Victor Loza

One man's war zone is another's paradise

2009-12-15T16:15:00Z

LA TIMES By Richard Marosi

December 14, 2009

From the insulated safety of Baja's luxurious seaside gated communities, American expatriates say reports of kidnappings and violent drug cartels seem a world away.Reporting from Rosarito Beach, Mexico - Bob and Carol Dawson love living in Baja California, but the region's violent reputation has put them on the defensive. They have been called delusional and reckless -- all because they choose to live in an oceanfront gated community about 30 or 40 miles and a world away from the U.S. border.

Americans living in this part of Mexico are often grilled, half-jokingly, about their sanity. They get asked whether they've seen decapitated heads rolling down the street. Friends wonder whether they wear bulletproof vests or drive around in armored cars.When the Dawsons moved here in 1999 to retire, they were enticed by the area's charm and peacefulness. They bought an expansive home with ocean views for $175,000. "Live like a millionaire without a million bucks" is the local real estate mantra.In recent years, the tranquility has been eclipsed by the mayhem of battles between the Mexican government and organized crime.

Military trucks brimming with heavily armed soldiers have rumbled through the manicured grounds of luxury developments; gunmen pepper local police stations with automatic-weapon fire; and Baja California's most notorious crime boss once eluded authorities by running through a beach popular among American retirees.Since 2008, more than 1,000 Mexicans in the northern Baja California area have died in the drug violence. Rarely does a week go by without news of another person being beheaded or dissolved in acid or chopped up and left in a parked car.But for most expatriates the violence seems as distant as headlines from Iraq.

Along the 70-mile stretch of coastline from Tijuana to Ensenada, 14,000 Americans live in a bubble of relative security, many in gated developments or high-rise condominiums where they run a greater risk of being sideswiped by a golf cart or a wave-tossed surfer than staring down an AK-47-toting drug trafficker.Not that expatriates are oblivious to the drug war. Bill Kirchhoff, the former city manager of Redondo Beach, said he suspects that some of the boaters speeding by his seaside house at Playa La Mision are drug traffickers.

He's not moving back to the States any time soon, though, saying a few precautions can keep people out of harm's way."A lot of people simply don't understand the level of danger that exists in this kind of environment," he said. "But if you're aware of it, you can manage it to a great extent."Bob Dawson, 66, said the dangers are exaggerated, but shares a pioneer attitude. "We're a different kind of breed even to try this," he said.From the balcony of their home one row back from the ocean, the Dawsons can see dolphins dancing in the waves and pelicans gliding low over the surf break. Carol keeps watch for the first signs of migrating whales; Bob pours his locally famous margarita mix -- dubbed Bobby-Ritas -- for neighbors.

They just don't get many visitors.Loved ones beg them to move and many won't visit, including their son-in-law, who for much of the last few years has refused to bring their grandsons to visit. "He thinks we live in a dream world," said Carol, 65. "But if I feared danger to my life, I wouldn't be here."The curving, craggy coastline of northern Baja California, a one-hour drive from San Diego, was once a popular getaway for Southern California residents. They came for the solitude and the surf. They would unwind at gringo bars and spend weekends at funky beachfront hotels.In recent years, the coastal stretch has taken on an upscale look with condominiums, spacious homes, bed-and-breakfasts, and spas rising on bluffs. In the nearby Guadalupe Valley, hacienda-style inns and wineries sit amid vineyards blanketing the tawny hills.The area attracts a range of Americans.

Young telecommuters and Internet entrepreneurs live alongside artists and urban refugees in hillside villages. Retirees enjoy five-star luxury resorts with vanishing-edge pools, private beaches and shuttle service to the border.For less than $300,000, people can buy a spacious home on an 18-hole golf course at Baja Mar. Ocean-view houses with balconies and gardens can be had for $400,000."Look at this. I can't live in La Jolla like this," Richard Cargill, 66, said as he took in the ocean views from his deck at the Palacio Del Mar resort. The retired mortgage banker paid $490,000 for the 2,300-square-foot condominium one year ago. "I call this the smart man's San Diego."For the Dawsons, the appeal was an early retirement. Bob, who used to own a paper packaging company, and Carol, a former flight attendant, cut their expenses 30% when they moved down from Santa Ana. They live in the Las Gaviotas development about six miles south of Rosarito Beach, where 298 homes sit behind high walls and visitors must pass through a gate manned 24 hours a day by security guards.

There's a clubhouse, a pool, tennis courts and a promenade lined with mini-mansions that overlook the palapa-dotted beach.After the Dawsons bought their home as a weekend getaway in 1996 they passed out keys to relatives, and their two daughters brought friends down on weekends. "This was a party house," Bob Dawson said.In those days the beach and pool at Las Gaviotas teemed with families and children on weekends. "It was filled with laughter and noise," Carol Dawson said. "It was fun."Five years ago, anticipating more visitors, the Dawsons expanded their house, adding two bedrooms, a bathroom and an elevator. They started a property management business catering to Americans who owned second homes in the area.

Then the troubles started.The Mexican government's crackdown against organized crime struck Baja California in 2007. A few Americans fell victim to the upheaval late that year, when heavily armed men dressed as police pulled over a San Diego-area family on the coastal road. They pointed guns at their heads, pocketed cash and jewelry, and stole their truck and trailer.That attack, along with the robbery of a surfer and the rape of his girlfriend on an isolated beach, was repeated in media accounts of Baja California violence.

Though the situation has calmed considerably, some media outlets continue mentioning the incidents, angering residents and Mexican officials.To the Dawsons, the recycled reports give the distorted impression that Americans are constantly under siege. Media coverage of "a shootout in the States lasts one day," Bob said. "We have a shootout here, and it lasts for years."The negative publicity has taken its toll. At Las Gaviotas, dozens of houses sit empty, many with "For Sale" signs. Of the 11 homes managed by the Dawsons, not one was rented in September and only a few have been leased since.

Passing through the development's tall gates for a quick trip down the road to Rosarito Beach, the Dawsons encounter a somewhat shabby landscape of roadside coconut stands and shanties. They drive by construction-supply and appliance stores, restaurants and other businesses where owners have downsized or closed down because the expected influx of baby boomers never materialized.The Dawsons point to the fancy Las Rocas resort, where their nephew's wedding was nearly spoiled in April when the maid of honor considered canceling because she was worried about crime. Security concerns have contributed to a shutdown of filmmaking at nearby Baja Studios; entertainment-industry workers on movies such as "Titanic" and "Master and Commander" once injected millions of dollars into the local economy.

Outside the studio gates, where a replica of a tall ship is docked, the Mexican military runs a northbound checkpoint. Masked marines with assault weapons question drivers. In the distance, another marine mans a .50-caliber machine gun.A marine quickly waves the Dawsons through. "It makes me feel safe," Bob said as he passed the military's sign: "Welcome to Baja California. This is a routine military checkpoint."Kirchhoff, the retired Redondo Beach city manager, feels uneasy whenever he comes to a checkpoint. "They're there for a reason and it's not a good one," he said.Earlier this year, Baja California crime boss Teodoro Garcia Simental was believed to be at a party at an oceanfront resort a few miles from Kirchhoff's property, but he escaped onto the beach, according to officials and media reports.Kirchhoff said federal police and soldiers scoured the area in helicopters, boats and trucks, and walked up the sand to search neighboring properties.

"They were chasing some of the most heinous criminals in Baja. That ought to give anybody cause for concern," said Kirchhoff, 67.But it's not enough to get him to leave his sprawling home perched over the beach and his four-acre ranch near- by. Kirchhoff and other expatriates who have been touched by crime -- usually home break-ins or petty theft -- have adapted to the risks. They drive junky cars, avoid late-night trips and stay away from crime hot spots like eastern Tijuana.

The Dawsons also have their own rules. They never carry large amounts of cash, and they keep a stash hidden in the car just in case they're robbed. The couple says they use the kind of common-sense rules that people follow in any community affected by serious crime, like Los Angeles or their former hometown. Carol says she feels safer in Las Gaviotas, where she leaves her front door unlocked."I heard gunfire in Santa Ana. I've never heard gunfire here," she said.It's a point she's made countless times to her son-in-law, without success. "He was very hard-nosed about coming down here," she said. "He thought people were putting their children in danger."A few weeks ago, Carol was returning from an errand when she was greeted at the front door by squeals of excitement. "Surprise, Grammy," yelled her two grandsons.

Her son-in-law, seeing that crime has declined significantly from two years ago, made the trip from Laguna Niguel with his family.It was like old times. The boys batted a Wiffle ball on the putting green, took walks on the beach with their three golden retrievers and played in the pool. Carol's daughter and son-in-law got side-by-side massages at a spa, played golf at Baja Mar, and the family dined at the La Fonda restaurant down the coast.Carol Dawson and other expatriates see signs that things may be turning around. Some hotels are selling out on weekends and there are more surfers trickling down south of the border. Then there's her son-in-law's change of heart."I think he finally realized," she said, "that it can't be all that bad."

Victor Loza is co-founder of Your Baja Connection. YBC provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico.

Should you decide to visit Rosarito you must tour the "Ruta del Vino" (Wine Route). After you fall in love with the scenery, and are interested in purchasing a home, condo, lot & land or renting a property, contact us….

Your Baja Connection is your link to paradise in Rosarito or Ensenada or any other Baja California city.

Head on Down South of the Border!

2009-10-16T09:17:00Z

Head on Down South ofthe Border!

What I am about to tell you is going to knock your socks off! What if you could get all the benefits of living offshore without crossing an ocean or getting on a plane? What if you could drive and be there within hours? Get in your car to a secret “sunshine Border City?” This place has wonderful weather,a Flourishing economy and low cost of living

North America’s Secret Sunshine Border City. . . is also a #1Retirement Destination for Baby Boomers.

I am going to let you in on a well kept secret.

This place exists. The weather it’s warm and sunny, and the living is uncomplicated. And it’s not faraway. Just put the car on cruise control and head south. It’s a four-lane highway all the way.

In fact, this place isvery similar to where you live now. You can do all the things you enjoy…go tothe symphony, attend art openings, go fishing, play a round on a designer golf course, or volunteer in the local community. But it’s more than just familiar…

Would you believe that it could cost you half as much to live here? That there are very few taxes…and those that exist are ridiculously low? Health-care costs, too, are a pittance compared to what you’re used to. And the doctors are so committed to patient care that they’ll give you their personal cell phone number and actually encourage you to call them whenever you need to?

Living is simpler here all the way around. No one cares what you look like or what you do. And there are fewer rules. The government doesn’t meddle in your personal or financial affairs. Big brother isn’t watching and life’s little annoyances are few.

And did I mention the wine? With hundreds of thousands of acres of vineyards and ranchland in Valle de Guadalupe you can be certain it’s world-class. Internationally renowned chefs come here to study the cuisine and adapt the exotic fresh ingredients for their own acclaimed restaurants in Paris, NewYork, Brussels, and Tokyo… Beer brewing and wine making is a fine art, and the special spirits distilled here are famous the world over.

You’ve probably already been to this place, but you just didn’t know how easy it might be to live here. I mentioned the farmland and ranchland. These are bordered by some of the most beautiful mountains you’ve ever seen. So picturesque you’ve seen them in hundreds of movies…you probably just didn’t know what you were looking at. In these mountains, the weather is about the same day after day…perfect spring-like temperatures. And no, although it’s at the same latitude, it’s not France. (You can’t drive to France, you know.) You’ll also find some of the world’s most glamorous cities, and some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere in the world. You can shop ‘til you drop, or you can string a hammock between a couple of palm trees, and do absolutely nothing….in between dips in the refreshing ocean waters, of course.

This place really is paradise and you’re not going to believe how easy it is to live here…

Enough… where is this place?!!

You’ve probably figured it out by now… I’m talking about our neighbor to the south. Our secret paradise City…

Warm, sunny Rosarito, Baja California!

More Americans and Canadians who have retired abroad have chosen Baja…over every other city in the world!

That says a lot. For the second year in a row, Mexico has grabbed the top spot in the internationalliving’s global retirement index.

Statistics don’t lie.Mexico is the most livable country on the planet for the retiree who wants to live a champagne-and-caviar lifestyle on a beer-and-baloney budget. Mexico’s cost of living is one of the lowest in the world. (Read article here)

It is no surprise to the estimated one and half million-plus Americans and Canadians who are already enjoying the good life in Mexico, One hundred and fifty thousand plus of them in Baja alone, over 15,000 Expats have chosen to live in Rosarito, which makes it big enough that you can find what you are looking for, but small enough that you know how to get around and get things done.

Here you can have all the comforts you are used to north of the border: cable or satellite TV, high-speedInternet, and modern home appliances. And if you prefer, when you move to Rosarito, Baja California you can even bring all your favorite things with you without paying import taxes.

Our agents purchase property here….they don’t rent it!

“Seven years ago, my wife Alma and I decided we weren’t going to take it anymore and left the traffic, heat, rain, and the drive by shootings of Los Angeles behind. We’ve never regretted doing that, despite the fact that making a life in a foreign world has its own set of hurdles,” says Alma.

“Here in Rosarito, the streets are clean. The stores are well stocked. Cafés and restaurants abound. At night we take a stroll on the beach, there are occasional free concerts under the stars. Dinner can be had at a local café for under $10.

“A visit to the doctor’s office costs $30, and the doctor takes medical histories himself. The doctor provides a personal phone number and when he says to call immediately with any questions or concerns…he means it.

“Just about everything necessary for a quiet, happy life is within walking distance or a $2.50 taxi rideaway, and there are taxis on every corner, all the time.

“This may sound like lifein a typical American town in the 1950s, but this is our home… whenever we’reaway, we can’t wait to get back home to Baja.”

Obviously, Victor and Alma are living their perpetual vacation and are very happy in Mexico…

Victor Loza is co-founder of Your Baja Connection. YBC provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico. Should you decide to visit Rosarito you must tour the "Ruta del Vino" (Wine Route). After you fall in love with the scenery, and are interested in purchasing a home, condo, lot & land or renting a property, contact us….

Your Baja Connection is here to assist youfind your link to paradise in Rosarito or Ensenada or any other Baja California city.

Rosarito ─ “The Hollywood Connection”

2009-09-27T18:41:00Z

Tourism is not new to Baja California or the Rosarito area. The first tourists to visit Rosarito arrived around 1874 to hunt and fish, but it was another 52 years, in 1926, that the Rosarito Beach Hotel was founded. The opening of this historic Hotel is generally credited with the beginning of the tourist period and was very much the forerunner in the development of the area.

During the 1940’s Rosarito became a haven for the Hollywood set welcoming Rita Hayworth and her husband Prince Aly Khan as regular patrons as well as other Hollywood visitors such as Orson Wells, Mickey Rooney, Ava Gardner, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Kim Novak, Clark Gable, Lana Turner and the legendary beauty Marilyn Monroe. In fact, Marilyn Monroe loved the ambience of Rosarito so much, she had furniture made for her first and only home in Brentwood, California, which included the bed where she died.

Frank Sinatra and the “Rat Pack” were also frequent visitors to Rosarito, spending many long hours at the Rosarito Beach Hotel’s bar. It was not unusual to have an impromptu concert in the weehours of the morning by Frank, Dino, and Sammy, which brought in staff members who worked in the hotel. It has been said that some waiters got as much as a $1,000 tip just to cater to Frank and his buddies.

John Wayne, who was always attracted to Latin women, would visit Rosarito to surround himself with the culture and towoo an occasional beauty or two. Ava Gardner would visit the Tijuana bull fights and then come to Rosarito Beach where she knew she would be unnoticed.

Clark Gable, one of Hollywood’s“man’s man” loved to visit Rosarito for deep sea fishing; while Gregory Peck loved to stroll on the beach and Lana Turner cherished having local cobblers custom make shoes for her. SpencerTracy and Katherine Hepburn alsofrequented Rosarito which allowed them to spend some quality time alone and awayfrom the prying eyes of the press.

James Cameron, fell in love with the city and brought Rosarito and the Hollywood Connection to the spotlight once again with the construction of Fox Studios, Baja. Built specifically for the Academy Award winning film, Titanic, the studio boasts the biggest indoor water tank in the world. A mock up of the ship was constructed on the grounds, and the sinking of the mighty Titanic was filmed in the water tank.

Cameron spent years of research and huge amounts of money to make sure that every detail in the movie was as close to the original Titanic as humanly possible. You can now tour the set and see the china used during the filming with the Titanic logo, playing cards with the same logo, visit the room where Rose took the ax and freed Jack, see the boiler room, or take a picture on the same replica deck where Jack proclaimed, “I’m the King of the World.”

Following Titanic, Fox used the studio to film other movies including Master and Commander with Russell Crowe; 007’s Quantum of Solace and Tomorrow Never Dies, and Pirates of the Caribbean, just to name a few. During the filming of these movies it was not unusual to see Russell Crowe walking down Benito Juarez, or Johnny Depp and Laurence Fishbourne having dinner at a local restaurant and eating with locals as if they were old friends. Once again Rosarito became “the Hollywood Connection.”

Some of the recent visitors that have been seen leisurely walking the streets of Rosarito include stars like Jessica Simpson, Sandra Bullock, Jesse James, and Cuba Gooding Jr. In fact, Cuba Gooding Sr. loves the city so much that he now lives in the Calafia Condos Resort and Villas.

It is no doubt that Rosarito has continued throughout the years to be the best kept secret in Hollywood. Even the Hollywood superstar’s cannot deny the beauty of walking under the stars in this wonderful piece of paradise. And that’s why we call it “The Hollywood Connection.”

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Victor Loza is a co-founder of Your Baja Connection. Your Baja Connection provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico. We can be reached at (619) 272-3316, via email at vbloza@gmail.com or at www.victorloza.com.

While in Rosarito you should visit "Ruta del Vino" and if you would like to purchase a home, condo, lot & Land or rent property, Your Baja Connection is here to help you find your link to paradise. We serve the cities of Rosarito, Ensenada and Valley de Guadalupe.

The Next Wine Frontier? Valley de Guadalupe.

2009-09-25T14:24:00Z

Savvy vintners from all over the world are betting that Mexico’s Guadalupe Valley may well be the next frontier for New World wine.Located less than 100 miles southeast of San Diego — and only a few minutes drive from Ensenada, Baja California’s third largest city — Guadalupe Valley is only now being recognized for its potential as a world-class winegrowing region.
Although wine has been made in the region for centuries, it’s only in the last two decades that producers from around the world began investing in its winemaking operations.

The present and future of Guadalupe Valley was the focus of a seminar and public wine tasting at Copia two weeks ago.

Three representatives of the region’s wine trade brought locals up to date during a morning question-and-answer session, aided by a local vintner who knows Guadalupe Valley well — Mexico-born Amelia Ceja, partner in Ceja Vineyards.
The visitors from Guadalupe Valley represented cellars with varied production totals: Marco Antonio Amador, senior marketing director for the 600,000 case L.A. Cetto; Israel Zenteno, vineyard manager for the 40,000 case Monte Xanic; and Thomas Egli, winemaker for 3,000 case Casa de Piedra.

They spoke about the region’s ideal climate for growing grapes, similar to that of San Diego. Temperatures top out at 90 to 95 degrees on average during summer months and rarely soar above 110 on a few hot days, with winter lows bottoming out at 25 degrees.

Water is scarce, they noted. The winter rain season is short and the area is prone to prolonged droughts.

During the growing season, the temperature ranges from 60s at night to 90s in the daytime, and the area is prone to fog.

Situated at 1,400 feet above sea level, Guadalupe Valley is about 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
On average, soils on the flat valley floor are sandy, those on the hillside more alluvial in composition.
At present, the loosely knit association of 27 producers is undertaking a project mapping the region’s diverse soils, and trying to define the valley’s terroir.

About two-thirds the size of the Napa Valley, some 2,200 hectares are planted to grapes. Dry farming is rare, they said, as most vines are irrigated.

The first cabernet sauvignon was planted in Guadalupe Valley in 1974, Zenteno noted, and cabernet is the largest planted grape variety at present. Malbec, tempranillo, grenache and syrah also do well in this clime, he added.

The majority of the (grape) plantings are red,” Zenteno said. “It’s a little tricky to make white wine, although chenin blanc does develop nicely in the valley. But we are just now experimenting (with various grape varieties).”

Amador revealed that his company, L.A. Cetto, has just launched a 10-year vineyard experiment incorporating 50 varietals.
“Guadalupe Valley reminds me of what Napa Valley was in the1970s,” interjected Ceja, “especially with the experimentation. I believe you will see exceptional wines coming from Guadalupe Valley.” Ceja feels the region will become a prime supplier of first rate cabernet sauvignon.

“Water is the key to growing grapes in Guadalupe Valley,” declared Egli. “We’re running out of water.” He said valley grapegrowers have to share existing water supplies with the city of Ensenada, which is experiencing considerable growth at the moment.

Also discussed were the difficulties in the export/import business involving Mexico and the United States. Ceja said regulations contained in NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) have seriously curbed wine trade with our neighbors in Canada and Mexico.

“We can ship (wine) to the rest of the world, but we can’t ship to our neighbors,” she noted. On top of that, border states impose their own restrictions. For example, an individual returning from Mexico may only bring one liter of wine into California. In Arizona, that amount jumps to six liters.

“Most producers (in Guadalupe Valley) are interested in quality, not in making huge volumes for export,” concluded Egli. And quality was indeed evident in the wines Egli offered during the afternoon walkaround tasting:

Arenal 2005 Ensemble ($35): a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, barbera and petite sirah for the experimental effort label from Casa de Piedra. A spicy, fruity nose leads to a mouth full of ripe blackberries, with a sweet/tart finish of cassis. A lush, well structured wine from a leader in Guadalupe Valley wine quality.
Casa de Piedra Vino de Piedra Tinto ($55): Piedra is Spanish for stone and this particular medium-bodied red has a mineral edge that undoubtedly speaks to the vineyard’s stony makeup. It’s an attractive blend of tempranillo and cabernet sauvignon (50/50) with lots of strawberry and spice.

For lunch that day, Jeff Mosher, executive chef of Julia’s Kitchen, put together a tasting menu featuring a few of the wines from Guadalupe Valley.

Monte Xanic 2005 Limited Edition Malbec ($15): Paired with the chef’s seared ahi dish — which incorporated quinoa/citrus salad, avocado puree and chipotle beurre blanc — this lush, velvety, well-balanced malbec offered red fruit flavors, integrated with ripe tannins, a touch of mint on the lengthy finish and a hint of oak, that made this exceptional dish even better. It was the best pairing of the day, a smooth, easy-to-drink Bordeaux grape south-of-the-border style, and a bargain at that.

L.A. Cetto 2003 Nebbiolo ($15): Paired with pan-seared beef tenderloin slices and sweet potato puree, this Italian varietal seems to like its new Guadalupe Valley home. An elegant, silky nebbiolo with soft tannins and tasty ripe blackberries from entry to finish. While it’s a bit short on finish, its soft palate and fruity flavors made this an exciting pairing.

A couple of other wines worth seeking out:
L.A. Cetto 2005 Petite Sirah ($6): An inky, perfumy red with sweet tannins and cherry/grape flavors. Lots of stuffing, a vibrant example of this variety with a pleasant ripe blackfruit finish. A great deal.
Monte Xanic 2006 Chenin Blanc/Colombard ($10): Since there’s little more than 1 percent colombard in the blend, it’s anybody’s guess why the firm displays the varietal name so prominently on the label. Slightly off-dry, it tastes of ripe peaches and honey and smells the same. A little zing on the finish makes it a nice sipper to be paired with any number of hors d’oeuvres.

At this point, you’ll have to drive down to Baja to taste and pick up the Casa de Piedra wines. The wines of L.A. Cetto are abundant in the Los Angeles area and are winging their way northward as winery principals have complied with U.S. label regulations. Monte Xanic will be available in California any day now, its owners having jumped through all requisite NAFTA hoops

Victor Loza is a co-founder of Your Baja Connection. YBC provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico.
Should you decide to visit Rosarito "Ruta del Vino" and would like to purchase a home, condo, lot & Land or rent property, Your Baja Connection is here to help you find your link to paradise. We serve the cities of Rosarito, Ensenada and Valley de Guadalupe.

Common Selling Mistakes

2009-09-21T01:41:00Z

Mistake #1 -- Placing the Wrong Price on Your Property

Every seller obviously wants to get the most money for hisor her product. Ironically, the best way to do this is NOT to list your productat an excessively high price! A high listing price will cause some prospectivebuyers to lose interest before even seeing your property. Also, it may leadother buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. As a result,overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they endup being sold at a lower price.

Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for the MarketValue
unfortunately, a re-finance appraisal may have been statedat an untruthfully high price. Often, lenders estimate the value of yourproperty to be higher than it actually is in order to encourage re-financing.The market value of your home could actually be lower. Your best bet is to askyour realtor for the most recent information regarding property sales in yourcommunity. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate ofyour property value.

Mistake #3 -- Failing to "Showcase"
In spite of how frequently this mistake is addressed andhow simple it is to avoid, its prevalence is still widespread. When attemptingto sell your home to prospective buyers, do not forget to make your home lookas pleasant as possible. Make necessary repairs. Clean. Make sure everythingfunctions and looks presentable. A poorly kept home in need of repairs willsurely lower the selling price of your property and will even turn away somebuyers.

Mistake #4 - Trying to "Hard Sell" While Showing
Buying a house is always an emotional and difficultdecision. As a result, you should try to allow prospective buyers tocomfortably examine your property. Don't try haggling or forcefully selling.Instead, be friendly and hospitable. A good idea would be to point out anysubtle amenities and be receptive to questions.

Mistake #5 - Trying to Sell to Lookers
A prospective buyer who shows interest because of a"for sale" sign he saw may not really be interested in your property.Often buyers who do not come through a realtor are a good 6-9 months away frombuying, and they are more interested in seeing what is out there than inactually making a purchase. They may still have to sell their house, or may notbe able to afford a house yet. They may still even be unsure as to whether ornot they want to relocate.

Your realtor should be able to distinguish realisticpotential buyers from mere lookers. Realtors should usually find out aprospective buyer's savings, credit rating, and purchasing power in general. Ifyour realtor fails to find out this pertinent information, you should do someinvestigating and questioning on your own. This will help you avoid wastingvaluable time marketing towards the wrong people. If you have to do this workyourself, consider finding a new realtor.

Mistake #6 -- Being Ignorant of Your Rights &Responsibilities
It is extremely important that you are well-informed ofthe details in your real estate contract. Real estate contracts are legallybinding documents, and they can often be complex and confusing. Not being awareof the terms in your contract could cost you thousands for repairs andinspections. Know what your are responsible for before signing the contract.Can the property be sold "as is"? How will deed restrictions andlocal zoning laws affect your transaction? Not knowing the answers to thesekind of questions could end up costing you a considerable amount of money.

Mistake #7 - Signing a Contract with No Escape
hopefully you will have taken the time to choose the bestrealtor for you. But sometimes, as we all know, circumstances change. Perhapsyou misjudged your realtor, or perhaps the realtor has other priorities on hisor her mind. In any case, you should have the right to fire your agent. Also,you should have the right to select another agent of your choosing. Many realestate companies will simply replace an agent with another one, withoutconsulting you. Be sure to have control over your situation before signing areal estate contract.

Mistake #8 - Limiting the Marketing and Advertising of theProperty
there are two obvious marketing tools that nearly everyseller uses: open houses and classified ads. Unfortunately, these two tools arerather ineffective. Less than 1% of homes are sold at open houses, and lessthan 3% are sold because of classified ads. In fact, realtors often use openhouses to attract future prospects, not to sell the house.

Your realtor should employ a wide variety of marketingtechniques. Your realtor should also be committed to selling your property; heor she should be available for every phone call from a prospective buyer. Mostcalls are received, and open houses are scheduled, during business hours, somake sure that your realtor is working on selling your home during these hours.Chances are that you have a job, too, so you may not be able to get in touchwill many potential buyers.

Mistake #9 - Choosing the Wrong Realtor®
Selling your home could be the most important financialtransaction in your lifetime. As a result, it is extremely important that youselect the realtor that is best for you. Experienced real estate agents oftencost as much as brand new agents. Chances are that the experienced agent willbe able to bring you a higher price in less time and with fewer hassles.

Take your time when selecting a real estate agent.Interview several agents; ask them key questions. If you want to make yourselling experience the best it can be, it is crucial that you select the bestagent for you.

Your Baja Connection provides real estate and relocation services for buyers in Mexico. Visit our website for Baja Homes, Condos, Lots and Land or Rentals. Your Baja Connection can be reached at (619) 272-3316, via email at YBC@YourBajaConnection.com

Securing your title in Mexico

2009-09-08T04:07:00Z

When to Take Title

The right answer is simple yet often ignored:

Even ifyou finance a property in Mexico through either a financial institution orSeller-carried notes, you should always take title on a property as soon as youtake possession of it. This is how it works in the US and Mexico need be nodifferent.

Some developers and private sellers may suggest(or require) that you not close at possession of the property.Their rationale to you for this may be to reduce the upfront cash expendituresof closing fees or that they simply do not to give title until they have been100% paid for the unit.

Note the following risks to you if the propertytitle is not transferred to you at possession of the property:

1. You cannot receive a title insurance policy until you have title to the property in your name.

2. There may be an undisclosed lien against the property.

3. There may be a hidden claim against the property which could result in a lien against the property in the future. This will not show in a standard title search.

4. The seller can use the title as collateral for their future obligations since it remains in their name. You have no way to prevent this.

5. Your final acquisition tax rises over time as the property's appraisal value increases. Acquisition tax is charged at closing so a rising home value could result in higher acquisition taxes.

6. The seller may not have the cash to pay their gain on the sale (if required) when you want to close and take title. This ties up the closing until the seller can come up with the tax payment. Meanwhile, your acquisition tax is also rising.

The bottom line is to take title on all real estate transactions at the same time that you take possession of the property, even if this requires alien on the property. Watch out for anyone who suggests that you cut corners here.

Always secure your investment by taking title at the time of closing.

Mexico Lacks a Plan to Correct Negative Media Perceptions

2009-09-07T16:35:00Z

Monday, September 7, 2009

By Gregory Payne

A fundamental mistake in the response to the violence associated with the war on drugs and the too often sensational approach of the American media in reporting such events is Mexico’s lack of a carefully crafted crisis communication plan.

Succinctly stated, generally speaking, there has been no official response. In reality, instead of defining the problem and its causes, focusing on the publics impacted and outlining possible solutions to remedy the situation – fundamental requirements of any crisis communication strategy – the Mexican approach too often has been like that of the ostrich.

That is, stick your sombrero in the Baja California sand and pretend there is nothing wrong. For example, Californians hear radio ads telling them that "the lobster tastes good," and "to come to the Baja and "stroll down the streets of Avenida Revolucion in Tijuana."Hola? Qué tal? Who is in charge of such ads and who do they think they are fooling?

With the American media often opting for ratings rather than facts, the "mediated reality" presented to Americans is that all of Mexico is ridden with violence and unsafe to visit. Rosarito Beach, Tijuana, Nuevo Laredo, all get morphed into one sad and crime invested barrio. With this concocted context, what American in their right mind would come to "stroll down Avenida Revolucion" in Tijuana, where ABC, AP and CNN say they would be dodging bullets left and right? Who cares if the "lobster tastes good" if the media have you convinced it could be your last supper?

The lack of a response to such inaccuracies is not only disappointing; it has dire economic, cultural and social costs that will impact the country for years. Although weekends have seen more visitors, most are from Mexicali and other parts of Mexico. The gringos still seem scared by the recycled and often times inaccurate accounts that only present part of the story.As a professor who teaches crisis communication at Emerson College in Boston, and a regular visitor to Baja California, I have been involved in a two year ongoing student grass roots public affairs project, www.rediscoverosarito.org, dedicated to presenting the facts about the safety and security of Rosarito Beach. This campaign is not a propaganda effort, but one dedicated to presenting the facts, both good and bad, about how this community is impacted and addressing the crisis.

What has been most impressive to me, as a professor, is that Rosarito is the one city with a proactive effort and crisis communication plan to address the problem, to communicate with the media about issues in questionable reporting, and an ongoing grass roots effort to involve citizens in addressing the problem.Rather than sit back and passively accept inaccurate accounts of events being reported in U.S. media, Mayor Hugo Torres has gone to San Diego and cities in Southern California to talk with media and local leaders about the problems and to set the facts straight.

He has gathered testimonials from many of the estimated 14,000 U.S. residents who live in Rosarito as well as tourists. He has separated fact from fiction: tourists have not been the focus of violence in Rosarito.Violence has involved only those with drug ties. The crime rate in Rosarito is lower than many of the neighborhoods in San Diego and Los Angeles, where many of its tourists reside.

Visitors are safer in Rosarito than their counterparts in New Orleans, St. Louis and Miami. As part of the proactive stance, Rosarito has special tourist police especially dedicated to visitors, and any tickets or violations, if they might occur, are now handled in a fast track process to ensure a speedy resolution. Mayor Torres has endorsed and sponsored programs, such as the Rosarito Student Film Festival, a joint effort with students and alums from Emerson College, which teaches young citizens of this beachside community to document their own narratives and stories as they prepare for potential careers in journalism or public service.

Such collaborative efforts help convey the sense of "normalcy" that is important in the recovery phase of a crisis. It is clear from this crisis that there is little history or appreciation of crisis communication in Mexico. Rosarito has been the exception. Hugo Torres and his staff have viewed the crisis as an opportunity to move forward, working together with the media as well as various public entities and organizations to convey the message, backed with facts, that this seaside community is not only safe but a great economic bargain for its American neighbors to visit, vacation, and retire.

And, yes, within this proactive context of safety and security, the ad running on the American radio stations does make sense. Take the sombrero out of the sand and visit Rosarito, because it is safe and "the lobster tastes good.

_________________________________________________________________

Gregory Payne is a Professor of Public Affairs at Emerson College, Boston, MA

Notario Publico VS Public Notary

2009-08-16T16:09:00Z

One of the most misleading habits of realtors in Mexico is translating the title Notario Público. They don’t mean to be misleading, of course, in fact I’d bet they’re trying to be helpful. But in reality they’re only confusing their American or Canadian clients. Because here in Mexico the Notario is nothing at all like the notary they’re familiar with back home.

In Mexico the Notario is a very important, very respected legal figure. They are a government-appointed attorney who has gone to post-graduate legal school, taken a grueling examination and worked under a practicing Notario before taking up their post. The government limits the number of Notarios in a given area based on the population. The Notario’s job is to preside over certain legal proceedings such as the purchase of real estate and the formation of corporations. They are charged with calculating and collecting the federal taxes due in these procedures, and if they make a mistake are personally liable to make up the tax deficit. They are consulted to give legal opinion in matters of title and ownership. In many respects they are similar to a magistrate. Not at all like a Notary in the U.S. or Canada. Oh yes, if needed they will witness a signature. But be prepared: the going rate for that service is between $50 and $75 US.

When clients don’t understand the difference it can make for serious sticker shock when they see their closing cost estimate. “Nineteen hundred dollars for Notary Services! You’ve got to be kidding!” No, we’re not kidding. Sure, it’s a lot of money. But it’s for a lot of legal service. Prior to your closing the Notario’s staff will have thoroughly researched the history of ownership of the property, verified the identity of all parties to the transaction, checked that the property is free of liens and up to date on property taxes and drafted the trust document. [Since you’re reading this in English I’m assuming you’re not a Mexican citizen and will hold your property in trust if it is close to the ocean or border. If it is further inland the Notario will draft an Escritura, which is the title instrument used by Mexican citizens.] He or she (the feminine is Notaria, and we have some here in Los Cabos) will have calculated the seller’s capital gains tax and arranged for that amount to be withheld from escrow. By the time you appear before them for the final signing ceremony the Notario or his staff have expended many hours safe-guarding your investment. They are your assurance that this transaction has been done properly and your investment is safe. Very, very different than the role of a Notary.

Several years ago I read that the state of Texas passed a law forbidding the translation of the title. Although I don’t think we need a law, the public would be well served if those of us in the real estate field used the Spanish title when referring to these professionals. Some things just don’t translate well.

Simply the Best Coffee in Baja

2009-01-10T20:15:00Z

For my Baja Friends:

I can personally vouch for their claim "Simply the best coffee in Baja". Being a cappuccino and latte aficionado I have not had better anywhere in North America.

When you order the "biggest" size, you get a "triple" dose of coffee! If her blueberry muffins are an example of Carol's baking, I can't wait to try the rest of her menu. Fabrizzio's Espresso is open at 5:30 a.m. for the convinience of people who want to hit the border early. Pick up your order on your way down the toll road to the border, they are located just off the highway at the San Antonio del Mar entrance - very convenient for everyone.

Patrick, who many of you know is addicted to his coffee, agrees - his preference is their cappuccino, but for those who like their coffee American style - also the very best!

Anne

SIMPLY THE BEST COFFEE IN BAJA!

San Antonio del Mar

(located at the entrance)

Fabrizzio's Espresso opens at 5:30 a.m. for the early birds

At 11:30 the Fabrizzio crew comes in for lunch and dinner

CLOSED TUESDAYS
MENU

· Latte - Mocha - White Mocha - Caramel Macchiato

· Cappucino - Espresso - Americano-Coffee

· Flavored Lattes - Tea - Chai Tea Latte - Hot Chocolate

· Pasteries - Muffins - Bagels w/cream cheese Homemade Biscotti

· Special most days - it may be a drink or a special muffin or pastry.

"I make the Biscotti, from my Nonie's recipe, and they are not the break your teeth kind of cookie that is generally sold in most coffee shops. We consider ourselves the morning bartenders and are always willing to listen to your cares and woes as we have done for the past 15 years. We brought our mission statement with us, and only had to change one word: 'Simply the best coffee in Baja'.”…. Carol Heath

2009: A Wish for All

2009-01-02T21:32:00Z

By Laura Wong

While 2008 was not an easy year for anyone, our hopes are planted in long-awaited 2009.
Baja California was shaken by a wave of news that impacted the whole world: the economy eventually affected our neighbors in southern California, who lost their jobs, suffered the fall of the stock market, an economic recession, and an indiscriminate raise in gasoline prices for several months.

Many businessmen in Baja California were forced to close their businesses. Many people were left without jobs and the dollar shot up to cost 14 pesos. Those having loans in dollars (very common in Baja California) had to pay 40% more on their debt. In the U.S. people lost their homes. It was a year that we will hardly forget.

Christmas came with a light of love that did not cause much impact on the various merchants who sold far less than expected. I remember waiting to cross the line from Mexico to the United States in December 2007: Lanes of 700 cars in line waiting for up to four hours while people still waiting patiently in the hope of bringing the much longed for Christmas presents to Mexico. In 2008, the files fell to 300 cars on average during peak hours on weekends. Many people did not have Christmas presents. San Diego, Chula Vista and San Ysidro sold far less than last year. Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada were no exception.

The narration is serious. Many, many people were killed and hurt by the wave of violence. Many tourism businesses were affected by insecurity, which did not affect the beach sites, but impacted their pocketbooks because of what is perceived in the United States. No tourists were killed in shootings. There were no incidents in tourist hotels and restaurants. Nevertheless, the visitors, as a precaution, refrained from coming.

We owe a big applause: to the Rotary clubs, who crossed and made tireless efforts of aid, to the members of Ministries of Love, who built houses for the needy, to the thousands of Harley-Davidson and Angels club members that gave toys for children, to the members of Sister Cities with donations, to people helping the Cruz Roja, to citizens supporting the orphanages, and to many other noble hearts with tenacity and an unwavering love for Mexico. For them we offer our sincere gratitude.

Every day altruistic groups and the large number of expatriates do not lose their great faith in Baja California. While we all hurt by what happens, if we conduct our normal routine will give organized crime a pat on the back and support. We cannot live in an intimidated community. We need to separate the wheat from the chaff and show that we are good people rather than bad ones. They say here that good always triumphs over evil and it will. It is a matter of time. Even though the violence is because the government is fighting to achieve the its goal, I believe that the United States should be proud of Mexico because it finally woke up and is doing something to combat this injurious scourge that has caused so much pain.

Thank God the Federal, State and Municipal levels are working hard for the first time to end the drug war. This is something that had not ever been seen in previous governments, which duplicated bureaucracies, and let illicit corruption infiltrate in all levels of government. For the first time, several leaders involved in organized crime were apprehended, including key members of the Arellano-Felix cartel. Also, ballistic tests and investigations of municipal police were conducted, which found many of those who were involved with drugs. Others fled in fear and many more have been executed by one band because of involvement with another band. Caldrón Felipe sent Marines, agents of the Federal Department of Investigation, and the Army.

In addition, the United States elected a new president. At this point, we are on the right track. There are high hopes laid in the beginning of 2009. While we may have to wait a little longer, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We hope that after the storm we have experienced, there is calm and we live a very happy 2009, full of peace and prosperity.

The Spanish Wine Revolution and its Mexico Connections

2008-12-15T18:38:00Z

Monday, December 15, 2008

“Vino-Tourism” by Steve Dryden

The Mexican wine industry was originally created by our Spanish ancestors in the sixteenth century, when they planted the first vineyards in America right here in Mexico. From those early vineyards of Mission grapes, Jesuit missionaries sent vines and cuttings to Peru, Argentina and Chile. By 1701, the first hybrid cuttings of Vitis vinifera (European stock) were planted in Baja California at Mission San Javier, near Loredo Bay.

Later, in 1780 Franciscan Friar Junipero Serra sent cuttings and plants from the mission vineyards in San Diego to all the Alta California mission sites, reaching Sonoma by 1830.

In fact, these vineyards produced grapes of such high quality that Spain soon decided to uproot all the stock in order to protect Spain’s national wine industry. Thus, the wine industry in Baja California went dormant and didn’t revive itself until the late 1880’s, near Ensenada. And it wasn’t until the 1970’s and 80’s that several dynamic leaders got serious in the pursuit of creating premium wine in Baja California.

Recently I've discovered an important link between Mexican and Spanish wines, while researching an article about the first olive oil press in the Americas. That press was built by the Kumeyaay people, near San Diego's Old Town, under the direction of Junipero Serra. During that research project I also discovered the oldest wine press in the United States, given to San Diego by the people of Palma de Mallorca, in Spain, where Friar Serra was born. It was built in 1770, and is located near Presidio Park in San Diego.

Spain, Mexico and California, in reality, are forever connected as it was Spain, via Mexico and California, that started America’s wine industry.

Interestingly, Spain has a wine heritage that is over three thousand year old, going back to around 1100 B.C. But that early wine industry was forced into dormancy by invading Islamic Moors from A.D. 711 to their defeat in 1492.

And like Mexico, the Spanish wine culture floundered until the 1960’s and 70’s, when new thinking and modernized winemaking techniques came about with visionary leadership. Basically both Spain and Mexico didn’t really get serious about creating premium wines until recently. Today, Spain and Mexico are emerging wine industries, both making waves upon the international wine scene.

Spain is experiencing phenomenal progress, and it now makes nearly as much wine as the world’s largest producers, France and Italy. And the wines are amazingly good, especially those from the Duero River Valley, the Ebro River Valley, Green Spain, the Meseta, the Mediterranean Coast, and Andalucia.

The Ebro River valley is home to the renowned Denominacion de Origens (DO) of Rioja, Cariñena, Navarra, Campo de Borja, Calatayud, Somontano, and Ribera del Jiloca. This region is going through a revolution of its own, and some great values can be found once you understand the wines and DO’s.

The DO of Navarra has great value wines, mostly Rosado, Garnacha, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

The DO Rioja is located in the Ebro River Valley, and it is still the "benchmark of Spanish wine” with Tempranillo as “the king.” World Market in San Diego, the San Diego Wine Bank, and Cost Co in Mexico carry some Spanish wines from the Ebro River area – look for Garnacha de Fuego 2006, Borsao 2006, and Viña Borgia, all priced around US$10.00.

Spanish wine grown and made in the Duero River Valley are some of Spain’s best wines. The great regions are: Cigales, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, and Toro. Cigales is good for Tempranillo and Garnacha used for rosado wines. Ribera del Duero is known for premium Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.

Rueda is the new capital for Spain’s white wines to include: Verdejo, Viura, Sauvignon Blanc and Palomino. The Verdejo grape is “delightful and textured, with citrus elements covering notes of melon, apple, and stone fruits. It is often blended with Sauvignon Blanc or Viura.” Viura grapes are “the fat and friendly part of a Cava blend." Palomino (still found in Valle de Guadalupe) is the famous Sherry grape. “It can provide the underpinning of the lightest and freshest manzanilla or the richest and most exotic amontillado or oloroso.”

The Toro area is the new star among Spain's grape growing regions. It has become famous for Tempranillo wine that is "full-bodied, plush, of good structure, elegant, and powerful.” A nice sample from Toro might be Tempranillos from Azul 2006, Finca Sobreño Crianza 2004, or Estancia Piedra Seleccion 2000.

I’ll be talking more about Spanish wines in 2009. As you might guess, these wines are coming of age and some remarkable deals can be found, but don’t wait too long! For those with a curious palate and a keen sense of adventure, try exploring the new wines from Spain – you’ll be delighted.

——————————

Steve Dryden writes about wine, food, travel, Native Peoples, and history. He lives in the Guadalupe Valley of Baja California, Mexico, where he guides private wine tours for individuals and small groups. As well, he now books lodging in the valley. Mr. Dryden gives special thanks to "2008 Wines from Spain – Far from Ordinary – Wine Guide," for their assistance and information.

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights?

2008-10-28T14:23:00Z

By Orson Scott Card

Editor's note: Orson Scott Card is a Democrat and a newspaper columnist, and in this opinion piece he takes on both while lamenting the current state of journalism.

An open letter to the local daily paper — almost every local daily paper in America:

I remember reading All the President's Men and thinking: That's journalism. You do what it takes to get the truth and you lay it before the public, because the public has a right to know.

This housing crisis didn't come out of nowhere. It was not a vague emanation of the evil Bush administration.

It was a direct result of the political decision, back in the late 1990s, to loosen the rules of lending so that home loans would be more accessible to poor people. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were authorized to approve risky loans.

What is a risky loan? It's a loan that the recipient is likely not to be able to repay.

The goal of this rule change was to help the poor — which especially would help members of minority groups. But how does it help these people to give them a loan that they can't repay? They get into a house, yes, but when they can't make the payments, they lose the house — along with their credit rating.

They end up worse off than before.

This was completely foreseeable and in fact many people did foresee it. One political party, in Congress and in the executive branch, tried repeatedly to tighten up the rules. The other party blocked every such attempt and tried to loosen them.

Furthermore, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were making political contributions to the very members of Congress who were allowing them to make irresponsible loans. (Though why quasi-federal agencies were allowed to do so baffles me. It's as if the Pentagon were allowed to contribute to the political campaigns of Congressmen who support increasing their budget.)

Isn't there a story here? Doesn't journalism require that you who produce our daily paper tell the truth about who brought us to a position where the only way to keep confidence in our economy was a $700 billion bailout? Aren't you supposed to follow the money and see which politicians were benefiting personally from the deregulation of mortgage lending?

I have no doubt that if these facts had pointed to the Republican Party or to John McCain as the guilty parties, you would be treating it as a vast scandal. "Housing-gate," no doubt. Or "Fannie-gate."

Instead, it was Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, both Democrats, who denied that there were any problems, who refused Bush administration requests to set up a regulatory agency to watch over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who were still pushing for these agencies to go even further in promoting sub-prime mortgage loans almost up to the minute they failed.

As Thomas Sowell points out in a TownHall.com essay entitled "Do Facts Matter?" ( http://snipurl.com/457townhall_com] ): "Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush's Secretary of the Treasury."

These are facts. This financial crisis was completely preventable. The party that blocked any attempt to prevent it was ... the Democratic Party. The party that tried to prevent it was ... the Republican Party.

Yet when Nancy Pelosi accused the Bush administration and Republican deregulation of causing the crisis, you in the press did not hold her to account for her lie. Instead, you criticized Republicans who took offense at this lie and refused to vote for the bailout!

What? It's not the liar, but the victims of the lie who are to blame?

Now let's follow the money ... right to the presidential candidate who is the number-two recipient of campaign contributions from Fannie Mae.

And after Franklin Raines, the CEO of Fannie Mae who made $90 million while running it into the ground, was fired for his incompetence, one presidential candidate's campaign actually consulted him for advice on housing.

If that presidential candidate had been John McCain, you would have called it a major scandal and we would be getting stories in your paper every day about how incompetent and corrupt he was.

But instead, that candidate was Barack Obama, and so you have buried this story, and when the McCain campaign dared to call Raines an "adviser" to the Obama campaign — because that campaign had sought his advice — you actually let Obama's people get away with accusing McCain of lying, merely because Raines wasn't listed as an official adviser to the Obama campaign.

You would never tolerate such weasely nit-picking from a Republican.

If you who produce our local daily paper actually had any principles, you would be pounding this story, because the prosperity of all Americans was put at risk by the foolish, short-sighted, politically selfish, and possibly corrupt actions of leading Democrats, including Obama.

If you who produce our local daily paper had any personal honor, you would find it unbearable to let the American people believe that somehow Republicans were to blame for this crisis.

There are precedents. Even though President Bush and his administration never said that Iraq sponsored or was linked to 9/11, you could not stand the fact that Americans had that misapprehension — so you pounded us with the fact that there was no such link. (Along the way, you created the false impression that Bush had lied to them and said that there was a connection.)

If you had any principles, then surely right now, when the American people are set to blame President Bush and John McCain for a crisis they tried to prevent, and are actually shifting to approve of Barack Obama because of a crisis he helped cause, you would be laboring at least as hard to correct that false impression.

Your job, as journalists, is to tell the truth. That's what you claim you do, when you accept people's money to buy or subscribe to your paper.

But right now, you are consenting to or actively promoting a big fat lie — that the housing crisis should somehow be blamed on Bush, McCain, and the Republicans. You have trained the American people to blame everything bad — even bad weather — on Bush, and they are responding as you have taught them to.

If you had any personal honor, each reporter and editor would be insisting on telling the truth — even if it hurts the election chances of your favorite candidate.

Because that's what honorable people do. Honest people tell the truth even when they don't like the probable consequences. That's what honesty means . That's how trust is earned.

Barack Obama is just another politician, and not a very wise one. He has revealed his ignorance and naivete time after time — and you have swept it under the rug, treated it as nothing.

Meanwhile, you have participated in the borking of Sarah Palin, reporting savage attacks on her for the pregnancy of her unmarried daughter — while you ignored the story of John Edwards's own adultery for many months.

So I ask you now: Do you have any standards at all? Do you even know what honesty means?

Is getting people to vote for Barack Obama so important that you will throw away everything that journalism is supposed to stand for?

You might want to remember the way the National Organization of Women threw away their integrity by supporting Bill Clinton despite his well-known pattern of sexual exploitation of powerless women. Who listens to NOW anymore? We know they stand for nothing; they have no principles.

That's where you are right now.

It's not too late. You know that if the situation were reversed, and the truth would damage McCain and help Obama, you would be moving heaven and earth to get the true story out there.

If you want to redeem your honor, you will swallow hard and make a list of all the stories you would print if it were McCain who had been getting money from Fannie Mae, McCain whose campaign had consulted with its discredited former CEO, McCain who had voted against tightening its lending practices.

Then you will print them, even though every one of those true stories will point the finger of blame at the reckless Democratic Party, which put our nation's prosperity at risk so they could feel good about helping the poor, and lay a fair share of the blame at Obama's door.

You will also tell the truth about John McCain: that he tried, as a Senator, to do what it took to prevent this crisis. You will tell the truth about President Bush: that his administration tried more than once to get Congress to regulate lending in a responsible way.

This was a Congress-caused crisis, beginning during the Clinton administration, with Democrats leading the way into the crisis and blocking every effort to get out of it in a timely fashion.

If you at our local daily newspaper continue to let Americans believe — and vote as if — President Bush and the Republicans caused the crisis, then you are joining in that lie.

If you do not tell the truth about the Democrats — including Barack Obama — and do so with the same energy you would use if the miscreants were Republicans — then you are not journalists by any standard.

You're just the public relations machine of the Democratic Party, and it's time you were all fired and real journalists brought in, so that we can actually have a news paper in our city.

This article first appeared in The Rhinoceros Times of Greensboro, North Carolina, and is used here by permission.

Are U.S. News Reports Biased against Baja California?

2008-06-30T14:35:00Z

Monday, June 30, 2008

By Brian Flock· The Recent Fuel Crisis Hints at Manufactured Hysteria and Jaundiced Coverage

Baja California, Mexico, has been on the receiving end of a wave of negative news over the past year – including the real, the distorted, and the completely manufactured. A handful of violent crimes involving foreigners became a barrage of one-sided, singularly heavy-handed critiques of the region. Furthermore, gangland-style violence common to urban areas of California and greater United States’ cities became somehow intriguing and newsworthy when it occurred south of the border. Footnotes regarding violent crime on the nightly news in the United States became major headlines when it occurred in roughneck neighborhoods south of the US/Mexico border.

This ongoing trend of negative news towards the United States’ southern neighbor became especially apparent during this month’s Baja California “fuel crisis.” On June 11, I included a section in my monthly newsletter regarding the dramatic price differential between fuel in Mexico and California where gas was approaching US$5.00 per gallon, and diesel had already surpassed that threshold. My point was to simply catch readers’ attention by showing them one nominal perk of a visit to Baja California. I saw the difference as notable but there was certainly no obvious invasion across the border for cheap gasoline.

Then on June 14 The San Diego Union-Tribune, the original instigator of the supposed crime wave against tourists in Baja California, began the story of a purported run on fuel throughout the northern Baja California region by United States’ citizens. The implication of the story was that U.S. citizens suddenly started a mad dash south of the border in order to save between forty and fifty percent on fuel. On June 14 they were “heading” into Mexico. On June 15 they were “swarming” into Mexico. By June 18 there was a “mad scramble.”

The culmination of the slanted news barrage seems to have peaked on June 19 when Reuters news service released an article titled, “US motorists dodge bullets for cheap Mexican fuel.” My normally unflinching reaction to the ongoing fare of negative press articles on the Baja California region was finally jolted.

The headline instantly struck me as utterly outrageous in its assertion. The press had either perfected a conspiracy to berate the border region, or a group-think fueled by its own fumes had perfected the art of distorting facts. In fact, the self-fulfilling prophecy of the media was later doused by a single tanker shipment of diesel to the region.

As a northwestern Mexico local whose profession has me traveling up and down the coastal corridor of Baja California, I did not observe any of the aforementioned shortage until I went to purchase gasoline on June 18 at the largest and most profitable AM/PM service station in the world, located in southern Rosarito less than a kilometer south of the historic Rosarito Beach Hotel. (This was four days after the story of cheap gas first broke in The San Diego Union-Tribune.)

I was astounded to see possibly a hundred or more vehicles waiting to receive diesel from the only two pumps in operation. Of the scores of local buses and trucks waiting in line, I viewed precisely one fair-haired gringa with a pickup full of materials who I visually considered to be an American. Yet her fully loaded and tied down Dodge Ram pickup bed indicated that she was a regular visitor and not a casual tourist enticed into Mexico by low fuel prices as indicated by the media. Nor was she dodging a single bullet. Instead she stood outside of her cab and leaned against the driver’s door with boredom as she waited for the line of trucks to advance.

Meanwhile I filled up the tank with regular gasoline at just over US$2.50 and waited fewer than thirty seconds in order to be attended. Clearly the crisis related to not gasoline but diesel trucks with much larger tanks with a much more significant impact on the region. I have little doubt that the crisis on diesel was in fact created by the media, not simply reported by it. Fear created by the news seems to have created the diesel crisis.

What is the United States’ media bias against Baja California and Mexico? I can’t answer with certainty but it is downright distorted and out of touch with reality from the perspective on the ground overlooking the Coronado Islands.

Home buying heats up south of the border

2008-06-26T20:48:00Z

More lenders attracting U.S. borrowers with ARM products

By Tom Kelly, Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

Inman News

The cold U.S. housing and mortgage markets have lenders looking for warmer possibilities, and a few are sending more efforts to finance Americans looking to purchase primary residences and second homes south of the border.

New York-based Lehman Brothers Resort Home Lending will enter the market in a big way, offering U.S. consumers mortgage packages this year in Mexico and Costa Rica, beginning July 1. The company plans to offer borrowers in Canada and the United Kingdom similar loan programs in Mexico and Costa Rica by the end of the year.

The programs, featuring one-, three-, five- and 10-year adjustable-rate mortgages amortized over 30 years, also will be available in the next year to U.S. borrowers who wish purchase in the Bahamas, according to Lehman Brothers. The company also is targeting the second-home market in Canada, the United Kingdom, Panama and the Dominican Republic, but specific roll-out dates were not released.

GMAC was the first national lender to introduce a 30-year, fixed-rate product south of the border but pulled out of Mexico late last summer when the U.S. mortgage market meltdown began to influence international partner companies. Lehman Brothers purchased some of GMAC's Mexico back-office operation late last year.

Wachovia Bank also has launched a program that enables the bank to purchase vacation-home loans made in Mexico. The vacation-home origination process is designed to look and feel like the loan origination practices in the United States, according to Wachovia.

"Having the support of a successful U.S. bank like Wachovia really speaks to the strength of the vacation-home market in Mexico," said Joe Schneider, project administrator for Cascadas de Manzanillo, a 530-acre planned-unit development on Santiago Bay just north of Manzanillo, Mexico.

How have Americans financed second homes outside the United States? Traditionally, it was get out your line-of-credit checkbook, add any savings you could muster, and then pray that the seller would "carry the paper" until you found another way to refinance the balance.

Bryant said the company will scrutinize builders and developments in specific destinations. For example, Lehman Brothers will focus on waterfront and view communities in Mexico's Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta.

Underfunded projects and unscrupulous developers in popular drive-in areas, such as Puerto Penasco at the northernmost point of the Sea of Cortes and at a few oceanfront buildings on the northern Baja Peninsula, have lenders spending more time on analysis and research before electing to approve permanent financing.

Anaheim, Calif.-based World Wide Lending LLC, which plans 20 locations in Mexico, has begun to list its approved developments on its Web site. It plans to utilize a broker network throughout Mexico while Lehman Brothers will have retail sales relationships inside each approved development.

Chris Stopp, a broker for Sacramento-based MexUs Capital, said his goal is to provide a menu of attractive loans to not only second-home recreational buyers but also for retirees and sophisticated investors.

"The variety of people coming to Mexico to live part time or full time continues to increase, and their needs are different," Stopp said. "We want to offer them an American transaction in a development they will enjoy for a long time."

Interest rates on Mexican loans are nearly 2 full percentage points higher than those in the United States because there has been no competition in the secondary mortgage markets or with Wall Street capital markets to purchase the loans as securitized assets. Once the loans become more attractive and marketable to investors, interest rates will drop, according to financial analysts.

The Canadian offerings could provide an attractive option, especially with the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver just around the corner. Retirees and aging baby boomers "from the states" are drawn to Canada for its wonderful skiing, health care, bargain medicine, terrific sailing and clean air, but the numbers of second-home buyers and older full-time residents have not been as attractive to lenders as the pool of thousands of snowbirds who head south to Mexico and Latin America.

Americans can borrow from Canadian banks and vice versa. But trying to finance Canadian property with U.S. funds becomes difficult. Location, security in the property and the ability to enforce simply make the package unattractive to most U.S. lenders.

Lehman Brothers is willing to gamble that it can make cross-border lending work, and that the number of Americans buying in Canada -- and elsewhere -- continues to rise.

UNION-TRIBUNE EDITORIAL A shared charge

2008-06-26T00:10:00Z

Mexico, U.S. must address drug issue together

June 24, 2008

Mexico and the United States have a number of shared problems, and they have to work together to find solutions for the sake of both countries. We can't just keep pointing fingers at one another and refusing to accept responsibility for what ails us. That includes drug trafficking and the violence that goes with it. As any economist can tell you, where there is demand, there will be supply. That Mexico is now the world's top exporter of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines may have something to do with the fact that it borders a country whose people have an insatiable appetite for illegal drugs. That was a point that one Mexican economist drove home during a recent luncheon meeting in Tijuana with members of the Union-Tribune editorial board. That economist is José Guadalupe Osuna Millán , the relatively new governor of Baja California. In office for just over seven months, Gov. Osuna Millán seems to be a capable leader who knows his way around politics, having served as mayor of Tijuana from 1998-2000. But he also knows his way around spreadsheets, having studied and taught economics before entering public life. That background should serve him well as he charts a course for the economic development of Baja. But Osuna Millán 's first priority is combating the drug violence that is scaring away American tourists and inflicting a terrible toll on Tijuana businesses that depend on those dollars. His task isn't made any easier by the fact that the cartels are now armed to the teeth with weapons smuggled in from the United States, guns that are then used to kill Mexican police officers. There is yet another illustration of the law of supply and demand, one with deadly consequences. The United States seems to have a solid partner in Gov. Osuna Millán . We should make sure he has the tools to succeed.