American’s Stake Claim in Mexico’s (Riviera Maya) Land Rush

Acre by acre, or more aptly, “hectare by hectare”, the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is slowly but surely becoming a new American colony, not unlike Baja last decade. Like something from the days of the American Land Rush of the 1800’s, this scarce land was wild, sparsely settled, and populated almost entirely by the Mayan Indians less than a decade ago.

The Mayans are now selling their virgin, newly-titled, sacred lands for the first time in modern history. This creation and availability of entirely new Mexico real estate is due in part to recent changes in Mexico’s laws allowing the Mayans to title and sell their beach property to foreigners. This precious, rarified piece of coastline is proclaimed to be the most beautiful in the world by the likes of Condé Nast Traveller, The Travel Channel, Orbitz and a host of other critics.

Wall St. Journal Reveals the Top Ten Stock Market Myths

Well let’s see, several weeks ago, the Dow plummeted 800 points, then suddenly shot back up again a couple of days later. A few weeks later, there was a distressing 200 point sell off on Friday, followed by a rousing 300 point rally on wednesday, leaving the market 7% down from where it sat in April.

Thus goes the stomach churning, wild roller-coaster ride that personifies Wall Street. This is about the time that your broker or financial advisor offers you words of comfort and advice. These are calming words that are universally spoken in brokerage offices round the world. Sayings that you may have heard over and over again, but are they really true?

3 Critical Questions about Investing in Mexico Real Estate

Is it Safe?

Is LA, NYC, Miami, Dallas or Chicago safe? The answer, as you can imagine, is Yes and No. Clearly, If you go to the right areas, YES and If you go to the wrong areas, NO.

In Mexico, if you travel to boarder towns known for drug violence or the seedy-side of large metropolitan areas the answer is absolutely NO (just like in South Central LA or Chicago’s Westside) but if you visit the hundreds of beautiful beachfront areas and smaller cities dotting the country, the answer is positively YES. Despite dramatic headlines, towns like Playa del Carmen and Tulum located on Mexico’s only Caribbean coast are much safer than many cities in the U.S.

Mexico: The Next BRIC Economy?

In 2001, Jim O’Neil, resident business guru at Goldman Sachs, coined the term BRIC Economy, referring to explosive economies of emerging countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China. By 2050, the combined economies of these 4 countries are projected to eclipse the cumulative economies of the current richest countries of the world.

However, O’Neil, for all of his brilliant insight, may have inadvertently overlooked the burgeoning economy just below the border. If stories of drug violence, illegal immigration, swine flu are making you hesitate about investing in Mexico, then you should seriously take a closer look.

Mexico Rises to Top M&A Market Worldwide in 2010

According to a Thomson Reuters’ research report last month, Mexico has now replaced Brazil as the top M&A Market in the Americas and surpassed 15 other M&A markets worldwide including the U.S., Switzerland, Indian, China, Spain and Australia in the first half of 2010.

Mexico Tourism Up 35%

The number of tourists to Mexico has increased by more than 35% in the first half of 2010. Even more staggering, is that of the number of Canadians traveling to Mexico, who in June alone increased over 107 % from the previous year for some fun in the sun… Ole!

A Tale of 3 Cities: The Coming Boom in Tulum

Finding and taking advantage of real estate booms can be a risky and tedious proposition, especially when looking internationally. Real estate deals sometimes look enticing from a distance but a granular look exposes weaknesses. Yet, once in a while you stumble across an opportunity that your common sense tells you is obvious. Something that you have seen happen before and you sense it will happen again. Such an opportunity may be unfolding on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.


First, there was Cancun. In 1970, Cancun, Mexico was an undeveloped and uninhabited barrier island. It consisted of a few sand dunes only 66 feet wide in some places. In a forgotten part of the Caribbean, few people even knew it existed. It’s Mayan name, ‘KanKun’, simply meant, “nest of snakes”.

Delta Adds 4 More Routes to Cancun

Delta just announced the addition of 4 more routes to service Cancun, Mexico starting in February. They are extending service to the International airport of the beautiful Riviera Maya from Austin and San Antonio, Texas, Columbus, Ohio and Tampa Florida. The routes will be a weekly seasonal service to accommodate the demands of the ever-increasing number of tourist visiting the Caribbean side of Mexico.


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Callaway Golf Clubs "Shooting" for Mexico

Carlsbad, California based Callaway Golf Corp announced today that it is moving manufacturing operations to Mexico. Callaway, one of the world’s most recognized golfing companies, will soon start manufacturing state-of-the-art golf balls, the number one rated golf irons and the famous Big Bertha line of clubs, south of the border.

U.S. Trades China for Mexico

According to a report from CNN Money, Mexico has defeated China as the #1 place to manufacturing assembly products bound for the United States. Mexico is becoming so much more attractive that even Chinese companies are moving to Mexico to take advantage of NAFTA benefits when exporting to the U.S.

Mexico’s Carlos Slim (The World’s Richest Man) Owns Huge Stake in The New York Times -- Newsweek Magazine May Be Next

Perhaps the richest man you’ve never heard of, Carlos Slim, who beat Bill Gates to become the first non-American in 16 years to become the “Richest Man in the World”, is now the New York Time’s largest single independent shareholder. The terms of his agreements allow him to buy up to 18% more of the New York Time’s common stock.

Mexicans Beat Brits in U.S. Property Market

That’s right, for the first time the British have now fallen behind Mexicans in the purchase of property in the U.S. The National Association of Realtor’s study showed Brits account for 9% of foreign property purchases, while Mexican buyers have jumped up 10% this year. In fact, Mexican investment in the U.S. now tops $10 billion annually.

Wall St. Journal: "GM Invests $500 Million in Mexico"

Despite drug war fears, the U.S. automotive giant said this week that it will invest $500 million in Mexico to produce a new line of engines and a whole new line of cars. Grace Lieblein, chief executive of GM Mexico, said that manufacturing these new cars in Mexico will allow for a 10% increase in efficiency.

Mexico Most Popular World Cup Jersey Sold Worldwide

As a expat from the northeastern part of the United States, I always wanted to experience the World Cup in a futbol (soccer) crazed Latin American country. Now that my favorite month every 4 years is over, I must say that watching the World Cup in Mexico was like watching my local high school team play. Everywhere you went, and everyone you talked with was focused on the team: Mexico's National Team.

Mexico on Pace to Pass Italy as 10th Largest Economy

Euromonitor International, one of the world's leading independent providers of business intelligence, said yesterday, that Mexico will overtake Italy to become the world’s tenth largest economy within the next 9 years.

By 2020, Mexico’s GDP (gross domestic product) output will reach $2.84 trillion, compared with Italy’s projected $2.46 trillion, putting Mexico only a step away from reaching other major world economies including France, UK, Brazil and even Germany.