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

Prime vacation property throughout Canada has doubled in value within the past five years. For the potential buyer of a vacation property, the cost of entry can be stiff. There is a high demand for many to own a vacation home or idyllic retreat for pleasure and lifestyle enjoyment, future retirement, rental revenue, or investment profit. But buying a recreational property can be a potential minefield for many reasons, as there can be complex tax, legal, estate planning, and investment issues to consider. When investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a recreational property you will need to do your due diligence and seek solid advice. The Complete Guide to Buying and Owning Recreational Property in Canada, written by Canada's leading authority on matters related to real estate, offers valuable insights and tips, and will prove a trustworthy resource for many years to come. Topic areas include: Buying the right property, for the right reasons, in the right location How to set a purchase and financing strategy and how to negotiate your best deal How to exercise caution when buying with family or friends-and how to keep peace in the family when sharing use or ownership Getting the help of professionals, such as a tax accountant, lawyer, home inspector, mortgage broker, insurance broker, and realtor. Obtaining tax and estate planning strategic advice to save tax on transfer, sale or bequeathing of the property, or inheriting a property What you need to know if you are buying recreational property as an investment. Money saving tips when renting your property yourself or using professional rental management Special cautions if buying a vacation home or cottage outside of Canada Creative ways of using your vacation home or cottage for exchange or barter Key strategies to follow and classic pitfalls to avoid And much, much more! Plus Sources of Further Information, Key Websites, Checklists, Glossary, and Index.

In this latest addition to the bestselling "Century 21" series, Ruth Rejnis explores all the important nuances of a midlife home (or second home) purchase. She helps potential buyers organize their objectives and learn about the variety of options open to them. The book features 50 money-saving tips, strategies for working with an agent, and Internet resources.

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

A guide to Mexico's civil law system helps foreigners learn the property buying process. A bonus section provides tips on how to choose a real estate agent plus practical matters such as utilities, fees, and insurance.

More than a million Americans own second homes in Mexico, according to the National Association of Realtors. As home prices in the U.S. hit record highs, Mexico has emerged as a solid contender for people who are considering either buying second homes.

Deciding Where to Live: Information Studies on Where to Live in America explores major themes related to where to live in America, not only about the acquisition of a home but also the ways in which where one lives relates to one’s cultural identity. It shows how changes in media and information technology are shaping both our housing choices and our understanding of the meaning of personal place. The work is written using widely accessible language but supported by a strong academic foundation from information studies and other humanities and social science disciplines. Chapters analyze everyday information behavior related to questions about where to live. The eleven major chapters are: Chapter 1: Where to live as an information problem: three contemporary examples Chapter 2: Turning in place: Real estate agents and the move from information custodians to information brokers Chapter 3: The Evolving Residential Real Estate Information Ecosystem: The Rise of Zillow Chapter 4: Privacy, Surveillance, and the “Smart Home” Chapter 5: This Old House, Fixer Upper, and Better Homes & Gardens: The Housing Crisis and Media Sources Chapter 6: A Community Responds to Growth: An Information Story About What Makes for a Good Place to Live." Chapter 7: The Valley Between Us: The meta-hodology of racial segregation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chapter 8: Modeling Hope: Boundary Objects and Design Patterns in a Heartland Heterotopia Chapter 9: Home buying in Everyday Life: How Emotion and Time Pressure Shape High Stakes Deciders’ Information Behavior Chapter 10: In Search of Home: Examining Information Seeking and Sources That Help African Americans Determine Where to Live Chapter 11: Where to Live in Retirement: A Complex Information Problem While the book is partly about the goal-directed activity of individuals who want to buy a house, and the infrastructure that supports that activity, it is also about personal activities that are either not goal directed or are directed at other goals such as deciding in which geographic location to live, personal entertainment, cultural understanding, or identity formation.