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
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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Juan Pacheco 17 years ago
Mayan Living is the best real estate company in the Yucatan. Ask for Jim, He is he is a very nice person and honesty, good test.
well don´t think so much, the peoples says: "Mayan living"
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Jesus Barrientos 17 years ago
Hola! Que aquà no escriben Mexicanos??!!, Yo voto por Bienes Raices Yucatan o Real Estate Yucatan que es lo mismo, nosotros venimos de Guadalajara y gracias a Gabriela Isaac ahora vivimos en el norte de la ciudad en una calle muy tranquila y una casa que ni habÃamos soñado que podrÃamos comprar, de hecho en una forma, ella nos acabo de convencer de adquirir esta hermosa casa en Merida, suerte Gabriela!
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Louise Fletcher (NJ) 17 years ago
I rented a beautiful house in Meridia for a month and after working with several companies, I choose Real Estate Yucatan because of their wide knowledge and professionalism, now I own a property in the historic district, my vote goes without a doubt to Real Estate Yucatan
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M. Rue & H.Henschke 17 years ago
We have known Jim and David for over a decade. Their combined talents of
consideration and creativity never fails to impress. Their attention to detail
is a delight.
M. Rue - H. Henschke
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Dave 17 years ago
We would like to vote for Katie @ SandCastleInn in Chelem, now working with MayanRealty. She has made this such a great experience, from driving us around looking at places, finding a great house for us, putting us in touch with a great contractor and then bossing the remodel job, with e-mails and pictures all along the way. She introduced us to a very sweet and thorough attorney who made sure everything was right. We are now finishing up on a beautiful beach house in Chelem, THANKS KATIE
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P Quiñones 17 years ago
Thumbs up to Mexico International and the best agent, Arturo Novelo.. he took the best care of us and ALWAYS was available to answer questions and concerns. We sent questions ahead of our trip and he scheduled several days looking at properties. We didn't buy this trip but went home and e-mailed more questions and made our decision. Two months later we closed on the property we decided on. Thanks for being so great, Arturo!
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Danny Stern 17 years ago
My wife and myself vote for Real Estate Yucatan. We had the good luck to find Alec and Gaby, they helped us to find the right home. We were very, very happy with the service received. We recommend to Real Estate Yucatan to anyone buying.
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Diana Schafiro 17 years ago
After buying and selling properties around the world, I came across Merida, specifically with the downtown area and I am amazed!! I just love everything, the city, its people, the architecture, MY NEW HOUSE IN YUCATAN and also my friends from Real Estate Yucatan who made everything possible and very smooth. I saw that they won on the last best real estate poll and now I know WHY!!! Felucidades Gabriela!!
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Richard Taylor 17 years ago
Hello to you all!! My vote goes to Real Estate Yucatan, I just closed a deal through Isaac from REY and I have already started the renovation project. My dream house is in Telchac and will be ready (hopefully) in 6 months. From when I start searching on the website, sending emails and the final purchase, Real Estate Yucatan was great answering emails, giving me the right information and making everything stress free as possible
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Tony & Maureen Barber 17 years ago
When we found a house on the beach three years ago, Mitch and his team helped and supported us through a few problems (not of our or his making). I found the team of Mexint to be very fair and trustworthy and count them as good friends.
My wife and myself vote for Mexint and would recommend them to anyone buying.
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