa del Carmen. Before we say more, take a look at this walk-through video in which Doug Morgan (one of our TOP Agents) shares his opinion of these condos and gives you a clear impression of what these condos are like:

To read more details and see pictures, see our listing for Heliko condos.

The Rooftop Lounge at Heliko

Some of the highlights of what Doug points out in the video include:

Unique design – There is a unique central spiral staircase that spirals up to the rooftop, where there is a beautiful lounge area and pool!
Views of the beach – From this same lounge area, there is a splendid view of the turquoise water of the Caribbean Sea!
Close walk to the beach – The beaches themselves are only a short walk away, about a block and a half, or 5 minutes.
Luxury units – The design includes a very spacious, open-concept arrangement, with features like a kitchen island.
Top-quality fixtures, appliances and finishes – There are high-quality stoves, fridges, dishwashers, air-conditioners and much more included, not to mention beautifully finishes like elegant tiles.
Up-and-coming trendy neighborhood – Just mentioned in passing in the video, Heliko is located in Coco Beach, which is Playa del Carmen’s most important, up-and-coming neighborhood. The dining, shopping and nightlife of Fifth Avenue is only about a 10 minute walk away. The community is far enough to be quiet and exclusive, yet close enough for convenience.

Coco Beach, just a block away from Heliko

The prices for all of this are incredible! Take a look at the video, see the listing and pictures, and let yourself dream …

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Mexico Real Estate – A New Way of Property Searching; First Find Your Dream Beach …

ThomasLloyd — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:49:54 +0000

If you were following our blog during November and December, you will know that we were in the process of finding, writing, taking pictures, making videos and finding Google map locations for the 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya. The series includes full, beautiful galleries, HD videos, descriptions and much more for you to browse, and to offer you a taste of soft sand and warm sunshine while the weather back home may have been (and probably still is) … less than pleasant.

We also wanted to make sure you know about the variety of beaches available in the stretch between Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

A view of Puerto Aventuras Beach

While making this series for your pleasure, we realized that this could be a big help to Mexico real estate buyers, offering a new way to search for your dream property; you can first take a look at all these wonderful beaches, choose your favorite one, then look for suitable properties nearby. After all, these splendid beaches are the main reason for buying in this part of Mexico, so why not start with the beach itself?

Here’s a video to get a taste for what you’re going to find – WARNING: these videos are VERY RELAXING. If you’re at work, just make sure the boss doesn’t catch you drifting off into a dream world …

A little preview of what you\’ll see on our Top Beaches page – Xcacel Beach

So, better than dreaming about life on the beach, take a look at our top beaches of the Riviera Maya and be sure to check out the nearby property listings on the right side of each beach’s page. Your dream can be a reality …

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A beachfront hotel near Tulum (Luna Maya)

Yucatan Properties at Playa Kuka – A Natural Paradise for Ecological Luxury

ThomasLloyd — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:29:01 +0000

Recently, we’ve discovered an exciting new opportunity in beautiful, ecological beachfront lots for sale on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula called “Playa Kuka.” Before we talk about the Yucatan properties at Playa Kuka, let’s talk a little about the context of the properties – the surroundings in which they are set.

Flamingos at Rio Lagartos, Near Playa Kuka

Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve

If you have heard of Rio Lagartos on the north shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, you know that this is a magical place. Most tourists know it for its wild flamingo breeding grounds and natural habitat. Visitors arrive by means of a rustic boat ride through the reserve to arrive at a place where the natural, green landscape is filled with the splendid pink of the flamingos wading in the water. The good news is that living on one of the beachfront lots, you will have good road access!

Yet, the flamingos are most certainly not all there is to Rio Lagartos. There are more than 250 species of waterfowl which nest and breed in the estuary around which the reserve is centered. Rio Lagartos covers an area of 31,750 acres. There is a very large variety of flora and fauna, including mangrove growths and many species of birds, reptiles and fish.

The Fishing Village at Rio Lagartos

The Town

On the east end of the estuary, there is a classic Mexican fishing village called El Cuyo. This village is quaint with colorful homes and the waterfront is lined with fishermen’s boats, which head out early every morning for the daily catch. These people live in the same relaxation close contact with nature that they have for centuries.

The Beaches

In the reserve, there is a total of 50 miles of beachfront; the beaches have soft sand, they are wide and they offer a beauty that can only be fully appreciated in the untouched natural surroundings, and unspoiled lifestyle of the relaxed fishermen.

It is on these beaches where Playa Kuka, one of the more unique opportunities in Yucatan properties, is located, and you can find lots 10 acres in size with 100 feet of beachfront for surprisingly low prices! Here you can have your ecological dream home built and live in luxury and harmony with nature!

The beaches where your future dream home could be

Rio Lagartos is a magical, natural place full of rustic roads, surrounded by vegetation, birds and wildlife. Live here will definitely be relaxation in a way most of us have only ever imagined!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Playa del Carmen Condo Hotel – El Taj – Wins Top Award for Hotels in Mexico!

ThomasLloyd — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:39:59 +0000

A View of the Caribbean Beach from El Taj

Imagine owning a condo – full ownership, fully titled – in one of the best hotels in all of Mexico … and imagine the investment potential if this condo-hotel were awarded by one of the world’s leading travel sites?

The good news is that you don’t have to imagine. This has actually just become a real possibility with El Taj condo hotel in Playa del Carmen! Recently, based on user ratings and comments, Trip Advisor has awarded El Taj with the #2 place among the Top 25 Hotels in Mexico.

El Taj is located in the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen, directly on the one of the worlds’ most beautiful beaches, steps away from the shopping and dining of Fifth Avenue, Playa del Carmen’s trendiest street.

First of all, the user ratings speak very well of this hotel; of about 280 users, who have actually been to and stayed in El Taj, 230 rated the hotel with a full 5 stars, or “Excellent.”

El Taj - #2 Hotel in Mexico - Traveler's Choice Awards

Users point to features like the splendid views of the beach and the ocean, the excellent service, the beautiful, oriental-inspired design with Bali-inspired décor and the walking distance to all the tourism activity of Fifth Avenue as reasons for their high rating of the hotel.

El Taj also receive the 12th place award for Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Mexico and the 22nd place for the Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in Mexico.

All of this leads to two important points. The first is that it would be one of the best hotels in

Playa del Carmen's Beachfront Downtown, one of El Taj's most important features!

which to own Playa del Carmen real estate for your own vacationing. In addition to the high praises from the users, other features include:

Direct access to some of the world’s best beaches
A beach club
Underground parking with an elevator
Design by Jack Perlman (award winning architect)
Kitchens fully equipped with best quality appliances

The other point to consider is the investment potential. The attention drawn to El Taj from the recent Trip Advisor award is expected to give the hotel a significant boost on top of its current success. This is good news for anyone looking for a Playa del Carmen condo for sale for either purely for investment income on that property or for a bit of cash to balance expenses while they are not using the property.

Take a look at our listing for this property here – El Taj condo hotel – and consider investing in Mexico’s top condo-hotel!

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Tulum Real Estate First to Know Update

ThomasLloyd — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:03:36 +0000

Wow, at the end of this post you will see one heck of a Mexico real estate TOP DEAL.
But before showing you this property, I wanted to share some things going on here in the Tulum real estate region.
December and January have been buzzing along for Mexico real estate TOP deal buyers picking up some great discounts in the Riviera Maya zone. I know our team over here has been working closely with several buyers who have been…. waiting patiently and looking for those great deals that pop up. And they are being snagged up quickly over the past two months.

So… what the heck is going on in the Tulum real estate market?

Lots. and exciting stuff.

I have been driving out, talking, meeting new developers, new properties that are coming out on the market.

“2012 is going to be a crazy year for tourists coming into town, soooo many people are visiting because of the excitement of the Mayan 2012 final calendar year” - owner of a bed and breakfast

And as I am chuckling to myself … A European back packer and her partner walk in to ask the owner of the B&B…
- do you have any rooms for rent?
-No, did you try around the corner?
- Yes, booked
- What about Jungle Butterfly BB?
- Yes, booked

After chatting with the owner of this Tulum real estate a little bit more, I take a drive over to the brand new Chedraui grocery store. Wow. Nice.

So what is the big deal… a new grocery store…so what?
The thing is if you have not been to Tulum before… there were no larger sized grocery stores. With Chedraui you have a wide variety of brands, foods, snacks, wines, meats that are now available which the smaller shops in town did not carry. My wife loves it now because when we run to the beach, she can make one stop, put together a great pick nick with wine, cheese, grapes, even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. All at one stop just down the road towards the beach!

Ok, lots to talk about in the Tulum real estate which I will be doing over the next various weeks here on the TOP Mexico real estate blog.
Stay in close contact, trust me you will see some Great things…. even if it is a simple photo of one of the beautiful Tulum beaches.

Ok, here is the big bang at the end of the post.

check this Mexico real estate TOP DEAL.
$135,000 with 140 m2!

click here to see more details and photos Tulum 140 m2 Condo for Sale

Call or write to me for more specifics or to run out and see this property while you are in town.
We can come up with a strategy together on this.
(984) 267-2449

Or…. share with us your dream home, and we will help you find it
Click here

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

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

Wow! 7 of the 25 Top Beaches Now Yours to See – HD Videos, Photos and Maps!

ThomasLloyd — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:30:14 +0000

As we start up the first week of 2012, we wanted to share some more of the 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya project, we are excited to share with you the seventh beach – Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen. To start we want to remind you of two points; one is that we have already released 6 TOP BEACHES for your enjoyment! Each one has High-Definition videos, beautiful pictures, descriptions and maps! The other point is that there are still 18 more to go, with the same spectacular features, plus some will have a hidden treasure. If you visit any of the beaches, you can also check in and leave tips in Foursquare.

All of these exciting features allow you to enjoy these 7 beaches (plus the 18 to come) from home, to help you forget about the cold for a while. More importantly, they will allow you to pick out which one(s) you like the most and make plans to spend a day on each one on your next visit to Playa del Carmen.

Coco Beach in Playa del Carmen is one of the top beaches because of its great location and its up-and-coming hip atmosphere. It’s pretty much at the end of where all the current action of downtown Playa del Carmen is taking place, with a long stretch of quiet, developed beaches to the other side. The beach is currently a nice balance of being a happening place while still being close to the quieter areas of town.

Yet, the most significant thing that’s happening in Coco Beach is that the quiet beaches to the north are currently seeing upscale condo and hotel development. This means that Coco Beach will soon be a very central “meeting point” between the original downtown area and the newer tourism growing in the north end of the Playa del Carmen real estate area.

Coco Beach is already a hip and happening place. There’s a nice restaurant on the beach, a pizza shop nearby and nice, upscale condos in the residential community. It’s also a nice romantic place to enjoy a bottle of wine as a couple in the evening.

We’re sure that once you’ve been to Coco Beach, you’ll won’t be content with vacations anymore – and if it’s not Coco Beach, we’re sure you’ll fall in love with one of the other top beaches as your future home …

Merry Christmas from TOP Mexico Real Estate

ThomasLloyd — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 04:03:34 +0000

Thanks to everyone for allowing us here at Top Mexico Real Estate to help you in your search for a new home in wonderful Mexico. All the best for you and the ones you love.

25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya – #6 Is a Famous Downtown Landmark!

ThomasLloyd — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:01:05 +0000

If you’ve been to the Playa del Carmen real estate areas, there’s no doubt that you know downtown’s most famous landmark, and the wide, beautiful beach that goes with it – El Faro Beach in Playa del Carmen with its Lighthouse. Because of the combination of a gorgeous beachfront, all of downtown’s activities, and some excellent restaurants right on the beach, we’ve chosen El Faro as the sixth beach of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya series.

The name “El Faro” refers to the landmark itself, and is Spanish for “The Lighthouse.” What’s nice about El Faro Beach is that it can be enjoyed as a part of any activity you choose to enjoy in Playa del Carmen.

Often, when we go out for dinner or a cold drink downtown, this beach becomes part of the outing; we either enjoy the restaurants right next to the sand, or afterwards, we’ll head down and enjoy a walk on the sand later on.

Walking along the beach we see people playing volleyball, relaxing on blankets in the sand, enjoying nearby lounge chairs, wading in the water, swimming, and just about any other activity you can think of. Anyone who enjoys the dining and shopping of Fifth Avenue – the main downtown pedestrian street that runs parallel to the beach – can easily take a short walk (a small city block) down to El Faro Beach.

It’s also a well-known landmark, easy to find. Once you arrive to the beachfront in any part of downtown Playa del Carmen, you’ll see this landmark. It’s a favorite place of ours – and many other people – to meet on the beach, either for dining or for enjoying the sand.

We’d love it if we could meet you here at El Faro not too long down the road; in the meantime enjoy the beautiful HD videos and pictures on our page for El Faro Beach in Playa del Carmen. Look for our next beach coming in a post this week.

Mexico Beachfront for Sale – Direct Beachfront vs. a Block or Two Back

ThomasLloyd — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:56:52 +0000

When most buyers think of Mexico beachfront for sale, they think of a Mexico condo for sale, or sometimes a home, directly overlooking the ocean with the sand at their front door. While there is very good reason for this appeal (who wouldn’t want to live like this?) in most cases it is worth considering a property a couple of blocks back from the beach itself. The following are a number of factors to consider when making this choice.

Price – In established beachfront communities that have already become popular with tourists, properties directly on the beachfront tend to have elevated prices. Buyers on a more limited budget may find that excellent homes or condos are available for a significantly lower price only 3 or 4 blocks away. Playa del Carmen real estate is a good example of a place where people can buy a property slightly back from the beach and still enjoy a pleasant, 5 to 10 minute walk to the water, while enjoying virtually all the same benefits.

Convenience – Sometimes properties back from the beach actually offer even more convenient access to surrounding services. This factor depends on each buyer’s needs.

Weather – Some locations, such as the north shore of the Yucatan, will have a tropical storm now and then during certain seasons of the year. While there is very little risk, some people feel more comfortable buying a block or two back from the water, which is actually considered the prime location in some communities.

Availability – On the other hand, if a buyer is considering a less developed area, the properties available may only be on the beachfront or one row back. Prices in these areas tend to be low anyway, and it may not make any sense trying to get a better deal on a property back from the beach.

Free Download Kit: Purchasing process

Purchasing process

All you need to know about
the process of buying real estate in Mexico

Rental Appeal – Some owners count on renting out to other vacationers to generate income when they are not using their property. Often in this case location directly on the beachfront holds higher appeal.

When making their choice, each buyer should consider their needs together with these factors to determine if it is better for them to buy directly on the beachfront or a couple of blocks back.

A Saturday Afternoon in Tulum

ThomasLloyd — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 07:15:52 +0000

A Saturday afternoon, and we all decided to go on a pick nick in a region that has been increasing in attention, the Tulum real estate area. When you pull into the Tulum pueblo off of highway 307 from Playa del Carmen heading south, the first stoplights give you a choice of turning west towards Coba, or east towards the beach. This afternoon we took several friends, Stephen from Canada, Richard from D.C., and John from Calgary. As we drove down the road towards the beach these were some of the comments; “The new gas station, oxxo stores and the bike paths are very impressive” ” A lot has changed in a year, this is very nice, look at the rest areas along the bike paths and look at all the people riding down to the beach!” “Look at the new Chedraui store”

This was the perfect place to buy food and drinks for the pick nick. What a great selection of food! This is quite impressive for Tulum. It really is getting larger with over 5 banks, Bodega Aurrera grocery store also has opened, and many Italian, Argentinian restaurants are located in the downtown zone.

So the new Super market, is located on the road towards the beach. What is really interesting is that it is right across the street from the new development, Aldea Zama. Imagine if you are living in a house or say in a new property such as the Real de Zama condos for sale, the new Chedraui store is close enough you can jump on a bike and ride over to this new grocery store! And it looks as if everyone is moving around in Tulum on bicycles.

As we arrived to the beach road, we saw so many bicycles tied up to palm trees, tied up to the road side where people would just park, walk across the dune and get to the beach. These are some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches. They are wide, talky white powder, and the waves are large enough to do body boarding. I could absolutely imagine living in any of the Tulum condos for sale, jumping on a bike on a week end, peddling down to Chedraui picking up some refreshments, and peddling on down to the beach for the afternoon. After, riding home to shower off and to prepare for a night on the town….What a life.

We found a place to park the car along side the road and the above, the picture shows what lay awaiting for us on the other side of the dune!

Buy Mexico Real Estate Safely – What is a Fideicomiso?

ThomasLloyd — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:02:44 +0000

In this brief article, the idea of a “Fideicomiso,” or “Bank Trust,” is briefly discussed. This bank trust allows non-Mexicans can buy Mexico real estate in the “restricted zones.” There are 3 main points to cover:

If you are buying in the “restricted zone” a bank trust is obligatory (see definitions below)
If you are buying outside of the restricted zone, it is not necessary, but possible.
It is a perfectly safe way of owning property in Mexico, and offers the full rights of ownership.

Now, let’s define what these concepts actually mean.

The Restricted Zone

The restricted zone is identified and described in the Mexican Constitution, defined by the following limits:

50 kilometers (33 miles) along all of the Mexican coastlines
100 kilometers (66 miles) along all Mexican borders (United States and Central American countries of Belize and Guatemala)

If you buy Playa del Carmen real estate, for example, which is directly on the coastline, you need to use a Bank Trust. If you buy Lake Chapala real estate, which is more than 50 km from the coast and more than 100 km from the U.S. border, you do not need to buy through a Bank Trust, and you can own directly, just like a Mexican citizen.

The Bank Trust

According to the current Mexican Constitution, as established in 1917, foreigners could not own land in the Restricted Zone. However, during the past few decades, the Mexican government realized that there was great potential for drawing investment to the country by allowing foreign ownership in these areas – especially on the beachfront. For this reason, the government of Mexico set up the system called a “Fideicomiso” (in Spanish) which allows foreigners to own in this area. The Bank Trust works as follows:

the property is held in a trust through a Mexican bank
the bank is the trustee
the buyer is the beneficiary
the Bank Trusts are active for 50 years and are renewable after that – do not be confused, this is NOT a “lease”
a small annual fee must be paid annually to the bank holding the trust
the buyer designates a substitute beneficiary, who becomes the beneficiary in the case of death (this actually makes inheritance much easier

Free Download Kit: Banktrust

Banktrust

All you need to know about
Banktrust

Because of this last point, some buyers choose to buy through a Bank Trust even when it is not obligatory. The process of gaining a Bank Trust has become very common and straight forward; it is a perfectly safe form of ownership and American or Canadian buyers should feel comfortable buying in this way.

25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya – #5 Xcalacoco Beach – A Quiet Paradise Just North of Town

ThomasLloyd — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:14:09 +0000

On November 1, we released the first of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya. Today, I wanted to show you the fifth of these beaches, Xcalacoco Beach in Playa del Carmen. Xcalacoco Beach is a beautiful stretch of beaches complementing the new resort and condo developments which are located on this beach. On this beach, you can relax in the warm sun, warm your feet in the soft, white sand, and watch sailboats go by – all adding up to complete relaxation. A cold drink might be in order, or maybe just a lounge chair in view of a rustic old dock. Xcalacoco is the meeting point of isolated old beaches of the Playa del Carmen real estate region and the newest in resorts, condo developments and gated communities. The beach is located just north of town, about a mile or two from the first downtown area beaches. Visit our Xcalacoco Beach page and see:

Videos – These include a video postcard designed especially for your relaxation, as well as some detailed high definition views of Xcalacoco.

Pictures – You will want to see and share these beautiful scenes from Xcalacoco Beach; the only thing which could be better is actually to be here!

Descriptions – Read more about the beach – what there is to do, what the atmosphere is like, etc.

Map – Find out where the beach is; after all, once you get the chance to come down here, you’ll want to experience it for yourself.

If you get a chance to escape the ever more frigid weather of the north and come down to Xcalacoco beach, you may also wish to make a check-in at Foursquare and let everyone else know what it’s all about. Also, feel free to visit our Top Beaches page to enjoy the first 4 beaches! Watch for our next beach in 2 days (Friday, November 11th) by following this blog or checking our 25 TOP Beaches page! In the meantime, enjoy Xcalacoco!

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

Buying Mexico Beachfront for Sale – Areas to Consider

ThomasLloyd — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 04:32:27 +0000

Among the many attractive options in Mexico real estate, by far the favorite is Mexico beachfront for sale. Mexico has large amounts of coastline and many areas of long, beautiful beaches. For this reason, there is also a wide variety of choices in areas to consider for buyers interested beachfront real estate for sale. The following is an overview of the general regions, giving some examples of famous destinations, and alternatives that may be less known, bet offer good possibilities.

Baja California – The Baja California peninsula is popular because it is so close to the south western area of the United States, and even access by plane offers flights as short as an hour or two to many North American cities. The area also offers a beautiful combination of desert, mountains and ocean. Los Cabos and La Paz are among the favorites in the southern part of the Peninsula, while Rosarito near Tijuana and Rocky Point near Arizona offer options a close drive to the U.S. border.

Pacific Coast – Sunsets over wide beaches, mountains and sub-tropical jungle tend to be defining points in the landscape. Puerto Vallarta, one of the earliest expat communities to form in Mexico, combines these features with its old-town charm and modern city conveniences as the regions’s most popular tourist destination. Mexico condos for sale overlooking the beach or with views of the mountains and old town are a favorite.

Places like Mazatlan and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo each offer a distinct combination of the modern and the traditional. In the south Pacific region, beaches in the state of Oaxaca, like Puerto Escondido, are just beginning to attract tourism, international investment and real estate development.

Yucatan Peninsula – With the creation of Cancun 40 years ago, the Yucatan Peninsula has emerged not only as the most important tourist region in Mexico, but in all of Latin America. In addition to the modern high-rise lifestyle in Cancun, there is the small-city European atmosphere of Playa del Carmen, the nature and environment focused community of Tulum, the small but close-knit expat communities of Costa Maya to the south, or Progreso on the north shore and the high-potential up-and-coming area of Campeche of the Gulf of Mexico.

Beachfront in Mexico is varied and diverse. The hard part isn’t finding what you want, but choosing between the excellent options available.

25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya – Welcome to Week 2, Our Fourth Beach is …

ThomasLloyd — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 04:36:08 +0000

As the first week of November brought you below-freezing temperatures, nightly frosts and – in some places like Calgary – even snow, we were pleased to bring you the first three of our 25 Top Beaches series – Xcacel, Tulum North and Shangri-La. Have you been enjoying them? We’ve sure been enjoying getting them ready for you, picking out the best beach areas, preparing pictures and videos, and making sure you know what they offer and where they are here in our Playa del Carmen real estate territory.

( click here to see Video )

As we start week 2, we bring you the fourth of the series, Xaman-Ha beach in Playa del Carmen. This is the second in-town beach, after Shangri-La which is located pretty much at the north end of the main action of downtown Playa del Carmen. Xaman-Ha beach takes us down to the south end of town, the upscale, gated community of Playacar.

The beach takes its name from the ancient Mayan name of Playa del Carmen, “Xaman-Ha,” which means “the place of the water.” The ruins of the original religious site are located just inside of Playacar, surrounded by green vegetation, preserving the original natural jungle of the surrounding area. Playacar is a combination of beautiful, upscale homes and a very green community with plenty of trees and natural spaces. The bike trail running through the community is shaded by the trees making it very comfortable. Some of the homes are in the beachfront area, known as Phase 1, and others surround one of Playa del Carmen’s finest golf courses in Phase 2. The community also offers very nice condos.

In all cases, Playacar is located a walk or a short bike ride away from Xaman-Ha beach. This beach is part of the area that was recently re-widened and is now very spacious and open – an ideal place to enjoy the warm sun and comfortable water. Since Xaman-Ha is located in the Playacar neighborhood, it is quiet and exclusive – an ideal place to relax; yet is still only a short walk from the heart of downtown Playa del Carmen where you can enjoy bars, restaurants cafes and much more either directly on or very close to the beachfront.

Take a look at our page for Xaman-Ha beach. Watch the videos, see the pictures. Share with a friend, and let yourself dream about what life would be like here. Just remember, though, there’s no need to dream too long, when it could be a reality …

You can watch for our next Top Beach on Wednesday, Nov. 9, either on this blog, or on our Top Beaches site.

Tired of Winter Yet? See #3 of Our Top 25 Beaches – Shangri La HD Video

ThomasLloyd — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:56:40 +0000

Tired of winter yet? As we begin November the nights get longer, colder, and the sunshine just doesn’t warm you up enough during the day …

Yes, I know – it’s not winter, yet. It’s still only fall. But that just makes it all that much worse, knowing that the real cold is still to come.

So instead of imagining the cold, soft, white snow still to come, why not imagine the warm, soft, white sand of Shangri-la beach in Playa del Carmen?

Welcome to beach #3 of our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya! Shangri-la beach is located right in the Playa del Carmen real estate market just a short walk from downtown, but with its palapas (thatched-roof shades and cabins), many palm trees and green surroundings, it feels like it could be out it the jungle. Walking distance to Playa del Carmen’s most well-loved restaurants and shopping areas on Fifth Avenue, the rustic yet upscale boutique resort on this beach makes it an quiet, relaxing oasis within the city.

As with our other beaches, we invite to visit our page for Shangri-la beach, view relaxing videos, browse photos, check where it is on the map and more. If you make it down to Playa del Carmen this winter, we also invite to participate in some exciting on-site activities by means of your iPhone or Blackberry. In the meantime, enjoy the photos and videos we’ve put together for you to balance out the ever-colder days and routine of the work day!

Also, don’t forget to check out the first two beaches – Xcacel and Tulum North – on the 25 Top Beaches main page!

Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya #2 – A Cozy Beach by Mystical Pyramids!

ThomasLloyd — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 05:05:15 +0000

So, did you enjoy Xcacel Beach (which we shared with you on Tuesday,) with its rustic atmosphere and natural surroundings? If so you’ve discovered one of the best kept secrets of the Riviera Maya! We hope you can manage to escape to the Riviera Maya this winter to enjoy it in person. In the mean time, we’re going to keep sharing our 25 Top Beaches of the Riviera Maya with you.

Our second beach that we are sharing with you is a beautiful little beach with mystical pyramids ( click here to see great video of Tulum North Beach ) overlooking it from on top of a cliff. If you know the area, you know that this Tulum beach is the one right at the base of the mystical Mayan ruins which have made this town so famous.

Unlike Xcacel, this beach is no secret; in fact, it’s becoming a favorite world-wide with travelers giving up upscale clubs and visits to nice malls in favor of experiencing these wonderful pyramids, walking through the incredibly well-preserved walled site, viewing temples, sacred sites, ancient symbols and pyramids.

After stepping back in time into the mysteries of the ancient Mayan civilization, visitors step out of time altogether; walking down a wooden stair case from the base of the main pyramid, people arrive to a cozy little beach nestled between the cliffs and the turquoise Caribbean to enjoy Tulum’s unchanging natural splendor. The beach lives up to the reputation Tulum is gaining as having some of the world’s softest, widest and most beautiful beaches, while adding the mysterious presence of the pyramids above it.

This is one of the top reasons why Tulum’s beaches have been showing up on the top 5 lists for world-wide beaches; many who have made their rounds traveling will say these are number 1, even better than anything in Europe, South American or Southeast Asia.

Take a look at our videos and pictures of the Tulum Beach by the pyramids and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

Watch for our next beach coming up this Saturday, November 5.

Top 25 Beaches of Riviera Maya, You Have to See These VIDEOS

ThomasLloyd — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 04:30:12 +0000

Have you ever wondered what the best beaches in the Riviera Maya are? You can now find out! Over the next 2 months, we will be sharing our Top 25 Beaches in the Riviera Maya with you – pictures, videos, descriptions, activities and maps! For each beach, there will also be fun activities like check-ins in Foursquare.

3 or 4 times a week, we will be releasing a new beach – each new beach will be a surprise! The beaches will range from the trendiest clubs downtown to isolated jungle beaches with no electricity or paved roads.

( CLICK HERE TO SEE VIDEO OF THIS AMAZING BEACH )

Our very first beach is nicknamed “Turtles and Clear Waters” and is Xcacel Beach near the village of Chemuyil. It is about 20 minutes south of Playa del Carmen and a bit further north of Tulum. There’s access from the main highway, but unless you’re looking for it, you might miss it like most people do; this is why Xcacel Beach is such a well-kept secret. The access is a simple dirt road with a thatched-roof hut as a security booth, and a rope across the road when the beach is “closed.”

As simple and rustic as the access may be, this actually prepares you really well for what you’ll find ahead. The beach’s only structures are a couple of similar huts and a crooked wooden lifeguard stand. But there is one major difference between the access and the beach itself; while the access doesn’t really catch your attention as anything special, the beach is nothing less that spectacular!

The regular features of Mexico’s Caribbean beaches – the amazing width, the white soft sand, the turquoise water (which are all incredible and spectacular to anyone not used to this part of the world) – are accented with lush, green nature. The only sounds will be the water lapping against the sand and the sound of birds in the trees.

Oh – and, let’s not forget about the turtles; Xcacel beach is a favorite nesting ground for the area’s sea turtles. If you’re lucky, you may spot one of these beautiful creatures in the crystal-clear water or, at the right time year, witness the hatching!

So, come visit our page for Xcacel Beach, see the gallery, enjoy the relaxing video and get a taste of what relaxation on Xcacel beach is like.

Watch for our next beach – a quiet paradise just north of town –coming on Wednesday, November 3, on our Top 25 Beaches page or on this blog.

Tulum homes for sale; Video Interview About Constructing your own Mexican Dream Home in the Jungle

ThomasLloyd — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:41:13 +0000

The dream of living in Mexico is alive and very strong for millions of Canadians and Americans. Tulum is one of those locations that sparks the imagination with its’ incredible post card perfect beaches and their green lush jungles. Many people fall in love with the beaches and then begin searching for Tulum homes for sale. But being the little village is so small…the Tulum real estate market has more land than finished homes for choosing. So there is plenty of land, on the south side, on the road to Coba, land in the downtown section and projects such as Aldea Zama whose infrastructure has been professionally laid out. But people worry about the thought of taking on a construction project way down south in another country, in another language, in another business environment. That is why TOP Mexico real estate wanted to chat with a few contractors from the zone. We know of many homes, gorgeous homes that have been built by Americans and Canadians from long distance…and they were successes!

Take a look at the video below to see this beautiful home in the middle of the Mexican jungle… don’t feel you need to buy cookie cutter homes down in Tulum or in Mexico, let your imagination run, put your dreams down on paper and we can introduce you to contractors who can get the job done.

Beachfront for Sale – Mexico Real Estate for Low Prices

ThomasLloyd — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:05 +0000

When considering Mexico real estate, you may have thought to yourself, “I know Mexico’s cheap, but beachfront is beachfront, it’s expensive everywhere.” We all know how it works; that $500,000 USD beachfront property would probably worth $5 million USD in the US, but we still can’t afford it.

Fortunately, this is not the whole picture. Cheap beachfront properties are available in good locations in Mexico.

Quite often they are places where tourism still hasn’t taken off as much as in the more famous locations, but if you can find a property in a place where tourism is just beginning to take off, you can still enjoy good services nearby and save a fortune on your property. Let’s consider two such locations.

One example is the cheap Mexico beachfront lots in the state of Campeche. Campeche is on the Yucatan Peninsula, and shows a good deal of promise to follow the success of the more famous locations on the Caribbean coast (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, etc.) and on the north coast (Merida/Progreso.) A marina, a couple of golf course and the accompanying real estate development is already along the way. The state’s colonial capital (called “Campeche” as well) has been beautifully restored and offers a handful of modern services. Beachfront lots are still available for less than $50,000 USD.

Another example is Costa Maya real estate, which is located a few hours south of the Cancun – Playa del Carmen – Tulum stretch. The area is already famous for cruises and diving, and promises to draw much more tourist attention and services when Tulum receives the area’s second major international tourist airport. Again, lots, condos and homes are available for surprisingly low prices.

These are only two examples. The point is, don’t think that buying on a low budget means that quality properties directly on the beachfront are beyond reach. They’re out there, and they’re in good locations. You just have to know where to look.

Buying Mexico Real Estate Safely: Putting together Your Real Estate Team

ThomasLloyd — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:40:35 +0000

What is the first key step in buying Mexico real estate safely? Searching thorough listings? Visiting the area where you want to buy? Researching Mexico law? Arranging viewings by calling agents on the signs? Try this: putting together the team of professionals which will prepare you to make the most of your search process and guide you safely through the purchasing process.

This may run contrary to that almost overwhelming eagerness to “get the ball rolling” and start the process quickly (after all, we do fall in love with Mexico quickly!) However, not preparing yourself properly can leave the door open for problems later on – unnecessary complications, headaches and bureaucracy or something as simple as missing out on the property best for you.

For this reason it’s best to take the time at the beginning of your search process and start forming your team. The following are the key steps in this process:

Find your Mexico agent. The right agent will be the central figure in guiding you through the search and purchasing processes, as well as finding and forming the rest of your team. In short, the traits you will want to look for are experience, qualifications and a good gut feeling (all three are important, and you may be causing yourself troubles by overlooking any of them.) Your agent’s office should be a part of AMPI, the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals. This should be the part that you take your time doing, making sure you know you have the right agent and that you feel good with them.

Begin your search process. While you form the rest of your team (see point 3 below) you can begin to search for real estate with the help of your agent with confidence.

Complete the rest of your team. This will include a lawyer, notary public, an escrow service provider, title research company and a mortgage broker or bank. The last two depend on each given purchase, but your agent will be able to point out which services you need, and suggest professionals with whom past clients have worked, and who have given excellent service.

Free Download Kit: Purchasing process

Purchasing process

All you need to know about
the process of buying real estate in Mexico

While excellent resources exist online to research legal and real estate information, this information will be best understood and applied by someone who has done so dozens of times. Researching online information can be a good way of “measuring” your agent’s professionalism while you are choosing, but in the end you will need to rely on the professional agent you choose to guide you through these areas.