Cashing In On A Second Home In Mexico

After nearly a decade of work in Mexico insuring real estate properties to foreign purchasers, the same issues always seem to surface regarding second home acquisitions: "If I buy a house in Mexico, don't I get a 99-year lease from the government?" "I understand that I can buy a residence in Mexico only if the title is vested in a Mexican corporation." "I didn't think Americans could own Mexican beachfront properties." All of these suppositions are incorrect. This book attempts to help clarify and explain why Mexican real estate, when using the proper safeguards, can be a terrific, secure investment. It will also explore the purchasing mistakes of the past, summarize several of the attractive new locations that are luring foreign dollars and explain why Mexico is so eager to welcome second home buyers from outside its borders. The worst thing a potential purchaser can do is to remain ignorant of the law and procedures involved in the conveyance of real estate in a foreign country. As we state several times in this book, Mexico is not the perceived "Wild West" where anything goes and the prevailing Mexican attitude is "trust me, no problema." It is inherently important for non-Mexican buyers to understand that Mexico has formality of law with authorized regulation of real estate development procedures at all levels. This process is coupled with a statutory government framework for the legal conveyance of real property. Great personal wealth has been attained through real estate ownership, but for most of us, it has been limited to investment in a primary residence. Although Mexican real estate also can be a viable investment venue, Americans have had a great deal more trepidation considering properties "south of the border." And for good reason--considering the history of some acquisitions. Given today's investment climate, however, Mexico provides an attractive, alternative arena for potential investment. Real estate in Mexico should have a similar appreciation "upside" as does real estate in a U.S. development--coupled with the advantage of use and enjoyment of the property as a vacation residence.

Central America is as different as the readers of this book. The region is an absolute paradox. It may be all that you imagine, but surprisingly, it is much more than one could ever embrace. It is more than the long and winding territory that connects North and South America. To the typical North American, the area conjures up vivid and varied images. On the geographical side, a mountainous area with volcanoes, colonial cities, jungles, and, of course, bananas and coffee. On the political front, turmoil, dictatorships and instability. On the economic front, rich versus poor, agriculture-based economies, and sweatshops where United States garments are manufactured and exported. It is a complex and fascinating place, home to 41 million people with a total gross domestic product of about $88 billion. How do you begin to categorize such a dramatic and extraordinary For starters, this region geographically encompasses seven countries: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. These countries have many mysterious cities and fascinating destinations that you could only hope to place them on the map in your mind.

As home prices in the U.S. hit record highs, Mexico has emerged as a solid contender for people who are considering either buying second homes or investing in a holiday home or future retirement properties. The U.S. State Department estimates that there are 385,000 Americans permanently liv-ing in Mexico. This book details precisely what to look for in real estate investments and buy-ing prospects, as well as how to find the best opportunities, buy with little or no money down, decide where to purchase, and how to choose and hire a realtor. You also will become knowledgeable about negotiating and financing, budgets, home-buying timelines, the process of building a house, homeowners' insur-ance, creative financing, closing and settlement inspections, legal contracts, what you can afford, and which government agencies can help. This book is a must-have for the investor considering a second home below the border.

News reports - including a segment on 60 Minutes - have depicted the entire country of Mexico as being an absolute mess, awash in blood and guns on every street corner. Ironically, people living there have a dramatically different perspective, especially in the "fly-in" destinations that continue to hold their value. Despite what you may have heard, read and seen, the country is not under siege. The laid-back lure of Mexico's beaches, forests, deserts, people, and culture has been capturing visitors and second-home buyers for decades and has become an international draw no longer driven solely by Americans and Canadians. Not only is land plentiful, exotic, captivating, and beautiful but also it is typically more affordable than most of the property found in America's getaway areas. Much has been written about the kidnappings, roadside hijackings, crooked cops and ever the infamous bandidos in some of the regions of Mexico. Most of the violence south of the border, however, is directly related to the drug cartels and the authorities who are trying to eradicate them. There is absolutely no pattern of any innocent U.S. citizens being randomly murdered in drug violence. In this book, we will meet other second-home buyers, investors and retirees who share positive views about living and investing south of the border. We will show you their answers to our questions about crime and occupancy in key areas of the country. We'll also explain why Mexico will become a needed alternative especially for 59,250,000 baby boomers that have not saved enough to fund their retirement years.

Barry Golson knows all about retiring abroad -- he and his wife, Thia, have lived in six different countries. Now they choose expatriate-friendly locales around the world for their low cost and their high quality of living and explain how to investigate and settle in each country with minimum hassle and maximum pleasure. Taking you step-by-step through the process of researching, testing, and finally living abroad, the Golsons' practical how-to guide covers all the major issues, including health care, finances, real estate, taxes, and immigration. Each location is profiled by an expatriate writer who has made that country his or her home and who knows how to answer all the questions about living richly and economically in some of the world's most beautiful places.

Buy real estate overseas to earn cash flow to fund your dream retirement In Buying Real Estate Overseas For Cash Flow (And A Better Life): Get Started With As Little As $50,000, Kathleen Peddicord and Lief Simon explain how to incorporate an investment in foreign real estate into your portfolio for as little as $50,000. With a lifetime of experience on the subjects of living, retiring, and investing overseas, the authors delve deep into this complex topic. Simply put, this book is a practical guide to buying property overseas as a strategy for earning cash flow to fund your dream retirement. In the book, the authors cover topics as wide-ranging as: How to build the cash flow you need to fund the retirement you want 8 markets offering the best current cash-flow opportunities How to move money across borders in today’s post-FATCA world Plus: How to run the numbers to evaluate a potential cash-flow investment Buying Real Estate Overseas includes a breadth and depth of information on the world’s best markets for investing in real estate for cash flow. Its up-to-date information about this investment category puts to bed much of the outdated advice and guidance currently available in published materials. The authors identify several hot, new markets where currency valuations and market conditions make the purchase of real estate an extremely wise investment decision in today’s volatile investment climate.

Dirty Money describes the origin of financial investigations of narcotics traffickers through four landmark prosecutions in Los Angeles. The House that Heroin Built tells of how a major heroin dealer's purchases of luxury items, including a San Marino mansion and several expensive cars, were used to prove he was the leader of a national organization and obtain a life without parole sentence. The Hunt for the Architect details how a small bank's reports of currency deposits helped identify and bring to justice an organization which derived more than $32,000,000 from heroin and cocaine. A Very, Very Honest Lawyer concerns the detection and investigation of a sophisticated money laundering service for narcotics traffickers run by a Beverly Hills attorney. The Grandma Mafia relates how a courageous banker helped uncover a multi-million dollar money laundering and cocaine trafficking operation run by middle-aged grandmothers. The recounting of these significant cases is told by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Perry, who supervised the investigations and represented the government at trial. Today, financial investigations are a major weapon in the federal government's continuing fight against narcotics. This important investigative technique originated in the cases described in this book.