La Paz, BCS, Mexico - Welcome to our Third Quarter, 2013 Newsletter. At this time of year the Mexico real estate market is usually quiet. Following several very slow years, I am hearing about a slight recovery at this time in parts of the tourist zones. This is particularly true of more expensive properties. August saw an improvement in the U.S. real estate market (see story below) which must become more healthy before any real improvement comes to Mexico.

During the Quarter there have been several real estate forums. One of the largest and most successful is held annually in Guadalajara, with several others spread across the country. Two major events will take place in the next Quarter. One is the annual Conference and General Meeting of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) and the other the Annual Conference of the national Association of Realtors (NAR).

Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Rise in August to Six-Year High
Bloomberg News excerpt

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly rose in August to the highest level in more than six years as buyers rushed to lock in interest rates before they rise further. Purchases climbed 1.7 percent to a 5.48 million annual rate, the highest since February 2007, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed in Washington. Read more at Bloomberg.com »»

For Migrants, New Land of Opportunity is Mexico
Damien Cave - New York Times

Mexico, whose economic woes have pushed millions of people north, is increasingly becoming an immigrant destination. The country's documented foreign-born population nearly doubled between 2000 and 2010, and officials now say the pace is accelerating as broad changes in the global economy create new dynamics of migration. The new arrivals range in class from executives to laborers; Mexican officials said Friday that residency requests had grown by 10 percent since November, when a new law meant to streamline the process took effect. And they are coming from nearly everywhere. Read more »»

Mexico Canada to Boost Alliance

Upon the conclusion of the ninth annual meeting of the Mexico-Canada Alliance (AMC), both countries agreed to provide more visibility to the Alliance as a flexible and efficient strategy. AMC has both public and private participation... it promotes concrete cooperation between the two countries and aims to raise the level of competition in North America. Mexico's Foreign Relations Minister, Sergio Alcocer Martinez and William Crosbie of Canada the alliance's presidents held talks to define a new vision for the organization in the coming years. Martinez and Crosbie said that there is an enormous dynamism in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Canada will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2014, as well as 40 years of Canada's Temporary Foreign Workers Program, 20 years of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and 10 years of the Alliance. In 2004, trade between the two countries was only $164 million, but as of 2011, trade exceeded $24 billion. Canada is the fourth largest investor in Mexico.

Mexico Aims High with Investment in Burgeoning Aviation Industry

Rapid growth in the sector is evidence of Mexico's determination to become one of the world's top 10 aviation suppliers. The Mexican aviation industry has registered 20% annual growth since 2006. The Querétaro Aerospace Park, 200 km northwest of Mexico City, is a mass of cranes and diggers. A new Aeroméxico and Delta Air Lines heavy maintenance facility - a joint investment costing $40m, with work for 3,000 specialist technicians - is due to open here shortly. Querétaro airport is just next door, with gigantic hangars built by Bombardier, Eurocopter and Safran, rearing up against the arid landscape dotted with cactuses. The industry has seen 20% annual growth in Mexico since 2006. "Our country is attracting the biggest share of aerospace investment worldwide," says Carlos Bello Rocha, head of Mexico's Aerospace Industry Federation (Femia). About 20 new projects are expected this year, worth $1.3bn. Femia forecasts that there will be 450 companies working in this field by 2020, representing 110,000 jobs and $12bn in export sales. Read more at TheGuardian.com »»

Mexican Hotel News

Mexican hotel real estate investment trust Fibra Inn is reportedly near an agreement with Wyndham Hotel Group to own and operate a portfolio of Wyndham-branded properties in Mexico. Wyndham reportedly has 30 properties and more than 4,000 rooms in Mexico. Fibra Inn recently acquired the 198-room Wyndham Casa Grande Monterrey and additional properties have already been identified for acquisition and conversion to Wyndham brands this year. Fibra Inn said it is working on an agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group to establish the terms and conditions in which the investment trust will develop and/or acquire around 20 hotels in Mexico through franchise agreements to brand and operate hotels under the brands Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. Fibra Inn currently owns seven Holiday Inn Express, one Holiday Inn & Suites, and one Holiday Inn in seven states in Mexico.

Realtors to Assemble in San Francisco

This year's Conference and Expo for the National Association of Realtors will be held from November 8-11th at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. With the U.S. market starting to recover and the industry becoming more global, attendance records are expected to be broken. It is anticipated that 28,000 Realtors will attend. This will include what will likely be the largest contingent ever from outside of the U.S. Educational session will be held on a large range of topics. One will be Making Money in Mexico. Linda Jones Neil, CIPS will moderate a panel that will deal with topics such as commercial, international, market segments, sales and marketing. The panel will represent a cross section of Mexico's real estate professionals. Read more »»