Welcome to the March 2007 Mi CASA del MAR Newsletter.

• Finding new beauty in Baja
  
• Baja Community Ground Breaking Ceremony
  
• Passports not yet necessity for land travelers
• Buying that condo or home in San Felipe has now been made much easier
  
• Las Casitas Resort at La Hacienda
• Team Member Recognition
• Ask Alicia

Finding new beauty in Baja, and discovering San Felipe and La Hacienda

Through travel and word of mouth, many people are finding out about one of Baja California’s most beautiful resort towns…San Felipe.  San Felipe is capturing the attention of many people, including those who have made the journey south of the border before.  We wanted to share a letter from one of our visitors of San Felipe, and someone who has found their new home here at Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda.  The letter is from Chuck and Rosalie, new found fans and friends of San Felipe, and Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda.

“First, Thank you very much for being so open, friendly and accommodating to Rosalie, Carol, Nick (my son) and I.  We appreciate the fact that you all opened up your homes and hearts to us.  We had a great time and will never forget the openness and warmth extended.  Rosalie and I got the shock of our life when coming to San Felipe this last trip.

As we rolled into San Felipe we noticed that there are two or three high rises being built that were not there last year when we first visited San Felipe.  I expect in seven years we will not recognize San Felipe.  I also expect that the investment opportunities will be staggering.  When Rosalie and I came down on our second trip last year we rolled into San Felipe in the early afternoon, came to the sales office to check in and were greeted by a bunch of the Mi CASA del MAR crew who were having a lunch that was being catered.  We were hungry and the timing was right.  The food was great and the gesture of including Rosalie and I into your private lunch was just the right thing to do.  It set a tone and level of expectation that we have not found anywhere else.  It fostered a friendly environment that affected our assessment of your company's integrity and spirit.  This made a difference in Rosalie's and my attitude and is one of the factors that led to our buying a home there.  The surroundings (sales building) were very nice but the act of inviting us to lunch on the patio was over the top.

Another topic along the same line is Las Casitas!!  The Casitas are one of the reasons Mi CASA del MAR made a sales to us.  We spent our first night in San Felipe in a little hotel room located in town by the Malecon.  It was a very small room with no personality or charm to speak of.  The very next day, we got out and on the road to explore as soon as we could.  Later in that day we came across a development called Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda.  We were being shown around by one of your friendly and professional sales staff when he mentioned Las Casitas.  We asked to see the Casitas and after seeing #3 immediately rented it and moved in a few hours later.  That was the turning point in our trip.  We loved it and came back two more times and stayed each time in that Casita before buying our lot.  The idea of putting people up in a remote hotel and then bussing them to and from the development just leaves me cold and wondering why anyone would think it is a good idea.  Viva Las Casitas!!!  I would gladly recommend a Mi CASA del MAR and Las Casitas experience to friends, family or a complete stranger.  Your warmth, friendliness, great rooms and exceptional real estate opportunities are what closed the deal for us. 

I am so impressed by what I see and my experience thus far.  We have so much to do here to prepare for the move south.  I am impressed with how helpful the team is and hope that some of the information that I presented above will help Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda to continue providing incredible service and experiences.

Thanks,
Chuck”

Keep in mind that this is just one experience of many who have discovered the blissful magic and new way of life at Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda in San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.
Thank you Chuck and Rosalie for your thoughts and kind words.  We look forward to having you as members of our community.

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Baja Community Ground Breaking Ceremony

We at Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda are very proud of our ground breaking ceremonies that were held to unveil our newest and most exciting development, our Baja Community.  Saturday February 24th, 2007 we hosted a ground breaking ceremony at Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda in South Beach San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico.  Many interested people came to celebrate the newest addition to Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda, our Baja Community.  To say the least, it was a huge success.  The day started with people mingling with other interested investors, as well as asking a lot of questions about Mi CASA del MAR’s newest community.  There was an electrical energy in the air.  I have seen beehives that did not match the buzzing of excitement at this gathering.  There were many exciting events during the day as well as hors d’ oeuvres at our sales office.  Just when it seemed that everyone would burst from anticipation, Mi CASA del MAR’s President, Dave La Barre, led the large group of people from the Sales Office to the site where the Baja Community would be located.  Many people came to discuss the amazing Baja Community Condos, the 2 dramatic floor plans in 3 exterior designs, the great prices, and of course the spectacular amenities.  Here is a list of just some of those amenities;

•    Pool
•    1 and 2 car garages
•    Beautiful landscaping
•    Pre-wire for satellite and internet
•    Large spacious floor plans
•    Beautiful kitchens
•    All underground utilities
•    Luxurious baths
•    Roof top terrace for the upper level Baja Condo

This event saw many interested investors who were drawn to this one-of-a-kind community.  All of them wanting to be a part of the magnificent splendor that is Mi CASA del MAR at La Hacienda, in San Felipe, Baja California Mexico.

Passports not yet necessity for land travelers

For anyone flying out of the United States into Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Panama, and the Caribbean you are already required to have a passport or other secure document.  For many travelers to places like San Felipe, which is becoming more popular among vacationers and retirees, the time for mandatory passports has not yet arrived.  This is great news for the countless people who prefer to travel by road rather than air.  There may have been some confusion about the necessity of passports when going through border crossings like the ones in Mexicali and Tijuana.  According to the U.S. Department of State, the 2004 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act will be put into effect in stages.  They will be following a timeline so that the transition will allow those affected to meet the requirements by the deadline.  By January 1st, 2008, those traveling to or from the countries of Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Panama, and the Caribbean will need to have a passport or other secure and accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States.

Phase 1 will require travelers by air and sea to the above mentioned countries to have a passport or another secure and accepted document to enter, or re-enter, the United States.  This will be in effect as of December 31, 2006.

Phase 2 will require the same, but of land border crossings as well as sea and air.  This will take effect as of December 31st, 2007.

So, for those who prefer the bonding time with family that a road-trip will accommodate, you still have plenty of time before you must have a passport.  Not to say that you shouldn't start the process of obtaining one in the near future.  Considering that it takes 6 weeks on average to get a passport, you might want to put this on your to-do list within the next few months.  For any other information about passports, please visit the U.S. Department of State's website (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html).

There are thousands of people who have discovered the magic of San Felipe.  Those people have been coming here for years.  They have made the usual drive to come to this beautiful town.  Some have even flown to the nearest airport in San Diego, and made the 4 hour drive from there.  I know we all love to worry about traffic and gas prices, experience sore backs from driving, and hearing those 4 words we all love so much…"Are We There Yet??!!"  For your next trip to San Felipe consider an alternative.   Why not replace all of that with a quick flight on Grey Eagle Aviation directly into the San Felipe International Airport.

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Buying that condo or home in San Felipe has now been made much easier

Baja California’s San Felipe has been turning heads for some time now.  As the word spreads about this magnificent vacation and retirement spot, more people have been looking over the possibilities of investing here.  Some of the biggest hurdles have been in getting the information about US ownership of land in Mexico, and financing options to seal the deal.  Now that Mexico's newly inaugurated President Felipe Calderon has targeted increased tourism as part of his aggressive political platform, U.S. mortgage lenders are ready to support that agenda.  According to GMAC and Suzan Haskins, Editor of the Mexico Insider, International Living the time has never been better.

At the recent Mexico Resort Development Conference, GMAC announced a new mortgage loan rollout.  The over 300 major developers, builders, lenders, and investors who attended were thrilled to say the least.  You see, GMAC is the very first United States lender to introduce a 30 year, fixed-rate product south of the border.  They are offering a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at approximately 8.75%, a 20 year mortgage at 8.5%, and a 6 month adjustable-rate mortgage that is tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) at around 8%.  With terms like this, it is just a matter of time before other U.S. lenders jump on this mortgage band-wagon.  According to the information from GMAC International Mortgage, they have rolled out a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for U.S. citizens buying property in Mexico. This is in addition to a "stated income" or limited documentation option for a slightly higher interest rate. Both of these components also are available to borrowers for "cash-back" refinances, allowing you to pull out up to 50% of the cash value of your primary residence or second home in Mexico. And the cash-back ratio will soon increase to 70%.

GMAC’s program has one particular component that is especially noteworthy.  They have a “cash-back” option, which simply means that (for the first time) United States citizens can finally tap into the equity of their Mexican Homes and use the cash for investment back in the US.  This is especially a celebratory note considering that real estate prices are (for the most part) appreciating in Mexico, and stagnant in the U.S.  This means that you can quite possibly be able to utilize your Mexico assets in order to offset the high cost of housing in the United States.

So, armed with this new information, coupled with the pristine real estate market in San Felipe, investors will be seen swarming to this pearl of a resort town located on the Sea of Cortez.

Las Casitas Resort at La Hacienda

Did you know that we offer a Property Management Program?  For years now, people have been discovering the unique charm and peaceful bliss of Las Casitas at La Hacienda in San Felipe, Baja California Mexico.  When asked, most visitors of Las Casitas will tell you that they return regularly to these exclusive bungalows.  As one returning fan of San Felipe put it, “Why keep looking when you have already found the pearl in the oyster?  My family comes here each year because we know exactly what to expect, professional hospitality, relaxation, adventure, and the perfect vacation.”  Las Casitas seems to have a lot to offer vacationers, but there’s a lot more to Mi CASA del MAR’s property management programs than renting Casitas.

On top of the 5 Bungalows and Pool Side Studios that make up Las Casitas, we now have 6 Condominiums in our inventory at the Villas de La Hacienda (with more being added each month). These one and two bedroom Condos are perfect for families or traveling friends who might need just a bit more room. They’re also perfect for the extended stay because they have kitchens which allow you to “dine in” once in a while. As anyone who has been to this charming resort town will tell you, San Felipe has some fantastic restaurants, but even the food critic has to eat at home once in a while. Unlike the Casitas, these Condominiums are privately owned.  We rent them, clean them, and if needed, maintain them while their owners are “home”, wherever that may be. Then we send them a check for the balance of the rental income generated each month. How cool is that?

Do you own a home in San Felipe? Are you considering building one? Consider Mi CASA del Mar’s Property Management Programs.  Just as we do for our Condo owners, we will advertise, rent, and properly maintain your home when you are not here.  Of course, you can use your home anytime you wish. Here’s a typical scenario:

Team Member Recognition
Karina Ordonez

Karina started working for Mi CASA del MAR in March of 2006.  Spanish being her primary language, she worked very hard to overcome language barriers to become a very successful member of our team.

Karina oversees the closing of sales at Mi Casa del Mar.  As our transaction coordinator, Karina coordinates the work and the details required to close a successful transaction.  She works with appraisers, surveyors, banks, notarios, and government offices to ensure that our Mi Casa del Mar customers receive prompt efficient service and enjoy smooth and complete title transfers.  As a seasoned member of our staff, Karina has proved her ability to consistently accomplish all the necessary tasks on time.  Karina identifies issues that arise from time to time and works with the appropriate managers or others to bring quick resolutions. 


Karina recently received her college diploma.  She has strong written and verbal Spanish skills and is valuable in helping with translations and correspondence.  In addition to her strong professional capabilities, Karina brings a pleasant attitude to work each day.  As she is about to complete her first full year on the team, it brings us great pleasure to announce Karina for this period’s Team Member Recognition.

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Ask Alicia

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