Major Membership Associations in the Riviera Maya Real Estate Community Report that some NON-Members claim membership.

Is Your Agent a Certified Member of the Real Estate Community?

by Bjoern Koch

Recently, there has been a rise in the use of Professional Real Estate Assocation logo's on the business cards and web sites of Real Estate Brokers and Agents here in the Riviera Maya of Mexico.  Legitimately, the majority of brokers and agents proudly display their participation and membership in such associations.  However, there are reports that a few in the industry are displaying certifications and memberships in Associations that they don't belong to just to give the impression to prospective buyers that they are legitimate and these can cause confusion.

To be sure, there are associations and groups in the USA, Canada, and here in Mexico that are widely known - from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Certified Interanational Property Specialist Network (CIPS Network), La Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios, A.C. (AMPI) and MLS 4 Riviera Maya (MLS) that allow their logos to be displayed by all their members.

But who are these widely known assocations and how do you verify if a broker and/or agent is a member in good status.

City of Playa del Carmen pushes hard on new Infrastructure to meet investors demands

by Shawn Bandick, Broker at One Stop Real Estate in Playa del Carmen

Hello to all our friends and clients.

Have you been to Playa del Carmen lately?  Wow this town is still on the move. There is street and building construction happening everywhere. The city is pushing hard to upgrade city services like roads, electricity, septic, and water service all over Playa del Carmen. We are all looking around with big smiles on our faces as we see this work happening all over the city. It may cause some delays and confusion but it is impressive that the city is willing to push so hard to get proper infrastructure in place as we grow. 

The Plaza Los Americas on the north end of town is partly open with great movie cinemas. On the south end of town, the Centro Maya mall with Soriana grocery store is open and they also have great cinemas too!

This month Playa del Carmen’s Mayakoba Resort development, with it’s Greg Norman El Camaleon Golf Course will host a PGA golf tournament. This is the first time ever that the Professional Golfers Association is hosting a tournament in Mexico.  Yeah, it's history being made here in the Riviera Maya. Only just 5 or 6 years ago you would have been hard pressed to find a world class golf course in the Cancun or Playa del Carmen area. Now there are 8 golf courses between Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. Currently there are another five under construction.

By David Greenberg

Why get title insurance for your investment property here in the Riviera Maya?

Title insurance on Mexican real estate is more than just a title insurance policy. It is an in-depth examination concerning title documents, and real estate closing process. In order to issue an Owner's Policy of Title Insurance , and assume the inherent monetary liability that comes with the policy issuance, the insuring company must be as certain as possible regarding all of the various elements in the property transfer.

The process of the title insurance company, is to eliminate risk by examining all of the relevant issues today. If given the opportunity, a title insurance company may both buyer and seller of the relevant concerns that may be outstanding or in process prior to the consummation of the property conveyance.

This type of investigation coupled with financial indemnification gives the non-Mexican purchaser of real estate comfort and security knowing that a company with over 100 years of expertise has examined all of the title matters and issues a title policy. When compared to the other closing costs associated with real property conveyances in Mexico , i.e., transfer taxes and notary fees, an Owner's Policy of Title Insurance will for the most part be the cheapest.