Timothy Real Estate

Etiqueta: Puerto Vallarta Real Estate

  • Puerto Vallarta Inspired Living News: Walking

    Walking Tours in Puerto Vallarta

    Walking tours are the way to go in any city. Whenever we vacation in a new location, we seek out walking tours, the best way to learn about a place, its people, food, and culture. In Puerto Vallarta, we have Vallarta 101, a walking tour, in which you pay what you can afford. Some people have found their walks with a guide so valuable, they dish out as much as $50 USD per person, but you aren’t obligated to spend that much. You can pay as little as $5 USD, and still feel like a proper tourist. Mind you, these walks are first class and the experience is for everyone, young and old alike. The guides take you to unique places you’d rarely discover on your own. A normal tour is usually around two to three hours and you don’t pay until the end, giving you the chance to decide what your tour is worth to you. Locals with a command of English and Spanish will be your guides.

    Walks last about an hour and a half and vary in their experiences. Some involved food, which you will receive advice on what to order and pay out of your own pocket (normally between $5 to $10 USD), or you could have a foodless tour. Old Town 101 is described as “a stroll with a friend through Vallarta’s most diverse and changing neighborhood”; Downtown 101 is comprised of the same but focuses on the historic and traditional neighborhoods. Small groups of up to six people make it easy to hear the guide and not miss any important details. Tours start at Los Arcos Amphitheater, across from the main plaza by the cathedral. The specific meeting place is by the benches and can be easily reached via taxi, Uber, bus or walking. A light rain will not deter plans for tours, but inclement weather will cancel the event.

    A good example of a walk is the taco vegetarian stroll, where participants will visit up to five tacos locations in El Centro and Old Town that offer vegetarian fare. (There are also taco walks centering on meat and seafood.) On these walks, you’ll be advised on how to put together the tastiest taco with the most representative and authentic selections. You’ll walk away with confidence to order your own, both at street stands and in restaurants, plus be aware of pricing. There are no credit card exchanges so make sure to bring cash; dollars or pesos. For photos and more information, check out Vallarta 101 on Facebook and Instagram.

    Que cómo es es.

  • Vallarta & Feast Of The Holy Innocents

    Fools’ Day in Puerto Vallarta: Be careful what you read in the news or see on the television in Puerto Vallarta on December 28th; it’s Fool’s Day in Mexico. Though we have comparable days north of the border, the Day of Innocents can seem to some to be a bit more extreme; everyone seems to get in on the act.

    This day in Mexico and other Latin countries, is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, also called Childermas or Innocents’ Day. According to the Christian Bible, King Herod the Great massacred all the babies his armies could locate, in an effort to kill the newborn Jesus, who he’d heard would potentially replace him as king. This was once a day of fasting and mourning in some countries, and children in medieval England were whipped while still in their beds on the morning of December 28th, a Christian practice that endured until the mid-1600’s.

    This day has taken on much lighter and happier merrymaking, thankfully; and Puerto Vallarta loves to observe the traditions. In some households, children are put in charge. Traditionally, the youngest in the family are given full reign for the day, allowed to play tricks and pranks on parents and other elders, and order them about. Children are to be waited upon and their chores done for them.

    Though it’s not a sanctioned holiday, it is a day filled with good fun. Newspapers will report news that is silly and so far from the possible, few fall for ridiculous reporting of aliens, bridges that appear overnight, lottery winnings for all, and similar nonsense.

    The Day of Innocents is also a time to visit cemeteries with offerings to children who have passed long before their time.

    In Puerto Vallarta, we may find restaurants with preposterous items listed on menus, stores offering astronomical or impossible sales, people dressed in outrageous costumes. In Spain, they go so far as to don full military dress and have a flour-fight, which seems almost more fun than we can perceive.

    Traditionally bromas or inocentadas (pranks or jokes) are played on the inocentes (victims) and the little devils are the innocent ones, of whom no one is allowed to be angry. The thought is that they’ve committed no sins; they’re not truly responsible for their actions.

    We recommend taking all this frivolity very lightheartedly. We have known some expats to be upset and unforgiving. It’s best to remember we have the same childish observance north of the border called April Fools’ Day; let’s embrace newfound and delightful customs.

    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

  • Puerto Vallarta – Pier Pressure

    The Pier and Puerto Vallarta

    Periodically we see photos and old posts of the pier that was replaced by the current modern and highly designed wharf where boats continue to come and go, as they did in more humble times. Some say they like the old pier better but we find those people are similarly unhappy with other changes in Puerto Vallarta.

    The day of the inauguration of the new pier, six years ago this month, was one of pride and celebration. We planted ourselves on the beach adjacent to the pier early in the day. We remained there until late at night, when an elegant fireworks show, as is the custom in Puerto Vallarta, completed a day of high level festivity, comprised of a variety of live music, dancing, parasailers, food and drink, and sacred Aztec blessings.

    The old pier was one long concrete structure that ran straight out into the ocean, expanded at the end to hold a large amount of fishermen, sightseers and strolling lovers. We dangled our legs over the edge on late nights and listened to the revelry in the distance, combined with the tide crashing against the shore, drowning out all but the most insistent noise.

    Boys in baggy shorts would barrel off the side of the old pier, avoiding water taxis picking up travelers to Yelapa and other seaside destinations. Lines that tempted fish hung in the water and buckets for catches sat on the edge. Lovers stole kisses under the moonlight. All these things still occur, including the boats coming and going to pick up passengers, luggage, refrigerators, chainsaws, generators and other supplies for the small villages south of us. Changes is constant.

    The new pier is a showcase, and has become an icon of Puerto Vallarta. It is readily recognized by those familiar with the city and has been featured on travel magazine covers. There are times the lights go out around Puerto Vallarta and the pier suffers the same outages; yet it’s an amazingly bright beacon when the storms pass.

    For those who grouse about missing the old pier, we get it. We loved the old Vallarta, too. We have learned, however, to live with the progress and appreciate the positive change. Art and education have attracted many newcomers; the reasons to move to Puerto Vallarta are endless. We look forward in the New Year and closing of a decade for more transformations, like the mosaics that have beautified our fair city by the sea. Remember the old and embrace the new.

    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.

  • Puerto Vallarta – Spanish Language Lesson #304

    Titulos and Formalities

    In Puerto Vallarta, did you know it’s important to address professionals by their title? Unless you’re on a first name basis with your Doctor, he or she is Doctor (masculine form) Garcia or Doctora (feminine form) Diego. However, just as significant are the titles of your engineer Ingeniero or your architect Arquetecto, who are responsible for the building and design of the home you’re having constructed. Titles mean a lot in Mexico and are a key facet of etiquette; many ex-pats are unaware of this. You should address teachers as Maestro or Maestra; people with high skills and fine arts are also given these titles, out of respect for their achievements. People with degrees are referred to as Licenciado or Licenciada.

    When learning Spanish, and we always recommend doing so, it’s important to know the difference between tu and usted for the word you. It can get complicated but once you catch on, it’s easy. Tu is used informally, whereas usted is both formal and polite. You would use usted when talking to someone in general, like the bank teller, grocery store clerk, or one of the professionals we mentioned above. Tu is reserved for family, close friends, your peers and loved ones. Using tu when addressing someone upon meeting, especially in a business situation or a person of esteem, could create awkwardness.

    Tu is also used by someone in authority when speaking to another person who would be considered of less authority and it isn’t construed as being rude. For example, if you were their elder or teacher, addressing a student with the informal tu would be acceptable, as well as when talking to your maid or gardener, though we often find ourselves opting for usted, out of politeness.

    The use of the word tu can be difficult to assess at the time in a relationship can one switch to using the less formal tu; this can make a lot of difference when it comes to the dating game. If you’re getting to know someone on a basis that can possibly turn into an intimate connection, the last thing you want to do is make them feel like you’re being aggressive.

    Since our early days of speaking Spanish in Puerto Vallarta, we’ve found it wise to let the shoe be on the other foot. Wait until the tables are turned, so to speak. Especially if you are uncertain as to how one should be spoken to. When you have been addressed informally, then it is okay to use the less superior form of language. North of the border, we have dropped many customary terms of engagement, but Mexico is not only a different country, they also have their own standards.

    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.

  • Vallarta: Day Tripping

    Get Out of Town

    As Ella Fitz sang “Get on your mark, get set, get out of town,” this is the time of year to do so. There are many places to go where the air is fresh and the nights much cooler than the summer heat of Puerto Vallarta. Wonderful excursions are to be had, within a car or bus ride. Some are overnight destinations, whereas many you can day-trip and be back to your own ceiling fans by dusk. However, we highly recommend these economical journeys that will not just broaden your horizons, but open your eyes to the surrounding culture. As the weeks go by, we promise to visit landmarks and tourist sites, so keep tuned to these pages.

    Buses in and out of Puerto Vallarta are a great way to travel and very reasonable.  The more you pay, of course, the classier the bus but we have been aboard most of them and have few complaints. If budget is a problem, a cheap bus will get you there just as fast as an expensive one.  The bus station is off the highway at Bahía de Sin Nombre 363; all taxi drivers know its location right behind the Corona building, which can’t be missed off the main highway.  Buses go up and down the coast, into the mountains to Mascota, San Sebastian, Talpa, Las Palmas, to Guadalajara.  It’s possible to see all of Mexico on a bus, and can be a fun and adventurous trip, regardless of length and stopovers.

    Driving is an option and it’s not as scary as some media represent. We have driven over the years on both east and west coasts, through central Mexico and from the US border to Puerto Vallarta and beyond, without incident. We don’t recommend driving at night but it has nothing to do with banditos; that’s a myth. Free range cattle can wander out on the highway in areas that are unfenced. Horses, cows and sheep are hazardous when driving at any time, but at least in the daytime you can see them. There are also the famed topes, traffic bumps that will slow you down going into and out of towns, villages and cities. Hitting a tope unexpectedly is guaranteed to do serious damage to your vehicle. Always obey traffic signs; if it says you should slow down to 50 KPH heading around a corner or over a hill, do as it says. Speed limits have been tested and established; you aren’t smarter than a crash dummy.

    Travel agents abound in Puerto Vallarta and we recommend consulting one for either long or short trips. They’ll definitely save you money and can let you know what sites to skip and those not to be missed.

    ¡Buen Viaje!

    Que cómo es 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.

    [idx_slideshow link=”zm4d8372nk9″ horizontal=”3″ vertical=”1″ auto_rotate=”9000″ source=”location” display=”all” sort=”recently_changed” destination=”local” send_to=”photo”]

  • Is Puerto Vallarta The Friendliest City?

    Many years ago, upon one of our first visits to Puerto Vallarta, before we decided to make our residence permanent, we read a sign on our way into the city from a day trip returning from Sayulita. We’d just crossed the border from Nayarit into Jalisco and there it was: La ciudad más amigable del mundo. At the time our Spanish was severely lacking and the only word we could translate was más, meaning more.

    Without someone to tell us what the sign meant, we often drove by and puzzled over its meaning. As time went by, we began to pick up some language skills. We took classes off and on and began to learn how to put a sentence together. It took years, but one day passing this sign La ciudad más amigable del mundo, we were able to read it with pride and revelation.

    The most friendly city on earth.

    Of all the differences we were aware of whenever we left Puerto Vallarta and went back to the States, it was the disparity in how we were treated. Not just by shopkeepers and neighbors, but doctors, business associates and children.

    While walking the pup (and the pup before the pup), we’ve always been greeted by every person we pass, whether a gardener watering lawns, a pedestrian on the street, or the lady who lives next door. In the States, we didn’t know our neighbors. We never met, though we passed one another on a daily basis and sometimes would nod. Our neighbor in Vallarta invited us to spend Christmas Eve with her family!

    Our doctors in Puerto Vallarta greet us with a hug and often a kiss on the cheek. I think I can safely say, our doctors in the States wouldn’t recognize us if they sat next to us on a bus.

    Children! We have smiled at youngsters in the States and been frowned at, scowled at and hid from. Parents glare and clutch the hands of their offspring. If in an elevator with a child, or anyone for that matter, it’s best to stare straight ahead or risk someone calling the Etiquette Police. Children in Mexico grin at us and it’s perfectly acceptable to give them a small pat on the head.

    It is common in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico, when conducting business, to first ask about family and spouse, chat about the weather and inquire after everyone’s health before proceeding. Up north, the requirement is to conduct business as quickly as

    possible, don’t pry into personal matters, and move things along so as to get to the next money making meeting as rapidly as one can.

    We knew we’d made the right decision moving to Puerto Vallarta, when one day we sneezed in the supermarket and suddenly, an unknown, unseen voice, from the aisle over said Salud! (to your health).

    Que es cómo es.

  • Guidebooks for Vallarta?

    Do I Need a Guidebook for Mexico?: Remember back in the day when the first thing you did planning a trip was to buy a Fodor’s or Baedeker’s? Later it was Lonely Planet, Let’s Go, Moon Handbooks and countless other guidebooks on the market. Browsing at the bookstore was fun and choices were sometimes difficult. For some, a guidebook was the beginning of a big adventure, planning months, sometimes years into the future.

    Then the internet hit and who needed a guidebook when everything was right there at your fingertips?

    Well, you do, especially if you don’t have an available keyboard or your phone isn’t picking up a WiFi signal. That can happen in jungles, mountains, broad plains and anywhere else you might find yourself traveling in or out of Puerto Vallarta. How many times have you been able to find a connection but you don’t have the password? You’re charting out the day and can’t find a signal so you’re lost.

    Guidebooks are valuable for a lot of reasons. Some of the information contained within those knowledgeable pages: restaurants and bars; places to stay and whether they have pillows, bedbugs swimming pools and windows; transportation; spas; gyms; beaches; nude beaches; cultural, historical and educational information. Find out the best place to take your kids; how gay friendly a city is or isn’t; what’s the best and safest route; how to tip, or not tip; prices; hikes; where to rent a bike, a car, a boat, a kite, a babysitter.

    Some locations around the world, including Puerto Vallarta, have guides for specific focuses; sexual orientation, dietary restrictions, surfing, fishing, bird-watching. A guidebook might have a section on phrases in the language of the country you’re traveling. If not, buy a small phrase book with a pronunciation guide. It will be of great assistance when you’re shopping. Take for instance the similarity of two Spanish words that can easily be confused; jabon is soap; jamon is ham.

    Arthur Frommer was an soldier from the United States stationed in Europe in the 1950’s; he later wrote a book that started an extensive series; Europe on $5 a Day. Travel was no longer only for the wealthy. Eugene Fodor was an immigrant from Hungary who used his knowledge to introduce US citizens to continental Europe. Both wise travelers shared their experiences with the encouragement for the curious to see the world and meet the people in it. Travel opens people’s minds, breaks down mental barriers and removes preconceived notions.

    We love guidebooks that we can pass back and forth among our friends, dog-eared, highlighted, post-it tabs galore and notations in the margins for what was best, what was best to avoid.

    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

  • Puerto Vallarta Living: In The Navy

    Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta

    Mexico celebrated her first Navy Day in 1942 and Puerto Vallarta took up the tradition not long after, in 1949. Navy Day is one of the holidays Mexicans observe that usually misses tourist attention. Expats living in Puerto Vallarta eventually catch on and some are fortunate enough to be invited to join in on the activities. Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta is a holiday that begins with solemn ceremonies, commemorating events in the past that happened on the oceans, battles on both coastlines, missions that have focused on the eradication of drug trade on the high seas; and the heroes associated with these incidents. Navy Day in Puerto Vallarta honors the nation’s service of men and women in the present and past.

    Puerto Vallarta is a great place to be for Navy Day. Always on the first day of June, and often resulting in a three day holiday, festivities continue into the evening, with parties and the typical entertaining song and dance, food and drink.

    For family members, it’s an all hands on deck occasion. Everyone gets in the act of spit-shining the vessel, regardless of size, a small panga or a fancy fishing rig. Flags, banners, flowers, lighting (after dark in the form or candles or strings of lights), boats are decorated with love and pride. Those who enjoy a day afloat will be waiting on shores, piers and docks for permission to come aboard.

    Sailing competitions, tournaments, parades and fireworks are scheduled throughout the day, often ending with formal and non-formal dances.

    The Mexican Navy controls an enormous area, one of the largest coastlines in the world at 11,122 kilometers (6,910 miles), with a stated mission “to use the naval force of the federation for external defense, and to help with internal order.” It’s a big job, utilizing nearly 200 ships and over 130 aircraft, with a consistency in maintaining modernity to achieve the utmost response. There is a huge amount of pride in the duties required and initiated in the ongoing war on drugs, not to mention the assistance in hurricane relief operations and unavoidable natural disasters that cross borders. The Navy also is assigned to protect PEMEX’s oil wells in Campeche and in the Gulf of Mexico.

    Our recommendation in Puerto Vallarta is to find an amigo with a panga, a yacht or a good viewing platform, mix a pitcher of margaritas and enjoy this wonderful day that commemorates tradition, loyalty, patriotism and a lot of fun!

    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

  • Puerto Vallarta – Protect Yourself

    Protect Yourself

    Recently someone posted on a well known Facebook thread, asking what type of protection they need in Puerto Vallarta. The responses, as usual, got out of hand and the thread had to be closed, due to nastiness on the part of some commentors. This is too bad because it’s an issue that should be addressed with finesse and logic.

    As we have said before in these guest columns, guns are not legal in Mexico. There is only one gun store in all of Mexico in the capitol, Mexico City. To purchase ammunition, one must go to a separate location. Can one still buy a gun in other places in Mexico? Sure, on the Black Market… it’s so verboten just thinking about it could get you deported. Shootings in Puerto Vallarta are rare. You are much more likely to die from being run over by a bus or taxi for not paying attention when you cross the street.

    Pepper spray was brought up in the conversation and there’s a debate as to whether it’s legal. It depends on who you talk to apparently, but the laws regarding its possession and use are shady and not concise. We recommend carrying a bottle of strong perfume. It’ll likely have the same affect.

    A local Mexican commented on the Facebook thread that it’s much safer in Puerto Vallarta, not only due to gun laws, but also because most people come here to have fun, not get into trouble. He also mentioned that Mexico doesn’t target particular racial groups, making them a target of violence. Everyone is welcome in Puerto Vallarta and all of Mexico.

    What should you do to protect yourself in Puerto Vallarta? Use common sense. Don’t flash wads of cash around and avoid carrying large amounts of money. Doesn’t this apply to anywhere you travel? Regarding comments about wearing expensive jewelry; it’s far better to have it on your person than leave it lying around. If you bring it, wear it.

    It’s really okay to stay out late and party, go dancing in the clubs, and get late-night tacos on the street. Once you’re ready to go home, walk on the main streets and know where you’re going. Use taxis; there are plenty around, even in the middle of the night. Uber is in Puerto Vallarta now and rides are extremely reasonable. Get the app on your phone before you come. If possible, move around town with friends.

    In the daytime, you are safer in Puerto Vallarta than just about anyplace we have ever been; but watch out for the aforementioned buses. If you’re alone, don’t drink so much it impairs your judgment. Keep a copy of your ID on you at all times and write down the address where you’re staying. Make yourself familiar with your surroundings so you don’t get lost. Be friendly. Speak a little Spanish.

    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.

  • Vallarta Inspired Living News: Dengue

    What Should You Do About Dengue?

    One thing we’ve learned about dengue (pronounced den-gay) is that dengue mosquitoes aren’t looking for murky water. They breed in clean, clear water. This is very important to know when doing our own home inspections. In Puerto Vallarta, teams from the Department of Health, wearing bright colored vests and carrying official identification, go house to house, looking for possible breeding grounds. One year, they found just such a thing in our laundry room, where a bucket had sat and collected rain water. We were completely unaware of this situation, not having been in the annexed room for a couple days. The Health Department people didn’t shame us, but we were certainly schooled. Mosquitoes, dengue and otherwise, can breed in something as small as an overturned bottle cap, sitting innocently in the yard. Mosquitoes aren’t big, but they are mighty. It is imperative to check every day and not be caught out like we were, having thought we not only keep a very clean and healthy house, but resting on the idea we didn’t need to be diligent on a daily basis.

    Look for any vessel that can hold water, be it a piece of PVC used for drainage or fencing; neglected pots intended for planting at a later date; kiddy pools; empty pop cans, paper cups, and other debris that should be tied up in garbage, recycle bags or bins.

    Dengue and other mosquito transmitted viruses are a part of living in the tropics, regardless of where you reside or visit. Mosquitoes and other biting insects are here all year around. Dengue mosquitoes are seasonal; they are attracted to Puerto Vallarta during the rainy season.

    In research to find out whether we can pass the virus along, we found out that we can’t pass it to humans but we surely can give it to other mosquitoes. Since the virus circulates in the blood of the infected human, we become a primary source for uninfected mosquitoes. Repellent is you best friend and you must use a product that contains DEET, which is the only repellent that effectively works. Spray it on your skin and on your clothing. It will act as a barrier to the mosquitoes and send them on their way.

    Several strands of dengue exist. If you, or any family member have signs of malaise, nausea, fever, abdominal pain, unusual bruising, go see your doctor, or check in at a clinic or ER, immediately. Dengue is known as the bone-aching disease; it’s likely your bones will feel like they are being hammered, though it’s not the only symptom. If it’s just the flu, then you can go home and rest and continue to use repellent. But if it is dengue, you want an early diagnosis to avoid complications. Don’t use aspirin; it acts as a blood thinner and will cause further problems. Paracetamol and acetaminophen only, as prescribed, and a minimum of three liters of water per day. And… repellent, repellent, repellent.

    Que cómo es es.

    .