Prudential Vallarta Blog

by Marilyn Newman

Imagine the sparkling sea lapping gentle at a beautiful sandy beach in front of stunning multi-million dollar homes and you have envisioned Punta del Burro on the north shore of Bahia de Banderas where the monthly meeting of AMPI Riviera Nayarita was held this past Thursday, June 18th.  Beneath the beach palapa of Casa Playa Arizona, local realtors met for an informal breakfast hosted by La Punta Realty and Cochran Real Estate and to deliberate over the assembly’s agenda.

As soon as Tere Kimball, the presiding president of this AMPI chapter, called the meeting to order, Mr. Ron Lavigna, president of the Homeowner’s Association of Punta del Burro was introduced and asked to give the attendees an overview and update of the new infrastructure project currently underway in this ritzy enclave.  Mr. Lavigna provided a bit of background information on the area and reported the homeowners had initiated a $500,000 dollar infrastructural project to upgrade water and electrical installations and bring in much needed telephone and internet services to the area.

Next on the agenda was an update regarding the AMPI approved real estate courses coming up in July and August, Real Estate Courses I and II.  All realtors are required to have a minimum of 25 hours of continuing education per year to remain AMPI associates and affiliates.  Of course these upcoming 40-hour accreditation courses represent much more than meeting minimum requirements and exemplify the real estate professional’s desire to maintain their high standard of service and excellence. These courses are recognized by the Ministry of Education (SEP – Secretaría de Educación Pública).

The assembly was also reminded of the seminar that will be held on Tuesday, June 30th at the Westin Resort and Spa Hotel (Marina Vallarta) from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.;  “Managing your business in volatile times and the economic barometer” is the topic of this seminar to be given by Deloitte Touche, an international accounting and consulting firm.

After completing other general business topics the meeting was adjourned and an impressive tour was conducted of Casa La Playa Arizona, with an asking price of $1,600,000 USD, 4+ bedroom, 4.5 bath, 378 m2 villa with breathtaking views of the beach and bay.

For more information on A.M.P.I  Riviera Nayarita, contact Elena at El Grupo de Bienes Raices (329) 298.1212 or for A.M.P.I Vallarta, Vanessa López at 044.322.135.7421

Fun was had by one and all!
by Marilyn Newman

What an event!  On Saturday, March 28, more than 250 realtors and guests experienced the best of Vallarta, Paradise Village-Style.

Prudential Vallarta and Paradise Village hosted the event which encompassed a complimentary golf tournament at the world-class El Tigre Golf Course, a Volleyball tournament at El Tigre Sports Club and a day on the beach at Playa Royale Beach Club with tours of Playa Royale Condominiums and Grand Marina Villas.

The day culminated with a spectacular lunch buffet at El Tigre Club House where prizes were awarded for the winners of the Golf and Volleyball tournaments, notable achievers and raffle winners.  The prizes were huge:  laptops, spa certificates, even a 50” flat-screen TV, to name just a few.  There were some very happy participants.  Everyone was a winner that day.

Coming in first in the golf tournament out of 117 participants was Prudential’s own Grace Ramirez, along with Rene Clay Bernal, Edson Rodriguez Loaiza and Luis Mario Ortiz Villanueva.

There were fewer participants in the Volleyball tournament, but the competition was no less fierce, with Team Zamilpa narrowly edged out of first place by Team Ixtapa lead by Guadalupe Reynoso.

Other than just being a good reason to get together with Vallarta’s real estate professionals and valued clients, the event also launched new ventures being offered by Paradise Village.  On hand to give a market perspective and information about up-coming projects were Mr. Barry Cohen and Mr. Graciano Sovernigo of the Paradise Village Hotel Group. Afterwards a tour was offered at Condominiums Ibiza, La Privada and Residencial Los Tigres for agents and clients.

All in all, it was a very fun day.  Perfect Vallarta weather, good food and good people.  Thank you, Prudential and Paradise Village for a great day.

Image Gallery

The A.M.P.I. Riviera Nayarita monthly meeting was held this past Thursday, the 5th of March, at lovely Casa Panoramica  (South) hosted by listing agent Christne Chin of Prudential Vallarta.

At this meeting concerns were discussed regarding the current negative media barrage directed at Mexico in general. It was agreed that everyone in the section would do their best to promote Mexico and Puerto Vallarta as a safe destination and a great place to invest.  It was emphasized that the real  estate community must join efforts to do this at the municipal level.

Tere Kimball announced the Realtor event at Paradise Village to be held on March 28th and Carlos Lemmus announced the opening of Marival condominiums in Nuevo Vallarta.

The For more information on A.M.P.I  Puerto Vallarta, Riviera – Nayarita or Compostela, please contact Elena at El Grupo de Bienes Raices (329) 298-1212 or Evelyn Marquez at Prudential (322) 226.2690.

Jonathon Smart and Tere- Kimball

Maricarmen de Pablo, Alma Arredondo and Tere Kimball

William Mc. Fadden and Christine Chin

The Girls at Prudential

by: Marilyn Newman

“The Fourth Annual Vallarta Lifestyles’ Real Estate Conference” was held at the Krystal Hotel Conference  Center on Thursday, February 26, 2009, drawing many of the area’s real estate industry professionals.

Providing information on Vallarta’s real estate market, the theme of this year’s conference was:  “Surviving and Perhaps even Prospering during Turbulent Times”.

The conference was only for those actively involved in the local real estate industry and provided statistical Information as well as several Realtor Panels covering various aspects of the local and global markets, past, present and future.

Vallarta’s real estate community has become a very cohesive group of professionals.   We’re always looking for ways to better serve our clients and our community.  One way of doing this is to educate ourselves and stay on top of our markets.

Marilyn Newman is a real estate consultant with Prudential California Realty-Vallarta Division.  She can be reached at her office 322 226 2690, by cell 322 306 0534, Toll Free from the US and Canada:  1 888 778 3639, or by e-mail: marilyn.newman@prurealtypv.com

Carlos Osuna of Sierra del Mar, Tere-Kimball of Prudential and Saul Groman of Sierra del Mar los arcos

The incredibly beautiful Sierra del Mar Los Arcos development was the host site for the November 4 breakfast meeting of all three regional A.M.P.I. chapters (Mexican Association of Professional Realtors). Attendance included 45 representatives from all three A.M.P.I. chapters active in the Bay of Banderas area.

Tere Kimball, president of the Riviera Nayarita chapter, made the following points:

• Members must attend at least 50% of the monthly meetings or be subject to suspension.
• The current board of directors was confirmed for one final year (2009) in order to complete several important projects including: Developers Review Certification, Cedula Professional and the MLS contract (urgent).
• Uniform use of the MLS contract for all agencies in PDF file
• Volunteers for the board of 2010. The new President and Vice President will need to start working with the current board one year in advance of their terms.
• New dates for the Real Estate Course I. English: December 1st to the 5th. Spanish: November 24th to the 28th, 2008.
• Next and last meeting for 2008 on Thursday December 4 at 9am in Punta Pelicanos, No. 45. All of the listings for Punta Pelicanos, regardless of which agency has the listing, will be open that day for viewing.

For more information on A.M.P.I  Riviera – Nayarita, call Elena at El Grupo de Bienes Raices (329) 298-1790 or for A.M.P.I. Vallarta call Tom Carota at (322) 223.5511.

Real estate developers in the Bay of Banderas region may soon be able to feature the A.M.P.I. logo in their advertising – if they comply with A.M.P.I. requirements for project documentation and commission payments to professional real estate agents.

Tere Kimball, president of the A.M.P.I Riviera – Nayarita chapter, and Saul Groman, Vice President of the same chapter, explained that the new developer membership program will require that developers allow the review of their project documentation by A.M.P.I. board members. They must also agree to pay standard commission rates to A.M.P.I. member realtors.

Kimball said, “The A.M.P.I. developer membership program will be good for developers and especially good for buyers. Under current market conditions, we need to do everything possible to make certain that new developments are open and transparent about their documentation. We owe that to our clients.”

The new Partial Urban Development Plan of the Bahia de Banderas was presented by Sergio Barajas and Sergio Castro of Sauri y Asociados. A second and more complete presentation will be scheduled by the end of this month. A.M.P.I. members and affiliates as well as the public will be invited.

A.M.P.I. is the National Association of Real Estate Professionals. The three local A.M.P.I. chapters met on August 7 at the new Hotel des Artistes at Punta de Mita. More than 70 real estate professionals toured this innovative project located in Anclote.

For more information on A.M.P.I Riviera – Nayarita, call Elena at El Grupo de Bienes Raices (329) 298-1790 or for AMPI Vallarta call Tom Carota at (322) 223-5511.