Michael's Blog

Off to Cuba today!

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:29:56 -0600

Well the day has arrived and we fly out this evening to Cuba which is currently being lashed again by a Category 4 hurricane which thankfully is at the east end of the island and should break up into a tropical depression due to the mountainous geography of that part of the country. This is the 3rd of the year that has had a direct hit. As I have written before in a previous article its time for change towards Cuba and with Barack Obama winning th presidency maybe that change will come. I know that the cubans were working vigorously to try and take off the crops before the arrival of this latest natural threat. Lets wish them all well, the ordinary people in Cuba who have little interest in politics, only survival. For those of you that are wondering why I get to go to Cuba, I am not an an American citizen but British and have lived in Canada for 42 years. Hallelujah, sand, sun and fun, here we come!

Off to Cuba where no one is worried about the housing market

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 18:21:02 -0500

Every Every year, about this time of year, we go to Cuba for a visit and a holiday. My in-laws live in Cuba and this is the annual ritual to visit, socialize, laugh, share some of our good fortune and blessings with a truly great group of ordinary people. It has been particularly hard in Cuba this year, with the hurricane season dealing them a double whammy. Most of the crops were lost, creating severe shortages in foodstuffs. Even if you have money, it is very difficult to find anything in the stores. With the advent of the US thanksgiving coming on, I would ask that you think about your neighbours in Cuba. The majority who just try to eke out a living in any way they can and pressure your congresssman to bring about change in policy towards Cuba. What an unbelievable situation we have there with both Russia looking to create new post Soviet ties and the Chinese already having a strong foothold with trade and influence. The last thing most Cubans are preoccupied with is the financial meltdown and the housing crisis in the first world when one has to wonder what the family is going to eat. The Cubans are an industrious, well-educated, warm group of people who deserve better and its high time the petty, childish, he took my toy attitude comes to an end.

The Fall market in Parksville-Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:39:07 -0500

The Parksville and Qualicum Beach market is settling in to its laid back fall season. One now has time on sunny weekend afternoons with no appointments or open houses scheduled, to drive up to Mount Arrowsmith to view the flood of fall colors and pick pine and chantrelle mushrooms while getting a much needed dose of mountain fresh air and the quiet tranquility that comes from foraging in the forest.

Mexico Real estate enquiries are up.

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 06:07:34 -0500

With the current strength of the US dollar there has never been a better time to buy in Mexico especially if the price is in pesos. The Mexican peso has been hit hard recently and currently is trading at 13.98 pesos which means that those people who are looking to get their place in the sun and still have cash, good buys are to be had. Through our Mexican real estate website at www.bienvenidosrealestate.com enquiries and prospects were sluggish this year compared to last. However in the last month our visitors have shot up dramatically. I'm sure that the onset of winter in northern climes has a lot to do with the increased activity. If you or your clients are considering investing in Mexico, come and visit us at our website and see how far your dollars can go.

Property taxes in the US and Canada

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:22:23 -0500

I think it would be very interesting if people would consider posting the property taxes on their principal residences, approximate value and the city and state or province of where they reside. It would give us and who ever sees the results some kind of idea of the huge differences in some of these figures based on location. As for myself, I live on Vancover Island, British Columbia, Canada and I pay about 700/yr in taxes. My property is 1.5 acres and has a 2400sq.ft as new home and is serviced by its own well and septic. The approximate value would be around $575,000

What is happening out there in these markets?

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:57:55 -0500

How is everyone being affected by the criminal activity that has occurred in the US? It just amazes me that a country as great as the US and its people, can permit this kind of criminal activity to go on. When are the people going to take back their country? The elections are coming to a close and there is an opportunity to get some new blood on the front lines but is that really going to make a difference in the underlying sickness that permeates North American society.

We have had a good run here in Canada but we are all now paying for the excesses and greed. Have we lost our way, where money has become the only true god.

As realtors we interact with many people on a daily basis and we have our fingers on the pulse of their feelings, fears and anxieties. What are your clients telling you? People now have an opportunity to pull together and demand change and accountibility. Will they do it? It will be very interesting to see what the next year will bring in the history of the world. I for one will be anxiously awaiting the outcome

Canadian dollar moves back to .80 US

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:00:31 -0500

If you ask any professional real estate agent in the Puerto Vallarta area, who carried the market the past year, you will invariably hear that it was the Canadians. Americans stayed home in such numbers that you had a hard time finding one. In one project alone in Bucerias, which was originally aimed for the domestic Mexican market I had been informed by a representative of the developer, that 30 to 35 % of the buyers had been Canadians. And why not, the Canadian dollar had risen to a high of 1.07 US back in October 2007 falling steadily back down to par until around April 2008 and below since. Canadians had just experienced one of the biggest run-ups in value of their own real estate holdings back in Canada with no similar fallout like the sub prime fiasco in the US. With that exchange rate, the value was hard to pass up. Now that it is back to a more sobering .80 cent US level, it makes me think that it will not be such a banner year to come, as far as Canadians buyers are concerned. It leaves me wondering who will pick up the slack for 2008. The market has been steadily rising in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico for the last several years just as it has the world over. As those of us that have been around through the cycles a few times know, prices do not go up forever. The Canadian market is experiencing at least a 10% adjustment down with possibly more to come. Market forces have a way of balancing themselves out. My prediction: Watch for some steadily growing bargains this year as inventories and carrying costs rise.. stay tuned

Michael Murphy has been an active realtor since 1981 and has business interests in both the Puerto Vallarta - Riviera Nayarit market as well as the Vancouver Island BC market. He and his daughter Elizabeth run Bienvenidos Real Estate in Bucerias

Cheap Living in Nuevo Vallarta for $59,900 or Bucerias at $149,900

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 17:59:26 -0500

Looking to get out of the ratrace? All the stuff going on the the US got you fed up? Consider moving to Mexico where the cost of living is cheaper. Things like gas, medical and food will cost you a lot less in Mexico. Exercise your brain by learning another language, stretch your life experience by getting out of your comfort zone. Consider moving to Mexico and buying yourself a cheap fairly new house like this one here http://www.bienvenidosrealestate.com/Nuevo_Vallarta/Nayarit/Homes/Valle_Dorado/Agent/Listing_1812845.html

or this one at $149,900 http://www.bienvenidosrealestate.com/Bucerias/Nayarit/Homes/Bucerias/Bucerias/Agent/Listing_1062634.html

Everything you need to know about living and purchasing property in Mexico can be found here www.bienvenidosrealestate.com

Buying real estate in Mexico

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:45:41 -0500

If you would like information or are just curious about the opportunities to own real estate in Mexico and more specifically the Puerto Vallarta and Bucerias area go to my Mexican website at www.bienvenidosrealestate.com where you will find lots of informative articles and links to everything you need to know about property ownership in Mexico. We specifically deal with property in the states of Jalisco where Puerto Vallarta is located north to the State of Nayarit and the whole of Bahia de Banderas which incorporates Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, La Cruz, Puta Mita and continuing North to encompass the riviera Nayarit up to La Penita and including Sayulita and Rincon Guayabitos.

Doing business or buying real estate in mexico

Michael Murphy (Bienvenidos Real Estate) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:43:41 -0500

If you would like information or are just curious about the opportunities to own real estate in Mexico and more specifically the Puerto Vallarta area go to my mexican website at www.bienvenidosrealestate.com