After a very quiet hurricane season in 2006, now Hurricane Dean, a very strong category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 145mph/233kmh at the time of this writing is on a direct path for Cozumel, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.

An estimated 80,000 tourists are being encouraged to make arrangements to evacuate the area as soon as possible.  It is also estimated that the Cancun International airport will be closed at 5pm tomorrow.  This storm is scheduled to hit the area late tomorrow or early Tuesday morning according to the National Weather Center.  The path of Hurricane Dean is being compared to Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, now it is moving West along a very similar line at about 18 to 20 miles per hour.  Today it is predicted to pass through Haiti and the island of Jamaica.
Locals in Playa Del Carmen and Cancun are taking many precautions in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Dean.  Hotels are moving items near the water to safety and making preparations to close once the guests are evacuated.  Many area hardware stores and construction supply stores are finding items like wood, screws, and other supplies to be in high demand.   This is very common prior to a hurricane also canned goods become a very precious commodity since during a hurricane typically there is no power and usually people move/protect or disconnect their gas tanks.  People who have hurricane shutters for their home or business need not worry with boarding up windows, doors, etc. however others that do not have the steel reinforced storm shutters on their home or business are busy in an attempt to cover anything with exposed glass.

“The main problem in a hurricane is the water coming into your home or office and damaging furniture and anything electric,” according to Bob McCain of Caribe Properties Real Estate in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  McCain states, “most of the construction here in Mexico is concrete so the buildings are more resistant to the high winds, but glass and doors provide openings where the water can find its way in and that will cause a problems.”

How will this hurricane effect the real estate market in Cancun and the Riviera Maya?  That remains to be seen but if the past is any indication it will not change things substantially or slow down the explosive growth and investment in the area.  After hurricane Wilma, many investors thought that the prices would drop and there would be many bargains to be found.  It did not happen as the recovery from Wilma (one of the worst hurricanes ever recorded in this area) was very fast and property values remained constant through the recovery process.  Shawn Bandick, owner of One Stop Real Estate says, “if anything, the prices actually went up after the rebuilding in the area last year.  People who are informed and interested in investing in the Caribbean completely know and understand that tropical storms are just part of life in this area.”

Everyone in Cozumel, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and the entire Riviera Maya remains on alert as Hurricane Dean makes its way toward Mexico.