Warmest Wishes from Puerto Morelos

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Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

The Dawn of a New Era in Puerto Morelos

The Dawn of a New Era

Puerto Morelos, Mexico 

December 22, 2012

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Christmas Caroling in Puerto Morelos

Christmas Caroling in Puerto Morelos!!

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Portraits in Puerto Morelos!

Have you thought about having a portrait taken while you are on vacation? It's an awesome opportunity while everyone is gathered, without a busy schedule, and a gorgeous backdrop to have some fun pics taken!!

Michael Maurus, a very talented local photographer is offering portrait sessions!

Starting in January, I will offer portrait sessions again for the general public. If you want great shots of yourself, a loved one or your family, please contact me. I will only take one session per week. Sessions will be 2 to 3 hours with a cost of US $ 280.00. This will get you 20 copyright free images fully edited and in high resolution.

Have a look at the "No Cheese" style photos.

Contact Michael: macmaurus@mac.com

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Get Out of the Snow! 20% off Vacation Rentals

Get out of the snow!!  20% off Vacation Rentals between January 7th-27th!!

Email us at Rentals@MayanRivieraProperties.com

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Celebrate the New Mayan Era by Camping Under the Stars

Celebrate the beginning of a new era by camping on the giant field of the El Rey Polo Club under the stars. Starts at 1pm.

For those of you not fortunate enough to have been at the Polo Club at night, it is truly spectacular!

Meditation, Dances, & Ceremonies

Click to View Larger Version:

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Whip Scorpions: New Update on an Older Post

Some time ago, I wrote a post about finding Whip Scorpions and how they really freak me out. After all this time, they still do. I am not sure I'll ever find them "not creepy".

If you haven't seen that post - it's one worth seeing!

Puerto Morelian Biologist and PuertoMorelosBlog Reader, Jill, came across the post to share some new info with us:  They really are spiders, not insects! Info that only serves to up the creep-factor in my mind! (I have added her update to the original post for anyone else that happens to be cruising through the archives.)

Thanks, Jill!


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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

NEW!! Puerto Morelos Catering - John Gray's At Home

NEW!! John Gray is expanding his culinary profile here in Puerto Morelos to include catering!

If you are a homeowner or enjoying a vacation rental, a catered dinner is an awesome (and delicious) treat!

Options range from Brunch to Barbecues! The Taste of Mexico gets my vote!! Dinners can be fully catered or dropped off for you to enjoy.

HINT: Just in time for a Christmas feast!!

Download the full John Gray In the House Catering Packet here.


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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Music on the Beach To Celebrate the New Era!

GALA MEXICANA! Celebrate the New Mayan Era!

Opera & Orchestra, Mariachi, Folkloric Ballet, and Children's Music 

On Beach in front of Hotel Ojo de Agua.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

6:30pm

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

List Property Purchase at Full Value in Your Deed

Tonight is the first session of our weekly workshops for this high season. In our free workshops about buying, living, and working in Mexico we discuss all sorts of topics --- and they vary each week depending on the interest of the group that has gathered for the session.

Whenever we get to the topic of buying, I always provide tips for perspective buyers. At the top of that list is listing the property that you will be purchasing at the full value in the deed.

For many, this sounds obvious. However, for those that have been dealing in Mexican Real Estate for some time know that it used to be a common practice to list the property's sale for far lower than what you are actually paying for the property.

It was tax fraud then; it is tax fraud now. Mexico has definitely caught on to this practice and changed the laws so that the onus is on the buyer to report the correct amount or be subject to possible penalty.

Furthermore, when you eventually sell your property, it is unlikely that you will find a buyer that is foolish enough to do the same and you will be stuck with a capital gains tax on a false gain that was not actually realized.

The exception to this rule is when you are buying a property that is furnished, because the value of furnishings is not required to be listed in the recorded purchase price.

For example, I am buying a house that is listed, fully furnished, for $400,000.00 USD. The value of those furnishings is established at $30,000.00 USD. So, the recorded value of the property would be $370,000.00 USD. The $30,000.00 USD would be treated as a separate transaction for the used contents that are onsite.

 So, the moral of this lesson is: List at full value when you purchase!



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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Notes from last Wednesday's Town Meeting

OK -- It has taken me over a week to get to this blog post. So, please file under "Better Late Than Never"...


I attended a town meeting last Wednesday, November 28th. Several helpful officials were in attendance, including the heads of police, transit police, sewer project, and the Alcalde and his staff members.

City Officials at Meeting

Here are the highlight points from the meeting:

STATUS OF ALCALDIA:

• The Alcaldia status of Puerto Morelos has been finally realized within the last few weeks, although the change has been made (in name only) for over 1 year.

Interested Puerto Morelians

SEWER PROJECT:

• The repair of the roads from laying the sewer pipeline will be completed by the 2nd week of December. At this point, there are no plans to completely repave -- only patch as what is currently being done.
  
• Construction of the treatment plant will soon be underway. The installation will be located behind the Mayan Handicraft Market. The treated water (cleaned to under 30 ppm) will be injected into a subterranean aquifer. This treatment plant has the capacity to serve the area that has currently been prepared, plus a bit more. Construction of additional treatment plants will be required to service the parts of town that are outside of the range of its capacity. More details to follow in a subsequent meeting after the first of the year.
  
• Once the system is ready, connection to the system will be obligatory for property owners.
  
• A concern was raised regarding what about property owners whose septic tanks are located in their backyard. They explained that there are some pumps available, which would be an option for some properties. Another alternative was to cancel the septic and build a new, modern septic in the front of the property.
  

DOGS:

• City officials acknowledged that loose dogs on street and beach are problematic: some are aggressive, plus the poo on streets and beach.
  
• Alcade has said that they will start enforcing the rule that dogs will need to be on a leash. Owners must pick up after their dogs. Those that do not leash or pick up will be fined and undisclosed sum.

ONGOING ISSUES -- During an open question/answer session, several topics were brought up and discussed: 

• City will begin inspections of businesses to ensure that they have proper licensing. Also checking that residential places are indeed residential.
  
• Citizens complained about nudity at Desire Resort. Alcalde seemed sympathetic to the idea of enforcing no public nudity.
  

Those of you who received this post via email, some embedded items -- like videos -- cannot be seen. You will need to click the title of the blog to be taken directly to the post to view the full content.

Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

KERMES! Carnival in Park on Saturday

KERMES!! KERMES!! KERMES!!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, a "Kermes" is a children's carnival. There will be a Kermes this Saturday, December 8th in the Town Square, starting at 4 pm.

Circus Classes, Games, Face Painting, and more! PLUS -- Artisans will be selling their wares! A great time to pick up Holiday Gifts!!

This is a fundraiser for my youngest son's (Easton's) school. I will have a table with some fun Mexican folkart for sale. All profits will go directly to the school, Baxaal.

Stop by and check it out!



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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Rentals Available for Christmas / New Year's!!

We still have several great places available for the Holidays! 

Contact Us: Rentals@MayanRivieraProperties.com

Several 1 Bedroom Condos at the Wonderful Caribbean Reef Villas

Condo Dulce: Lovely Ocean View 2 Bedroom Condo

Condo Dickens: 2 Bedroom Oceanfront Condo!

Condo Ibis: Beachside, New 2 Bedrm Condo!

Awesome Views from Condo Ka'an! 2 Bedrooms/Sleeps 6

Condo Devaux: Oceanfront 3 Bedroom Condo!

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Open House Tomorrow from 4-6pm.

Tomorrow from 4-6pm. See you there!!

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.

Dragon Mart Update

I receive lots of emails in regard to the Dragon Mart Project. So, I'll keep posting info that I find regarding the project to help keep folks in the loop...

On Friday, there was a large forum in Cancun to discuss the points in opposition to the Dragon Mart Project. The forum was organized by the local group, Voces Unidas de Puerto Morelos (United Voices of Puerto Morelos).

The forum was very well attended by those who oppose, as well as city officials. Voces Unidas has a Facebook page where the live-blogged the entire event. So, if you weren't able to attend, check out their posts from Friday for a synopsis.

Additionally, Julian Ricalde, Municipality President made this statement about Dragon Mart over the weekend. [In the video he states that those who want to construct this project, must apply for permits. If the permits do not meet legal requirements, they will not be approved.]

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Twitter and Facebook Readers can view the original post and leave comments at: PuertoMorelosBlog.com.

Amber Pierce-Schulz is the Broker/Owner of Mayan Riviera Properties, specializing in Puerto Morelos Real Estate and Puerto Morelos Vacation Rentals. We are members of AMPI and Federally Certified Realtors.