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July 6, 2003
Good Morning;
I have been hearing that we will
all need this new ID card called "CRUP", have
you heard anything about it? Is it true we all will
need it?
Thanks for anything you can find
out.
Paul
Dear Paul,
The ID is a CURP which stands for “Clave Unica
de Registro de Poblacion” (Only/Unique/Single
Population Registration Code). If my information is
correct, anyone who has an FM-3 or FM-2 document should
indeed apply for a CURP.
The fiscal authorities began issuing those ID numbers
in the year 2000.
The Ed.
Dear Editor,
I have enjoyed reading your online
newspaper (www.pvmirror.com) for quite some time. I
particularly enjoy Harriet Murray's real estate column.
I have gained a lot of information from her that I wish
I had known several years ago. I can see that thousands
of people read her column. However, I do have to make
some comments about her most recent column. It is entitled
"Here are some guidelines for success in real estate
acquisitions in Mexico".
Her first point is "Be sure
the agent you select to represent you is a member of
AMPI, the Mexican National Real Estate Association.
Ask for references and check them out. Be satisfied
that the person representing you is experienced in Mexican
transactions". I am one of a group of ten Americans
and one Mexican who bought units in a PV condo development
gone bad. We all bought our units from two different
AMPI real estate agencies, who were the exclusive listing
agencies at the time. We purchased at various times
from 1999 to February 2000. We had contractual delivery
dates from December 1999 to December 2000. When I and
several others were buying our units in January and
February 2000 we had no clue or concept that there were
already other purchasers seriously late in taking delivery.
There was no disclosure of this very important piece
of information. In fact, even after repeated requests
our AMPI realtor refused to give us the names and contact
numbers of the other purchasers. It took well over six
months before our realtor would give us that information
and by that time we were already in problems.
Why didn't my AMPI realtor want me
talking to other purchasers? We most definitely would
never have purchased our units if we had any concept
of the existing lateness. When I bought my unit in January
2000, my AMPI realtor had already been the exclusive
listing agency, and agent, for the project for six months.
Obviously this was enough time for the agency and realtor
to be totally familiar with all aspects of the project
they were selling.
In July 2001 I, and several others,
filed formal, written complaints with the state and
local AMPI organizations. The state organization to
this day has never even acknowledged our complaints.
The local organization performed a cursory investigation,
said there was nothing they could do and we have never
heard another word from them. At the same time we filed
complaints with PROFECO, the Office of the Mayor and
the American Consulate. The first two never even acknowledged
our complaint. The Consulate said they can not intervene
in private transactions.
When I, and others, purchased our
condos through our AMPI realtor, we were assured that
this was a very financially secure development, our
contracts contained many safeguards for us and our realtor
would be with us "until the end and beyond".
As soon as it became apparent that we had a problem,
our AMPI realtor said this was not their responsibility,
the deal was between the developer and us and we would
have to take care of the problem ourselves.
The AMPI realtors took their full
sales commissions up front, in full and in cash. They
have had 100% of their sales commissions for two or
three years. The purchasers have been left to find,
hire, pay and supervise lawyers in a foreign country.
This matter has been in litigation of one kind or another
for two and one half years. Many different law firms,
both in Mexico and the USA, are involved. The purchasers
have incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal
expenses. My AMPI realtor has never offered me financial
assistance of any kind. It has been about two years
since we have had any kind of reliable information from
the developer. It has been about a year since I have
had any kind of communication with my realtor. The purchasers
have all been forced to enter into lengthy expensive
legal proceedings of various kinds. I would ask this
question: Have the AMPI realtors also commenced legal
proceedings against the developers? If not, why not?
They surely had listing agreements with the developers.
Were these listing agreements 100% valid and factual?
The Mexican purchaser has been living
in his unit for one and one half years. All the American
purchasers have been permanently banned from entering
the building. As of today not one single American has
taken delivery of his condo. One and one half years
ago the developers moved into two units purchased by
Americans in 1999, without their knowledge or permission.
The developers have a great life. They are living in
paradise for free. We all paid to construct their homes.
There is no Certificate of Occupancy on the building.
The developers are paying no property taxes. They have
purchased no insurance on the building. They have complete
and exclusive use of all the building amenities-such
as the pool and parking.
On several occasions the purchasers
have had to stand on the street and watch the developer
and his friends having a pool party in the pool the
purchasers paid for. What rational justice system allows
this kind of situation to exist?
Ms. Murray's second point is that
the person representing you should represent only you
unless you sign some kind of agreement to the contrary.
None of us ever received any kind of disclosure from
our AMPI realtors as to who they were representing.
I assumed they were representing me.
Ms. Murray's fourth point has to
do with the language barrier. In every one of these
purchases every party involved spoke fluent Spanish,
EXCEPT the purchasers. We were totally reliant on our
bi-lingual AMPI realtors.
Several of the purchasers lost all
of their retirement savings in this project. They now
have no retirement home. Several of the purchasers died
before they ever saw their condo finished. Their children
are now left to try to figure out this mess. I have
received violent threatening phone calls in regard to
this project. They have been quite graphic in describing
what they are going to do to my family and me.
There are at least ten people who
would take issue with Ms. Murray's contention that an
AMPI realtor somehow brings added value and protection
to a purchaser. I do not believe that foreigners buying
real estate in PV have any concept of the many dangers
that may befall them. We are totally at the mercy of
our AMPI realtors and must totally rely on them. I further
believe that there should be much more widespread dissemination
of information about the possible problems of buying
in PV so that foreigners can make a better informed
decision and make a deal in which they receive maximum
protection.
They should realize that if there
is a problem it will be their problem. Do not believe
that your realtor is going to stay with you "until
the end and beyond". Do not believe that you "are
buying a piece of paradise with peace of mind".
The purchasers will be on their own
to deal with a legal mess in a foreign country, in a
language they most likely do not speak and a culture
they most likely do not understand. Nobody will offer
help or assistance of any kind. There is no government
body that will do anything for you. Once you have paid
your money, nobody wants to hear from you again.
Most sincerely,
Ogden W. Confer
Dear Editor,
Why would Mr. Luster come to Puerto
Vallarta?
Because no Mexican authority touched
him until some American "bounty hunters" tracked
him down. Seems to me like Puerto Vallarta is a fairly
safe place to lay low.
Dan Freeman
Dear Editor,
I was ready to dash off a note about
the new turnstiles on buses when I saw the letter in
last week’s issue. The writer is absolutely correct…
Not only are these things incredibly dangerous (even
more than the drivers), but they're almost impossible
to pass through if you're carrying a child and/or packages.
I've also noticed that the access
roads are not being used by trucks and buses. This was
a good idea and the signs were installed, but apparently
the bus companies didn't give the city a chance to surface
the streets before the rains started, so all traffic
is back on the highway.
Is there a committee or is there
just one moron making these decisions? For your own
safety, you should refuse to ride on these potential
death traps.
M.M.
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