Mexico Real Estate Developers Combat Negative Perceptions by American Buyers

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For the first time in Mexico's history, a nationwide array of companies are joining forces to promote living and real estate investment in Mexico. Individuals from some of the most respected companies including Grupo Questro, Capella Pedregal, Punta Mita, Querencia, RCI International, Bancomer and Stewart Title have banned together to combat the negative media, security concerns and perception challenges that have faced Mexico the past year due to increased drug trafficking on the U.S. border.

Expat Residents in Mexico are also joining the effort, providing testimonies, personal stories and speaking with media to dispel misconceptions about living in Mexico.

The Mexico Real Estate Coalition (MREC) has a very clear and simple goal: to promote the many benefits Mexico offers to those seeking a place to retire or own a second home.  The second home/retirement home sector is a multi-billion dollar industry in Mexico, spread over several major markets and many smaller ones. Until now, there has never been a national association to advocate this specific segment. As a national industry-wide Coalition, the MREC has the combined power to ensure that Mexico continues to attract people from United States and Canada and educate them on the main benefits of living in the country.

"The overarching goal of the Mexico Real Estate Coalition is to educate and excite Americans about the many benefits of living, retiring and investing in Mexico," said Juan Diaz Rivera, Chairman of the Mexico Real Estate Coalition. "Living in Mexico is a compelling option for the baby-boomer retiree - far lower cost of living than in the US and all of the natural attributes that the retiree/second home purchaser seeks. Mexico has certainly suffered some challenges over the past year and we plan to address these head on and put Mexico back in the spotlight. A lot of what the media has led people to believe is just not accurate."

The group launched efforts January 2011 with the unveiling of LiveMexico.org.  This highly interactive site will serve as the primary promotion and educational vehicle for the MREC. Visitors to the site will be able to read hundreds of testimonials from Americans about the benefits of living in Mexico, gain information on Mexico real estate and also review key facts and figures affecting the country.

As part of the initial efforts, MREC has also recently launched an aggressive advertising and public relations campaign to educate and help shift the current perception facing the country in the mainstream media.

MREC is not a short-term effort to respond to current negative press, rather a business model that is designed to promote Mexico as a retirement option over the long term and to ensure it competes with key US markets for the baby-boomers over the next 10-15 years.

Coalition members come from all parts of Mexico, including Los Cabos, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Rosarito, Ensenada, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City and many other destinations. The group is not just limited to developers as some of the top banks, title companies and law firms have also joined. Non real estate developers include Stewart Title, Bancomer, Sotheby's, CREEL, Prudential and many others.

"Mexico presents an incredible lifestyle for the American retiree and real estate investor. We believe it to be the best in the region not only versus other Latin American and Caribbean markets, but also when compared to retirement destinations in the United States," said Christopher Hill, Mexico CEO of Stewart Title Latin America and a founding member of the MREC. "However, we are going to have to put some work into correcting some of the unfair damage done to the image of Mexico recently in the US media. Our greatest asset is the thousands of Americans and Canadians who currently live in Mexico and love it. In the end, the reality of Mexico as a great place to live - full or part time - will shine through."

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