Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Is it safe to travel to Mexico? Judging from the numbers, many are saying 'Yes'

By Jayne Clark, USA TODAY
The beach at Tulum, at the southern end of Mexico's Riviera Maya. Visitation to Mexico is up, despite concerns about drug violence. Despite tales of drug violence, visitation to Mexico was up almost 19% over last year, as of September. And with 22.6 million tourists expected by year's end, numbers will about equal the record-breaking totals in 2008. About 80% of visitors are North American.

In fact, slightly more foreigners are vacationing in Mexico now than before the drug wars, which have killed about 30,000 (mostly drug traffickers) in the past four years, The Economist reported in November. Mexico now ranks No. 10 in international arrivals worldwide.

I'm just back from San Miguel de Allende, a gorgeous colonial city in central Mexico (read about it Friday at usatoday.com/travel), where, not surprisingly, more than one conversation during my visit turned toward security concerns.

But not the sort of concerns you might think. The Americans I spoke with there were worried about the bum rap they believe the entire country is getting due to drug violence that , for the most part, is concentrated hundreds of miles away near the U.S. border.

"There is very little crime here, and what there is doesn't affect gringos," said Irina Posner, a retired CBS News employee and one of an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 ex-pats who live full or part-time in San Miguel. " We love this town. We feel safe in this town."

So did I, covering miles of narrow, cobbled walkways solo by day and by night in the 17th-century city. I felt as secure as I do in my own neighborhood, yet some innkeepers say they've had cancellations due to safety concerns.

Americans are notoriously near-sighted when it comes to geographical perspective. It's an issue Mexico's new tourism secretary Gloria Guevara addressed in an on-line seminar sponsored by the trade publication, Travel Weekly, last month. She acknowledged there are places in Mexico that tourists should avoid, specifically Matamoros and Ciudad Juarez on the Texas border. (And frankly, aside from those looking to do a cheap booze run, I'm not sure who would have frequented those border towns even before the drug-cartel bloodbaths).

"But for the rest of the country, you can relax and enjoy yourself," she told the Travel Weekly audience.

Actually, as someone who has traveled all over Mexico, I think I'd also skip Acapulco, which had a spate of nasty drug-related killings in September. But Acapulco many years ago ceased to be an American vacation destination.

Mexico's tourist sweet spot is Cancun, about 1,000 miles from Ciudad Juarez. Aside from an August bar shooting in a working-class neighborhood far removed from the resort zone, there has been no reported drug violence there. Another popular, earthier destination, is the Copper Canyon, which lies more than 200 miles from the border, or about the distance between New York and Baltimore.

"If you were planning a trip to New York, would you cancel it if you heard about challenges in Baltimore?" Guevara asked.

Vacation costs -- mainly hotels -- are down in Mexico. The average tourist spends about 5% less than in 2008, The Economist reports. And a number of forecasters are predicting that discounting in Cancun and south along the Riviera Maya will make that region particularly popular this winter.

The website Travelzoo , for instance, lists a four-night package, with air and all meals and drinks starting at $562 per person, double. It's good for travel Jan. 4-31, but must be booked by Jan. 10.

Another website, Smarter Travel, cites increased air service as likely to boost travel to Mexico. On Dec. 1, Southwest Airlines joined with Mexican carrier Volaris, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary booked on Southwest. On Dec. 15, Alaska Airlines begins service between San Jose and Guadalajara, and from Sacramento on Dec. 16. On Feb. 10, American Eagle launches daily nonstop service from Dallas to Veracruz and Queretaro. And on Feb. 12, American begins seasonal service between Chicago and Cozumel.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/
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Thursday, November 18, 2010

UN agency desinates Mexican food a cualtural treasure

By TIM JOHNSON

McClatchy Newspapers

MEXICO CITY -- Maligned as unhealthy and misunderstood in its complexity, Mexican cuisine is finally getting its due.

It's now considered an intangible cultural heritage of humanity, elevated along with French cuisine this week at a meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO.

The designation elated culinary experts, who say that diners sometimes fail to appreciate the richness of a cuisine with vast regional variation and use of aromatic herbs and plants, nothing like the cheesy nachos and brittle tacos many Americans eat at restaurants.

Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Affairs said on its website Wednesday that the designation provides "global recognition to our cuisine as one of the most important in the world."

An American who offers culinary tours of Mexico City, Lesley Tellez, said she hopes the recognition will change ideas about Mexican food.

"There's a misconception that it is food covered in cheese and that it's totally unhealthy. It's not true," said Tellez, adding that the U.N. designation "is an affirmation that Mexican cuisine has richness and complexity, and it deserves to be known."

Last year, several Mexican chefs appealed to UNESCO to honor a culinary tradition based on corn, beans and chili peppers that has roots in the distant past, has maintained continuity over centuries and uses original techniques. The Mexican government belatedly got behind the nomination.

The designation was made Tuesday at a meeting of the intangible cultural heritage committee of UNESCO in Nairobi, Kenya.

"Mexican cuisine is endless in variety," Fernando del Paso, a co-author of a Spanish-language Mexican cookbook, "La Cocina Mexicana," told the newspaper La Jornada. "It is no exaggeration to say that, along with French and Chinese, it is one of the three major cuisines of the world."

But Mexicans themselves, guarded about their own indigenous roots, don't always hold their national culinary tradition in high esteem.

"Like a battered wife, it is subject to our affection at home but meets with some rejection away," said Andres Juarez, academic coordinator at the Mexican Gastronomic School in the capital. High-end restaurants serving Mexican food are limited, he added.
"When we go to an elegant restaurant, we look for foreign dishes because we don't value our own food," Juarez said.

Outside another three-story cooking school in the capital, apprentice chef Jose Zelonka Vela said foreigners have a lot to learn about Mexican cooking, too.

"They think Mexican food is just burritos and tacos, and the tacos are made of fried tortillas. This has nothing to do with a Mexican taco," Zelonka said.

Many Mexican signature dishes use a variety of aromatic herbs and are labor intensive, requiring peeling, grinding, boiling and roasting. One national dish, chiles en nogada, little known outside of Mexico, is prepared with a creamy nut sauce, red pomegranate seeds and green cilantro - giving it the bright colors of the national flag.

"I love cochinita pibil," said cooking student Mara Guardarrama, referring to a slow-roasted dish of suckling pig. "It's the aroma of the orange and the adobo paste of herbs and chilies."

Ancient Mayan myth says a deity formed humans from corn, and Juarez noted that Mexico has 63 varieties of corn, hinting at the complexity of regional cooking.

Many recipes date from centuries back.

"We see dishes eaten these days that are quite similar to what chroniclers from pre-Hispanic times or the colonial era mentioned in their writings," Juarez said, noting the Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagun, who wrote of stews with insects, chilies, flowers, seeds and other ingredients similar to rural dishes of today.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Safety of Traveling to Rosarito, Mexico

by Raechel Donahue, Demand Media

Overview


Travel in Mexico has its share of safety issues, and the middle-class town of Rosarito is no exception. By observing a few rules and taking some basic precautions, you can have a safe and pleasant journey to this charming seaside hamlet. Whether you travel by bus or car, enjoy the scenery on the way to a destination that has served as a hideaway for movie stars and royalty for over 80 years.

Taking the Bus

Leaving from Tijuana, Mexicoach offers regular service to Rosarito. Simply leave your car on the American side -- there are many secure parking lots -- and walk across the border. If you are uncomfortable with leaving your car in a lot, consider taking the trolley from San Diego to reach the border. As soon as you pass through the gates, you will see the Tijuana Tourist Office, where friendly employees will direct you to the Mexicoach depot. The bus makes the 29-mile trip to Rosarito in a little over half an hour and costs about the same as a street taco.

Taxis

There are two kinds of Mexican taxis that will take you to Rosarito: "route taxis" that charge a flat rate for packing up to 12 tourists into a station wagon and yellow cabs. The route taxi is the most economical, but unless you are with a large enough group to fill the whole vehicle you may find yourself traveling in unsavory company. This can be a prime opportunity for pickpockets to prey upon tourists. The yellow cabs are not only more comfortable but also a safer choice because you are not placed in the position of traveling with strangers. The price is reasonable ($20 to $30 in 2010), and a little haggling is expected. Make sure to settle on a flat rate before starting the trip.

Driving to Rosarito

Driving in Mexico is rather challenging, especially passing through Tijuana, a necessary leg of the route to Rosarito. Drivers may seem erratic, aggressive and even angry, so it pays to be alert. It is crucial to purchase Mexican auto insurance in advance -- preferably from your own insurance agent. Approaching the border, there are many signs offering cut-rate insurance, but even the most seasoned traveler might have difficulty discerning legitimate agents from scam artists.

Safe Shopping in Rosarito

Rosarito's main boulevard is lined with all manner of shops, and every few yards there is a narrow corridor that leads to a hidden maze of tiny stands and cubbyholes. Even though Rosarito has the lowest crime rate in Baja (as of 2010), there is always the possibility of pickpocketing. Men should carry their wallets in a jacket pocket rather than the rear pants' pocket, and women should make sure their purses are closed.

General Safety Warnings

If driving, make sure to top off frequently to avoid the possibility of running out of gas. Do not stop for hitchhikers. Do not purchase a green parrot and attempt to bring it home; the penalty is as much as 50 years in prison.
 
http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Harley Riders Donate Backpacks & Supplies

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA , MEXICO ---More than 250 motorcyclists from the U.S. donated backpacks and other items for 300 Rosarito school children at this weekend’s annual Harley Charity Run.

As well as the school supplies, bicycles and toys were among the items donated, said Leticia Gonzalez, director of DIF, the city’s family social services agency, who helped coordinate the event.

Ride organizers Martin and Sonia Resendez said the concept was developed years ago when during a motorcycle tour to the area they learned of the needs of some of the city children. Since, the city and charity run have become part of their lives.

“We are very grateful for the donation from the Harley riders,” said Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres. “The goodwill from U.S. citizens, both those who visit and those who now live here, is deeply appreciated.”

This year a convoy of motorcyclists and vehicles carrying donations rode from Otay Mesa to Rosarito with a special escort. The Harley Run also included a celebration at the popular club Papas & Beers.

Mexican Dispatch: A Quiet Beach Town, Kept That Way by "Tourist" Police

New America Media/PBS NewsHour, News Report, Jose Luis Sierra, Posted: Sep 16, 2010



ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico—Walking or driving down boulevard Benito Juarez, the main street of Rosarito Beach, gives no hints of the struggles this tourist community has been fighting for the past four years.

As the sun sinks over the Pacific Ocean, neon lights advertise hotel rooms at competitive prices. Restaurants from French, Japanese, or local cuisine that offers rabbit, snake, quail, goat or deer meat— as well as the typical hamburger or Mexican menus—entice customers with margarita specials. Bars and discos compete for customers with loud music. If you care to ask, locals will advise you about the best choices.

If things get a little out of hand, "tourist police" will show up and make an effort to help you feel safe.

The town has a population of about 130,000 residents—14,000 of them U.S. citizens living here permanently. It gained fame in the 1920s for being a favorite spot for Hollywood legends like Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe, and now is advertised as the closest place south of the U.S.-Mexico border where tourists can enjoy the good life at affordable prices.

But locals say things have changed, as they recall the period of 2006-2008, when a violent crime was reported on an average every two hours.

Tourism, with a little more than 1 million visitors a year and the main staple of the local economy, has gone down more than 50 percent. Hotels, restaurants and just about every business related to the service industry faced the choice of closing or reducing staff and scaling down operations.

But the final blow came with the burst of the local real estate market bubble, a little more than three years ago.

Nobody saw it coming, after years of brisk sales of condos and villas along Rosarito Beach. There was a splashy announcement that billionaire Donald Trump would lend his name to a lavish coastal condo-hotel project, 10 miles south of the border on the outskirts of the town. Developers took Trump's move as a sign of confidence and began a frenetic pace of construction.

Thousands of U.S. retirees flocked to the area by the busload in search of an opportunity to own beachfront property at prices impossible to find north of the border. As side benefits, they saw the opportunities of a much lower cost of living, low property taxes, and the option of renting out their property when not in use.

"We originally built out our office space to support 30 to 60 agents. And currently we are running around 10, six. So that's basically what the marketing is supporting right now," said David Biondolillo, a real estate agent in charge of a five tower luxury condos by the beach, with prices ranging from the low $200,000 to $460,000.

Happy to get by, and with most of his 600 units already sold, Biondolillo is one of the lucky few. He said that more than 200 projects with permits already approved had to be shut down for lack of financing. That includes the project to which Trump had lent his name. It now resembles an empty pit.

For now, just as in the United States, a new market is emerging. Buyers are beginning to scout for foreclosure properties, or properties that are being offered for 30-40 percent under their original price, as developers scramble to recoup whatever they can from their investments. Still, perception plays a key role in this strategy.

"True, we had a problem with police corruption and crime four years ago, and that's one of the reasons I ran for mayor," said Hugo Torres, just a few months from finishing his second stint in that post. Torres is also owner of the Rosarito Beach Hotel.

"People ask me constantly if Rosarito is safe. My answer is always yes. It is as safe as any other city in the world. It is a matter of common sense. If you deal with drugs or are involved in any type criminal activity, you will never be safe, no matter where you are," said the 74-year-old mayor.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Tijuana at 30 miles per hour

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE

August 30, 2010



Sandra Dibble holds a cup of clamato juice, a popular treat in Baja California, on Sunday in Rosarito Beach

This was a difficult assignment: In the space of just a few hours, give my new editor, Hieu Tran Phan, a tour of Tijuana. On one quiet Sunday afternoon, what could I possibly show him? Tijuana has about two million people, hundreds of neighborhoods, vast contrasts. After 16 years of reporting here, driving across Tijuana still fills me with a sense of wonder, and more than anything I wanted him to get a sense of the city’s rich texture and variety.


We started at Colonia Federal, a tiny neighborhood just southwest of the San Ysidro border crossing, cruising past the house where drug smugglers once dug a tunnel. Now a binational group has taken over, converting it into an arts center, La Casa del Tunel. We headed east into Colonia Libertad, to the top of a steep hill that offers a breathtaking view of the border. Then down into the Zona Rio, past the giant pastel globe and deep red cube that make up the Tijuana Cultural Center, past the Via Corporativo, a new office building that is Baja California’s first certified green structure.

Zooming down the Via Rapida, a highway that crosses the city, we headed toward El Cerro Colorado, Tijuana’s tallest hill and the gateway to eastern Tijuana, where the city has been growing rapidly in recent years. We drove and drove, past the huge boxlike factory buildings that make up El Florido Industrial Park. Past tens of thousands of tiny houses that make up the newer housing developments.

In El Nino, we stopped for tacos and ran into a church group from San Clemente whose members had come to build houses. We pressed on, toward Tecate, into Valle de las Palmas, where authorities are planning a satellite city with more than one million residents.

We drove down Boulevard 2000, and in no time found ourselves in Rosarito Beach, taking in the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Then back into Tijuana, to Colonia Chapultepec, whose large hillside mansions reminded Hieu (he was raised in Vietnam and Orange County) of the hills of Laguna Beach.

A day after our tour, Hieu says he was struck by the city’s contrasts and the determination of its residents to make the most of their circumstances, wherever they may find themselves

http://www.bajainvestment.com/
Your Baja real estate

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Flying Samaritans Thank Rosarito Mayor For Help with Fourth of July Clinic Fundraiser

By Ron Raposa


ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---Members of the Flying Samaritans presented a plaque to city Mayor Hugo Torres for his support in a July 4 fundraiser that raised $9,000 for the group's free health clinic.

More than 800 people, many from this city's large expatriate community, attended a traditional July Fourth celebration with a few Mexican touches for flavor at the Rosarito Beach Hotel. It was sponsored in part by the city.
The event was so popular with both the expatriate and Mexican community that it will become an annual event, said Flying Samaritans President Susan Smith.

The Samaritans operate a twice-monthly free clinic for those who cannot afford other health care. Total yearly operating costs of the privately funded effort are about $20,000, Smith said, and donations have been hard to get in tougher economic times.

Because of publicity from the July 4th celebration, patients at the most recent clinic increased to 150 from a past average of about 110, Smith said. The Samaritans hope at some point in the future to build a clinic instead of using a rented house.

Mayor Torres thanked members both for their work in helping the community and for providing an event that was enjoyed by so many.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The adversity of blanket travel advisories

Rosarito Beach and Ensenada, in Baja California have been affected unnecesarily by US travel advisories.


William E. Heinecke, the chairman and CEO of the Minor Corporation, a leading distributor of global lifestyle brands in Thailand, speaks out about travel advisories in this open letter:


"With life in Bangkok having returned to normal following the recent demonstrations, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you whole heartedly for your assistance in lifting your country's travel warming, and indeed for ... all the steps you have taken since ... helping to address the issues that Thailand's tourism industry is now facing.

"As the CEO of one of Asia's leading leisure companies, with brands heavily invested throughout Thailand, I am passionate about the continuing recovery of the hotel industry and how we can transform any negative worldwide perceptions that linger from the recent turmoil.


"In looking to the future, we must all persevere in our efforts to re-establish a true international image of travel safety in Thailand, and in doing so I am eager to open a dialogue and have a better understanding of the approach, assessment and the issuance guidelines of your travel warnings.


"At this point I feel it is important to remember that while the global media at times unfairly portrayed Thailand - the entire country - as being unsafe for tourists, in actual fact outside of Bangkok, and specifically the Rajprasong area, life remained peaceful and unaffected by the events which took place.

"The negative effect on areas of the Kingdom untouched by the trouble was not only devastating but unnecessary. The time has come to call upon the embassies represented in Thailand to create4 a mutual agreement based on a clear and rigorous assessment that continued to guarantee the safety of the citizens of your nation whilst fairly depicting the state of this nation.


"When taking into account disturbances that have occurred in other countries around the world that have not resulted in a travel warning being issued, I have to say it saddens me to see a blanket warning being applied to Thailand. When there were the Athens anti-austerity riots in May and the Toronto G20 protests in June, travelers were only warned specifically about the protests happening in those cities, but were not told to avoid Greece or Canada as nations. Yet, when there were demonstrations restricted to Bangkok, the entire country of Thailand was labeled with a travel warning.


"I completely agree that travel warnings are useful and must be created in the full interest of each country's visitors, but they must also be realistic in their use. Perhaps we can consider reviewing how travel warnings are established and I would like to see the creation of an advisory board which could be represented by the private and public sectors to aid each embassy in assessing how best to make a fair and correct decision in respect of visitor security.


"Thailand is a Kingdom where international visitors are not targets and never have been for political grievances, as demonstrated by the way in which Thais continued to welcome guests with their renowned hospitality throughout the demonstrations this year and last year.

"As a long-term resident of Thailand and now a Thai citizen, I can honestly say that I, like so many visitors to Thailand, feel safer here than in most cities in Europe and North America. Indeed as you and your family have resided here for some time, I can only imagine that you share this sentiment.


"Hence it is heartbreaking to see a country-wide travel warning that causes unnecessary panic for international guests and hardship for the millions of people working in the travel sector and related industries. I understand fully that you have the interests and safety of your nation's people at heart, and my request does not infringe upon this patriotic approach. What I do ask, is that travel warnings are issued when and specifically where you feel that your citizens may be in danger, a d that they are delivered on a fair and level basis by using the same criteria to judge all countries.


"Thailand has demonstrated its resiliency throughout various adverse events in the past, including economic crises and political uncertainty. I am confident that the memories of recent troubles will pass with time and that tourists will soon return to experience Thailand's natural beauty, unique culture, and the warm welcome of its people.


"I am further confident that Thailand will continue to be one of the world's leading tourist destinations. Indeed, Bangkok and Chiang Mai were recently voted as the #1 and #2 "Best" cities in the world by Travel & Leisure's annual readers' survey, testament to the strong popularity Thailand continues to enjoy amongst tourists globally. I hope that by working together with the same goals in sight, we can instigate positive steps that will be safely beneficial for tourists and businesses alike."

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Friday, July 23, 2010

Magazine: Rancho La Puerta best spa in world

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER



Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 10:10 p.m.



Rancho La Puerta in Tecate had seen demand for its high-end spa services drop during the recession, but has recaptured that lost U.S. clientele in recent months.



Now more good news has arrived for the 70-year-old resort just south of the U.S.-Mexico border: Travel + Leisure magazine has named it the world's best destination spa.



"It tells us that guests appreciate what we're all about," said Roberto Arjona, the spa's general manager. "It's a great honor for Baja California and for Mexico."



The publication's 2010 Readers Poll recognized Rancho La Puerta along with honorees such as Bangkok (best city) and the Galapagos (best islands).



The spa's 88-year-old founder and owner, San Diego resident Deborah Szekely, is expected to attend next week's awards ceremony in New York City. She was traveling Thursday, Arjona said.



A largely loyal U.S. customer base meant the spa suffered far less than much of Baja California's tourism industry. But with rates starting at $2,715 for a seven-night stay, even well-heeled visitors dropped off during the financial downturn. At its lowest point, occupancy fell to 70 percent in 2009, though the spa is back to its 2007 levels.



Arjona said the economy was the strongest dampener of demand last year. Other challenges included the swine flu scare and drug-related violence along parts of the border.



And while the spa's prices may be out of reach for most local residents, the spa also has been a destination for 6,000 Baja California schoolchildren who come each year for environmental education offered through the La Puerta Foundation.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Rosarito Harley Charity Run


As you all know, our destination is Rosarito, Baja California but the children of Ensenada and Tijuana also benefit greatly from this charity event. There have been lots of changes made not only to enhance our experience but also to make Rosarito in general a much safer place to visit and there is no doubt in my mind that this year's event is going to be the best ever! My wife and I have been making regular trips to Baja and the enhancements are pretty obvious; the police for example have a new perspective on how to better protect and serve the community as well as going above and beyond to cater to us tourists. The level of courtesy shown to us is astounding, and it seems to be safer now than I can ever remember, and as you know, we have been going down there for years. Since Rosarito's main source of revenue is tourism, the hotels, bars, and restaurants are literally going out of their way to make our stay as memorable as possible. We are treated like royalty! CLICK TO READ MORE...

OBRAS POR 10 MDP REFUERZAN ATRACTIVOS EN PUERTO NUEVO, ROSARITO BAJA CALIFORNIA

Comunicación Social del Gobierno de Baja California


. Concluyen trabajos de regeneración, remodelación y equipamiento.

. Se ofrece una mejor imágen al turismo nacional e internacional.

Con una inversión de 10 millones de pesos, concluyeron las obras de regeneración, remodelación y equipamiento de Puerto Nuevo en Playas de Rosarito, las cuales refuerzan los atractivos que ofrece este destino gastronómico, informó la Secretaría de Turismo del Estado (SECTURE).
Mayor información...

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Most Expensive Summer Homes 2010

Just like we are seeing here in Baja real estate, northern Baja second homes and Baja vacation homes are being sought after at an increasing phase.


Since the end of 2009, we have seen an average of thirty Rosarito ocean properties sold every month.

The sales are mostly for oceanfront and ocean view Baja homes and condos, with an average sales price of $250,000 US.



Most of Rosarito and Ensenada's real estate sales are for retirement or future retirement (35%) second or vacation homes (35%), investment (10%) and other reasons (20%).

We are very excited that most Americans are looking into Baja homes and condos again, says Victor Loza, Rosarito's AMPI treasurer.

We are at levels, both in prices and number of sales, as we where in 2003 and 2004.

Please enjoy the Bloomberg article:

http://www.bajainvestment.com/blogs/bajainvestment/default.aspx

Friday, April 23, 2010

Follow the Money: Why the U.S. Mainstream Media has Mexico Under Seige

Follow the Money: Why the U.S. Mainstream Media has Mexico Under Seige


THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMIC REALITY

by Charles Simpson, Mexinvestnow.com

First: A reality check on Mexico

Mexico is in a unique position to reap many of the benefits of the decline of the US economy. In order to not violate NAFTA and other agreements the U.S.A. cannot use direct protectionism, so it is content to allow the media to play this protectionist role. The U.S. media – over the last year – has portrayed Mexico as being on the brink of economic collapse and civil war. The Mexican people are either beheaded, kidnapped, poor, corrupt, or narco-traffickers. The American news media was particularly aggressive in the weeks leading up to spring break. The main reason for this is money. During that two-week period, over 120,000 young American citizens poured into Mexico and left behind hundreds of millions of dollars.



Let’s look at the reality of the massive drug and corruption problem, kidnappings, murders and money. The U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was clear in her honest assessment of the problem. “Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent the weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police officers, soldiers and civilians,” Clinton said. The other large illegal business that is smuggled into the U.S.A. that no one likes to talk about is Human Traffic for prostitution. This “business” is globally now competing with drugs in terms of profits.
It is critical to understand, however that the horrific violence in Mexico is over 95% confined to the three transshipping cities for these two businesses, Tijuana, Nogales, and Juarez. The Mexican government is so serious about fighting this, that they have committed over 30,000 soldiers to these borders towns. There was a thoughtful article written by a professor at the University of Juarez. He was reminded of the Prohibition years in the U.S.A. and compared Juarez to Chicago when Al Capone was conducting his reign of terror capped off with The Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre. During these years, just like Juarez today, 99% of the citizens went about their daily lives and attended classes, went to the movies, restaurants, and parks.

Is there corruption in Mexico? YES !!! Is there an equal amount of corruption related to this business in the U.S.A.? YES !!!. When you have a pair of illegal businesses that generate over $300,000,000,000 in sales you will find massive corruption. Make no mistake about the Mexican Drug Cartel; these “businessmen” are 100 times more sophisticated than the bumbling bootleggers during Prohibition. They form profitable alliances all over the U.S.A. They do cost benefit analysis of their business much better than the US automobile industry. They have found over the years that the cost of bribing U.S. and Mexican Border Guards and the transportation costs of moving marijuana from Sinaloa to California have cut significantly into profits. That is why over the past 5-7 years they have been growing marijuana in State and Federal Parks and BLM land all across America. From a business standpoint, this is a tremendous cost savings on several levels. Let’s look at California as an example as one of the largest consumers. When you have $14.2 billion of Marijuana grown and consumed in one state, there is savings on transportation, less loss of product due to confiscation and an overall reduction cost of bribery with law enforcement and parks service people. Another great savings is the benefit to their employees. The penalties in Mexico for growing range from 5-15 years. The penalties in California, on average are 18 months, and out in 8 months. The same economic principles are now being applied to the methamphetamine factories.

Playas de Rosarito, Baja California, Mex.

FOX News continues to scare people with its focus on kidnapping. There are kidnappings in Mexico. The concentration of kidnappings has been in Mexico City, among the very rich and the three aforementioned border Cities. With the exception of Mexico City, the number one city for kidnappings among NAFTA countries is Phoenix, Arizona with over 359 in 2008. The Phoenix Police estimate that twice that number of kidnappings goes unreported, because like Mexico 99% of these crimes were directly related to drug and human traffic. Phoenix, unfortunately, is geographically profitable transshipping location. Mexicans, just like 99% of U.S. Citizens during prohibition, go about their daily lives all over the country. They get up, go to school or work and live their lives untouched by the border town violence.

These same protectionist news sources have misled the public as to the real danger from the swine flu in Mexico and temporary devastated the tourism business. As of May 27 2009 there have been 87 deaths in Mexico from the swine flu. During those same five months there have been 36 murdered school children in Chicago. By their logic, if 87 deaths from the swine flu in Mexico warrants canceling flights and cruise ships to Mexico, then close all roads and highways in the USA because of record 43,359 automobile related deaths in the USA in 2008.


What is just getting underway is what many are calling the “Largest southern migration to Mexico of people and real estate assets since the Civil War” A significant percentage of the Baby Boomers have been doing the research and are making the life changing decision to move out of the U.S.A. The number one retirement destination in the world is Mexico. There are already over 2,000,000 US and Canadian property owners in Mexico. The most conservative number of American and Canadian Baby Boomers who are on their way to owning property in Mexico for full or part time living in the next 15 years is over 6,000,000. Do the math on 6,000,000 people buying a $300,000 house or condo and you will understand why the U.S. Government is trying to tax this massive shift of money to Mexico through H.R. 3056. The U.S. government calls this “The Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007”. Those who will have to pay it are calling this the EXIT TAX.

Mexico: A better economic choice than China

Another large exodus from the U.S.A is high paying skilled jobs. The job shift in automobile sector, both car and parts manufacturing, is already known by most investors. In the last few months as John Deere and Caterpillar have been laying off thousands of workers in the U.S.A., and hiring equal numbers in Mexico. The most recent industry that is making the shift is the aerospace manufacturers. In the city of Zacatecas there is currently a $210 million aerospace facility being built. With the 11 U.S. companies moving there, it is estimated to provide over 200,000 new high paying jobs in the coming years. One of the main factors for the shift in job south to Mexico instead of China is realistic analysis of total production, labor and delivery costs. While the labor costs in China are 40% less on average, the overall transportation costs and inherent risks of a long distance supply chain, and quality control issues, gives Mexico a distinct financial advantage.

Mexico’s real economic future

Mexico has avoided completely the subprime problem that has devastated the U.S. banking industry. The Mexican banks are healthy and profitable. Mexico has a growing and very healthy middle and upper middle class. The very recent introduction of residential financing has Mexico in a unique position of having over 90% of current homeowners owning their house outright. U.S. banks are competing for the Mexican, Canadian and American cross border loan business. It is and will continue to be a very safe and very profitable business. These same banks that were loaning in a reckless manner have learned their lesson and are loaning here the old fashioned way. They require a minimum of a 680 credit score, 30% down payment, and verifiable income that can support the loan. In most areas of Mexico where Baby Boomers are moving to, with the exception of Puerto Penasco (which did not have a national and international base of buyers), there is no real estate bubble. The higher end markets ($2-20 million) in many of these destinations are going through a modest correction. The Baby Boomers market here is between $200,000 and $600,000. With the continuing demand inside the Bay of Banderas, that price point, in the coming years, will disappear. This is the reason the Mexican government is spending billions of dollars on more infrastructure north along the coast all the way up to Mazatlan.

The other major area where America has become overpriced is in the field of health care. This massive shift of revenues is estimated to add 5-7% to Mexico’s GDP. The name for this “business” is Medical Tourism. The two biggest competitors for Mexico were Thailand and India. Thailand and India’s biggest drawback is geography. Also recent events, Thailand’s inability to keep a government in place and the recent terrorist attack in Mumbai, have helped Mexico capture close to half of this growth industry. In Mexico today there are over 56 world class hospitals being built to keep up with this business.

Mexico is currently sitting on a cash surplus and an almost balanced budget. Most Americans have never heard of Carlos Slim until he loaned the New York Times $250 million. After that it became clear to many investors around the world what Mexicans already knew: that Mexico had been able to avoid the worst of the U.S. economic devastation. Mexico’s resilience is to be admired. When the U.S. Federal Reserve granted a $30 billion loan to each of the following countries Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, and Brazil, Mexico reinvested the money in Treasury bonds in an account in New York City.

According to oil traders, Mexico’s Pemex wisely as the price of oil shot to $147 a barrel put in place an investment strategy that hinged on oil trading in the range of $38-$60 a barrel. Since the beginning of 2009 Mexico has been collecting revenues on hedged positions that give them $90-$110 per barrel today. Mexico’s recent and under reported oil discovery in the Palaeo Channels of Chicontepec has placed it third in the world for oil reserves, right behind Canada and Saudi Arabia.


The following is a quote from Rosalind Wilson, President of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce on March 19, 2009. “The strength of the Mexican economic system makes the country a favorite destination for Canadian investment”.

OPPORTUNITIES: WHY PUERTO VALLARTA & THE RIVIERA NAYARIT?

The answer is simple and old fashioned: SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

The area of Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit inside the Bay of Banderas is an investor’s dream. This area has the comprehensive infrastructure in place, world class hospitals and dental care, natural investment protection from the Sierra Madre Mountains, endless future water supply, low to nonexistent crime, international airport, and limited supply inside the Bay, first class private bilingual schools and higher than average appreciation potential. Like many areas in Mexico there is large demand for full and part time retirement living and a lot of construction underway to meet this demand. Pre construction of course is where the best bargains are available.

I would offer a word of caution for investors in Mexico. Do not be seduced by the endless natural beauty that is everywhere, both inland in colonial towns and along thousands of miles of beach. Apply conservative medium and long term investment strategies without emotion. The demand for full and part time living by American and Canadian Baby Boomers is evident throughout the country. The top two choice locations are ocean front, and ocean view. The third overall choice, which is less expensive, is inland in one of the many beautiful colonial towns or small cities.

Mexico, with the world’s 13th largest GDP, is no longer a “Third World Country”, but rather a fast growing, economically secure state, as the most recent five-year history of its financial markets when compared to the U.S.A.’s financial markets suggests.

DOW JONES AVERAGES MAY 2004 10,200 MAY 2009 8,200 20% LOSS IN 5 YEARS.

MEXICAN BOLSA MAY 2004 10,000 MAY 2009 23,000 130% GAIN IN 5 YEARS

I am glad to share all of my research with investors.
 
http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Friday, April 16, 2010

First Baja Metropolitan Tourist Police Launched In Rosarito Beach Ceremony

ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA---A new metropolitan tourist police force to serve visitors along the 70-mile tourist corridor from Tijuana to Ensenada was launched Wednesday in a Rosarito ceremony.


Leading state and city officials as well as members of the new force took part in the ceremony in a tented area along the coastal scenic road from Tijuana to Ensenada.



"Today, the Metropolitan Police will begin working between the three cities to better assist our visitors and bring them additional peace of mind," said Hugo Torres, the mayor of Rosarito Beach and a leader in the effort to form the special force.



Rosarito established its own 30-member Tourist Police Force in 2008.


Torres said that crime in Baja was down last year --- 10 percent overall and 21 percent in Rosarito, a five-year low--- but scattered violence in Mexico as authorities crack down on drug cartels has made many people, including Southern Californians, concerned.



Also attending the Wednesday ceremony were Baja State Public Safety Secretary Daniel de la Rosa; Secretary of State Tourism Oscar Escobedo; Ensenada Mayor Pablo Alejo; and Tijuana deputy police chief Julian Dominguez.



The Metropolitan Tourist Police, in conjunction with other police agencies that also patrol the area, will have working with visitors as its main responsibility, De La Rosa said.



The officers will be in vehicles marked Policia Turistica Metropolitana. Each vehicle also will carry the insignia of the city force which the officer represents. Fourteen officers, men and women, were at Wednesday’s ceremony.


Baja Metropolitan Tourist Police officers received special training from San Diego police under an agreement between Baja mayors and San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.



“We’ve always prided ourselves on our working relationship with our friends to the south,” Sanders said last year when that agreement was signed, adding that the economies of the two regions are closely tied and both benefit from binational tourism.



“What’s good for Rosarito and Tijuana and Ensenada is good for San Diego,” Sanders said.



Torres said that because San Diego is such a popular tourist destination, it is especially expert in dealing with visitors. He thanked Sanders for his city’s support and assistance.



“It is extremely generous of Mayor Sanders and the fine officers who assisted us,” he said.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Rosarito Mayor Addresses International Educators, Promotes Binational Summit In Las Vegas Visit

During a two-day visit to Las Vegas, Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres gave a keynote talk to an international association of educators and promoted a May 6 and 7 binational summit in his city.


Torres also met with Mexican Consul General Mariano Lemus and conducted interviews with several Las Vegas media outlets.


The Rosarito mayor was the keynote luncheon speaker Saturday for the International Academy of Business Disciplines convention, which attracted leading educators from more than 50 countries throughout the world.


He spoke about crisis management and was introduced by Emerson College professor Gregory Payne, whose class has a RediscoveRosarito project, as “one of the leaders around the world who makes a difference.”


The main theme of Torre’s speech was the challenge of informing people in the United States that Rosarito and northern Baja were safe for visitors, when almost all the news about Mexico deals with the government crackdown on violent drug cartels.


Violence in places including Ciudad Juarez --- 600 miles from Baja --- has created the impression that all of Mexico is unsafe, he said.

Despite this incorrect perception, crime in northern Baja in 2009 declined by 10 percent and 21 percent in Rosarito, to a five-year low for the city.


When he decided to run for mayor in 2006, there were corruption problems with the city police department, Torres said: “We had problems not only in perception but in reality.”



But a massive overhaul of the police department, establishment of a tourist police force and other steps have made Rosarito an extremely safe and welcoming city, he said. The main challenge now is in informing people of that.


Torres said he still was trying to determine the most effective methods for doing that, but that being available to media and “always telling the truth” are key factors, as are testimonials from the city’s many expatriate residents.


Torres also met with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and invited him to be a special guest at the Fifth Binational Mayors’ Summit on May 6 and 7 in Rosarito Beach, co-hosted by Redondo Beach.


Although the summit is primarily for mayors from Baja and Southern California, topics are of regional interest, including the future of the border crossings, economic development, environment and public safety.


Goodman expressed great interest in a workshop on desalination and said he would attend the summit if his schedule permits.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Friday, March 19, 2010

Rosarito Commends 3 Women For Work On ‘Baja Blondes’ Reality TV Program


By Ron Raposa


ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA , MEXICO ---The city has recognized three women for their work on developing a reality TV show that highlights the beauty, attractions and advantages of living in Baja California.


City Mayor Hugo Torres on Wednesday presented a plaque to Susanna Stehr, Debbie Shine and Robin Mackenzie, the trio of U.S. women who comprise the Baja Blondes.


Ms. Stehr lives in Rosarito where she owns a restaurant, Ms. Shine is an interior designer living here and Ms. Mackenzie is a writer/producer who lives both in the United States and Baja.


The three have produced a pilot for a reality TV series they hope will be broadcast in the U.S. It shows the beauty, comfort and relaxing pace of life in Baja. The series would feature fascinating regional people and places, as well as highlight the personalities of the women.

With media coverage focusing largely on Mexico ’s crackdown on drug cartels many people in the U.S. have lost sight of the fact that Baja is a wonderful. safe and welcoming place to visit and live, Ms. Stehr said.


Mayor Torres said the Baja Blondes are excellent ambassadors for Rosarito and the region because they show the actual lives of U.S. women living and working here, which gives what they say added credibility.


Those who gathered in the mayor’s office for the presentation. including city council members and other officials, also were shown a video clip of a recent Channel 5 San Diego interview which featured the Baja Blondes.

 (Photo shows, from left, Debbie Shine, Susanna Stehr, Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres and Robin Mackenzie,)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

U.S. retirees find home in coastal Mexico

First of five studies reveals price and proximity to U.S. are big draws

By Sandra Dibble, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

ROSARITO BEACH — Favorite activity: strolls on the beach. Biggest gripe: litter. Primary reasons for retiring in Mexico: the lower cost of living and proximity to the United States.
 A newly released study on U.S. retirement trends in Mexico’s coastal communities takes an updated snapshot of Rosarito Beach, Rocky Point, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and other areas where many Americans go to retire. The study’s authors say their survey marks an important first step in meeting the needs of a group that is likely to grow in size as U.S. baby boomers reach retirement age.


John Gibbins / Union-Tribune
Jamie Reynolds, a 63-year-old retiree who lives in the El Pescador area, watched the sun set. Reynolds, like four out of five of the retiree-study respondents, owns his home in Mexico.

We felt it was important to understand the dynamics of what is going on,” said Richard Kiy, president and CEO of the International Community Foundation, which conducted the 88-question survey. While research has been done in San Miguel Allende and Ajijic, both well-established expatriate communities in central Mexico, coastal communities “are some of the areas that have been least studied among U.S. retirees,” Kiy said.

The International Community Foundation, based in National City, supports nonprofits and projects in Baja California and other parts of Mexico. Close to half of its donors live in Mexico full time or part time, and that was the initial impetus for conducting the study, Kiy said.

The 17-page report, released last week, is the first in a series of five by the foundation focusing on issues that affect U.S retirees in Mexico. Upcoming reports will discuss health care, real estate, the environment and community involvement. The studies are based on responses from 842 U.S. participants and from focus groups in individual communities.


Photo by John Gibbins
Retiree Jamie Reynolds, 63, sat on his front porch with his English springer spaniel, Molly, in the El Pescador area. Reynolds said that he feels safe in Mexico, and that he could not afford to live like he does if he were in the United States

The survey showed that many retirees are relatively young, with more than half under 65. They are somewhat more likely to be divorced than their contemporaries living in the United States, and about 30 percent are single — widowed, divorced or never married. Almost 70 percent have an annual income higher than $25,000 a year. Of those surveyed, more than four out of five are homeowners, and most paid cash for their homes.

The survey was conducted in five areas where Americans typically retire, including the coastal corridor between Playas de Tijuana and Punta Banda, south of Ensenada. On Thursday night, a group of U.S. retirees gathered south of downtown Rosarito Beach for a ladies’ night happy hour at Ruben’s Palm Grill in Cantamar echoed many of the survey’s findings.

“I think for all of us, the money is a factor,” said Karen Kenrick, 59, who has been living in Mexico for a decade with her husband, Allen, 62, a retired U.S. Border Patrol officer. Kenrick, who grew up in Imperial Beach and crossed frequently to Mexico, feels comfortable: “For us, this is home.”

As the band played a popular Brazilian samba, the Kenricks joined about two dozen American retirees who see each other regularly. Nursing a margarita was Pat Winters, 67, who moved from Oregon to La Mision six years ago with her husband, Al, a retired engineer. Like most in the survey, they bought before the region’s 2005-2006 building boom and subsequent bust, and they paid cash for their home. Pat Winters grew animated as she spoke of her favorite activity — an art class — and described her participation in a scholarship fund to pay the education costs of local students.

The survey reports that more than half of respondents said litter was the most “unattractive part of their coastal lifestyle” and listed walking the beach as their favorite activity; only 14 percent play golf. Most live in one or two-story homes, and most agree that building up the coastline with high-rises “restricts view corridors,” the report said.

Close to half — 46 percent — of the survey’s respondents said safety issues were a concern when they decided to retire to Mexico. Sixty-six percent said drug violence was “an important public policy issue to retirees in Mexico.” Yet only 7 percent of the respondents “reported that narco-violence and security concerns have reduced the frequency or duration of their trips to Mexico.” “Furthermore, 60 percent have not changed their attitude in any way about their personal safety since they have been living in Mexico,” the report said.

North of Cantamar, in the community of El Pescador, Jamie Reynolds, 63, is an avid surfer who moved from San Diego six years ago after retiring as an information technology specialist at Scripps Health in La Jolla. Reynolds’ brick house on a cobblestone street includes two casitas that Reynolds has been struggling to rent out, as many tourists have been scared away by reports of violence in Mexico in the U.S. media.

Reynolds said he feels safe in Mexico, enjoys the area’s slower pace and “Mexican people are so kind.” The setting reminds him of the Southern California of his boyhood.

“I couldn’t buy a house like this in San Diego or anywhere else,” said Reynolds, taking in a majestic ocean view from his outdoor terrace. He could have retired in the United States, “but it would have been a little tighter,” he said.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

President Calderon Pledges Incentives For Film Making In Rosarito and Mexico

By Baja Lover

OSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---President Felipe Calderon on Tuesday pledged incentives to attract more international film makers and productions to Rosarito and the rest of Mexico.

Speaking to an audience of about 400 people, Calderon pledged an initial $20 million to strengthen the country’s film industry plus incentives to attract productions here from around the world.

Calderon made his remarks at Baja Studios in Rosarito, which was built for the production of the James Cameron’s Titanic and where portions of other blockbusters including Master & Commander and Pearl Harbor have been filmed.

The president was received for his visit by Rosarito Mayor Hugo Torres. Other dignitaries attending included Baja Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan as well as many other government officials. Noted actor Edward James Olmos also was a featured guest.

“Rosarito has become a place of great importance for the film industry, and it is precisely why here we announce this program for the promotion of film production," Calderon said.

He stressed that the film industry has great importance in the global culture, as well being as being an excellent source for jobs, income and regional promotion.

“Rosarito has shown that it is possible to offer world-class services to the film industry,” Calderon said. “Productions here have brought international fame to the city.”

For his part, Mayor Torres reiterated the importance of promoting the film industry.

"We welcome the support of the President of the Republic, and we are convinced that this decree will make Rosarito even more attractive to other countries that are interested in filming here, “ Torres said.

Torres noted that film production can be a key to the area’s economic recovery as well as a boost for tourism.

Dignitaries also toured the Baja Studios production facility in the Popotla area of Rosarito.. It was built in the late ‘90s during Torres first term as mayor, specifically for the filming of Titanic.

It has huge salt-water tanks as well as an ocean front setting. Baja Studios also contains a Titanic Museum and has been used as a theme park as well as for its production facilities.

Friday, March 5, 2010

CABILDEO FAVORABLE PARA LA ZONA ECONÓMICA ESTRATÉGICA: CANACO

CÁMARA NACIONAL DE COMERCIO, SERVICIOS Y TURISMO DE TIJUANA



Prosiguiendo con la labor de cabildeo en las distintas dependencias del Gobierno Federal involucradas con la propuesta de Zona Económica Estratégica (ZEE) para la Región Fronteriza, después de ser planteada al Presidente de la República Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, hoy hubo una reunión en las oficinas del Servicio de Administración Tributaria (SAT), con su Titular, Alfredo Gutiérrez Ortíz Mena, para presentarle el proyecto a efecto de conocer su punto de vista en lo conducente a las atribuciones y facultades que le competen.


En dicha junta de trabajo participaron el Senador de la República por Baja California, Fernando Castro Trenti; el Presidente del Consejo Coordinador Empresarial de Tijuana A.C.; Fernando Otañez Martínez y el Presidente de la Cámara Nacional de Comercio, Servicios y Turismo de Tijuana, Mario J. Escobedo Carignan,


Además de exponerle las bondades genéricas del proyecto, así como los alcances económicos y ventajas naturales y potenciales que posee la región para su implementación, informó Escobedo Carignan, se comentaron algunos indicadores que alcanzarían resultados muy favorables conforme a la maduración de la ZEE.


Entre ellos, advirtió el Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) de Baja California crecería en un 22%, habría un incremento en la ocupación del 12.7% y aumentarían los ingresos tributarios en un 32.5%.


En términos generales dijo causó buena impresión el proyecto, manifestando el Jefe del SAT “que no habría inconveniente de apoyar tan importante iniciativa desde el punto de vista de las medidas que correspondan al ámbito de su competencia”.



También comentó el funcionario federal que en los próximos días procurará una reunión con el Sub-Secretario de Ingresos de la Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público (SHCP), José Antonio Meade para intercambiar opiniones y escuchar su postura acerca de la zona.

 
Desde esta perspectiva consideró viable arrancar con la primera etapa de Desgravación Arancelaria y Desregulación Administrativa propuesta, tema que en gran medida tendrá que analizarse igualmente con la Secretaria de Economía.


Thursday, March 4, 2010

Encabeza Novelo la AMPI

Por El Vigía, Lorena Lamas

Ensenada, B.C. - Arturo Novelo Ávila rindió protesta como primer presidente de la Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios (AMPI), la cual tiene el propósito de aliarse con las autoridades de gobierno para ofrecer a nuevos residentes una Ensenada de calidad.


El acto se realizó ayer en el salón de eventos del hotel Las Rosas a las 9:30 horas y estuvo presente Eduardo Quiroz Tejeda, representante nacional de la AMPI, quien afirmó que Ensenada es la ciudad más atractiva del noroeste del país, porque además de que tiene una ubicación excepcional es un destino para el desarrollo inmobiliario turístico y urbano.

“Creo que para el noroeste es una ciudad que promete mucho, quizá la más interesante o la que ofrece la mayor calidad de vida”, comentó.

Subrayó la necesidad de que el Cabildo abra un espacio para los profesionales inmobiliarios porque tienen mucho que aportar a la ciudad.

“Creo que debemos tener un espacio en Cabildo, porque queremos que la ciudad crezca ordenadamente. El encanto del puerto es como está ahorita, pero si no se administra a través de nosotros, podemos perder parte de ese encanto”, sostuvo.

El representante enumeró las características principales que debe tener una ciudad para alojar a nuevos residentes nacionales y extranjeros entre ellas: servicios de calidad, aeropuerto y garantizar la seguridad.

Fuera de esto, dijo, Ensenada ofrece la pesca, su ecoturismo, región del Valle; “aquí el asunto es cuidar la riqueza que se tiene y si nos dan la oportunidad de intervenir en esa parte, Ensenada va seguir siendo ese destino que quisiéramos que fuera”, insistió.

Baja Real Estate Back on Track

Tiger`s Golf Course coming soon






















By Gustavo Torres









CONTRIBUTOR





















Punta Brava developers expect to break ground this year









This piece contains a few excerpts from an article by Sandra Dibble on Tiger Woods’ Baja Golf Course, from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Sandra Dibble writes many articles on Baja and often attends Baja events, developments, etc.





















Punta Brava sales team member Ryan Osterdorf teed off at what would be the location of the golf course’s 10th tee.





















According to Rosarito’s AMPI (Mexican Realtors Association), sales in the northern Baja area are increasing at an unexpected pace.









“We are very excited to see what we are seeing, this is something we did not expect until 2011”said Blanca Guerrero of RE/MAX Baja Realty in Rosarito Beach. She added that, “sales levels are now at the 2003/2004 levels which are very good.”





















Most of the buyers are Americans: 70% were from California, a few from other West Coast states and the rest from the East coast. They range in ages, from 40 to 65 years old, and are looking for retirement (35%), a second home (30%), long term investment (25%) and other (10%).





















“Many of our buyers are escaping from the high cost of living in California, especially the extremely high property taxes” says Victor Loza of RE/MAX/Your Baja Connection. Loza further added that, “Indeed, property taxes in California could be around $7,000 annually, while in Rosarito - for an oceanfront condo - they are about $300 per year, and approximately $80 for an ocean view home.”









A number of incredible opportunities can be found at the moment, particularly in Rosarito Beach in Baja, and at just a short 30 minute drive from the San Diego border, it is an excellent option for many.





















Sales have increased tenfold compared to the start of 2009, when the economic crisis exploded and the influenza scare dealt Baja California a very strong blow. Then it was followed by the bad press about the drug cartels fighting in the region. The drug wars were portrayed as if they affected all citizens of Baja, not taking into consideration that these terrible fights where occurring in areas not visited by regular folks, let alone tourists.





















Americans living here – around 15,000 in Rosarito and 30,000 in Ensenada- immediately started posting testimonials, U-tube commentaries, blogs, etc. to show that life was very different to what the US media was “advertising.” Many even created blogs and forums which are easily accessible on the Internet now.





















Even with the crisis fading and sales improving faster than once thought possible, we still have several development projects that are barely beginning to renew their construction and some that are still in the wait-and-see stages.





















Real Estate prices in Baja dropped approximately the same percentage as Southern California. The 35% drop found in the third quarter of 2009, has since increased around 5%, making the average price of an ocean view and oceanfront residential property in 2009 in the Rosarito region approximately $285,000, and oceanfront condos at $306,000.





















Now, with Tiger Woods’ Punta Brava, Baja will be getting lots of positive attention again. “This is the best we could ask for. Similar to the type we were getting in ‘04 and ’05,” said James Bond, a U.S. retiree realtor working hard in Baja. “Back in those days, the U.S. media was portraying Rosarito and Baja as the ‘American Dream found… just south of the border’… then the whole economic turn hit, and Baja stopped being the darling of the American media.





















Since the announcement of Tiger Wood’s Baja development, almost 170 “super” prospective buyers have been flown down to tour the site; looks like most have showed excitement for the project.









Brian Tucker, the development’s director said “This is to be one of the singular golf clubs in the world.”









With views of the ocean at every tee or green, the Tiger Woods golf course will be the centerpiece of the development planned at the tip of the Punta Banda peninsula overlooking Todos Santos Bay. The project includes 120 units, with prices starting at $3 million for a lot and $3.5 million for a condominium, according to information released at the project’s unveiling.





















Punta Brava’s financial backer is Red McCombs, co-founder of Clear Channel Communications and former owner of the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Vikings. McCombs is a principal of The Flagship Group, headed by the Austin-based developer Brady Oman. The project’s estimated cost is $100 million.





















This past President’s Day weekend/Valentine’s Day was a blast. So many tourists came, the weather was just perfect, and buyers were all over the place. “I had two different groups wanting to see the same oceanfront house, and at the same time! This hadn’t happened since 2007,” said Victor Loza, referring to a $245,000 oceanfront listing, a 3bed/2ba house in northern Rosarito.





















This is the best time to invest in Baja California real estate, and you should wait no further.





















By the way, for more information on this article, and excerpts of a related article by Sandra Dibble, and Baja real estate, please visit http://www.bajainvestment.com/

























Gustavo Torres


AMPI Rosarito Realtors

Rosarito 2009 Crime Rate Falls 21% To A Baja California Best 5-Year Low

By Ron Raposa





ROSARITO BEACH, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO---For 2009 Rosarito had the largest year-to-year decline in crime of any city in Baja California --- 21 percent --- and was the only city to reach a five-year low, according to state figures.









“These are very encouraging figures for Rosarito, especially in difficult economic times, when crime historically increases,” said Mayor Hugo Torres.









Calling the fight against crime a lifelong challenge for any city, Torres, who ran in 2007 on a platform of public security, said strong efforts will continue this year to reduce crime.









Those efforts, he said, will include increased policing in certain areas, more emphasis on neighborhood watch and private security, plus sports and other programs to keep city youth from delinquency and drug use.









Baja Gov. Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan told the San Diego Union that Rosarito’s reduction in crime was one of Baja California’s success stories.









Overall, Baja California crime declined by an average of 10 percent in 2009 from 2008 and was lower than the level of the previous two years. The state’s rate was the same as 2006 and higher only than 2005.









Rosarito led all Baja cities in major categories for 2009, recording a 24 percent year-to-year decline in robbery and burglaries, 38 percent in violent crimes and 56 percent in murders, from 61 to 27, according to the Baja state figures.









Five of the killings were between members of rival drug cartels as the government makes it more difficult for them to operate, and three were of police officers.









Torres said that the drug-related killings are very troubling but even with them Rosarito has a lower homicide rate than many U.S. cities, including New Orleans, St. Louis and Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. (Based on FBI figures for 2008, the latest published)









“Understandably, much of the media coverage in the U.S. has focused on the crackdown on organized crime --- it’s a vital international issue,” he said. “But that has helped create a misleading impression about security here.”









Since taking office, Torres has led efforts to replace more than half of the city’s police force while expanding its size from about 150 to 230 officers.









He also established a special tourist police force that uses bilingual traffic tickets that can be mailed in from the U.S., an ombudsman office and a city department for visitor assistance.









The mayor also brought in former Army Capt. Jorge Montero to lead the police department as director of public security. He has praised his work as well as the support of the City Council









Torres also cited federal and state support plus a close working relationship with the Rosarito office of the state attorney general, which is responsible for most reporting and investigation of crime.









“Prevention is the key to crime reduction,” said Torres, who added that the city’s focus would remain on public security.









Rosarito also is working on expanding positive activities including sports and drug prevention programs for youth. Torres has personally talked to more than 15,000 of the city’s 23,000 school children and plans to visit the remainder this year.









Many programs have begun to benefit city youth, including the start of construction last year on the city’s first Boys & Girls Club.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Weekly Fishing Column: Rosarito Beach welcomes anglers

By Phil Friedman,

Arturo Martinez from the tourism department was at the National Sports Grill in Torrance Thursday at 7 p.m., to talk about a weekend trip to Rosarito Beach, April 9-11.

The trip will feature a surf and pier fishing competition that usually produces barred perch, corbina and halibut.

The key to catching a big halibut on the pier is using live bait. Bring some mackerel snag rigs and snag yourself a few mackerel. Toss one of those mackerel off the pier and you stand a great chance of catching a nice flatfish.

The key to catching corbina is light line. Six-pound test with a trout rod is perfect. A cast of just a few feet is usually perfect. The corbina are in the surf right where the waves are crashing, so that's where you want to present your bait. Sand crabs, muscles, ghost shrimp and Berkley gulp bait all work really well.

Martinez says you get two nights at the Rosarito Beach Hotel, two welcome drinks, two breakfast buffets, two no-host parties, a free barbecue on Saturday, 4 p.m. late checkout and 15 percent off in the hotel spa. The cost is only $285 per couple.

In addition to the fishing, there will be a casino tour, a wine country tour, golf and lots to do at the hotel.

On Saturday, 150 children from the local orphanages will be bused to the Rosarito Beach pier for a day of fishing, beach games and swimming and a basketball clinic put on by world champion Laker Flynn Robinson. You can be a mentor to the kids if you like for what promises to be a special day.


Martinez is making it easy for South Bay residents to get to the Rosarito Beach Hotel. For $99, you can board a bus departing from Wilson Park at 2 p.m. on April 9 to take you to the beach resort. Libations and snacks are included. The bus will depart the hotel on Sunday at 4 p.m. to take you back to Torrance. To sign up for the excursion, call 310-328-8426 or email philip@976-TUNA.com.

Correlation? Sea Adventure II skipper Terry Clayton was fishing for blackgill cod on a commercial trip last week when a spot of 15-pound albacore breezed down the side of his boat. Just as the school approached, a fish jumped clear out of the water.

"I could see its wings perfectly," Clayton said.

This could be a sign of an accelerated season due to the warm El Ni o waters.

"This has to be a good sign for 2010," he said.

Chris Toth of Rancho Palos Verdes was scuba diving recently with friends off Abalone Cove when he looked into a cave only to see a giant eye staring back at him. That eye belonged to a 23-pound sheephead that Toth speared.

The creature thrashed around and mangled Toth's spear, leaving it lodged in the cave. Toth handed the prize member of the wrasse family to a friend who swam it to the surface.

It was the biggest fish Toth had ever speared and a thrilling experience for everyone who was there.

"And the best part of it was those fish tacos," Toth said.

Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 41st birthday last week in Cabo San Lucas.

The actress chose Cabo San Lucas to rebut claims of rampant swine flu and violence. She also is involved in raising funds for a Tijuana orphanage called El Faro.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Merger Creates Baja’s Real Estate Powerhouse

One of Rosarito Beach’s Star Brokers Joins RE/MAX!!!!




One of the largest and most successful independent real estate offices in northern Baja, Your Baja Connection, has joined the RE/MAX network.



Victor Loza, on behalf of his partners in Your Baja Connection, negotiated the merger of their multi-agent office with RE/MAX. Loza along with Don and Sharon Heafey and Miles Smith have owned and operated one of the top producing Real Estate agencies in Baja for the last three years. Victor had the following comment: “We chose RE/MAX over others because it allowed us to place our efforts on our first priority -- helping buyers and sellers accomplish their ultimate goals.”



Gustavo Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Baja Realty had this comment on the merger between Your Baja Connection and RE/MAX; “We are going to see a lot more mergers like this around the country. RE/MAX excels at giving their brokers and agents the most extensive training, the best technology, and the best systems in the real estate industry. In Northern Baja we have experienced an increase in market share as more and more agents have realized the advantages that RE/MAX provides for them, especially in today’s real estate market.”



Loza went on to say, “We won’t need to be involved in the day-to-day operations of an office; instead we’ll be free to do what we do best, and that is interacting with people and helping buyers and sellers achieve their dreams in Baja.” We had a few choices, but after weighing them all, RE/MAX gave us the freedom and the tools we needed to be successful. With RE/MAX we receive an international exposure, marketing tools, a well-established website, and the world-wide recognition that comes from a well-respected company like RE/MAX. We’re very thankful for the warm welcome we’ve received from our new broker and colleagues.”



This merger is part of an ongoing strategy from RE/MAX Baja Realty’s growth initiative that began last year. RE/MAX Baja brokerage was established in 2004 when Rosarito Beach Real Estate, the most successful Rosarito real estate office, became a REMAX office.



“Victor, his partners, and their agents will be a tremendous addition to our expanding team. They have relentless energy and Victor is a nonstop marketing machine,” says Gustavo Torres, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Baja Realty. “They do whatever it takes to help clients sell or find the homes of their dreams. They don’t simply list a property; they follow through until the home is sold. This level of energy and extra effort is why Your Baja Connection has been a top real estate company and why RE/MAX is the right place for them.”



Sharon Heafey, one of the principals of Your Baja Connection, had the following statement about the merger: “We chose to be affiliated with RE/MAX because of Gustavo Torres’ wonderful background and strong community ties,” adding that “Gustavo has done everything possible to make us feel at home and able to get up and running immediately. The merger gives us the opportunity to provide the highest level of service to our buyers and sellers. We are looking forward to working with the respected professional agents that are part of the RE/MAX network.”



Don Heafey added, “After being involved in real estate in the United States, we moved to Baja and found real estate an exciting opportunity for our clients and ourselves. I look forward to joining the Ensenada office and working with Arturo Novelo and the other professionals there.”



RE/MAX Baja Realty is the second-largest real estate office in Baja and #1 in sales in Rosarito Beach, with over 44 percent of the market. With the addition of Your Baja Connection’s team, RE/MAX Baja Realty is poised to become the leader in Baja California. The firm is an attractive option for real estate agents looking to relocate with a proven successful broker.



“By Your Baja Connection joining RE/MAX, it proves once again that the RE/MAX system is the best for all real estate professionals who want to succeed and operate their own business. Most of all it allows us to work with other successful top professionals,” affirms Ana Minondo, Top Chairman’s award of RE/MAX.



“This is a true merger.” Blanca Guerrero, RE/MAX Baja Popotla office’s president, told the Baja Times Journal. “We chose to be a stronger force, and that says a lot. Instead of cutting costs, we chose to grow.”



The RE/MAX– Your Baja Connection merger will result on a better service to you; this merger means more exclusive properties for you to choose from and many more bargains.



RE/MAX– Your Baja Connection provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico.



Yes, you can have a good experience purchasing property in Mexico. You want to make sure that you have a knowledgeable, experienced, and ethical agent. When you are ready to make an offer there are a myriad of additional considerations and concerns, but if you have selected the right agent, you will have the right person to guide and protect you.

At Re/Max - Your Baja Connection, we understand all these issues; we have purchased and gone through the process ourselves. Re/Max Baja wants to be Your Baja Connection, Our team is ready to assist you in a worry-free purchase of your new retirement or vacation home or condo in Mexico.

http://www.bajainvestment.com/

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

How Americans are Stretching Their Money South of the Border in Baja California Mexico

Written by sublimerecipes

ROSARITO, BAJA CALIFORNIA. MEXICO – Many Americans with reduced and fixed incomes are looking outside of the US for retirement and economic relief in these tough times, finding it just south of the border. Baja California, Mexico is leading the trend to cater to retirees, by offering services that appeal to the growing number of foreign residents. These services include assisted living, property and personal care among others at significantly lower prices than in the US.

US store names like Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Smart and Final, Applebee’s and Ashley Furniture are some of which are becoming more common in strip malls around the area. State of the art medical facilities equal to those on the US have been and are being constructed in order to provide quality medical care services to the growing number of foreign residents, the only difference being the lower cost.

The area between Rosarito and Ensenada just 45 minutes south of the border has become the preferred area, where developers are also getting on board by bringing amenities to these new homeowners. Calafia Condos & Villas is one of these developments, where their new tower offers more amenities and social atmosphere for people with an active lifestyle. Plus, it is pet friendly. Some of these amenities include a club house with a TV room, game room, computer area, large gym, outdoor and a private Jacuzzi. These amenities are becoming standard for new communities.

A current resident of Northern Baja, Karen Erstad says “I purchased a second home in Las Gaviotas, (an established Northern Baja community), over 10 years ago with the intent to someday live my retirement years by the Ocean”. When she decided on early retirement and make her move, her family and friends thought she was not on her right mind. Even though she would be only a 2 hour drive away, their primary concern was medical care and the question of who would look after her.

Some doctors in this Rosarito-Ensenada area are willing and do still make house calls; there are also excellent medical facilities throughout the state. Serena Senior Care is a corporation dedicated to improve the quality of life for senior residents in Baja; among their services are nursing assistance and doctor visits, which gives family members’ peace of mind. In addition, ocean front developments in Baja are largely inhabited by expatriates making them very tight communities, who look out for one another.

Karen continues by adding “I can also put my own concerns at ease, by moving to Mexico I can live the same lifestyle if not a better one as if I were still working”.

Karen is one of many Americans discovering the benefits and lower cost of in-home services that the Northern Baja region offers; furthermore, with the increased purchasing power of the US dollar against the Mexican peso they can lower their monthly expenses considerably, here is an example:

* Grocery bill around 250 dollars a month for a small family.

* Cost of a movie for two people from less than 11 dollars including popcorn.

* Doctor’s visits starting at around 20 dollars.

* Internet Access and Cable TV from 60 dollars.

* Property taxes average 300.00 dollars and up per year.

* Game of golf starting at 35 dollars

* Private bilingual school around 175 dollars monthly tuition

* Hair Salon hair cut and color can start at around 27 dollars

Eating out

* McDonalds, less than 4.50 for a super size combo

* Chinese food, less than 4.50 for a “lunch” (enough for 2 people)

* Traditional Mexican food, complete meals from around 4 dollars.

* 5 star meal starts at 20 dollars per person.

Most of these coastal Baja developments are also located just 10 to 15 minutes from the newest hospital in the area. Downtown shopping, and a 45 minute drive to the wine country, where on Wednesdays and Saturdays they offer an organic farmers market. Living in these communities Americans have the same lifestyle as they currently have back at their homeland but for much less.

Clearly, relocating to Northern Baja California has become a solution for Baby Boomers and American retirees against the economic crisis. Especially for those who would like to remain closer to their families and amenities in the US. For others, is just good business.