Mazatlan’s Premier Real Estate Brokerage

This Month’s Featured Property

El Cid Tenerife Condo

Tenerife condominiums offer a variety of amenities that make it an ideal choice for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle in Mazatlán. The property boasts a stunning golf course view, allowing residents to relax and enjoy the beauty of the quiet residential areas of El Cid.
In addition to the view, Tenerife offers a large outdoor heated pool and sun terrace, perfect for soaking up the sun and taking a refreshing swim. There is also a fitness center for those who want to stay active.
This 3 bedroom condo is a perfect blend of luxury and comfort, offering an unparalleled living experience in Mazatlán, Mexico.
The condo features a spacious 1,650 square feet floor plan including large outdoor patio spaces which offers plenty of room for families or a group of friends.
The 3 bedrooms are designed to provide comfort and privacy for each occupant. The kitchen is fully equipped with modern appliances, making it perfect for those who love to cook and entertain guests.
The living room is spacious and comfortable, with large windows that provide plenty of natural light and stunning views of the surrounding area.
The condo also features two full bathrooms and one 1/2 bath with sleek modern designs and all the amenities you need.
Additionally, the condo boasts a large pantry & full size laundry facility.
Don’t miss the opportunity to own a luxurious 3 bedroom condo in the prestigious Tenerife condominiums in Mazatlán, Mexico.
Other amenities include heated pool, 24-hour security, private parking deeded with 2 spaces and access to a club room for entertaining guests. Tenerife condominiums truly offer the best of both worlds, combining luxury living with an unbeatable location.
If you are looking for a 3 bedroom condo in Mazatlán, Tenerife condominiums is the perfect choice. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to live in paradise!
Contact us today to schedule a viewing!

Learn more about this great opportunity with Mazatlan4Sale and talk with one of our friendly agents about how this can be your next home.

View the Listing!

Did You Know?
By Lionne Decker

6 Tips for Building in Mazatlan

Let`s face it, no matter in what country you live, building a house or a part of it, presents a set of challenges. Some of these challenges are similar all over the world, but some are very specific to the country and particularly the city where you choose to build. When building in Mexico, you need to follow certain precautions.

In Mazatlan, each area presents its own sets of challenges. In the coast and protected areas, you need permission from the environmental authority as well as a building permit from the city; in historic centers, you also will need a permit from INAH (The Archeology and History institute)

Now it is the builder’s job to know and obtain this permit, but it is important that, as owner of the property, you know what is necessary to stay in compliance with the law when building in Mexico. If the permit is not obtained, the fines and penalties will be on you and not on the builder. These fines can be up to $20,000 USD and can include the definitive cancelation of the construction and even jail time.

This adds importance to the already difficult decision to choose the right builder. But then again, as clients, how can we make sure we are fully protected, legally and economically? Especially in the construction industry in Mexico, which is mostly informal. In this country, building and construction, and the related industries which comprise them (e.g. plumbing, electrical, masonry and more) are still considered to be crafts that are passed from generation to generation. The problem with this is that not everybody takes the time to make it a proper business, mainly because of the cost that this represents.

So it’s important to consider how to protect yourself and your investment when building in Mexico.

1- USE LEGAL AND ESTABLISHED BUILDING COMPANIES and the rest of the points of the list are based on you hiring this kind of building business. Understand that this is a lot more expensive than just hiring the construction worker that lives in the area and can do the work cheaply, but the fact of the matter is that you don´t have any way to protect yourself in the event of shoddy work from those kind of builders.

An established company will:

Have references that you can check and review online,

Be able to issue facturas,

Have the legal ability to enter a binding contract and, most importantly,

Place importance on their reputation.

You have a very important weapon, if you need it, against established building companies that you don´t have against the informal worker. This is THE PUBLIC OPINION because they care about their name and reputation. This is especially true if they work with the expat community, who are often more accustomed to reading and posting reviews. If you ever find yourself in a position where you have a problem with them, 80% of the time they will offer a solution to avoid a bad review or damage to their reputation.

2- GET A LEGAL CONTRACT AND RENDERS THAT SHOW YOU WHAT THE FINAL WORK WILL LOOK LIKE. Verbal contracts are not valid in this country. Even written ones need to be written properly from a legal standpoint, as you have to make sure it protects you completely. This is particularly important when building in Mexico, as this is typically a higher expense than most of your other expenses.

Among other things you have to make sure that are detailed in the contract are:

Establish the cost

The exact work to be done

In what time frame it is to be completed

Any penalties for problems

That it is the builder’s responsibility to obtain ALL the necessary permits to build as well as make sure their workers are paying in to social security,

That the builder is responsible for any consequence that could a rise of the lack of any of these requirements.

3- GET A FACTURA (legal receipt). I know things are different in other countries, but here in Mexico facturas are the only legal proof of payment. Simple receipts, made by hand or printed, do not meet all the fiscal requirements to be legal or accepted in a court of law.

You can sugar coat it any way you want but at the end of the day, a builder or any other service provider that doesn’t issue a factura is doing one thing: TAX EVASION.

You also need the factura to show that you actually made the payment for the work described in it. Informal workers are informal precisely for that reason, not to pay taxes, so they will not be able to give you a factura.

Yes, it will cost you at least 16 % less without the factura, but the consequences of that savings could end up being much more expensive. So think twice before you get in to a big problem just to save a few bucks.

4- REVIEW ALL THE REFERENCES. Informal workers can typically only provide verbal references from one or two people that you may know, which is just not enough people to truly indicate a certain quality. Also, because their livelihood is not as impacted by public opinion, they tend to do one poorly executed job once in a while, and that could very much be your project.

Established companies care about their reputation and collect tons of references that can endorse the quality of their job. I know it doesn´t give you a 100 % guarantee but the chances of getting it wrong are lower if you have a bigger sample to verify you are hiring the right builder.

5- GET A CALENDAR OF PAYMENTS. Do not pay in advance; pay according to a calendar that should be done based on accomplishing goals and a job well done. Once you approve the work that was done, you make the next payment, and so on. Make sure you leave the fee or a good percentage of the cost for the final payment, once you have approved the final product. At the end of the day that is your biggest weapon to obtain the proper service: The Money.

6- Finally, STAY ON TOP OF THINGS. Building, especially building in Mexico, is not a service you can just pay for and forget about it until is ready. You definitely have to check the work periodically to make sure it is exactly what you have in mind and what you are paying for. This will save you most of the hassle. If you are not happy with the work, you can stop it on time and either have the workers correct it or even make a change of builder without losing money or time.

If you just leave it be, it may be too late and by the time you realize that the work was not done correctly, too much will have been built already. What you put on paper (the contract) may or may not be what you have in mind, so be present and make sure that the reality meets the quality and standards that you had in mind.

VIVA MEXICO!!!

Gringo: – Hi, where are you from?

Mexican: – Hi, I’m from Mexico.

Gringo: – Ah! The land of Chapo Guzmán, narcos, marihuana, crime and extortion.

Mexican -I’m sorry, are you a drug addict or a TV junkie?

Gringo – No!!! Why?

Mexican -Because if you were an athlete or sports fan, you would have identified Mexico with Ana Guevara, Hugo Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Finito, Chicharito Hernandez, Canelo Alvarez, Rafael Marquez, etc.

If you were an educated person, you would have asked about the Aztec empire, the Mayan culture, the Olmecs or any other of the great mesoamerican cultures.

If you were a well traveled person you would have talked about our majestic archaeological sites, our tourist-friendly colonial cities, our megalopolis or our exotic beaches… the astonishing biodiversity of our rainforests, mountain ranges, deserts, conifer forests…

You could have identified Mexico with our great painters, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, Frida Khalo, José Clemente Orozco; our composers: Agustín Lara, Consuelo Velázquez, Armando Manzanero, Juan Gabriel, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, our writers and poets: Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Juan Rulfo, Octavio Paz, Juan José Arreola, Elena Poniatowska, Amado Nervo, Jaime Sabines;
our inventors or scientists: Manuel Mondragón, Guillermo González Camarera, Luis Ernesto Miramontes; our cinematographers: Ismael Rodríguez, Emilio Fernández, Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Emmanuel Lubezki, and even Luis Buñuel, who, being originally from Spain, chose to adopt the Mexican nationality…

If you were a gourmand, you would have asked about Tamales, Cochinita Pibil, Mole, Adobo, Chilaquiles, Chiles en nogada, Guacamole, Pan de Muerto, etc. Or our traditional beverages: Tequila, Mezcal, wines and beers.

However, I can see, the only thing you can relate to Mexico is the provider to American drug addicts…

I just want you to realize that México is a lot more than what ignorant people and fear-mongering media knows or chooses to propagate.

There are millions of honest Mexicans, who even without knowing you, will open the door to our homes, and that if you care to visit, you will love to get to know us and to visit us. Mexico is even more than I can possibly tell you!

VIVA MÉXICO!

Pass it on to help people understand Mexico.

Quote by Karen Sloan

Epic Summer Salad

Perfect for BBQs and buffets, our epic salad is an assembly job of gorgeous ingredients – no cooking required. Serve it with lamb kebabs for an impressive summer feast.

Ingredients

400g black beans, drained
2 large handfuls of baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped
500g heritage tomatoes, chopped into large chunks
½ cucumber halved lengthways, seeds scooped out and sliced on an angle
1 mango, peeled and chopped into chunks
1 large red onion, halved and finely sliced
6-8 radishes, sliced
2 avocados, peeled and sliced
100g feta, crumbled
handful of herbs (reserved from the dressing)

For the dressing

large bunch mint
small bunch coriander
small bunch basil
1 fat green chili, deseeded and chopped
1 small garlic clove
100ml extra virgin olive oil or rapeseed oil
2 limes, zested and juiced
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tsp honey

Method:

STEP 1
Make the dressing by blending all of the ingredients in a food processor (or very finely chop them), saving a few herbs leaves for the salad. You can make the dressing up to 24 hrs before serving.
STEP 2
Scatter the beans and spinach over a large platter. Arrange the tomatoes, cucumber, mango, onion, and radishes on top and gently toss together with your hands. Top the salad with the avocados, feta, and herbs, and serve the dressing on the side.

FEATURED RENTAL

Estrella del Mar 1840

6 Bedrooms / 5.5 Bathrooms
Sleeps 18 People

One- of -a-Kind Oceanfront Estate w/ Steller Sea Views that will Dominate your Senses.

Sleeps 18 People

WEDDINGS / YOGA RETREATS / REUNIONS / CORPORATE INCENTIVES

Estrella del Mar Oceanfront Estate in Mazatlán combines the best of tropical ambiance and hacienda style amenities to create a truly memorable vacation experience. Located on the Southern end of Mazatlán, you will be perfectly poised for the ultimate vacation in the sun. A capacious and stylish waterfront residence, Estrella del Mar has also become a favorite local for fairy tale weddings locations.

Cool off in a pristine, pool with a water slide and waterfall with Jacuzzi tub. The alfresco experience is rounded out with a gas BBQ, the ocean and magnificent views are like sentinels to Estrella del Mar’s solitude.
Whether for corporate retreats, weddings, or getaways for family and friends there’s something for everyone under the Mazatlán sun.

Our spectacular private Estrella del Mar Oceanfront Estate overlooks the 3.5 mile stretch of pristine beach front along the Sea of Cortez. Surrounded by 816 acres of lush tropical landscaping, and only 10 minutes from the Mazatlán International Airport.

Spend your days golfing at one of Mexico’s top rated golf courses, relaxing by the pool or walking the miles of quiet beach. For the nature lovers, watch the pelicans surf the waves or maybe catch a glimpse of the dolphins or even a whale.

Visit the turtle sanctuary and watch the release of newly hatched turtles back into the ocean. For the more active, you can swim in the ocean, boogie board or surf. Horseback riding on the beach can also be arranged. Finish the day relaxing in the pool.

The Estrella del Mar resort also features a restaurant located at the club house; Los Delfines Restaurant and Bar, El Courtyard Café, pool side cafe bar, spa and fitness center in the newly enlarged and renovated Las Villas Hotel; and a small general store.

Transportation to and from the airport and into Mazatlán can also be arranged. You can even make arrangements to have the refrigerator stocked with food & beverages prior to your arrival.

When you are tired of peace and serenity you can go 7 miles up the beach to Stone Island and enjoy great food, vendors, banana boating, surfing, hair braiding, and tattoos and hop the 10-minute boat ride to Mazatlán or Mazatlán is only a 15-minute drive away using the new highway. Visit the old historic center, dine at great restaurants, explore the golden zone, or walk the longest boardwalk in Latin America.

Other nearby activities include zip lining, river rafting, duck hunting, bass fishing at Lake El Salto, which is said to be the #1 bass lake in the world, parasailing or deep sea fishing for marlin and tuna out of Mazatlán.