Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan 2008
If you are living here in Yucatan, chances are one of the first things you did was to buy or rent a home.
While some of us were savvy enough or spoke Spanish well enough to trato directo (deal direct) with the sellers or landlords, many of us spent our initial days here with a helpful real estate agent. So we're pretty sure that almost every reader of Yucatan Living has something to contribute to this poll.
In order for a real estate agency to qualify for this poll, it must list and sell properties in and around the state of Yucatan. And it must also have at least one bilingual employee who can deal competently with English-speaking extranjeros.
Please consider a few other things when voting for the best real estate agency. Naturally, the best agency should hire and employ knowledgeable agents. They should know the territory, the process of buying and selling a house here in the Yucatan and how to get things done in this environment. They should treat customers well, with both patience and respect. They should have integrity (loosely defined as doing what they say they are going to do). They should be pleasant to work with, and after the deal is done, you should feel comfortable recommending them to family and friends.
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Some things we feel are not in the real estate agent's control, especially here in the Yucatan. We believe you can’t judge a real estate agent on how long it takes to buy or sell a house, for instance. Or on whether or not the seller or buyer had integrity. Or on how happy or unhappy you are with the house once you move in. Sometimes, forces of nature (or forces of Mexico) create havoc for the best of professionals.
We open this poll with five real estate agencies that work regularly with extranjeros, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list. New agencies appear on the scene all the time, and we are not the best judges... that's why the Poll is here for our readers to make their favorites known. So please vote (one person - one vote, please) and may the best agency win!
The Nominees Are...
Here in alphabetical order are the initial 2008 nominees for Yucatan Living's Readers Choice Award for Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan:
Buena Vida Realtors – Run by Rupert Millautz, Buena Vida Realtors is a small agency that prides itself on providing good service.
Casa Blanca Real Estate – Probably the oldest agency that works with English-speaking extranjeros, the agency is run by Jorge Caceres with offices on the corner of Calle 55 and Calle 66.
Mexico International – Founded by Mitch Keenan, the first extranjero to set up a real estate agency in Merida. His team of agents is based out of their offices in the Fiesta Americana building next to the Sanborn’s restaurant.
Real Estate Yucatan – The husband and wife team of Gabriela Isaac and Alec Stephens, and Gabriela's brother Isaac Salim, run this agency. Gabriela and Isaac are Yucatecos and Alec hails from Mexico City, but spent many years working and living in the USA.
Tierra Yucatan – This agency is represented by Jennifer Lytle, her socio, David Palomo and a team of agents. Jen has traveled and lived in Mexico for over 30 years after moving here from San Antonio, Texas. Jennifer’s team works out of their renovated colonial office on Calle 66 in Merida’s centro historico.
Nominate Your Favorite
If you know the name of an agency that deserves to be nominated for the 2008 award, please leave a comment with the name of the company, the agent and the website address. We'll add them to the Poll. Nominations will be accepted until September 1st, giving everyone plenty of time to add their favorite agency. Voting will continue under the very end of 2008, and not a minute sooner!
Reader's Nominations:
Mayan Living - Jim Mann has run this very successful real estate firm for as long as we've been in Merida.
Mayan Realty - A local real estate firm owned by Jorge Mazún.
Bookmark Yucatan Living and come back often to see how your favorite agency is doing. Then, come back again in early 2009 to read about the winners of the 2008 Yucatan Living Readers Choice Awards for Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan.
Comments
maria luisa and bill 16 years ago
our votes (can we have two?) go to eric partney at mexico international and alec stevens of realestateyucatan...wonderfully helpful and knowledgeable!
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tx2mx 16 years ago
Mitch, our notes crossed in hyperspace. Your company and mine have done several deals, and all were professionally handled, for which I thank you.
Everyone can read my notes, which are true, based on real world experience, and devoid of any agenda. They point to the fact that standards and protections are individual, not governmental, so an informed buyer and a solid agency are crucial. My comments are not limited to the escrow money fiasco or the US credentials of any company, which are nice but with all due respect have little significance in Mexico.
I'm not going to identify the company that blew it because we got past it, have done other deals without incident, and if it was a pattern it would surface and be dealt with in the marketplace.
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tx2mx 16 years ago
The agent I referenced is the owner of one of the top rated agencies in this poll, and my check was paid to the agency's escrow account. It simply wasn't "available," nor was the agency owner/seller's agent, at the time of closing. My agent, Jen Lytle, wrote a personal check to cover it so we could close. She later collected the escrow money from the absentee agent, who wanted to pay it back in installments. The point of my note was to emphasize that American concepts like "legal escrow accounts" are a fiction in Mexico. The holder of the account can call it an escrow account, but it is really just another bank account. The buyer has no knowledge or control over what happens to their escrow money after it is paid to the seller's agent.
There is no need for all of the reputable companies to weigh in with how they have never done such a thing or how they treat their escrow accounts as "legal" because I already accept that as true and have many good transactions to offset the one that was spooky. I'm simply saying that, when doing business in Mexico, don't assume that American standards and protections are in place. There is one overarching rule that applies in Mexico, "you can do whatever you are big enough to do," so make sure that your agent has enough influence to enforce your rights.
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Mitch Keenan 16 years ago
Gosh,
Kinda hard to avoid such an open invitation to "toot" our horn. Mexico International does have a USA (non-interest bearing, Earnest Money Account. We have done business with the same bank officer for over 30-years!
Since we operate a real estate brokerage firm in Colorado (Keenan & Company - Metro Brokers), my brother and myself are both accredited CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and licensed real estate brokers.
We defer to the rules, regulations and rules of ethics dictated by the Colorado Board of Real Estate, the NAR (National Assocation of Realtors), CAR (Colorado Association of Realtors) and JCAR (Jefferson County Association of Realtors).
Following those rules, regs and ethical standards keeps us out of trouble and provides us with a solid foundation for operating an ethical business in a non-regulated market place.
We also have several licensed agents and brokers working with Mexico International. Eric Partney keeps his brokers license current by studying for, taking and passing the annual exams.
Additionally, we provide training classes and continual direction to our agents so that they do not get themselves and us into trouble.
If we are holding your deposit in our earnest money account and I get hit by a bus, my brother has signing authority on the earnest money account. If he and I both go down in a plane together, our executive secretary is authorized to sign in our absence.
Nothing is more important than protecting our clients, their money and helping them to make good investments. That business model has allowed us to maintain long and successful relationships with our clients, earning their return business and the business of their friends and family.
We remain at your service.
mitch
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CasiYucateco 16 years ago
Even better to use an agency that actually has a legal escrow account, rather than checks directly to the agent. That way, if the agent -- or company, same thing? -- gets run over by a Mack truck, your money isn't lost.
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tx2mx 16 years ago
The Merida market is unique to Latin America because it is so heavily populated with real estate agencies that cater to the gringo market. This has positive and negative consequences. There is no formal "Code of Ethics" in the Mexican real estate community, but the expats tend to apply their own ethical standards to the process, making it very safe to trust your money to most of the agencies. I have had only one of the agencies disappear with my escrow money, interestingly one of the higher rated companies in this survey. The biggest negative is that no particular qualifications or licenses are required to sell real estate, so the agents are often no better versed in the legal process or the local market than the buyers are, so it can be a case of the blind leading the blind. The market is flooded with agents so it is also extremely competitive, which can result in some distortion of the facts and pressure to buy. Beware of agencies that re-route you to their own listings after telling you that competitors' listings have been sold or can't be scheduled for a showing. You should also know that kickbacks are a way of life in Mexico, so those friendly referrals to lawyers, architects and accountants are not always as benevolent as they may seem. With all of this in mind, I voted for Tierra Yucatan because Jen Lytle knows the market as well as anyone in town, and wrote a check at closing to cover the escrow money a competing agent had pocketed - which she later recovered from him in bits and pieces. The gesture demonstrated incredible business judgment, confidence, and integrity.
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Rebeca A. Robins 16 years ago
My vote goes to Real Estate Yucatan, Gabriela Isaac is the best!
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asuaan trejo 16 years ago
My vote goes to maya realty !!! Thanks Jorge!!!!
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Pat Berger 16 years ago
If it is personal experience with realtors you want, then I will put in my 2 cents. My real estate agent was JORGE MAZUN . I dealt ONLY with him. He is TERRIFIC in my book. He always returned my calls (He has a US number he can be reached at as well as in Merida.) He always kept me informed and constantly reassured me when I felt nervous about making such an investment. He e-mailed or called every time in a timely fashion.
He even went so far as to research the water bills just to make sure they were all current (which they were not). I would have had to pay a big bill before I could transfer into my name. He required the seller to pay it before closing. The seller stated that when he bought the property, no one did that for him & he wished Jorge had been in his corner at the time. Now HE had to pay before we closed. He was very nice about it & commended Jorge on his thoroughness.
That is not the only thing he did for me. He welcomed me into his home for dinner and other times & his wife was extremely gracious and helpful...even taking me shopping at Wally World to get some essentials. He took me around all day one day, shopping for a car, helping me purchase it, and took me to get my car insurance. He helped me get a cell phone, helped to put up my satellite dish (while being eaten alive by mosquitoes in the evening after his work day had ended) and let me use his home phone to call the states.
He has continued to stay in touch, helping me with many other things just too numerous to mention. I now have more than a real estate agent; I have a wonderful friend for life...his wife, Marlene too. This guy is young, and full of boundless energy and enthusiasm, as well as being a man of great character & integrity. I wish I knew an agent like that in the states!!!
The attorney/notario he used for my paperwork was great too. His name was Alvaro Baquiero Jr. I later discovered this is the same great attorney recommended by the Working Gringo at Yucatan Living.
By the way, Jorge is fluent in English as he lived & sold real estate in California. Mr. Baquiero also speaks English.
If you decide to contact Jorge, please do so at his OWN email or ask for him by his full name as there is more than one Jorge in the office. Or contact him at his US number.
Jorge Mazun: info@mayanrealty.net
Mobile: ( 999) 9492526
Office: (999) 9418270
US: (661) 3107916
US or Canada toll free (888)256-1767
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Harriet 16 years ago
My vote is Tierra Yucatan. David showed me exactly the houses I wanted to see and I bought on the first day. Their help after the sale was completed was beyond my expectations. When I had trouble changing the utilities into my name they had someone from the office take me to the utility offices and help make the changes. Later when I needed to change the address on my fidecomiso thier office wrote the letter for me in Spanish and called the bank to be sure I had all the necessary papers to make the change. Their help and follow up after the sale was completed has certainly impressed me.
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Jim More 16 years ago
My vote goes to real Estate Yucatan!!! Thanks Alec and Isaac Salim!!!!
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