With all this new investment in the USA by Mexican companies, recent statistics show that about 60,000 Americans are employed by Mexican companies. The year 2009 was good to two of the largest food based Latin American companies. Mexico’s largest dairy company, Grupo Lala, based in Durango, is one of the newcomers to the USA. Their first plant was bought in 2007 in Omaha, NE. In 2009, Lala purchased National Dairy Holdings, which controls the Borden brand. Grupo Bimbo, Latin Americas largest baked goods company has also grown in the USA. In 2009, Grupo Bimbo bought Western foods, which took over 4,000 distribution routes and 22 bakeries.

Also in 2009, Realty Executives took a dip on the other side of the border, with its new owner, Steve Schwab, and then made a turn back to the USA. Realty Executives takes its fair part of the market share in the real estate world now with offices in most every state in the continental USA and being ever-expanding. In the same real estate vein, Sea Side Mexico, Mexico’s newest and fastest growing franchise property management company started its own state side property management company. Arizona Lodging Experts is its flag ship company, and is ever expanding to the rest of the southwest USA. Sea Side Mexico holds a large percentage of the market share for property rentals and management south of the border.

Mexico is slowly making its mark on the world by expanding its reach in so many diverse companies in the USA, and also overseas. In 2008, Cemex became so huge because Mexico acquired Rinker Group, from Australia to the tune of $14 billion. This acquisition also put 415 plants in the United States. The company Cemex produces concrete, cement, gravel, and other building materials.

All this expansion is great for both sides of the border. While creating jobs to help re-habilitate the weakened American economy, it is strengthening the Mexican economy. People don’t realize that Mexico is an important country not only for us here in the United States, but to the world.

Mexico is home to the world’s richest man, Carlos Slim, who also is setting up shop in the USA. He has upped his stake in Saks Fifth Avenue from 11% to 18%, and he also bought a 7% share in The New York Times Co. His company America Movil, which runs Tracfone, Straight Talk, and Net 10 has seen a 26% increase in subscribers since 2008 as well.

From Gruma, the world’s largest maker of tortillas, who makes 47% of its sales in the USA and Europe to Realty Executives ans Sea Side Mexico and their subsidieries making strides in the USA and Mexico alike, growth and expansion is inevitable for Mexico. It is making its mark on the world, and for the benefit of everyone. The USA is gaining jobs and tax money, and Mexico is making a strong hold for their own economy back home.

Tourism is a key activity for the State and given all the support from the state administration, said the state governor to reiterate that there is a commitment and vision to work and make the investments necessary to revive the economy of that destination tourism.

“For the construction of the new sound tourism is a very important part of our growth plans, it is clear the potential we have, it is clear how much has been invested over the years,” he said.

During his involvement with businessmen in the area, Father Elias spoke of the importance of resuming the step to make Puerto Peñasco on one of the best tourist spots, supporting private enterprise with joint investments.

“I have that commitment and I have that very clear vision of working with you and make investments that will help unlock the levels we want the economy of Puerto Peñasco” he said.

Sonora’s chief executive admitted that there are areas of opportunity in which they can improve, such as road and urban infrastructure, and it is precisely in those locations where investments will be launched later this year.

He also called for potential tourists forward the information that Sonora is actually the safest border state, and even has lower crime incidence in the neighboring state of Arizona in the United States.

He pointed that during 2009 in Arizona there were about 35 000 vehicle thefts, while in Sonora were 4000, in regard to the city of Phoenix abductions registered over 400 cases against five of Hermosillo.

However, he does not mean you are happy with the results, on the contrary, works every day to reduce those numbers, because security is a priority for the Government.

“We are working tirelessly to have the necessary tool for being able to ensure the state border are more secure, but by far,” he said.

Father Elias did not miss the opportunity to announce the investment business for more than 100 million pesos in various development works.

Among them will be invested 20 million dollars on a public beach and 35 million pesos for paving the boulevards Godoy and Las Conchas.

And the request of many investors to connect the coastal road to the hotel zone with an investment of 10 million pesos.

Following their participation, the Governor was sworn Market Hector Vasquez as the new chairman of the board of the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Puerto Peñasco.

Along with the protest took the secretaries of the board Celia Navarro Botello, Jorge Carrillo and members Riva Erika Curiel, Oscar Palacios, Ruben Gonzalez, Jacobo Muñoz, Betty Meyer, Blanca Ortiz and Miguel Guevara.

The event was attended by Alejandro Zepeda Munro, Mayor of Puerto Peñasco, Javier Tapia Camou, General Coordinator of the Commission for the Promotion of Tourism, Oscar Ochoa Patron, Secretary of Education and Hector Vasquez del Mercado, the tourism industry.

As the deputies Leslie Pantoja Hernandez and Gerardo Figueroa Zazueta, and Rep. Guillen Leonardo Arturo Medina.

Just a brief update on my view of the Mexico real estate market.  Thanks to my loyal real estate agents and developers who refer business to us, Mortgages In Mexico continues on a record pace – we are the busiest we have ever been in the nearly 6 years of doing mortgages in Mexico.  I appreciate your referrals very much.  Although there are overall fewer transactions in Mexico this year than over the last several years, a much greater number of these transactions include mortgage financing.  It has taken awhile for mortgage financing to be an easy and viable alternative to purchasing in Mexico, but it looks like mortgage financing is now being accepted by real estate agents, developers, sellers, and buyers as a preferred way to purchase property in Mexico.  Financing still has many “gotcha’s” that can “getcha”, so it is important to work with a full-time mortgage broker in Mexico who has experienced many of the potential problems that can come up.  There is no substitute for experience in Mexico, and I’m currently the most experienced loan officer in Mexico.  More importantly, since none of us can do this business alone, I am most proud of the team of professionals we have assembled who understand the importance of “gringo-style service” that is expected from our Canadian and US buyers.  Even if you don’t have a buyer you are currently working with, I encourage you to call me on the phone and let’s get a line of communication and a relationship started that will pay dividends when you DO get a buyer who wants financing.  I will be happy to give you an overview of the mortgage process in Mexico and answer any questions you may have.  Most of you do not want to become mortgage experts, but you do want to know enough about mortgage lending in Mexico so that you can speak intelligently to your buyer when the subject of mortgage financing comes up.  I can give you enough information to look professional and knowledgeable before you refer them to me for the specific details they are interested in.  It is a big part of my job to make YOU look good because you referred your buyers to Mortgages In Mexico to do the loan.  I have developed some excellent mortgage tools you can use with your buyers which I can share with you when you contact me.  Remember, we can do loans on homes, condos, and lots 2,000 m2 or less.

Why are many more Mexico transactions including mortgage financing?

1) It has become more difficult to get an equity loan in the US and Canada – underwriting guidelines are tougher, interest rates are higher, and equity in real estate is much less now than it was 2 years ago.

2) Cash is King – Buyers want to hold on to as much cash as possible.  They can do this by leveraging their purchase with a mortgage loan using their Mexico property as the security for the loan.  This also protects the remaining equity they DO have in the US and Canada.  Their equity represents a ready reserve for emergencies or even other investment opportunities that may arise in this economy.

3) Once cash is invested in a property in Mexico, it is difficult to pull this equity back out again, so it often doesn’t make sense to tie up their cash in real estate in Mexico when they can invest only a small downpayment rather than pay all cash.  There are no Home Equity Lines of Credit in Mexico like there is in the US and Canada.  The only way to pull cash out of a Mexico property is to sell the property, or get a cash-out refinance from us on their Mexico property.  In fact, many of you are referring your previous buyers to me because they are calling you up and asking if they can refinance their existing home in Mexico so they can get some cash.  The maximum loan possible is only 50% of the current value, and there are closing costs on top of this, so it is an expensive endeavor, and the result is very little cash can be pulled out.  It is better to put less money into the property initially and to keep the cash.  If people have a specific maximum payment in mind for Mexico, I can determine the loan amount that represents this payment and they can then put down the required downpayment.

4) Interest rates are at an all-time low in Mexico, and interest IS tax deductible on US taxes.  Although interest is not deductible for Canadians, we are still doing a lot of loans for Canadians as their economy continues to out-perform the US economy.

Developers (and real estate agents representing these developments) should also keep in mind that I can work with you to make your development stand out from the others when you offer excellent long-term financing.  You can even offer to pay for some or all of the buyer closing costs, which increases your eligible buyer pool significantly.  One of the biggest hurdles for potential buyers is a 25% downpayment AND high closing costs.  Give me a call and we can discuss this further.

We expect the market to continue to improve as the US economy strengthens and interest rates remain low.  2010 is a record year for us, and we expect 2011 to be even stronger than 2010.  Success breeds success, and I want to help you be as successful as possible by increasing your sales using mortgages in Mexico.  Look at my website and give me a call – let’s talk!

We have heard rumors of hard times and recession.  We have chosen not to participate and our business is booming.

Doug Jones, President (NMLS Lic# 139824)

The municipal trustee disclosed that the area presently under discussion covered about 20 hectares situated in the northern part of the San Rafael ejido (communal land).

Simultaneously, he stated, they were also dealing with the San Rafael ejido itself in order to extend the city’s official area. The purpose was to pay enough attention to the urgent need for land within the city.

Bañaga Farías admitted that the shortage of aerial space was a problem that Puerto Peñasco had been facing lately, which now had turned into a priority that had to be overcome in the nearest future possible.

The city trustee emphasized that luckily there was excellent relationship with the coordinator of the communal lands around the city center, and they believed their efforts would show positive results through agreements that were in the process of being reached.

He declared that until agreements were signed to increase the aerial space of the City, the duty of his office was centralized on personally and directly tackling the demands of local citizens.

The city trustee disclosed that they were presently explaining the case to the Peñasco community and why it was not 100% possible to satisfy the existing need for plots.

At the same time, he said, they were working to regulate property taxes according to agreements with the San Rafael ejido and requesting people to pay overdue amounts on their lands.

The mayor professed his knowledge of the invaluable work of the fire fighters in always putting their lives at risk to save others and declared the need to offer them well-deserved equipment and better facilities.

After cutting the inaugural ribbon, the mayor inspected the whole new facilities of the Fire Department and took the occasion to speak to its members, listened to their needs and pledged to support them through housing plans and other arrangements in the next year.

On the same occasion, Alejandro Zepeda Munro, joined by the Director of Social Development, Ernesto Portugal García, handed 50 vouchers from the Diconsa Food Program to the fire fighters, wishing them a happy holiday season together with their loved ones.

The mayor thanked the whole department for their vigor and devotion shown day in and day out in guaranteeing the safety of city residents, especially at the time when many families spent time together celebrating. He finally voiced his confidence that members of the department would do their duties and would not neglect their work at any event.

He remarked that the project joined others that at the close of the past year resumed work in Puerto Peñasco, letting the creation of new jobs. The general director of Mediterráneo Residencial disclosed that the building of the first stage would start in about one month and the project estimated an investment of more or less 15 million pesos, which should also yield minimum 100 direct jobs. He added that the cost of each residential home would revolve around 275,000 pesos.

In the same tone, Mayor Zepeda Munro highlighted that the construction of a new residential area mirrored heartening indications for the local economy and emphasized that signs of economic recovery in Puerto Peñasco could be seen with the start of new projects such as this. The Mayor felt assured that 2010 would be a good year for the residents of this municipality.

He stressed that it was very positive that they were starting with this kind of news, such as the construction of a new housing zone, which gave them more assurance that they would see a better year in Peñasco.

Alejandro Zepeda repeated that the municipal administration would provide its cooperation to all investors intending to launch their projects in Puerto Penasco.

In the conference, representatives from the governing body issued authorization for the institution of a Municipal Institute of Culture and Art for Puerto Peñasco, which will replace what is at present the Department of Civic Action and Culture.

A press release explained that the local City Council completely agreed to the authorization of the Municipal Development Plan, which contains important proposals and activities to be taken to help the entire area of people in Puerto Peñasco.

During the normal session, held on January 7th, and guided by Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro, the Director of Planning and Economic Development, Víctor Mazón Muñoz, explained the plan which is to be announced in the Official Journal of the State, release expenses will be deducted from the city apportionment.

This authorization, as explained in the announcement, will give greater abilities to pull in more programs and supplies for the exhaustive progression of arts and sciences in the municipality.

Among other intentions agreed upon, City Council representatives also gave approval for a private business to commence research to see if there have been unsuitable bills expenses from the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) to City Hall and, as applicable, reacquire any charges there may be.

Additionally, the City Council approved the outline extended by Mrs. Francisca Nidia Pino Montoya, with regards to naming one of the municipality’s roads after her deceased father, Abelardo Pino Ruiz “El Quemal”, in remembrance of his helping hand as one of the settlers and establishers of Peñasco. Under this intention it was also authorized to rename 68th Ave. to Guadalupe Baca Cervantes.

Likewise, members voted in favor of the creation of a Comprehensive Vacation Program for city operators to become effective during stages at the end of the year and in the summer, so as to implement a uniform vacation time frame without hampering the duties of the City or community services.

In conclusion, via a lion’s share, members gave authorization that the Office for the Comprehensive Management of Municipal Sanitation Services (OOMISLIM) begin charges for trash removal from representatives from the first and second levels of the Municipal Administration.

The Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) states on its website that have registered 54.2 million of the 83.5 million lines that exist in the country, ie 65%, about 1 million of them were given a single high day.

The cancellation of this number of lines in Mexico could lead to a level of penetration of mobile services similar to what existed in 2005 or to which Haiti is now, according to Ernesto Piedras, Director General of The Competitive Intelligence Unit (CIU).

The analyst believes that the measure will have a social impact specifically on those groups that do not have an advanced digital culture, such as the elderly and rural populations.

The SIC estimates, about 9.6 million lines have not been registered belong to people over 60 years.

“All operators, including Telcel, requested the authorities and legislators to postpone the registration deadline because there is a significant base of users to register and when the deadline will no longer be how to make it to its suspension lines without the right to recovery, which we think is going right up against the spirit of the initiative is to have a record of mobile phone users, “said Guillermo Ferrer, director of Institutional Relations of America Movil to CNNExpansión.com.

The remaining players were unavailable to give his position on this issue.

The cancellation of the mobile lines will result in “users to a civil penalty for their irresponsibility. While companies with a late penalty for his involvement in the process,” said Rogelio Bustamante, telecommunications specialist Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Mexico City.

On Wednesday the Committee on Communications and Transportation of the Senate rejected an extension to the registration on the National Register of Mobile users which expires this April 10, so that the lines have not been discharged will be void.

Which continues to charge for the canceled lines of post-payment will lead to conflicts between the user and the operator are difficult to resolve an instance as the Federal (CJF) usually takes care of it, according to the professor of Tec de Monterrey.

“The most affected will be about 30 million Mexicans who have not yet registered, many of which the cell is the only means of communication they have, in other cases is vital to perform their daily activities. Additionally we concerned about the thousands of users without CURP to register, “says the director of America Movil.

This was revealed by Mayor Alejandro Zepeda Munro in a press release about the development of the university’s new site planned to start in March, which will offer wider opportunities in the field of further education to young people in the municipality and region. So far since September 2007, the UTH has been running using the facilities of the Technological Institute of Puerto Peñasco (ITSPP), as part of the tourism academic corridor, which also includes Conalep and the CESUES.

The mayor was confident the construction would finish in time for the new campus to start classes by next September.

He went on to say that they had arrived at an agreement to set up another institution of higher education after meeting with the university’s director, Miguel Angel Salazar Candia. As a start, among the degrees to be offered at the UTH, Peñasco branch, will be University Technicians in Gastronomy, University Technicians in Marketing and University Paramedic Technicians.

The mayor reported that after talks with the San Rafael ejido, the ejido resolved to join in the effort and they received the ejido’s cooperation to realize the plan by making available six hectares of land needed for the development of the campus.

Mayor Zepeda and Miguel Angel Salazar together conveyed their appreciation to José de Jesús Mercado Celaya, ejido president, for his tolerance shown, so that it will be possible to start study courses by September.

Zepeda Munro stressed the importance of a new college in Puerto Peñasco, saying that students will greatly benefit from having a university that charges a fixed fee of about 500 pesos for every semester.

Salazar Candia said that they would start advertising in May for those interested in joining the institution. Enrollment will require among others a high-school degree, birth certificate, CURP ID and 6 small-sized photographs.

The UTH director and the city leader disclosed that 18 million pesos would be allocated for the development of the building and another 6,381,000 pesos for equipment. The project will open about 200 jobs.

One of the 37, Socorro Cortez Estrada was one of the first ones to receive a document of achievement for her participation. With this, she will be able to get a job or even work for herself. The president of DIF and the city secretary, José Ramón Campos Santos they urged the women to continue taking advantage of the opportunities the Mayor, Alejandro Zepeda Munro is giving by creating all the new avenues to improve local family economies.