Etiqueta: House Hunters International

What Makes Puerto Vallarta the Best Beach Town?

Puerto Vallarta was once a quiet port, agriculture being its main contribution. In the mid-60’s all that changed when John Huston decided to film his steamy movie The Night of the Iguana, based on the Tennessee Williams novel. The heat wasn’t just on screen however, and Hollywood gossip columns were on fire with rumors, photos and some substantial facts about the star Richard Burton’s ongoing offset affair with Elizabeth Taylor. With the mountains of preceding publicity, the huge success of the film put Puerto Vallarta on the map; this small town began a sensational climb to notoriety. Today, suites in the remodeled love nest of Burton and Taylor can be rented, in a luxurious setting known as Casa Kimberly, surrounded by splendid dining, tequila bar, pool and the incredible Puente del Amor, the Bridge of Love.
The Bay of Banderas, where Puerto Vallarta is nestled in the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands, is the largest natural bay in Mexico. If you’re coming from Los Angeles it’s a quick flight of three hours, and a mere four and a half hours from New York. In the bay, one can find isolated beach havens and hopping hotspots, with a bit of everything in between. This makes Puerto Vallarta a destination for celebrities and busy people of all types, looking for a quick getaway with premier vacation necessities.
From Los Muertos to Playa de Oro, the most well known beaches in town, one will find gay beach clubs, high end restaurants, family friendly attractions, and peaceful retreats. Playa Sayulita, less than an hour from Puerto Vallarta, is a surfer’s paradise. El Anclote, in Punta de Mita has endless calm water where kids and adult can safely wade. Playa Mismaloya is a prime place to jump aboard a small skiff (panga) for a well guided fishing tour or buck the waves over to the famous rock formation Los Arcos for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Weddings and other elegant celebrations are common on the beaches, as well as the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe or one of the lesser known churches, all gorgeous, warm, and hospitable. Professional wedding planners abound in Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Vallarta has world class golf courses, numerous hiking trails, and day or overnight trips to places like the mountain village of San Sebastián del Oeste, a rural community situated among the pines of the majestic Sierra Madre range. Puerto Vallarta has two world-class well-appointed shopping malls between the airport and central area of town; one on the ocean side and the other across from the cruise ship terminal, where vessels visit daily. Puerto Vallarta is a birdwatcher’s paradise and abundant with wildlife, in the jungle and sea. Puerto Vallarta has fishing, horseback riding, kayaking, plus the must-see Puerto Vallarta Botanical Gardens, for nature lovers of all kinds.
Que es cómo es.

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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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

Sharks in Puerto Vallarta

As far down as Zihuatanejo, you will find sharks in the waters but there simply are none in the vicinity of Puerto Vallarta. Climate change has warmed the waters south of us in places like Ixtapa, which attracts sharks due to the new temperatures and currents that are attractive to typical shark prey. There is a shark species known as the Whale Shark present in the Bay of Banderas of Puerto Vallarta but it’s the Whale Shark (Rhinodon typus) that has been sited here, and is completely harmless and eats nothing but plankton.
There are large groups of dolphins (called pods) in the waters of Puerto Vallarta but they don’t actually patrol the entrances of the bay, as has been mythically reported; maybe in a Disney movie but not locally. It’s possible that a pod of dolphins might chase a solitary shark away but they don’t get rid of them by butting them with their noses, nor are they killing them off either. The most likely explanation for a lack of sharks in the Bay of Banderas of Puerto Vallarta is their over-exploitation. In the 1930’s and 40’s sharks were hunted for their fins. Shark fin soup is still considered a delicacy but it’s not easy to find and we wouldn’t be proud to eat it, no matter how good it might taste. Twelve states and three US territories have banned the sale and possession of shark fins. There is no actual law to stop importing shark fins to Canada but the sale, trade, and distribution have been banned. Sadly for sharks but not for swimmers and surfers, the shark population in Puerto Vallarta has not yet recovered this oceanic plunder. In more recent decades, shark fin oil has been a popular nutritional supplement, which has not helped the cause of the endangerment of sharks on the Pacific coast either.
Shark sightings in Puerto Vallarta always turn out to be dolphins. People who are unfamiliar with both species can’t tell the difference between one dorsal fin and another. They only know what they’ve seen in movies and then panic ensues. It’s good to know that a shark fin is straight in the back where the dolphin dorsal fin has a graceful curve. One way to remember this is the sharp shark as opposed to the curvy dolphin.
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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

You’re in Puerto Vallarta. It’s summer. What a good time to research margaritas!
The tequila brand of Jose Cuervo has long claimed that Margarita is more than a girl’s name. The drink became popular in the United States during a time when distribution and consumption of alcohol was illegal. With many fine liquors hard to get, thirsty citizens turned to the southern border. Tequila wasn’t anything new; the production of this fine drink went back as far as the 16th century. The actual town of Tequila, which is in the state of Jalisco, a quick day trip from Puerto Vallarta, wasn’t established until 1666.
There may be a restaurant in Puerto Vallarta that doesn’t serve margaritas but we certainly aren’t familiar with it, unless it’s a café that doesn’t serve alcohol.
There are as many recipes to make margaritas as there are legendary stories as to how they were invented. The strongest claim is probably Francisco (Pancho) Morales, in El Paso-Juarez at Tommy’s Place on the 4th of July, 1942, seventy-seven years ago this month. Ironically, Pancho became a milkman after becoming a US citizen soon thereafter and the rest of his working days were spent delivering milk for nearly three decades!
If you want to make margaritas at home, the recipe is quite simple. Limes are plentiful in Puerto Vallarta, you can make your own simple syrup or buy a cheap bottle of Jarabe along with your Cointreau, which is called Controy in Mexico, and tequila. We recommend middle of the road tequilas for margaritas, such as Cazadores, Herradura, or El Jimador. Reserve your Patrón or Don Julio for strictly sipping. Avoid cute bottles, labels, names and designs; these are usually costly and not necessarily tasty.
For one margarita, use 2 ounces tequila, 1 ounce Controy, and 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime. Add jarabe (simple syrup) to the level of sweetness desired. Rim the glass with a lime wedge, followed by dipping into a plate of fine salt, and go easy. Some bartenders tend to use coarse salt in copious amounts, which sours the drink. For a crowd, use a pitcher and mix together 3 cups tequila, 1 ½ cups Controy, 1 ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (it’s not that hard; get a bag at Costco and prepare the day before), Jarabe to taste. If you need to make your own simple syrup, prepare that a day ahead, too. One cup each of water and sugar, bring to a boil, chill, and refrigerate overnight. It’s all about personal taste but the popular vote here in Puerto Vallarta is to serve your margaritas on the rocks. Blended drinks destroy the taste and there are some bars that are so opposed to the concept, they don’t even have blenders, İSalud!
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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate

Owning a Car in Puerto Vallarta

We have owned many cars during our years in Puerto Vallarta, and agree there are pros and cons to auto ownership. We recommend you first become an official resident before buying or owning a car in Puerto Vallarta. You will have your own CURP (Unique Population Registry Code) number so you won’t need to rely on a generic one that a car dealership might provide for you. Doing such has been proven to be risky. To get your CURP, you need to have your Resident Visa. The CURP comes in handy for many things and makes life easier for those of us foreigners living in Puerto Vallarta.
Buying from a dealer in Puerto Vallarta will make the process much smoother; they do all the footwork for you, there won’t be liens on the car, you’ll get a warranty, and for a small fee, they take care of your registration. If you buy a car off craigslist or Mano a Mano, you need to be certain it’s not a stolen car. There’s a site you can do this: http://repuve.gob.mx/quieres_conocer.html
If this is your first vehicle purchase, you will need to find a reliable mechanic. Car-owning friends will be happy to recommend one. Have the mechanic do a thorough inspection. It’s incredibly inexpensive, probably far under $50 USD and buys piece of mind.
It’s very important to have the original factura from the previous owners, with names and signatures. A factura is more than a receipt and will contain additional information. It might sound crazy but check the VIN and registration carefully to make sure they match. Make sure the seller has the authority to make the sale; ask for proof. Tenencia was a tax that no longer exists but still must be brought up to date for an older car or you’ll end up paying it at registration, which can be costly, so ask for all tenencia receipts. You and the seller will go to the Registration Office together for the transfer of ownership. Don’t forget to bring your original passport, a photocopy of the passport, and your residence visa. You must also have proof of your address, which is easy enough with an electric or water bill; your rental contract or deed to your home. You’ll need cash for the registration and if there are no liens and all past tenencia have been paid, you should bring as least $2000 pesos. Make sure you have all the above and your CURP… or you’ll taking Uber home.
Auto insurance is mandatory in all of Mexico, so find someone in Puerto Vallarta who can recommend an agent or company. Comprehensive is best, but you must have liability. It’s really smart to have a policy that provides bail bond and legal representation, if you get in an accident of any kind. In an accident where people are injured, it is highly likely you will be detained and we suggest insuring oneself in the unfortunate case this might occur.
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 a constant leader in Puerto Vallarta real estate