Snow In The Mexican Mountains

Just a few weeks ago, the high Sierra Madres had a fair amount of snow. This was on the highway between Durango and Mazatlan, at the pass.

Vaquera (Cowgirl) Guapa (Pretty)

There is always life and color in the street in Mexico. Recently I looked out the front door and discovered this beautiful chica...she was making her horse "dance." I'm sure there is a name for this, but I know next to nothing about horses.

She was promoting a local charreada (rodeo), and she drew quite a crowd. Of gawking gringos in the street. Not sure how many went to the charreada.

Six Ways Germany (Alemania) and Mexico Are Historically Linked

Paradoxically, Mexico and Germany, as opposite as they might seem, are two of my favorite countries. And, they are more historically linked than you might imagine.

Here are 6 ways the two countries are historically linked. Click the link below the photo.

 

http://www.thelocal.de/20160411/6-things-you-never-knew-linked-mexico-and-germany

Progress of New CMQ Hospital, Bucerias

This large building is going up fairly quickly. There is a substantial crew working 6 days a week.

 

This new hospital is only half a block from Casa Cascada, which is a small apartment building with a large 1 bedroom apartment and a large 2 bedroom apartment. Also with a palapa covered rooftop terrace, featuring bay views, and a good-sized pool.

Casa Cascada needs some TLC, but is wonderfully located for small B & B purposes or could be used as an outpatient housing, or housing for patients' families.









Casa Cascada

For more photos, data, and a video tour click here:

http://rfasoc.com/cascada.html

Lambert PH, Sold and Closed

Lambert Penthouse in Green Bay II, on El Tigre golf course in Paradise Village, closed on February 8th. The seller is a friend and client from Alabama. The buyer is from Colorado and Hawaii.

Delcanto Corner Two Bedroom, Sold and Closed.

This was one of the most beautifully decorated properties I have ever seen. And, it had a good ocean view, in a superb development (Delcanto, on Flamingos beach between Paradise Village and Bucerias).

The sellers were a family from Edmonton, Alberta. The buyer was a woman from Guadalajara. 

8 Bedroom House On Canal Lot, Closed.

It was a long slog to get the complex and challenging legal situation squared away, but with the patient and dedicated help of my legal team, P and G Legal Services, headed up by attorney and fellow workaholic Cristina Vilchis, plus the patience of the buyers and the seller, this first half of this deal (the sale of the house on lot 161, on the canal, in section II of Nuevo Vallarta), was finally closed in mid December 2015.


 

 The buyers, a family from California, have the structural stabilization and remodel project well under way.



The transfer of title to lot 160 is still pending, as it had even more legal issues to resolve. The same legal team is handling that as well.

Casa Palapa, SOLD

NOTE: this blog entry is appearing out of proper sequence. This was posted last May or June, 2015, but now insists on appearing as if a new post. It is not. But it doesn't allow me to move it back into place. Ni modo.

The sale of Casa Palapa closed yesterday.  The buyer is a businessman from Guadalajara.

The sellers are Americans but full time residents of this area for many years, and will be staying aournd for awhile at least while they decide what the next chapter will be.

Market Roller Coaster, Makes Me Queasy!

Last summer and fall (of 2015), this office was so busy I had no time to post to the blog. I was in the office 7 days a week, often 12 hours a day, and could barely manage to stay ahead of all the contracts, cap gains calculations, proof reading of new deeds, and showings.

And that was during what is traditionally our quiet low season. This high level of activity was consistent from last May through December. It looked as if this market had finally really turned the corner and was headed back up.

Then, just as we entered into the heart of what is normally our busiest selling season, January, February, and March, things slowed dramatically. How counter-intuitive is that?

Some of the reasons are apparent; the overly strong USD means that the market (priced in USD) is less of a bargain, in their home currencies (CAD and MXN) for Canadians or Mexicans. And in Bucerias, Canadians are normally 75 to 80% of the market. (Not so much in Vallarta.) So the real estate market in Bucerias is especially hard hit this year.

But what has happened to all the American buyers we had last summer and fall? That's a harder question to answer. The fact is no one knows for sure, but there are two possible reasons they haven't shown up this year. First, the global stock market selloff that started in earnest in January, and from which the markets have not fully recovered, spooked a lot f people. And, second, the political situation is so bizarre in the US this year, that many people are stunned by the crassness and unpredictability of it all, and may be postponing big decisions as a consequence.

Regardless, whatever strength the market was showing last low season has certainly dissipated during high season. And I need to take advantage of the time available to get back in the blogging habit.

There will be some sales and listings updates posted in the next day or two.

Robert