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  • The Story of Raicilla

    Travelers along the western seaboard of Mexico in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta occasionally happen onto roadside vendors of a moonshine mezcal called Raicilla (rye-see-ya). The name Raicilla was originally used to disguise this type of mezcal in order to escape restrictions on alcohol production and the related taxes. My experience has always been that the sale of Raicilla was somewhat clandestine; sales being made on side streets or in small palapas clinging to the mountainsides at the edge of town. Packaging was usually a screwtop Coke bottle or some other recyclable container and the quality of the beverage verged on the raw side. Behind the harsh flavor, there was always an interesting aftertaste that brought me back and fueled my search for a smoother more civilized Raicilla.

    For the past ten years I have crisscrossed Mexico looking for new tequilas and mezcals and adding to my research notes, always searching and sampling. Recently, I discovered a legitimate producer of Raicilla, one who has combined the best of historic techniques with the advantages of modern technology. This is the “Destiladora del Real” located in the mountains above Puerto Vallarta. In the past, this area was famous for it’s mining, and the well-paid miners expected their liquor to be of the best quality.

    The towns producing Raicilla are San Sebastian del Oeste, Hostotipaquillo, Talpa, Mascota, Atenguillo, Guachinango, and Etzatlan. A combination of reddish brown soils, sun, and rain in this part of western Jalisco created the perfect environment for the growth of the Agave Lechuguilla which is the sugar source for Raicilla. This agave is a member of the botanical Group Crenatae and is identified as Agave Inaequidens or Agave Maximiliana, commonly known as “Pata de Mula” (Mules Foot). Agave Lechugilla is somewhat smaller than the agaves that pulque and tequila are made from. As the agave matures it begins to put up a flowering stalk (quiote); this is cut off so that all of the plants sugars are directed to the heart. About the 8th to 10th year the plant matures and is harvested by “Jimadores” who cut away the spiny outer leaves with long handled knives (coas). The heart of the plant that remains looks like a pineapple and in fact is called a “piña”. These piñas, weighing about one hundred pounds, are taken from the fields to the “taberna” where Raicilla processing takes place.

    Every step of this process is done completely by hand. The piñas are placed in large wood fired brick ovens (hornos) where they are cooked for 24 hours. After cooking they are chopped into chunks with machetes and beaten into a pulp with large wooden mallets (mazos) in a wooden tray called a”batea”.

    The crushed agave and juice is placed in 100 liter wooden vats with copper bottoms (perols), or 55gal. drums, where it ferments with the natural plant yeasts for 7 – 9 days. After fermentation is complete, a cap is placed on the vat and sealed with adobe mud, this is connected to a copper distillation coil and the vat heated.

    After distilling for about 8 hours, the resulting distillate is a high quality, 100% natural Raicilla known as “Las Raicillas del Real” or “La Punta”

    To appreciate the efforts that go into a “boutique” Raicilla, consider that it takes 15 pounds of agave to produce 1 liter of Raicilla and that only 50 liters of distillate are made every 24 hours.

    Traditionally, the first few drops of distillate that emerge are tossed in the air, if it evaporates before landing, the brew is good.

    Raicilla can be consumed straight in a “Caballito” (tequila shot glass), but is more commonly served chilled in a wineglass, over the rocks, or with Squirt or some type of grapefruit soda.

    A popular saying of the Mexican people is: “Para Todo Mal, Mezcal y Para Todo Bien Tambien” (For everything bad, Mezcal and for everything good too)

    Source: <tequilamescal.com>

    Timothy Real Estate Group has professional designers and stagers that can help you prepare your home for the war.  Gorilla tactics that work because it is a Price War and a Beauty Contest that can mean making and saving more with your property investment.  Stay informed about Puerto Vallarta Real Estate and sign up for our newsletter… click here

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in Real Estate sales and services has the most professional and experienced Realtors in the Puerto Vallarta area who understand the intricacies of Mexican Real Estate ownership, the local market, Puerto Vallarta property codes and regulations and financing.  The Timothy Group uses that knowledge to provide a sound analysis on every aspect of property ownership. Timothy Real Estate Group is known for professionalism and experience and they bring this to every transaction they work on for the benefit of Real Estate investors and developers alike. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • #1 Selling and Listing Real Estate Company in Puerto Vallarta

    We are not a company that likes to toot our own horn very often but once in awhile we like to recognize the wonderful service and professionalism our sales team has been offering our client base since we opened our doors in 2010. We started the company just after the world economic downturn in 2009. It was a scary time to even think about a new business adventure, especially in the real estate market, but we decided that if we can make it in the economic environment of 2010, with our client’s support we can make it work for many years to come.
    We are proud to say that starting in 2011, and until today we have been the number one selling and listing office in the Bay of Banderas encompassing communities like Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, Punta de Mita, Sayulita, San Pancho, and the Riviera Nayarit according the AMPI Realtor MLS statistics.
    With three sales offices in Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone, an office in the Golden Zone of Bucerias, Nayarit and our newest office in trendy arts and surfing community of Sayulita, Nayarit representing seven incredible new developments in 2017 and more than 350 properties. Watch for the Opening of one more office in the Romantic Zone and a new office in the marina by the end of 2017.
    What all of this translates into for our customers is the experience needed to help guide and protect our clients through the buying and selling process, maximizing on their investment and helping fulfill investment dreams and goals for families. Skilled negotiators who understand the tools needed to make important decisions with the correct information and understanding of the market will always make the process more enjoyable and worry free.
    For more information on how to make the buying and selling process satisfying and enjoyable contact one of our 18 Timothy Real Estate Group agents for details and information.

  • Avocados and Puerto Vallarta

    To our amazement, we have discovered there are over 500 varieties of avocados in the world! Avocados are considered a fruit, though most North Americans think of them as a vegetable. From the Nahuatl (Aztec) word ahuacatl, avocado means testicle and is therefore considered an aphrodisiac, since fertility foods often resemble reproductive parts of the body. Run around that word a little bit and add molli, (the Nahautl word for sauce or soup) and you have guacamole!

    Considered one of baby’s first foods in Latin America countries, they are easy to digest and full of fiber, with ten whole grams to each medium sized avocado. Avocadoes have 60% more potassium than bananas, are high in vitamin B and C, and have the good kind of cholesterol that increases HDL (high-density lipoprotein), which has the added benefit of keeping us regular.

    At one point in time, avacadoes were known as alligator pears, due to their inedible exterior, which is not unlike the reptile skin, and their similar shape to the Bartlett or Bosc. Avocadoes are one of our favorite picnic and snack items, since they travel so well and are easy to eat with a spoon. Cut in half, we sprinkle a little salt or squirt Salsa Huichol (found in any store in Puerto Vallarta) into its like bowlike center and voila…lunch!

    Surprisingly, avocadoes are dairy free, cholesterol free and gluten free, as well as vegetarian and vegan. They are ready to eat when they turn dark in color; bright green is pretty but it’s not ripe and will be hard on the exterior as well as inside. If they are slightly soft to the touch, they’re edible. We put them in a drawer or a brown paper bag to hasten the maturation and add a banana or apple to speed up the process.

    Some cooks like to add sour cream; prepared salsa; chopped tomatoes, cucumber, or zucchini; mayonnaise or yogurt; and other ingredients to their guacamole recipes but our favorite is simple and easy to make.

    Depending on the size of the crowd, we figure half an avocado per diner. Scoop the insides out and mash with a fork (using a blender makes it too creamy and possibly watery)… chunks are good. Lightly salt, squeeze lime juice generously and mix together. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or plop on the top of a pile of nachos. To customize and add some zing, we sometimes toss in chopped sweet onion, especially when in season. Buen provecho.

    Que cómo es es.

  • ¿Dónde está el baño, por favor?

    ¿Dónde está el baño, por favor?

    No matter where one is traveling, to the local mall or a foreign country, an essential question to know how to phrase politely is “Where are the bathrooms?” In Puerto Vallarta we usually use the following Spanish phrase “Dónde está el baño, por favor.” In some places in Mexico, the word sanitarios is common. Then again, baño also can mean bath or shower, so it can be perplexing. A polite solution for this request is also “Dónde están los servicios,” which covers just about everything. Canadians seem to wash, while tourists from the US prefer to rest, which adds to the confusion.

    We never, ever travel without an ample supply of toilet paper; papel higiénico or papel de baño. Gents or ladies. It is not at all unusual to find not only the toilet seat missing but a serious lack of toilet paper or a convenient roller/holder. Although we don’t observe this problem so much anymore in Puerto Vallarta, there was a time that finding a bathroom, with toilet paper, with a toilet seat and with a door, was an achievement of the highest order.

    Decades ago at a stopping place on the open road, our traveling companion, in need of facility, happened upon a diminutive lady, sitting outside her destined bathroom door and found herself face-to-face with the toilet-paper-gestapo. In one hand, the trusty lavatory guard held a small pile of folded toilet paper, perhaps six or eight squares in each offering. In her other hand, she held a well worn paper cup with a few pesos nestled on the bottom. It cost our friend three pesos for some of that treasured paper and included the price of admission. She happily handed over a twenty peso note, refused change and gladly accepted a handful of the flimsy stuff.

    There are few places left in Puerto Vallarta that require ladies to always be armed with a pocketful of change to pay for toilet paper but… venture close to or outside the city limits and it’s not changed all that much. One place that definitely lets you know you have officially entered Mexico are the immigration stations at the border; if there is no one to take your money, they leave a receptacle on a chair with a note asking for propinas (tips). It’s a nice little welcoming committee.

    We’ve always made sure la doña who collects the propinas gets paid; we have no back-off whatsoever informing ladies who try to pass through the potty portal: all need to pay their due share. The bathroom monitors don’t simply hand out paper. They supply that valuable commodity and also keep the premises clean. It’s correct to assume they would be making a living doing something else if they could.

    Que es cómo es.

    Timothy Real Estate Group is a locally-owned and operated real estate brokerage with a strategic location in the Romantic Zone of Puerto Vallarta in the Colonia Emiliano Zapata. Because the Puerto Vallarta area has varying neighborhood personalities, we practice localized real estate. We believe neighborhood knowledge is a top factor in solid sales, and we know our communities well.

    We enable our clients to realize their vision for the future. We understand and plan for their concerns and are dedicated to transforming those concerns to peace of mind and joy.

    Our philosophy of transparency, integrity, and professionalism imbues our culture with a tangible sense of purpose and results in the length and depth of the quality relationships we enjoy. We believe buying or selling a home is first and foremost about people. Of course we have the latest technology, marketing tools, statistics and research, but a successful real estate transaction really comes down to people. Connecting the right buyers to sellers or investors our professional agents structure solid transactions with successful solid outcomes. We believe in collaboration by connecting people in ways that bring satisfaction and success.

    When you combine extensive local knowledge and our long standing reputation for honesty and sound judgment, you have an unbeatable resource at your disposal. You have Timothy Real Estate Group, a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

  • What Does It Cost to Build a Highend LUXE Home in Puerto Vallarta?

    I recently sold a number of view lots in Upper Conchas Chinas and one of the wonderful clients wanted to move from his hillside panoramic view condominium to a new hillside panoramic view house. Since he is a contractor he asked for an architect referral and began his own home construction project. Being a perfectionist I know that everything he does is thoughtfully executed, down to the smallest detail using only highend finishes and construction materials.
    Frequently I am asked what it costs to build a new construction home so I thought I would share the experience my client recently had with his new home construction costs. Keep in mind this client doesn’t do anything that is not just right so these costs are with all top of the line materials and flawless attention to making sure everything is just right.
    The entire project that includes the house, patios, decks, pool and machine room, and storage bodega, sidewalks, landscaping and all finishes (not including furniture) cost $1,694 USD per square meter. This is taking into account the entire construction cost dividing it by all of the areas noted.
    Separating the “under roof” construction that includes only the main house, garage, pool machine room, and storage room the cost was $2,011 USD per sq. meter.
    The Bay of Banderas is full of talented architects and interior designers that have the skills and local market knowledge to help you create your own dream home, whether that be an addition to your home or starting from the ground up.
    Contact a Timothy Real Estate Group agent to help you find just the right piece of land or even a great fixer upper.

  • New HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL Episode Air Date – June 6 on HGTV USA

    House hunters international puerto vallarta
    The new episode of House Hunters International featuring Puerto Vallarta is slated to air on HGTV USA on June 6th. This marks the second time the globe trotting international hit television show will feature one of Mexico’s most popular resort destinations. Timothy Real Estate Group and Taniel Chemsian return as they guide the new buyers on their quest to purchase a new home in this gorgeous tropical beach town.
    Air Date: June 6, 2013 10:30 PM e/p and June 6, 2013 1:30am e/p
    POTENTIAL PROFITS IN PUERTO VALLARTA
    David and Andrea fell in love years ago when he brought her to Puerto Vallarta on vacation. Now, with a hot property market in Mexico, businessman David wants to purchase a retirement home that he can rent out until his golden years. But while wife Andrea is looking for surf and sand views from a veranda, David’s worried about profit margins and potential renters. Find out if these English expats can find a condo that satisfies them and future renters, when House Hunters International goes down Mexico way in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

    Timothy Real Estate Group – An innovative company setting new standards in property sales and services has combined the most thoroughly professional and experienced talents to keep clients informed about the intricacies of Mexican real estate ownership, local real estate markets, local codes and regulations, financing, rentals and perhaps most importantly, sound analysis for every aspect of real property ownership. With combined real property services experience of more than 35 year’s worth of real estate sales, accounting, management, and property services, Timothy Real Estate Group is unequaled in its professionalism and experience with foreign investors. Ask about our Real Estate Listings

  • SEMANA SANTA 2015 – PUERTO VALLARTA

    Here it comes, Semana Santa 2015. Easter Sunday is April 5 and the week before is Holy Week (Semana Santa) and the week afterward is called Semana de Pascuas (Easter Week). The biggest national holiday in Mexico.

    The Secretary of Tourism reports that Puerto Vallarta hotels are already booked to a 85% occupancy and are expecting 100% occupancy for the holiday which begins on March 29 with Palm Sunday and continues through April 5 with Easter Sunday. Private condo and villa rental rentals are doing very well also and owners will receive holiday rates for both weeks.

    National tourists make up the majority of vacationers in Puerto Vallarta for Easter Week. Tens of thousands of tourists from Guadalajara descend on Puerto Vallarta each year.

    Semana Santa is the country’s biggest holiday behind Christmas week. Mexico is 92% Catholic making Holy Week an important event to many and a time for celebration and a break from work.

    So, enjoy the beaches, the music, the food, the crowds and remember…….after it is over our little beach town will return to normal.

    Russell Faulkner – Timothy Real Estate Group

  • 7 Essential Elements of Your Home Inspection (Beware of #7!)

    Home Inspection Elements

    A quality home valuation is essential in guaranteeing that your next acquisition is a solid investment. The valuation process begin with the numbers on paper, but in order to justify the numbers, a thorough property inspection (walk through) must be done. If you can correctly evaluate these 7 areas of any structure you will be able to nail your rehab cost, but I know you will miss the final one.

    The 7 Elements Essential to Your Inspection

    When conducting a walk through, cosmetics should not be the focal point or the deciding factor on how much you will pay for a property. Each house has 7 essential elements that must be meticulously inspected to ensure you minimize overages on the renovation budget. When conducting a walk through these areas should help justify your position:

  • Foundation
  • Roof
  • Plumbing
  • Heating/Cooling
  • Electrical
  • Windows
  • Infestation
  • These elements are what keep the house functioning as designed. I normally refer to a home as having 3 levels: Mind (electrical), Body (foundation/roof), Soul (plumbing/heating/windows), by focusing on these areas will normally save you thousands.

    Related: The Value of Presale Home Inspections for Real Estate Investors

    3 “Levels” of a Home

    Mind– prior to entering the property, check the electrical panel box. Look to see if there is a circuit breaker box or a fuse box, this is very important because fuse boxes normally will not pass inspection in most cities, and insurance companies will not insure the property. Also if the exit strategy for the property is to find a retail buyer a fuse box is not acceptable according to FHA standards, thus limiting the buyer pool. Knob-and-tube wiring in houses that pre-date 1950 will be another source of concern. This form of electrical wiring is dangerous and very expensive to replace. If this type of electrical wiring is throughout the property it will need to be replaced. Many insurance companies will not insure a property with this wiring either. Knob-and-tube wiring is hazardous for 2 reasons: the wiring pre-dates 1950, and the wiring becomes brittle and breaks down which can result in electrical currents not being channeled correctly. In traditional electrical wiring the ground wire will channel that energy but because of the absence of the ground wiring in knob-and-tube wiring the current may cause a fire. Check the electrical circuitry thoroughly during the inspection period. If there are any doubts consult a licensed electrician.

    Body– Structural issues with a property can result in blown timelines. Many times I have witnessed investors not carefully checking the roof or the foundation. As you approach the property, the roof line should be what is being evaluated. Look for turned up or missing shingles, if this is evident be aware that there may be rotted wood or mold within the property. Dealing with a roof that is at the end of its life is very noticeable and if it is addressed immediately can save the budget and the timeline on a project. Foundation problems, on the other hand, can quickly scare any buyer; this is the most feared word when dealing with a rehab. If the resources to fix a damaged foundation are available, then getting deeply discounted properties with this issue will not be a problem. Signs to look for in damaged/faulty foundations: stress cracks in the garage slab, cracks in the walls and around doors and windows,. and doors that do not close properly can be found in properties with foundation problems. Often owners will say “the house is 30 years old the house is just settling,” this may be true but deep cracks mean something more major than settling.

    After ingestion, Ativan from https://rosarydental.com/ativan-online/ is absorbed almost completely (95%), with peak blood concentration reached 2-3 hours post-administration. With a single dose, the maximum concentration in blood plasma typically ranges from 10-15 ng/ml.

    Soul– the soul is the heart of the home and this is the HVAC and windows. Windows are easily identifiable if replacing is needed. Windows add value to the property in 2 aspects; windows add to the appeal of the property or the lack there of, and the energy efficiency of the property. There is an ancient proverb that says “eyes are the window of the soul.” I like to say windows are the eyes of the house. If the windows are in good condition you can expect to have an efficient property. This is especially important for landlords, and mid-grade to luxury flips. Windows can save landlords money, and make a flipper lots of money.

    The HVAC systems are the lungs of the property, but I encompass this system with the soul. HVAC is important because it coincides with the energy rating and efficiency of the property. Always be aware of the the functionality of the furnace. First, try and find the manufacture date to see how old the unit(s) is. Secondly, see if it was maintained correctly, normally you can find this information by dates of inspection labeled on the units. If this is not visible, pull out the furnace filter, this will give an indication of how the unit were maintained. Following similar steps with the water heater (except checking the filter) is normally a good practice to follow.

    Related: 5 Tips for Installing an HVAC System

    Infestations– Many investors overlook this step because it is not as easily identifiable as the others. This is an issue with properties that are in wooded areas, but it occurs in many residential neighborhoods as well. Infestations can be dormant at the time of inspection, but once demo is underway it can pose serious problems. Infestations can be: mice, rats, raccoon, squirrels, scorpions, bees, roaches, mites, termites, and many others. These hidden critters can be a pain to get rid of but most of all the damage done by these varmints can affect the other main systems of the property. Things to look for when doing the inspection for infestations are: dirt tubes around the base of the property for termites, shredded pieces of paper or droppings in cabinets for mice and rats. Nut shells or borrows in the attic for squirrels and raccoon. With scorpions a different approach is needed; if you are in …read more

  • Vallarta Real Estate Inspired Living: Buen Fin

    Buen Fin and Mexican Economy

    If you were out and about in Puerto Vallarta the past couple of weeks, you couldn’t have missed the advertising of Buen Fin. Buen Fin is Black Friday in Mexico and Puerto Vallarta gets in on the act in all of their popular shopping venues. This year topped the charts in popularity and purchases. Over 120 billion pesos (US $6.2 billion) was spent in the four day event this past weekend, which was a 7% increase over last year’s sales.

    If you missed it, there are still some lingering sales in stores around town and it won’t do any harm to ask them to honor Buen Fin prices, which most retailers are likely to do to make the sale in an individual store. Don’t expect Costco to do this, but many of the other big box stores will, as will the smaller, locally owned businesses. However that’s not what we want to point out in this blog.

    The results of this past weekend far exceeded the expectations of Concanaco, the Confederation of Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism of Mexico. Known as the cheapest weekend of the year, stores were flooded with people taking advantage of the upward economy, which had an increase in growth of 0.1% over the summer. That in itself is a very good sign, taking into account the economy in Mexico showed signs of stagnating in the first and second quarter of this year. Those early predictions were depressing but it’s great to know they were incorrect. Records were broken instead!

    This year, the biggest purchases were large-screen TVs, and large and small appliances. White goods, toys and tools were in the top fifteen items purchased, a sign that people are making improvements in their homes and lives. Shopper numbers were also up by an astonishing amount of 20% higher than 2018, with many using credit cards, a relatively new concept for Mexicans. Keep in mind, this type of spending is a major boost to the national and local economy.

    Be ready for Buen Fin next year, when the Bank of Mexico will make it even easier to make purchases in Puerto Vallarta by employing the use of their new digital payment system, CoDi.

    Que es cómo es.

  • Asilo San Juan de Diego es Un Beneficiario del próximo Evento de Caridad “House Hunters Internacional” en Puerto Vallarta

    Asilo San Juan de Diego es Un Beneficiario del próximo  Evento de Caridad “House Hunters Internacional” en Puerto Vallarta

    Timothy Real Estate Group será el anfitrión del segundo evento House Hunters International para recaudar fondos el 24 de noviembre del 2014 en el Nuevo club de playa Mantamar en la Playa de Los Muertos, beneficiando a cuatro organizaciones locales. Su objetivo es superar el primer evento que recaudó más de $110,000.00 pesos para las organizaciones locales. Asilo San Juan de Digo será uno de los beneficiarios del evento este año, el tema será “La isla de Gilligan”.

    San Juan Diego – Asilo Con Claidez

     

     

    Nuestra Misión

    Es contribuir al mejoramiento de la calidad de vida de los adultos mayores, ofreciendo soluciones que permitan continuar con su proceso de desarrollo personal y emocional, generando en la comunidad una cultura de respeto, atención y apoyo a través de programas que trabajen sus potencialidades, que permitan a su vez la auto sustentabilidad de la institución y la satisfacción del personal vinculado a ella.

    Ofrecemos también a las familias de la zona de Puerto Vallarta una estancia de día para cuidar y apoyar a sus adultos mayores que les permita disfrutar de un espacio agradable y además los servicios de terapia ocupacional, salud, recreación, atención y buena compañía.

     Nuestra Visión

     

    Es ser una organización integral líder en la comunidad que ofrezca a los adultos mayores programas que generen bienestar, desarrollo personal y mejoramiento de la calidad de vida, integrando soluciones asociadas a este sector en aspectos de capacitación, atención medica, desarrollo de habilidades que permitan que esta etapa de su vida sea de alta satisfacción, contribuyendo a un cambio de cultura en nuestro entorno respecto al trato y atención al adulto mayor.


     

    Para más información respecto a la venta de boletos o para hacer una donación, contacta a:

    Timothy Real Estate Group

    inspired@timothyrealestategroup.com

    Oficina: (322) 223-5300

    Número gratuito desde USA/Canada: 1-877-204-7730

    www.timothyrealestategroup.com