Excellent news for Americans and Canadians buying Mexico condos on a budget; one new development of Playa del Carmen condos has recently completed its model unit, and the first penthouse unit is nearing completion.

When buying pre-construction, most buyers will want to see a completed model suite to visualize the lifestyle possibilities better. Seeing this model condo first hand will not leave buyers disappointed. The open-concept, modern design with a large kitchen bar, and 2 very spacious bedrooms with walk-in closets are as good, if not better, when seen first hand. The large space of 1400 sq. ft. (130 sq. mt.) is very well laid-out, with 2 large terraces, and a personal pool or jacuzzi as well. Each unit is a separate floor, and their are no adjoining units, making for plenty of natural sunlight and contributing to the open feeling.

The complex pool, shared by only 6 very small buildings, is also complete to be seen. The complex will also include a gym area, which will be completed with future building construction. The beach is only a short walk away, the newly developing community is upscale and gated, and downtown is a 10 minute drive.

What is most astonishing is the price; starting at $130,000, these are probably the best priced Playa del Carmen condos for sale in this kind of location with this much space and such an excellent design.

In the first building which is nearing completion and includes the model unit, the penthouse is also nearing completion for buyers to view. This unit, located on the third floor, includes the same design and all the benefits of the first two floors, with an additional bedroom on the rooftop. The remainder of the rooftop space is dedicated entirely to a terrace, ideal for a shaded lounge area. The jacuzzi is also included on the rooftop.

With plenty of extra space, and the luxury of a completely private rooftop terrace – each penthouse will have a completely separate rooftop – again it is surprising that the price is only $30,000 USD more than the base unit price. This total of $160,000 is the best price and value available for a penthouse in Playa del Carmen.

Located in a gated, upscale community, in an up-and-coming area of Playa del Carmen showing clear signs of becoming perhaps the nicest and most desirable part of town, these condos are an excellent investment, both in terms of lifestyle and in terms of potential for value appreciation.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Americans or Canadians looking for an excellent real estate investment possibility should consider Villas Tranquilidad, a Mexico homes development in a new community in Playa del Carmen. These villas are currently being sold for a price lower than the future value the community promises, showing potential for both re-sale profit and rental income.

These Playa del Carmen homes are located in the new community of El Cielo, which is 10 minutes north of central Playa del Carmen, just past the MayaKoba PGA golf course. Currently only 2 developments exist in El Cielo, one of them being Villas Tranquilidad. Because the conveniences which are planned for the community have not yet been constructed the price of Villas Tranquilidad is lower than the expected future value of homes in the community.

The services which El Cielo will offer include a commercial shopping area along the highway side of the property, at the entrance. In the middle of the property there will be residential development, including Villas Tranquilidad, which is located about half a mile from the beach. After the residential area will be the future extension of the new Fifth Avenue, offering shops, cafes and stores. Past Fifth Avenue El Cielo’s condo and hotel area will be located directly on the beachfront. A bike trail, which has already been constructed, runs through the community. El Cielo targets high-end residential and commercial developers.

Villas Tranquilidad, conveniently located within walking distance from the beachfront, but far enough away for peace and quiet. The 6 villas are 3 storeys each, with an elegant contemporary design. They include mini-split air-conditioners in each room, as well as ceiling fans. Each villas has a private yard, and the 6 share a common green space with a pool and a “palapa” (a Mayan-style thatched roof) shade area.

The already low price of $260,000 is made more accessible through a 25% pre-construction discount, for a price of $195,000. Financing options, including mortgages through Mexican bank institutions, which will finance up to 75% of the pre-discount price at fairly low interest rates (6.5%), and short-term seller financing, which also offers competitive rates.

For investors, these options make the purchase very manageable financially. The high-quality services and ongoing development of the community promise a higher future value, as well as good potential for vacation rentals, once these services are in place.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com: Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

For baby boomers considering Mexico Retirement, there is some good news; Mexico is, overall a very safe place to live, and this is especially true for Lake Chapala Real Estate, which has been a favorite retirement destination for Americans and Canadians for some time.

The idea that Mexico is a top choice when it comes to safety comes as a surprise to many North Americans. Media likes to shock and surprise, and nothing does this better than reports of violence and sickness. Most people clearly remember the outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus in Mexico, which virtually halted tourism a few weeks in 2009, but nobody remembers hearing that many experts soon agreed that the “swine flu” was actually less dangerous than the standard annual flu outbreak. News like this is less shocking, and finds its place in “back pages.”

More importantly, however, Mexico’s response this outbreak has generally been praised as quick, effective and showing priority for safety and containment rather than protection of the country’s or government’s image. Future retirees can gain confidence in this type of action that authorities will deal with problems in the most effective way possible.

As for safety, stories on violence related to drug trafficking still show up in the news on a regular basis. Any clear report on the matter shows that this violence is focused on the U.S. border towns, with most of the country unaffected by these confrontations. Statistics also show that the majority of Mexico’s population enjoys greater safety from violent crime than residents and large U.S. cities.

Several Mexican retirement communities are safe enough that bicycle owners can even leave their bikes unlocked; while this is not true everywhere, it’s unheard of even Canada, a country most people associate with low crime and high safety.

The communities on Lake Chapala are among safest to be found in Mexico and beyond. In these quaint villages with cobbles stone roads, and traditional Mexican homes, some home owners leave their doors unlocked and open during the day; a nice way to enjoy the area’s fresh air. This luxury is also not enjoyed in too many places up in the U.S. or Canada.

While standard precautions are always a good idea (lock the door at night, don’t count a large withdrawal of cash at an ATM, etc.) the news of gang violence is as distant from Lake Chapala as it is from many parts of the U.S. (It shows up in the Mexican news a good deal as well; Mexicans are perhaps even more intrigued by this kind of shock than Americans or Canadians.)

Retirement on Lake Chapala is relaxing, safe, and quiet; with many clubs and activities, organized by other Americans or Canadians, as well as the local Mexicans, this balance gives retirees one of the most ideal choices for the most relaxing years of their life.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com: Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

On Tuesday, May 11, Mexico launched the call to bidding for the construction and operation of the Riviera Maya International Airport, located in the municipality of Tulum. The airport is expected to bring significant growth to the area’s tourism industry as well as to Tulum Real Estate, and the nearby Akumal Real Estate area. Other parts of Quintana Roo, including Playa del Carmen and the Costa Maya Real Estate area at the south of the state will be seeing secondary benefits as well.

The airport project will require an investment of about $250 million U.S., and forecasts suggest that the it will serve three million passengers in the third year in operation. The terminal, located within the municipal boundaries of Tulum, about 15 minutes outside of the town itself.

The bidding is open to Mexican and foreign investors, and includes concessions for the construction, management and operation of the international airport for 50 years.

The Riviera Maya, running from just south of Cancun to Tulum, includes what many consider to be the most beautiful beaches in the world, several Mayan ruin sites, world-class golf courses, fully developed marina communities, a broad range of nature-related activities, and many modern services such as shopping malls, large screen movie theaters, and modern healthcare facilities.

While Cancun is currently the location in Mexico which draws the highest number of foreign tourists, much of this has “over-flowed” into the Riviera Maya. The new airport is not only expected to greatly increase tourism to Tulum, Playa del Carmen and the area between, but also to bring a new growth boost to Tulum, creating both real estate investment opportunities, and a new range of services for those who choose to make Tulum their home. Demand for the nearby village of Akumal will probably also increase, offering a secluded lifestyle very near to the new services. Playa del Carmen, which has enjoyed the status of the fastest growing community in Latin America, may also see a new real estate growth.

In addition to the benefits for the Riviera Maya area, the airport is expected to draw further tourism to the Mayan pyramid sites and attractions of the south of the state of Quintana Roo, possibly benefiting the Costa Maya Real Estate area with increased tourism and new investment.

According to a statement from the Secretariat of Communication and Transportation (SCT) the airport is expected to receive 700,000 passengers in its first year of operation, reaching three million in its third year.

The airport complex will be located in an area of more than 3,700 acres and will include the construction of the terminal building, a runway of 3780 yards, fuel station and control tower, among other infrastructre.

The terms of the bidding will be available to interested parties from May 12 to 21 and Federal Competition Commission (CFC) must give its approval to the participants. According to current plans, companies interested should submit their technical and financial proposals for the project on 15 November and in December the bidder selected will be announced. Mexican airport operator Asur, which manages the airport in Cancun, has said it will seek to participate in the project.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com: Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com, a website and network of Mexico’s leading real estate experts, has recently been offering a free copy of the Campeche Tourist Guide from the company’s website (http://www.topmexicorealestate.com/campeche-real-estate/CampecheGuide/). TOPMexicoRealEstate advertises and promotes Campeche Real Estate as a Cheap Mexico Beachfront Real Estate option with a growing tourism industry, promising to bring more services and increase property value.

The Capmeche Guide is provides information for site-seeing, activities, attractions, nature-related pastimes (fishing, boating, etc.) and much anything of interest to visitors in the area. The state is rich in still somewhat undiscovered attractions, and for soon-to-be residents, the guide will help them take advantage of a lifestyle rich in options and variety. The guide has already enjoyed popularity among the site’s visitors and the TOPMexicoRealEstate mailing list members.

The guide is geared to all buyers interested in the possibility of lower-price properties on the Yucatan peninsula, and specifically those interested in beachfront lots for building a home. A specific development of inexpensive Mexico Land directly on virgin beachfront has lots including 66 ft of beachfront, and a depth of about 1320 ft, backing onto a lagoon. The lots are guaranteed to electric, water, phone and internet hook ups; some connections have already been installed.

Campeche is currently one of Mexico’s most promising new tourist destinations. The colonial city of Campeche (45 minutes away from the lots) has been fully restored, and nearby a multi-million dollar golf-marina condo development has just begun delivering properties, and a second similar golf residential development has recently been announced.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com: Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A recently released guide to buying Mexico Real Estate , available as a free download at TOPMexicoRealEstate.com, continues to gain excellent feedback from high-profile international real estate experts, suggesting this e-book as an essential reading for all who are interested in buying real estate in Mexico, and as a motivation for buyers and investors to consider Mexico as top pick.

The most recent acclaim for Top Mexico Real Estate Guide: Buying Safely comes from Jeff Hornberger, Director for Global Alliances, National Association of REALTORS, also known by its acronym, NAR, the U.S. professional real estate association, which, among other tasks, establishes the professionalism in the industry. Hornberger is also co-author of “Cashing in on a Second Home in Central America.”

“The Top Mexico Real Estate Guide: Buying Safely gives a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to buying real estate in Mexico,” says Hornberger. “The reader will get a high level overview of the ins and outs, and join the thousands of Americans who call Mexico home as a second home investment.”

This e-book format guide was written and compiled by 10 of Mexico’s leading real estate experts, including Mexico Agents, who have worked directly in their area for years, as well as lawyers and title experts. The guide was compiled on the premise that, while some basics of buying real estate are similar across the board, differences in laws and business culture in Mexico mean that there are things foreign buyers must know before entering a real estate transaction. This knowledge could make the process a “dream come true” for the buyer, if taken into consideration during all steps of the process.

“After reading this guide,” adds Hornberger, “the reader will understand that buying real estate in Mexico is not better or worse than the US, it’s just different.”

Top Mexico Real Estate Guide: Buying Safely is available at TOPMexicoRealEstate.com, as a free PDF file, which takes about 2 minutes to download on an standard internet connection.

In the near future, TOPMexicoRealEstate is planning to release a second volume, dealing with the specifics of buying Mexico real estate for investment.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

A prime opportunity for living in Mexico on a budget, or making a low initial cost investment in Campeche Real Estate, which currently exists as beachfront land about 45 minutes south of the city of Campeche, has been selling with higher than expected success – only 25 lots out of 154 are remaining, confirming the attractiveness of this development.

This Cheap Mexico Beachfront Real Estate includes all services – electricity, water, phone and internet. It is also in one of Mexico’s most promising up-and-coming tourism hotspots. The city of Campeche has recently made large investments into beautifying its colonial city center, replacing all overhead wiring with underground wiring, re-painting and decorating facades of homes and public buildings and restoring the old cathedral and town square. Recently, one luxury condo, golf and marina development just began delivering units, and another such development, Campeche Country Club, was announced.

The lots include 66 ft of beachfront, and a depth of 1320 ft. The competitive price of US $64,900 compares to nearby lots with virtually identical beachfront starting at US $125,000.

The price combined with the location, services available and investment potential have prompted rapid sales, with a significant number of Americans and Canadians showing interest. Buyers so far include retirees who are taking advantage of the low price to build a home in a place which offers a low cost lifestyle, families looking with plans to build a vacation home in a place with easy access (two international airports are within a 45 minute drive, and the major airports of Merida and Cancun are within a 3 hr and 6 hr drive respectively,) and investors who recognize the area’s potential.

The growing popularity of the area, as well as the quick sale of the lots itself, confirm that future residents will be part of a significant community of Americans and Canadians. Campeche is also known to be one of the safest areas not only in Mexico, but in North America as a whole.

Real estate agents in the Yucatan area are expecting the remaining 25 lots to continue to sell quickly.

TOPMexicoRealEstate.com: Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

Mexico Real Estate continues to grow as a leading option for Canadians. As the Canadian dollar shows promise for long-term parity with the U.S. dollar, the cost of buying properties, day to day products and services will be higher relative to other countries, with a large number of benefits growing for Canadians choosing to live in Mexico for retirement or other purposes.

A recent statement from a leading tour operator suggested that Canada is falling on the worldwide tourism ladder, sliding to 14th in the world for number of visitors, with 15% fewer visitors than in 2002. The majority of visitors (about 75%, or 12 million out of 16 million per year in 2009) come from the U.S.

Canada has not lost its reputation but rather, the fall is due to higher prices in the country. A report from the World Economic Forum placed Canada at number 106 in terms of affordability for visitors. The report ranked 133 countries. In the past, Canada’s undervalued currency (almost down to $.60 U.S. in the 90′s) provided U.S. tourists with a strong motivation to choose the country over other options.

However, this rise in the Canadian dollar has a real advantage for Canadians looking from the other side of the issue; while Canada is relatively more expensive for foreigners, other countries are relatively less expensive for them.

Especially Mexico, an already more affordable country for Canadian property buyers, it provides compelling benefits for Canadians looking for investment or considering living abroad whether for retirement or for other purposes. In addition to accessible prices, Mexico provides an excellent level of tourism, logistic and communication infrastructure; it is currently #1 in the world for new highway projects – pointing to solid real estate investment possibilities, and a high standard of life, at a lower price. Some Canadians have already begun taking advantage of this new situation.

“To date, all of our buyers actively pursuing a real estate purchase in Playa del Carmen for 2010 are Canadians,” says Thomas Lloyd, founder and president of TOPMexicoRealEstate.com, a network of Mexico’s leading real estate professionals.

Since properties in Mexico’s leading real estate locations are priced in U.S. dollars, the strength of Canadian currency against the U.S. currency means that the same properties are currently available for a lower price than before. For example, a property priced at $200,000 U.S. a year ago would have cost a Canadian buyer $250,000 CDN. With the dollar at parity, that same property can now be bought for $200,000 CDN, savings of $50,000. The cost of living in Mexico has shown similar changes; while products are sold in pesos, the difference between the Canadian dollar and the peso has also changed advantageously for Canadians. In 2006, the dollar was worth about 8 pesos; in early 2010, the dollar passed 12 pesos.

Many Canadians have also taken advantage of this situation to go on vacations that are more affordable right now. For these vacations, investigating the possibility of buying real estate in Mexico has also become easier. TOPMexicoRealEstate.com’s new Mobile Phone Real Estate website makes searching for properties “on the run” incredibly easy from an iPhone. The site opens to a search page, where real estate buyers can search by city, property type, location and price. Each listing includes a photo gallery, a description, its details, an interactive Google map with the location specified, Google Streetview (for a virtual tour of the neighborhood, in cities where the feature is available) and, in some cases, a video.

Source: TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

While Puerto Vallarta Real Estate is an established market, with many new communities that have sprouted up recently around the Bay of Banderas, TOPMexicoRealEstate expert, Michael Green, points out that there are a couple of neighborhoods with the usually high-priced luxury of walking distance to downtown, which are just now beginning to draw large amounts of attention from foreign buyers.

One such neighborhood is Alta vista, a short walk southeast of the historic town center. The neighborhood offers Puerto Vallarta Condos, with excellent views of the Bay and the surrounding mountains, with prices as low as $200,000 U.S., and slightly fewer luxury villas, starting around $500,000. A less-known aspect of this neighborhood are the homes that are being sold as projects for innovative buyers who are willing to take on a renovation project. These Puerto Vallarta Properties can be acquired at half the price or less, and with some time, dedication and investment can become excellent homes for enjoying Puerto Vallarta’s beachfront lifestyle, or profitable investments for re-sale.

Another area which will catch the attention of savvy buyers is neighborhood known as “5 de Diciembre.” This neighborhood is at the north end of the historic old town, just at the beginnings of the hillside. The neighborhood includes “old town” Mexican homes, some cobblestone roads, and a few working class areas. Some of the traditional Mexican homes have been kept up, and have found appeal with international buyers who prefer the romantic atmosphere; a bit higher on the hillside, there are some new condo projects, with excellent views, close walking access to downtown, modern design, and very accessible prices beginning at $200,000. One example is “Los Altos Villas” condos, which includes a central court yard with a rustic-stone style.

There are many other neighborhoods with excellent real estate options available in Puerto Vallarta, and these are only two samples of two which are offering exceptional opportunities, and have only recently begun capturing more attention for buyers. While the advantage of being within walking distance to the old town usually commands much higher prices, these two communities still have more accessible prices for high-quality new developments, as well as renovation projects.

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely

TOPMexicoRealEstate, a website and network of Mexico’s leading real estate agents and professionals, has recently joined forces with Rebecca Loto, an agent working in the Costa Maya Real Estate area, who has aready contributed to the Network’s recent Mexico Real Estate Guide. While Costa Maya is a relatively new market, the large-scale success of Cancun and Playa del Carmen in the north of the state, as well as significant advancements in the Tulum Real Estate area point to high potential for real estate in Costa Maya.

Costa Maya is located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, about an hour and half north of the boarder of Belize and Chetumal, the capital of the state of Quintana Roo, which is also home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Tulum. While the area is currently not highly developed in terms of tourism infrastructure, this is expected to change over the next decade.

The success of the north of the state (Cancun, etc.) during the past couple of decades shows the draw that the Mexican Caribbean can hold for tourism and real estate buyers. While there is already one international airport nearby in Chetumal, the new international airport in Tulum is expected to “open up” the southern half of this state for more extensive tourism. Besides the major boost that this will give to the Tulum Real Estate market, it will also draw more attention to beautiful real estate opportunities in the Costa Maya area, where are large amount of tourism growth is expected.

Currently, Costa Maya is ideal for real estate buyers seeking a relaxing lifestyle on the beaches which have made the Caribbean coast famous.

“Everything is very laid back,” says Loto. “No traffic as there is only 1 road that runs along the beach. Great community feeling.”

The Mexican population welcomes the idea of foreign investors, as they have noticed the opportunities opened in the cities to the north. Currently, prices are still considerably lower than in the established real estate destinations. With growing attention on Costa Maya, new infrastructure such as international stores and more sports facilities will begin to appear (currently residents need to travel to Chetumal to take advantage of these conveniences) and this relaxing lifestyle will become continually more convenient. Nature-related sports are already a favorite directly in the area, such as scuba diving – Chinchorro Banks 28 miles away was named one of the best locations in the world by Jaques Cousteau – as well as kayaking, snorkeling, beach volleyball, running and swimming.

“Now there are more restaurants and bars,” observes Loto, “but a lot of socialising was and still is drinks and dinner at friend’s houses.”

Rebecca Loto herself has been living in Costa Maya for 6 years, where she had her own experiences in purchasing real estate and building a home, and decided to offer her professional services to other foreigners endeavoring in this new market. Her knowledge of the area, both in terms of lifestyle and real estate availability, her Honours B.A. in “Urban Development” (from her home country, the U.K.) and many years of working internationally allow her to offer international clients the highest level of service. Loto is also bilingual, and her friendly treatment of all people alike is both appealing to clients and allows her to get the “inside scoop” from the locals.

In the brief time since joining TOPMexicoRealEstate, Loto has already used her experience in the Costa Maya area to contribute to Top Mexico Real Estate Guide: Buying Safely, a guide outlining the basics the buying process in Mexico.

TOPMexicoRealEstate NETWORK; Mexico’s Leading Network of Specialists for Finding and Purchasing Mexican Properties Safely