Living Without Borders

Driving to Mexico - Bring your car, you won’t regret it

John Chalmers piece this weekend in the Edmonton Journal should add some incentive to those of you considering driving into Mexico. I’ve quoted the real substance of the article below, but the full article captures plenty of the poetry of the Mexico Road-Trip.

First, you need Mexican car insurance. Friends recommended American agents who deal with Mexican insurance policies. I talked on a toll-free line to one company that came highly recommended, then filled out an online application form. The policy arrived via e-mail minutes later. A printed copy in English and Spanish came by mail a few days later.

We crossed at Nogales, just south of Tucson, Ariz. At the end of the “free zone,” 21 kilometres south of the Mexican border, we stopped to buy tourist visas for about $25 per person, payable with cash. A car permit costs about $32, payable by credit card only. A sticker goes on your windshield. It’s important to keep the paperwork when returning, to show customs officials, who remove the sticker.

Save time at the border by reporting to immigration with two photocopies each of your passport, driver’s license and automobile registration. You will then need photocopies made of the tourist visa from the service available.

Chalmers’ trip was extensive, and he’s documented the whole thing. From crossing the US to Las Vegas and into Mexico where things get really exciting.  It’s a good argument for bringing your car along but however you plan on arriving, it’s a good argument for visting too.

Add comment June 23rd, 2008

Property Management in and around Puerto Vallarta

Keeping the perfect vacation home can be an expensive and time consuming part-time job in and of itself. And while many developers now offer property management related services now you can have the complete service no matter how large or small is the development, or even if you purchase entirely outside of a development.
Livtopia’s Concierge has packaged the most important services for those seeking a significant rental income, and those who don’t want to fly into Puerto Vallarta every month to collect the rent.

In addition, they’re able to custom design a contract to provide:

Our Second and Vacation Homes page has a new breakdown on anticipated expenses and rental incomes with a sample purchase priced at US$300,000. Livtopia’s Concierge Property Management is working now to provide similar budgets for buyers and homeowners in Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias and Punta Mita, as well as all the places in Puerto Vallarta.

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1 comment May 19th, 2008

Big Change to Mexico Auto Import Rules

This is big news in what’s always a tricky story for those who want to import a car to Mexico. Permanently importing your car took another turn for the worse in Mexico. As of Monday, tomorrow March 3, 2008, you can only import a car from Model Year 1998. That’s presumably until next year when you’ll only be able to import a 1999 model.

According to the AP story linked above, 98 models along the border are suddenly the must-have 2008 cars

It’s a tricky story because until this new law was passed, you still couldn’t ever permanently import a car built outside the NAFTA countries. And permanently importing any car seemed like it was probably a bit tendentious a proposition anyway for many of the readers we talk to here. Your author has done it, and standing around the customs department of the airport for 11 hours is not what we recommend. The rules vary widely from state to state, even from office to office, and they do change - frequently.
We’ve mentioned temporary and tourist car imports few times in past posts. And that seems still to be the way to go, whether yours is a 2008 Lexus, or a 1997 Chrysler, the Mexican Import Authorities are going to see the same thing.

That’s why our MexRetire page on permits for auto importation is still only concentrating on Temporary Imports. It might sound like a hassle to need a new permit every 6 months, (though with a residency permit, FM-2 or FM-3, you can renew the temporary permit with your visa.) But this new ruling seems to make permanent importation seem even more possible. Our advice, import temporary, or have some fun shopping the auto-lots in your new paradise destination.

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2 comments March 2nd, 2008

Happy Holidays Traffic Booster

The date December, 24 2007 (Gregorian), corresponds to the following Aztec date:

Because things are likely to get slow and holiday traffic - on the internet anyway - tends to dip, this post is not only a holiday greeting to you, but to the many superstar bloggers quoted below. All of them are part of the BlogRoll we unveiled a few weeks ago, but they’re also among the most prolific in the blogging business.

To start with, the one truly newsworthy entry from the past week came from the Panama Investor Blog, where they’ve announced that the 90 day visa for Americans is back on. That should put a stop to some of the confusion - at last - and perhaps to some of the moaning and groaning, at least for a little while.

The Tropical Adventures holiday party in La Flor, Costa Rica, made for some interesting writing on the Blog of the Tropical Adventures website. These folks seem to have to explain how their operation runs over and over to critics who believe that without a big benefactor backing them they are just a tourist business in the guise of a volunteer operation. That doesn’t seem to have dampened the spirits of the kids with whom they’ve been working.

The better than year-long saga of Adopting Kids in Costa Rica took another twist. Playa Pelada is one of the only places on the internet, that I know of anyway, where you can really follow the adoption process, in detail, week after week. That’s in addition to the insight into living and growing in Costa Rica that also makes up a big part of Playa Pelada fare.

On to Mexico. The Aztec Calendar illustration above came via The Mex Files, who directed us to this cool Aztec Calendar website. You can figure out how to write or say whatever day, month and year you want according to the calendar. And, no weekend project, this calendar is complete with artwork and a full list of the gods and deities who rule over the world of the Aztecs not even to mention a few decades of study and work that appear to have gone into it.

The folks at Yucatan Living provided another of their Juggernaut Entries with news from all over the Peninsula. Airline news includes a new route from Milan to Mérida, and a new low cost route between Cancun and Campeche. They point out that tourism numbers in Yucatan continue to climb and the number of Yucatecos in the US can be informally monitored by checking the US registrations at el Diario, the Mérida daily.

On the more domestic side of All Things Mexico, the Living in Mexico blog provided a great update on what’s coming up in their organic garden. And Home-Sweet-Mexico provided some 10 decorating tips for dealing with the ubiquitous and quirky short-cuts that Mexican Builders and Landlords often leave us to deal with.

If you want real holiday news though, try dragging an enormous commercial popcorn popper around to the Posada processions in your small Mexican pueblo. The folks at Viva Veracruz give that story and a lot more.

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by for a terrific year of blogging and traveling and dreaming and making things better for everyone.

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2 comments December 24th, 2007

good opportunities in Mexico real estate despite market corrections

David Simmonds has written a post at Mexico Premier in response to questions that many of us have been asking in light of the free-falling US housing market. Specifically regarding exactly how it is affecting or will affect the market in Mexico.

The real estate downturn in Mexico is not surprising to some of us. I have predicted this for a couple of years. But this is the first time I have seen it acknowledged by the developer class. And my guess is that the situation is worse than they are admitting to. With housing equity drying up in the U.S., there just isn’t as much available cash to drive the prices in Mexico. And with a surplus of inventory that has accumulated over the past decade from Northern Baja to Riviera Maya, there will be a significant correction. Bottom line: the next few years should be a very good time to buy in Mexico. Just take your time, do your research, and bargain hard.

There are certainly places in Mexico with excess real estate inventory, but it’s nothing like the 200,000 to 300,000 units in the United States that Alan Greenspan complained about last week. If you can sell your house in the US, the time to buy in Mexico is looking very good and should remain that way for the near future.

2 comments December 12th, 2007

2008 Schedule of Free Weekends Released

Part of the reason it’s been so quiet here is because we’ve been working extra hard on the 2008 calendar of free weekends, which was no small feat.

It means we’ve put together enough hotel rooms and enough speakers to make sure we can cover all the locations, and there are already some surprises!! You’ll have to check the page to see the one big surprise!!

But beyond that it is worth saying, maybe it is even obvious, that the calendar is not yet complete. We’ve got a few locations yet to add and certainly a lot of dates, because every location will have a few possible dates.

But that said, right now we are talking about 14 locations and expecting that number to jump to 15 before very long. I can’t give secret 15 away yet, but it is inland in Mexico, possibly with the very best climate anywhere in the world (?)

• Los Cabos/La Paz
• Puerto Vallarta
• Mazatlán
• Mérida
• Campeche
• Cancún/Isla Mujeres/Playa del Carmen
• San Miguel de Allende
• Juan Dolio DR
• Northern DR
• Guanacaste CR
• Central Valley CR
• Panamá City
• Boquette Panama
• Surprise Location

We’ve also set up a basic schedule that covers all of the events in ever city and we are sending that out to anyone who registers. I’ll be making it available on line in a few days too. It gives you a good idea what to expect, when to arrive, how the speakers and experts will be arranged and I think generally allows people to make the most of the weekend.

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Add comment November 15th, 2007

Titled vs “right of possession” land in Panama

We’re working on a big Legal Q&A for our new legal partner in Panama (to be announced with a big splash next week). Here’s a preview of what we’re working on:

Q: When I was in Bocas del Toro it was mentioned that some of the property was titled land while other property was Right of Possession. What exactly is the difference between titled land and “right to possession”, and how should it affect the decision of someone purchasing property in Panama?

A. Not all properties in the Republic of Panama are of private domain and are subject to registry in the Public Registry Office. Many beach front properties, islands and real estate in special tourism zones such as “Bocas del Toro” and “Portobelo” are owned and managed by the national or local municipal governments and only “possession rights” are granted for a determined period of time over these lands.

Possession rights are basically land-use acknowledgments which are essentially recognized based on the occupation and use of a certain area of land over time.

Persons interested in investing in projects located in these restricted areas should be very careful to ensure that the award of the “possession right” or “limited ownership” be duly granted by the pertinent national or local municipal government authorities. In this sense, it is important to verify the following aspects before investing in this type of real estate:

1. That the award of the piece of land is issued by the correct authorities.
2. That the award contains a complete description, including limits, boundaries, encumbrances, and other important details of the land. A complete blueprint shall be drawn and approved.
3. That the activity to be undertaken by the purchaser is allowed, that is, that the construction or building to be made is acceptable to the national or local government.
4. That the award be extensive for a period of time suitable for the purchaser.

Due to the lack of uniformity regarding the granting entity for “possession rights” it is of utmost importance to review each purchase individually and make recommendations specifically for each land option. The length of the transaction process for the possession rights transfer will vary and can take up to 6 months, depending on many factors, such as the date of recognition of the possession rights, inspection by the granting entity, among others.

Many land developers in these special areas have undertaken the task of procuring the possession title documents and transfer the ownership of the same by means of the sale of a Panamanian corporation and its assets. Special caution should be taken with these transactions as the Panamanian corporation could have undertaken other businesses besides that related to the property and there is no official registry of the commercial undertakings of the same.

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Add comment November 9th, 2007

Embassy Suites in Juan Dolio welcomes Livtopia guests!

Just a couple more good photos of the beach in front of the Embassy Suites Los Marlins Golf Resort where we’re going in December, and here are some of the attractions nearby:

• Los Marlins Championship Golf Course - on site
• Guavaberry Championship Golf Course (designed by the legendary Gary Player) - 1 mile
• World’s largest premium cigar factory, the Tabacalera de García Ltd offers exclusive tours near Casa de Campo – 30 miles
• Capital City of Santo Domingo - 30 miles
• Prime Cathedral (first cathedral of The Americas) - 30 miles
• Christopher Columbus’ Lighthouse and Museum - 30 miles
• Quisqueya Stadium – 30 miles, though night games will be played much closer at San Pedro Tetelo Vargas Stadium in San Pedro de Macoris. The winter baseball season runs from October through the end of January.
• Altos de Chavon, Museum, Artist Village and Culture Center - 30 miles
• La Romana Championship Golf Courses - 30 miles
• Las Americas Interantional Airport is about 20 minutes (15 miles) to the west.
  

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Add comment October 22nd, 2007

BusinessWeek goes to the Tropics

This article on Costa Rica in the new BusinessWeek really doesn’t hold much back, (except for the photo which I borrowed from the LA Times piece that I talked about earlier). It was just too good.

On a week-long trip through Costa Rica, I met dozens of retirees contentedly living the pura vida—pure life—a relaxed, comfortable, and affordable lifestyle in a beautiful and welcoming country. On the Pacific coast, where the year-round temperature averages 83 degrees, the main attraction is the outdoors: beaches, deep-sea fishing, and scuba diving.

The migration from North America has sparked construction of luxury homes, condominiums, and resort hotels mainly aimed at baby boomers. One is the Four Seasons resort on the Papagayo Peninsula, which offers rainforest-canopy tours and hiking trips to nearby volcanoes. Next July, AOL co-founder Steve Case’s resort-development company, Revolution Places, plans to break ground nearby on a 650-acre complex featuring two hotels and 320 homes selling from $2 million to $10 million.

That’s just a few paragraphs from the middle, because really, I don’t know who reads BusinessWeek online unless someone like me sends you there. But the whole article is worth a glance if you’re serious about considering a trip. Likewise worth considering is Ann’s comment from the other day, as is her advice to read AMCostaRica. I subscribed and it shows up fresh in my email every day.

Of particular interest was a recent article on foreclosure and a detailed explanation of the process, what to avoid, and how the auction process can work as well. Either way, if BusinessWeek won’t cure your craving for all things Costa Rica, then AMCostaRica should do the trick.

Add comment October 21st, 2007

Thinking about moving abroad for retirement?

While the New York Times covers the difficulty of getting back into the states, (get your passport!) the LA Times is going the completely different direction. Easily my favorite part of Saturday’s LA Times special “Your Money” section on Retirement in Latin America, is the slide show & audio interview with Grant Spalding, (click the image above), on his late decision to leave Mexico and head back to the states. The photography is excellent, but the quality of voice and sentiment for Mérida is what is really striking. Funny, Spalding ends up saying exactly the opposite of what I am always telling people, namely, move to Latin America, but I think if you listen to it you will see exactly what I think makes the piece so worth it. He insists several times that in fact Mérida is a better place than it was 20 years ago.

Still, I spent part of this morning, again, talking to some one about the difficulties that foreigners are having finding agents willing to talk to them in Mérida. For that, I still think a Livtopia Rep is the way to go.

This one section of the LA Times has something for just about anyone interested in the region. This piece on the ins and outs of Escazu, in Costa Rica, is also telling.

About 20,000 Americans, Canadians and Europeans have legal, long-term residency, according to government figures. Thousands more are believed to live here on tourist visas that can be renewed every 90 days by leaving the country for 72 hours. It’s a practice that the government doesn’t condone, but it cracks down on it only occasionally.

Again, the little bit of photography in the piece above is terrific, and it’s sadly rare coverage for what is an incredible country, landscape and people. Just about every angle I try to cover is covered in the LA Times section. The Judy King Audio and Slide interview is also quite telling. Her advice, do it for the adventure, not because it’s cheap. “Mexico is not for everyone.” And the photos, this time of the Chapala area do not lead one to believe that the area is watered down and saturated with gringo influence. It’s still very much a Mexican place, and thus, something to be enjoyed.

I’ll also recommend these two advice lists: “10 major tips from people in the know” and “Things to know before you move.” Among the most savory bits of advice from the first list:

9. Relax, and quit whining.
If you do relocate, you’ll be much happier focusing on what you like about your new community rather than obsessing about what’s wrong. Latin America’s languid pace can be exasperating when you’re in a hurry, but the whole point of retirement is to get off the clock.

1 comment October 21st, 2007

AMPI Code of Ethics - In English!

I was re-writing our page on AMPI-NAR membership today, and didn’t think I could find the AMPI code of ethics in English anywhere, but lo and behold, the Lake Chapala area branch of AMPI realtors actually have it translated.

Realizing the Livtopia page is a bit light, I’ll now have to do a side-by-side comparison of the two documents, both that of the AMPI, and that of the National Association of Realtors that I mentioned here. (Note, there’s a link to the hefty MSWord document download 3/4s of the way through that post.)