Forums > Areas > Central Pacific Region

steve2709564

Dec 26, 2009, 11:02 AM

Post #1 of 4 (5443 views)

Shortcut

COMING TO COLIMA...........

Can't Post | Private Reply

I;m looking for any recommendations for good real estate agents for the towns of Comala, Villa De Alvarez and Colima ,I'm coming down in January and would like to set up some appointments to look at property. thanks in advance.....if the moderators want to move me to another forum please do so...

Hound Dog

Dec 26, 2009, 2:01 PM

Post #2 of 4 (5404 views)

Shortcut

Re: [steve2709564] COMING TO COLIMA...........

Can't Post | Private Reply

Beware, Steve:

Real estate agents in Mexico are not the same creatures as U.S. real estate agents who are not admirable characters themselves. Outside of certain communities attracting large numbers of foreigners or having substantial international business representatives, real estate agents are not commonly used in Mexico and I can practically guarantee you that if you use a real estate agent to buy in Colima or Comala, you will pay a significant "gringo premium" to own any property you buy and you may also be directed toward less desirable properties because you may be conceived as an easy mark.

You will pay a large premium in commissions to someone who has no legal responsibility to disclose any property defects to you and the agent may tack his/her commission on the sellers true asking price.

Go to inland Colima State and pound the pavement over time to become knowledgable about buying property there. If you lack the time to do that, don´t do it.

Rolly

Dec 26, 2009, 2:40 PM

Post #3 of 4 (5394 views)

Shortcut

Re: [steve2709564] COMING TO COLIMA...........

Can't Post | Private Reply

The Dog speaketh the truth. Pay attention.

Before you come, you might find some helpful information here: http://rollybrook.com/finding_a_place.htm

Rolly Pirate

halfmexi

Dec 27, 2009, 12:36 PM

Post #4 of 4 (5297 views)

Shortcut

Re: [steve2709564] COMING TO COLIMA...........

Can't Post | Private Reply

Colima is not too kind to foreigners... (it is the Colimense culture) they think we are all rich and fairly oblivious to Mexico laws. The best thing to do is drive around looking for houses - right now everybody is overpricing their houses, expect the prices to come down sometime in March or May. And yes, you will get charged thousand of pesos extra because you are a foreigner - even renting a casa they raise the prices on you. Here is a good website for house hunting: http://mexico.inmobiliaria.com/...es_colima-Z20012.htm, there aren't too many real estate agents that advertise the areas you are looking at, most are down in Manzanillo and they are just crooks!

The new census says we are now the 4th most expensive state to live in all of Mexico, this is mainly because of the influx of people escaping Mexico city, since we have no Expat communities at all in Colima. We are starting to get a few narco problems here, but it is mainly from the cockroaches that are escaping Michoacan that are the problem. We have initiated checkpoints this month into the city of Colima just because of these small-time trouble makers.

I really recommend you rent for a year or two here before buying, because Colima acts and feels like a totally separate country than being part of Mexico. Alot of people leave after about a year and head over to Jalisco because they don't really fit in or are tired of the BS to deal with here. Personally I still have alot of problems being an Expat, but fortunately my wife is Mexican and we use that to buffer some of the attacks upon us. But, we will never leave here, we love it! Even with all of the problems it is one of the more relaxed states I have ever been in these past 12 years.

Buena suerte,
BIL

If you do decide to stay and need translations of documents, contact Paul Oyer - oyer_2@hotmail.com - he is American, has an accredited school and does translations for the govt. as well.

VOTE MAYAN ...For A New Tomorrow!

(This post was edited by Rolly on Dec 27, 2009, 12:41 PM)