Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan 2008
If you are living here in Yucatan, chances are one of the first things you did was to buy or rent a home.
While some of us were savvy enough or spoke Spanish well enough to trato directo (deal direct) with the sellers or landlords, many of us spent our initial days here with a helpful real estate agent. So we're pretty sure that almost every reader of Yucatan Living has something to contribute to this poll.
In order for a real estate agency to qualify for this poll, it must list and sell properties in and around the state of Yucatan. And it must also have at least one bilingual employee who can deal competently with English-speaking extranjeros.
Please consider a few other things when voting for the best real estate agency. Naturally, the best agency should hire and employ knowledgeable agents. They should know the territory, the process of buying and selling a house here in the Yucatan and how to get things done in this environment. They should treat customers well, with both patience and respect. They should have integrity (loosely defined as doing what they say they are going to do). They should be pleasant to work with, and after the deal is done, you should feel comfortable recommending them to family and friends.
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Some things we feel are not in the real estate agent's control, especially here in the Yucatan. We believe you can’t judge a real estate agent on how long it takes to buy or sell a house, for instance. Or on whether or not the seller or buyer had integrity. Or on how happy or unhappy you are with the house once you move in. Sometimes, forces of nature (or forces of Mexico) create havoc for the best of professionals.
We open this poll with five real estate agencies that work regularly with extranjeros, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list. New agencies appear on the scene all the time, and we are not the best judges... that's why the Poll is here for our readers to make their favorites known. So please vote (one person - one vote, please) and may the best agency win!
The Nominees Are...
Here in alphabetical order are the initial 2008 nominees for Yucatan Living's Readers Choice Award for Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan:
Buena Vida Realtors – Run by Rupert Millautz, Buena Vida Realtors is a small agency that prides itself on providing good service.
Casa Blanca Real Estate – Probably the oldest agency that works with English-speaking extranjeros, the agency is run by Jorge Caceres with offices on the corner of Calle 55 and Calle 66.
Mexico International – Founded by Mitch Keenan, the first extranjero to set up a real estate agency in Merida. His team of agents is based out of their offices in the Fiesta Americana building next to the Sanborn’s restaurant.
Real Estate Yucatan – The husband and wife team of Gabriela Isaac and Alec Stephens, and Gabriela's brother Isaac Salim, run this agency. Gabriela and Isaac are Yucatecos and Alec hails from Mexico City, but spent many years working and living in the USA.
Tierra Yucatan – This agency is represented by Jennifer Lytle, her socio, David Palomo and a team of agents. Jen has traveled and lived in Mexico for over 30 years after moving here from San Antonio, Texas. Jennifer’s team works out of their renovated colonial office on Calle 66 in Merida’s centro historico.
Nominate Your Favorite
If you know the name of an agency that deserves to be nominated for the 2008 award, please leave a comment with the name of the company, the agent and the website address. We'll add them to the Poll. Nominations will be accepted until September 1st, giving everyone plenty of time to add their favorite agency. Voting will continue under the very end of 2008, and not a minute sooner!
Reader's Nominations:
Mayan Living - Jim Mann has run this very successful real estate firm for as long as we've been in Merida.
Mayan Realty - A local real estate firm owned by Jorge Mazún.
Bookmark Yucatan Living and come back often to see how your favorite agency is doing. Then, come back again in early 2009 to read about the winners of the 2008 Yucatan Living Readers Choice Awards for Best Real Estate Agency in Yucatan.
Comments
Jim More 16 years ago
My vote goes to real Estate Yucatan!!! Thanks Alec and Isaac Salim!!!!
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Floydilou Kerr 16 years ago
Hello,
I believe most of the people listed are professionals and will give you excellent service. Three years ago we were looking at inexpensive properties in Merida. Anny, from Casablanca was excellent. She has a wealth of knowledge and I highly recommend her. She drove us around (no charge for gas or time). We did not buy in Merida(we chose the Pacific coast this time around), however, we continue to search online. In doing so, we have contacted 2 other agencies to inquire on properties in Merida. One of whom was Real Estate Yucatan. Alec was honest in his email and showed great respect to Anny who could be considered 'competition'.
All inquiries from all agencies have been promptly answered. I believe there are many fabulous professionals who each have their specialty. For example, our dream is to purchase a Spanish colonial designed by Henry Ponce. It might make sense for us to purchase through him as he has an eye for what could be done to a run down property. We have also noticed that Keith Heitke seems to have an incredible eye for design as well. Jim Mann, graciously walked us through his B&B (I believe I have the correct person here) as we just happened to walk by. He was more than happy to show us property in the future that had the same great potential as his beautiful home. There are a few other people who seem to list those special affordable properties which maintain the pasta tile floors, woodwork and high ceilings. If I recall one of those people is Arturo. Do you due diligence. Start researching. Look at the sites on a daily basis (as I do) and you will notice patterns and also find the right match for you. Each professional has his own personality and specialty. Find the one that suits you. Decide exactly what you want and find the professional that specializes in that arena. (Reno's, Modern, Beach, Affordable, Glamourous, Completed, Suburban).
Thankyou to all of the real estate agencies in Merida who have the best websites in all of Mexico. You make my job of buying homes in Mexico easy.
And again, thankyou Anny of Casablanca Yucatan for staying in touch and know you can always rely on us for referrals or testimonials. Hopefully we will be there soon to take you to Trapiche! :)
Sincerely,
Floydilou
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Henry 16 years ago
I would like to nominate Casa Yucatan Real Estate, owned and operated by Acq. Gabriela Cornelio.
My wife and I purchased a villa that Gabriela and her husband Adam designed and built. Not only was the villa built beautifully, but Gaby helped us find an excellent attorney and money handler who not only provided excellent service during the real estate transaction, but also in handling other matters for us.
Gaby and Adam have also helped us to maintain our villa and to find additional contractors to provide othere services when necessary.
Gaby and Adam are both consummate professionals who enjoy doing quality work and providing help and service to their clients. I would highly recommend them to anyone who wishes to buy land or property in the Yucatan.
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gary and nancy 16 years ago
We vote for David Palomo of Tierra Yucatan. He and his associate Mayte were of great help when we decided to check out the Yucatan as our retirement choice. They are very professional, honest, and sincere. Corresponding by email once back in the USA, their replies were quick and very helpful. We bought our home without ever seeing the inside due to the efforts of these two who took interior and exterior pictures for us to view. They are to be admired for their dedication and hard work.
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ARQ. JOSE ANTONIO MORALES LOPEZ. 17 years ago
MY VOTE IS FOR YUCATAN LIVING AND FOR JIM MAN, THAT IS AN HONEST AN HONEST PERSON IN GOOD HOUR JIM.
ARQ. JOSE ANTONIO MORALES LOPEZ.
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Jim Rhodes 17 years ago
My vote goes to real Estate Yucatan!! They were great in helping me all the way and even more! I couldn`t do it without them.
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Cindy M. Weill 17 years ago
My vote goes to Real Estate Yucatan , specially to "sweet Judith" and Gaby are the best. They have great agents!! Thanks Judith!!!. :)
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israel martinez 17 years ago
Thank you to Mayan Living, principally to Jim, for his attention and professionalism. Thanks to him, I could acquire a house for my family.
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Working Gringos 17 years ago
Karin,
If you look on the right side of any page of Yucatan Living, you'll see a list of the topics on the website. One of those topics is Vacation Rentals. Some of the rentals listed there are very willing to rent for months out of the year and will often give you a discount on the posted price. Just contact the owner directly.
Also, many of the real estate agencies here list rentals on their websites as well.
Thirdly, We can suggest trying a website like vrbo.com... Vacation Rentals by Owner.
Good luck!
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Karin 17 years ago
I would like to know possibilities of renting a house in Merida for 6 - 8 months every year during wintertime in Holland.
Suggestions about where to turn to are very welcome.
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Sammy Archundia 17 years ago
Hola! My Friends:
We really want to thank and vote for Real EState Yucatan. Alec & Gaby are great mexican people. Both make the perfect combination between honesty & professionalism. We prove it, not only with our beautiful home in Merida but also with our family business. Congratulations for this great "dynamic duo".
This couple is really the "Batman & Robin" of real estate in the Yucatan peninsula.
Congratulations!!!!!
Sammy
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