La Paz, BCS, Mexico - Welcome to our Third Quarter Newsletter. As I write this, there are major political problems around the world and the global economy continues on a rather bumpy road. The International Monetary Fund is working on bail outs and in the United States; The Federal Reserve Board has announced action and will spend $40 Billion a month to buy mortgage backed securities.

All of this makes it difficult to predict the short term Mexican real estate market. Meanwhile real estate associations in the three NAFTA countries are working on strategies and alliances in order to be able to take advantage of a market recovery.

Mexico continues to struggle against what appears to be paranoia among U.S. citizens about travel to this country. In recent months the media has started to publish positive articles in order to combat sensational, if not erroneous, reports from certain U.S. media channels.

Two examples are the article in the August 5th edition of The Huffington Post, "Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo from Pirates to Pilates." and on the same date, The Chicago Tribune published an article focusing on the strength of the Mexican Economy.

In Puerto Vallarta, Tropicasa Realty is working with a US Production company to help restore trust in Mexico's Tourism. Tropicasa has teamed-up with Travel Secrets Mexico, a TV Documentary Series that portrays life in Mexico as it is, not as it is assumed to be, based on negative news and often unsubstantiated travel warnings. The subject of Mexico's image abroad was discussed fully at the recent Tourism Symposium in San Miguel.

NAR Announces new Certified CIPS Instructors

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has announced the addition of six new instructors to its Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) faculty. Linda Neil Jones, PIC (Mexico) ABR, TRC, CIPS is among those named as qualified instructors. She is the Founding President of AMPI La Paz and one of the organizers of the AMPI/NAR Tourism Foro in 2003. That event gave birth to NAR's Resort and Second Home Section. The new instructors are; Ms. Seema A. Allangawi, Dubai; Ms. Christel Silver, Del Ray Beach, Florida; Jeni Eugenia Temen, Reno, Nevada; Ms. Tamara Larisa Trybouslu, Las Vegas, Nevada; Ms. Linda Jones Neil, Baja California Sur, Mexico; and Mr. Ron Phipps, Warwick, Rhode Island.

Commenting on the announcement Jennifer Rzeszewski, Manager of Global Education and membership at NAR, said, "NAR is pleased to have an instructor from Mexico, one of our NAFTA country members on our faculty. Congratulations Linda."

BMW Motorcycles Coming to Mexico

Uruapan, Michoacán will be the headquarters for the sixteenth International BMW Convention. More than 450 riders will come from Canada, The United States, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Panama. The number of visitors, including sponsors, mechanics and suppliers, will exceed 800.

A cavalcade of riders will visit Michoacán's treasures in villages such as Patzcuaro and Santa Clara del Cobre. The group will visit sixteenth century chapels in Parcacho (famous for guitars) Quiroga, and Patzcuaro. They will witness the natural beauty of the state and artistic, musical and gastronomic fiesta will take place at the base of the Volcano Paricutin. The Conference will take place from October 24th to 27th.

Two Important Real Estate Events in San Miguel de Allende:

San Miguel de Allende was recently the location of two successful real estate events. Day one was sponsored by AMAR (Retirement Community Association). Javier Govi made the key note speech to an audience of over 80. Among those attending were architects, investors, developers, some from the medical and related industries, (I sat next to the Head of Nutrition from The University of Nuevo Leon,) and a small group of REALTORS.

Javier Govi, the Founder of AMAR, spoke on "Retirement as A Business." Using charts and graphs he outlined the demographics and needs of various U.S. citizens including the Baby Boomers. He outlined various models for retirement communities. At the moment, AMAR has two certified retirement centers in Mexico and has a goal of ten before the end of next year. The session was at the elegant new Rosewood Hotel.

On the second day, more than ninety attended the AMPI Real Estate Tourism Symposium. Among those at the event were AMPI President Sergio Gomez, Vice President Guillermo, and two past presidents, Roberto Flores (Queretaro) and Hector Obregon (Pueblo).

There were three main speakers. Lic Clemente Villapando, Director of Immigration in San Miguel, explained the changes to Mexico's Immigration Laws. Linda Neil from AMPI Los Cabos dealt with the subject, "The expectations of Foreigners Buying in Mexico." Part of her speech was devoted to explaining why AMPI members should join NAR and become REALTORS.

She also outlined the importance of the Certified International Property Specialist designation (CIPS) and that Mexico now has a CIPS Instructor. Linda advised that AMPI's Training Center is working on a schedule for CIPS courses next year. Javier Govi from AMAR outlined the difference between selling second homes and selling retirement in Mexico at assisted and other types of retirement centers.

In the afternoon, those attending broke out into round tables. Subjects discussed were; Baby Boomers, Fideicomisos, Language, Social Networks and Information technology, Mexico's image abroad, and Medical Tourism. Group leaders presented the results to the Symposium.

Historic Agreements Between Texas and Mexico Signed in San Antonio
By John Gornley - TAR

On Sept. 7, 2012, the organized real estate relationship between Texas and Mexico took a giant step forward. At the Texas REALTORS Conference in San Antonio, the Texas Association of REALTORS (TAR) and AMPI, Mexico's real estate association (La Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios), conducted what's believed to be the largest ever cross-border, chapter-to-chapter signing ceremony. (The Texas Association of REALTORS is designated by the National Association of REALTORS as the official ambassador association to Mexico. Linda Jones Neil is the NAR president's liaison to Mexico.) Participating leaders signed cross-border, business-building partnership agreements that provide for cooperation and collaboration in real estate throughout the region.

To open the ceremony, AMPI 2012 president Sergio Gómez signed the master agreement for Mexico, and 2012 TAR International Committee Chairman Alston Boyd signed for Texas. A series of local-chapter agreements - 75 in all - were then signed by representatives of AMPI chapters and local associations in Texas. Fifteen AMPI Sections, including Aguascalientes, Cozumel, Mexico City and Guadalajara signed the agreement. For the Texas Association of Realtors thirteen organizations such as The Austin Board of Realtors, The Houston Association of Realtors and The San Antonio Board of Realtors participated at the meeting.

Joe Stewart, 2012 Chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors, commented, "In recent years, we've seen increasing interest in cross-border real estate opportunities, both Mexicans purchasing property here in the U.S. and Americans purchasing property in Mexico. These partnerships will help Texas Realtors and AMPI members work together to serve those clients. It also further elevates awareness of international real estate, which will lead to more educational opportunities for our members and more resources for property owners interested in international markets."

The Texas Association of Realtors has strong ties with The Mexican Association of Realtors have formed strong ties over the years. A few years ago, TAR conducted a Trade Mission to Mexico. It was the largest outgoing Trade mission ever for the National Asociation of Realtors. Alston Boyd, TAR's International Chair, and John Gormley, TAR's Director of Communication, frequently attend AMPI events in Mexico.

Tourists Spending More in 2012
By Leticia Paula Cruz - Rumbo de Mexico

Mexico City - The Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) reports that tourists spent about $7.7 billion between January and July. This is up 6.3% compared to the same period last year.

According to the Bank of Mexico (Banixco) International Travel Report there were more than 8.2 million tourists that stayed in the country for an "extended period of time.: This is 4.1 percent higher than during the same period last year. In a statement by SECTUR expenditures by international tourist rose 7.2 percent to approximately 6.2 billion pesos over the same period.

This figure represents an average of $754 per person, 3 percent higher than last year's numbers. Mexico's tourism industry brought in roughly $ 1.1 billion worth in foreign currency in July The Secretariat also reported that in the first seven months of 2012, average expenditures by international tourists grew by 7.8 percent in relation to 2011, while expenditures from those who crossed the border for a short period of time grew 10.4 percent.

Upcoming Real Estate Events

The Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals will hold its Annual Conference, Annual General Meeting and Trade Show in Guadalajara/Tequila from October 31-November 3. The National Association of Realtors will have its Conference and Trade Show in Orlando Florida, November 6-13, 2012.