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The U.S. has regained its standing as the
world's most competitive country, according to the latest rankings from
Swiss business school IMD.
1. United States
1 of 5
Attendees wear Google Glass at the Google I/O developer
conference in San Francisco. The technology sector has helped the U.S.
flourish.
The United States has regained top billing in the IMD world competitiveness rankings, after losing out in 2012 to Hong Kong.
This year's strong performance was attributed to a rebounding
financial sector, a wave of innovation and an improved corporate
outlook.
According to business executives surveyed by IMD, doing business
in America is an attractive proposition due to the dynamism of the
economy, access to a skilled workforce, easy financing and a strong
research and development culture.
There are, however, plenty of areas for improvement. Executives
panned the U.S. tax code, and "competency of government" ranked very low
on a list of factors that are important to business. NEXT: Switzerland
http://money.cnn.com/gallery/news/economy/2013/05/30/world-competitiveness-ranking/index.html
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What has emerged as a major archaeological find could one day be a new tourism attraction in Mexico.
Archaeologists in Mexico discovered 4,926 well-preserved cave paintings in caves and ravines in the San Carlos mountain range near Burgos in northeastern Mexico near the Texas border. The images in red, black, yellow and white depict humans hunting and fishing as well as animals, insects and abstract scenes. The paintings were discovered in 11 different sites in an area that experts previously thought had been uninhabited in pre-Hispanic times. Although the ancient cave art was discovered in 2006 by archaeologists at the Mexican National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the findings were revealed only recently at a symposium in Mexico City. INAH has been studying the artifacts since they were discovered.
“Because the paintings are on ravine walls and the sediments wash away in the rainy season, all we have is gravel,” INAH archaeologist Gustavo Ramirez told BBC News.
Experts have not yet been able to date the paintings, and no other objects were found in the caves that could provide clues as to the indigenous people who inhabited the area.
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You’ve probably heard about San Miguel de Allende, that Mexican
colonial city in the state of Guanajuato with the cobble stone streets
and sixteenth and seventeenth century churches and architecture. San
Miguel was invaded by ‘gringos’ who came in droves to retire in this
quaint, affordable hamlet, building up the town and causing real estate
prices to skyrocket. San Miguel is an awesome town, but it’s busy and
expensive. So is Lake Chapala in the state of Jalisco, where another
colony of North Americans live in blissful retirement around the
beautiful lake.
While the dollar is still strong against the Mexican peso, prices for
real estate in choice areas like Lake Chapala, Puerto Vallarta, San
Miguel de Allende and Cabo San Lucas, are now quite even with prices in
popular retirement towns across the U.S.
But if you think you’re too late to buy inexpensive real estate in
Mexico, think again. It’s a big country with a number of fantastic towns
and cities set around lakes, mountains and the ocean. Here are five
awesome places to retire in Mexico that are still affordable for those
with a modest income.
This
is a view from the third floor balcony of the Villa Amor looking over
the bay at Sayulita, Mexico. (AP Photo/Michael Virtanen)
Sayulita: Located on the pacific coast in the state of Nayarit, Sayulita
is an up and coming beach heaven for foreigners and Mexicans who want
something a little off-beat. Just 25 miles north from Puerto Vallarta,
Sayulita was once a fishing village and a surfer’s paradise. Now it’s
the ‘it’ beach town in Mexico. While the town is tiny, with the beach on
one side and mountains on the other, there are plenty of small hotels,
villas and hip restaurants and shops. Real estate is still affordable,
although quickly climbing. If a funky beach town is your thing, you’ll
soon call Sayulita home.
Merida is considered the oldest continually occupied city in the Americas. (Shutterstock)
Merida: the state capital of Yucantan, Merida
is considered one of the safest cities in Mexico. It has a beautiful
colonial center with amazing architecture from the 19th century. Rich
with Mayan and Mexican culture, Merida has attracted many foreigners who
are rebuilding the old mansions and nearby sisal plantations. With a
warm tropical climate and a trove of boutique hotels and new
restaurants, Merida is a great place to retire if you’re looking for the
amenities of a city, but want to be only close to the coast. And best
of all, there are plenty of real estate options to accommodate varying
budgets.
The
Our Lady of Remedios church is backdropped by the snowcapped volcano
Popocatepetl, in Cholula, in the Mexican state of Puebla. (AP Photo/Joel
Merino, File)
Puebla: A short drive from Mexico City, Puebla
is Mexico’s fourth largest city, and a colonial jewel. Puebla is on the
other side of the famous Popocatepetl volcano from Mexico City and the
sight of the battle where the Cinco de Mayo holiday was named after.
Puebla offers everything a large city could offer, including its famous
food, “mole poblano” and “talavera” tiles and ceramics. Convenient,
pretty and safe, Puebla offers multiple real estate options for
retirees.
Mineral de Pozos. (www.mineraldepozosahora.com)
Mineral de Pozos: If what you are looking for is a quiet little town, check out Mineral de Pozos, in the state of Guanajuato.
Pozos is a former silver mining town that became a ghost town – until
recently. Now, small boutique hotels and restaurants are opening up.
Most of the buildings are from the 19th century when the town was
booming. Pozos is currently experiencing a small resurgence with
businesses catering to tourists and visitors from nearby San Miguel
Allende.
Patzcuaro, Michoacan. (Shutterstock)
Patzcuaro: This town on lake Patzcuaro
in the state of Michoacan dates back to the days before the Spaniards
arrived in Mexico. The lake and its surrounding little colonial towns
are beautiful and quaint, with cobble stone streets and red tile roofs.
The area has been popular with Mexicans and foreigners for years, so
there are plenty of amenities. Real estate can be expensive, but because
the area is so large you can still find deals if you take your time and
look for the right place. Patzcuaro and Michoacan are rich with history
and crafts. Being in Patzcuaro is being in the heart of Mexico.
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Julie Schmit, USA TODAY11:37 a.m. EDT May 28, 2013
Posting the biggest gain in seven years, home prices rose 10.9% in the 12 months ending in March, a closely watched housing index said Tuesday.
From February, prices were up 1.4% for the 20-city composite, as measured by the monthly Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index.
Phoenix and San Francisco are the hottest markets with prices up more than 22% year over year. But all 20 cites in the index posted year-over-year growth for the third month in a row.
Twelve of the 20 cities saw prices rise at double-digit annual growth rates.
Las Vegas came in up 20.6% year over year. Miami and Tampa were softer with annual gains of 10.7% and 11.8%.
Even the weakest annual price gains were "substantial," said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee. New York was up 2.6%, Cleveland, up 4.8%, and Boston, up 6.7%.
Price increases are being driven by strengthening demand, a tight inventory of homes for sale and fewer foreclosed properties, which tend to sell at a discount to others.
Other housing market data reported in recent weeks confirm strong prices. Housing starts and permits and sales of new home and existing homes continue to trend higher.
Given that a large number of homes are still in some stage of foreclosure, the "housing recovery is not complete," Blitzer says.
Still, the appreciation rates are expected to slow.
The low mortgage rates and tight supply are "creating a kind of witch's brew of extreme price spikes," says Stan Humphries, chief economist for online home buying site Zillow.com.
While home values may be up more than 10% year over year in some large metropolitan areas, Humphries says values nationwide are up likely more than half that amount.
The fast appreciation is not an immediate problem in areas like Phoenix and Las Vegas, which experienced huge price declines and are still very affordable, Humphries says.
But they are more worrisome in some places, such as a few markets in California, where affordability is no longer driven by home prices, but instead by low mortgage rates – "which won't last," Humprhies says.
The housing market will continue to improve and outperform the rest of the economy over the next few quarters, many economists say.
Mortgage interest rates are a big help. They've trended higher the past three weeks but the average for a fixed rate 30-year loan was still low by historical standards, at 3.59% for the week ended Thursday, Freddie Mac says.
While the higher rates may discourage some people from refinancing, they're still low enough to keep buying homes affordable, which should further aid home sales and construction, Freddie Mac says.
The report also included first-quarter prices for all of the United States. Year-over-year, the national index was up 10.2% in the first quarter.
Rising prices will bring more inventory onto the market, and price gains will slow to a more sustainable pace over the rest of the year and into next, says Gus Faucher, PNC senior economist.
Rising house prices are supporting overall economic growth. With the recent gains in house prices and stocks, households are wealthier, allowing them to increase spending, Faucher says. That is offsetting some of the drag on consumers from higher taxes and unpaid furloughs for federal workers.
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Deadly homes present quandary for buyers, sellers
Zlati Meyer, Detroit Free Press 12:40 p.m. EDT May 28, 2013
Some potential buyers are intrigued by owning a home with notoriety, while others are freaked out by it.
Kayla Bentley was thrilled to move into her in-laws' house as a 19-year-old newlywed back in 2010.
That is until she found out that the unassuming house on a quiet street in Allen Park, a suburban Detroit community, was where Justin Olszowy, a mentally unstable 26-year-old man, fatally shot his parents two years earlier.
"We were kind of upset about it," she recalled. "It freaks me out, especially because in this situation, he's not dead. If he was released or escaped, this is where he'd come."
But her in-laws, retirees Paula and Jerry Bentley, had fallen in love with the house — three bedrooms, full-size kitchen, nice living room, privacy fencing, a garage, a corner lot.
Location, location, location may be the adage, but what happens when that location is the site of a violent death?
Properties that were the sites of homicides or suicides have an interesting stain that remains long after crime-scene investigators leave. For some potential buyers, owning a home with notoriety gives them, well, notoriety. Others are freaked out by it.
In short: I see dead people — and lovely crown moldings.
"One group says, 'I don't want to have anything to do it.' Another group says, 'I'll get the carpets cleaned. How much can I buy it for?' " explained Jason Abrams, owner of the Abrams Team based out of Keller Williams in West Bloomfield, Mich., and star of HGTV's "Scoring the Deal."
Under Michigan law, real estate agents aren't obligated to disclose whether the property was or was suspected to have been the site of a homicide, suicide or illegal activity "which had no material effect on the condition of the real property or improvements located on the real property."
Although sellers don't have to fill you in on any ghoulish details, they do have to confess to a leaky basement or roof or whether the insulation is made from toxic materials, such as formaldehyde.
However, elsewhere in the country, some states, such as California, require would-be buyers to be told. (In the Golden State, that's spawned a micro-industry of home cleansers who remove spirits from homes.)
"On the seller's disclosure form, there's nothing that says, 'Has there been a murder? Has there been a ghost?' " said Michelle R. E. Donovan, a Bloomfield Hills, Mich., real estate attorney. "You don't want to fail to disclose something that would influence the buyer's decision to not purchase the property."
Donovan, whose former home in Clinton Township was down the street from where a man fatally stabbed his wife, said someone who buys a so-called stigmatized property might try to sue under misrepresentation or fraud.
For higher-profile killings, buyers know what they're getting into, but that doesn't mean it's very easy for the Realtor selling it.
"Obviously it's not like any other house, when you have a distressed property, said Janis Chiapparo of II Elite Real Estate in Roseville, Mich., the real estate agent who sold the Grosse Pointe Park home that Jane Bashara shared with her husband, Bob, who is now charged with killing her. "The house was innocent ... Grosse Pointe is full of homes people have died in. Maybe not in that manner."
Chiapparo wouldn't say how much it sold for, only that it was less than the listing price of $415,000.
"Buyers obviously are going to want a steal. They think they're going to get the price cheaper or they stay away from it," she said.
That's what happened with the Bentleys. Kayla said the family believes in ghosts, but the issue was more about the cash than Casper. They got it for less than $70,000.
"They talked the people down, because it had been empty for two years. Obviously, no one wanted to buy it," said Kayla Bentley, who admitted that her husband, Joshua, slept with a baseball bat at his bedside for part of the two years they lived with his parents.
Disclosure posed a dilemma for Mario Como, the broker-owner of St. Clair Shores-based Realty Executives Select, a few years ago when showing a house in that community that he suspected someone had committed suicide in.
"I knew that would only cause the client emotional conflict. On one hand, they were excited about the property and on the other hand, it was giving them an opportunity to pass on the property," he said. "I was definitely torn. I have certain duties as an agent of client or buyer, but ultimately, one of my duties is to help them reach their goals. In this case, the goal was very clear: a home they were very, very enthusiastic about."
Abrams said he thinks sharing a house's violent past is the way to go. He never has sold a home in Michigan that was the site of a homicide or suicide, but he has elsewhere in the U.S.
"The more information a buyer can have, the better off a buyer is. If you're going to be a state that's really serious about consumer protection, the idea should be always disclose," he said. Death "weeds people out. Death is that topic that universally makes people squeamish and it ends up being a focal point, no matter how beautiful the home is." How to find out if a home has a deadly past
You're looking to buy a home, but how do you find out the 411 behind the for-sale sign?
Here are some tips on how to find out whether that bungalow, ranch, condo or McMansion was the site of a violent crime: Direct question: Sure, Realtors aren't obligated to tell you if someone died on the property, but if you ask the question point-blank, they might have a hard time evading the answer. If nothing else, pay attention to whether they're hemming and hawing or changing the subject quickly. Read between the lines: If the asking price is much lower than it should be or if the house has been on the market for quite a while, ask why. There might be a good explanation or you might have to parse it out. Independent research: Do a Web search of the address — both the exact house number and the block number. You might find news stories about a crime or suicide online or if it's a smaller community, the local library's newspaper collection. Also, ask the local police department; someone there would surely know. Shoe leather: Whom better to query than the neighbors? Some might be nervous about talking, especially if they're secretly hoping the long-vacant home will now be inhabited. However, every block has one blabbermouth — find him or her and get the inside scoop.
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11:56 a.m. EDT May 29, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) —
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. banks earned more from January through March than during any quarter on record, buoyed by greater income from fees and fewer losses from bad loans.
The banking industry earned $40.3 billion in the first quarter, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Wednesday. That's the highest ever for a single quarter and up 15.8 percent from the first quarter of 2012, when the industry's profits were $34.8 billion.
Record profits show banks have come a long way from the 2008 financial crisis. But the report offered a reminder that the industry is still struggling to help the broader economy recover from the Great Recession.
Only about half of U.S. banks reported improved earnings from a year earlier, the lowest proportion since 2009. That shows the industry's growth is being driven by a narrower group of the nation's largest banks.
Those banks include Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. Most of them have recovered with help from federal bailout money and record-low borrowing rates.
Bank lending declined from the October-December quarter, although that followed several quarters of increases.
And bank profits from interest charged fell 2.2 percent to $104 billion. The industry's average interest income as a percentage of total loans on its books fell from 3.35 percent to 3.27 percent. That's the lowest portion of total loans in nearly seven years.
That has forced banks to see more revenue from fees, despite complaints from customers and consumer advocates.
FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg said the banking industry "is in much stronger shape today than it was three years ago." But he added that "it's a fairly tricky environment for the industry" because of narrowing profit margins from charging interest and relatively weak demand for loans.
Income earned from interest on loans is falling in part because interest rates have been near record lows. The Federal Reserve's aggressive stimulus programs since the crisis have exerted downward pressure on short- and long-term interest rates, making mortgages and other loans cheaper. The Fed's low interest-rate policies are intended to boost borrowing and spending to accelerate overall economic growth.
Still, many banks have adopted stricter lending standards since the financial crisis, requiring higher credit scores, larger down payments and proof of employment. So while loans are a bargain, they are only available to those who can qualify.
Another sign of the industry's health is that fewer banks are at risk of failure. The number of banks on the FDIC's "problem" list fell to 612 from 651 as of Dec. 31.
And so far this year, only 13 banks have failed. That follows 51 closures last year, 92 in 2011 and 157 in 2010. The 2010 closures were the most in one year since the height of the savings and loan crisis in 1992.
On Tuesday, Moody's Investors Service said it had raised its outlook for the U.S. banking industry from "Negative" to "Stable," the first increase in five years. The rating agency said sustained economic growth and a better jobs picture will help banks over the next 12 to 18 months.
The FDIC is backed by the government, and its deposits are guaranteed up to $250,000 per account. Apart from its deposit insurance fund, the agency also has tens of billions in loss reserves. Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Tourists walk through the courtyard inside the Palacio Nacional by the Zócalo in Mexico City. Matt & Megan / Flickr
Tourism spending remained high in 2012 despite a drop in visitors caused by regional conflict; an increase in both visitor count and spending is an indicator of continued growth in 2013.
-Samantha Shankman
Excerpt from Tourism-review.com
May 27, 20138:04 am
Foreign currency earnings generated by international visitors in Mexico registered an increase of 7.7%, from $3.59 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2012, to $3.87 billion dollars, from January to March this year.
The Ministry of Tourism in Mexico (Sectur) said that this figure is the result of a 5% increase in the flow of tourists who arrived to the country by air, which means that it increased from 3.3 million to 3.5 million tourists as of March 2013.
Regarding average spending, most of the items recorded positive growth, highlighting the 9.1% increase in average spending by international visitors and 5.7% in the average expenditure of domestic tourists.
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Over 30 organisations to sign 'commitments for conservation' at Cancun's Green Expo event
The Travel Foundation has brought together over 30 organisations working in tourism to make a commitment to sustainability at this week's Green Expo 2013 in Mexico, in collaboration with the Mexico Tourism Board.
The annual trade fair and conference, which takes place on 23rd - 25th May, draws in tour operators, ground agents, hotels and other tourism businesses operating in the area. The event focuses on the preservation of natural and cultural resources.
New for the 2013 event is 'Commitments for Conservation', an initiative launched by the Travel Foundation to match hotels and other members of the tourism sector with a locally run business or NGO to deliver projects in one of the following areas:
Conservation of natural resources (for example, by composting hotel waste)
Conservation of an endangered species or species at risk (for example, by protecting turtles and Melipona bees)
Community linkages (for example, by selling products from social enterprises)
Development of sustainable excursions (for example, by using the Travel Foundation's greener excursions tool)
Training and capacity building (for example, raising awareness amongst staff)
Over 18 tourism businesses, eight NGOs and seven local businesses will officially sign their commitment on 25th May, and progress towards their sustainability goals will be monitored by the Travel Foundation over the next year.
The Travel Foundation's industry programmes manager, Julie Middleton, who will be presenting a session on working with local government to develop sustainability standards at the event, said: "The Riviera Maya's Green Expo event showcases how a region can approach sustainability in unison, and together make changes to build a more sustainable future for its tourism industry. There has been huge interest in the 'Commitments for Conservation' initiative, with over 30 businesses already poised to make their pledge'.
The programme also includes presentations from TUI UK & Ireland, on the work it's been doing to engage hoteliers with sustainability, and their supporting role with the Pitahi jam making group in Chumpon.
Thomas Cook will also be there highlighting the work they've been doing to support the Travel Foundation's project with a Melipona bee keeping community, as well as the work they're doing to green their excursion portfolio.
Valere Tjolle
SUSTAINABLE/REAL TOURISM INFORMATION & OFFERS HERE
http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2006583&c=setreg®ion=2
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By NICK TIMIRAOS
Home prices in March rose by 10.9% from a year
earlier, the largest such gain in seven years, according to an index
tracking home prices in 20 U.S. cities.
Home prices in March rose by 10.9% from a
year earlier, the largest such gain in nearly seven years, according to
the S&P/Case-Shiller an index tracking home prices in 20 U.S.
cities. Nick Timiraos has details. Photo: AP.
The Standard & Poor's Case-Shiller index,
released Tuesday, showed that all 20 cities had posted year-over-year
growth for the third straight month, the latest sign of how tight
inventories and growing housing demand have led to a surge in home
prices after several years of declines.
There are already signs that home-price
appreciation is set to continue its blistering pace this summer because
the inventory of homes for sale has remained low and buyer urgency has
picked up, fueled by improving consumer confidence and mortgage rates
that have been hovering near record lows.
Prices increased in March by 1.4% from
February and by 0.3% in February from January, a period in which sales
volumes—and, consequently, home-price growth—are typically muted because
of winter weather. Home prices haven't increased during the first
quarter of the year since 2006, and the quarterly gain of 1.8% this year
was the largest for the January-to-March period since 2005.
Rising home prices should help buoy consumer confidence and the
broader economy because houses represent the largest financial asset for
many Americans. Rising prices could play an important role boosting
home sales if they encourage more sellers to test the market. Many
sellers have held back from selling at prices that are still down
sharply from their peak, and would-be buyers have grumbled over the past
year about shortages of desirable pickings.
But some economists and real-estate agents have warned that the
current pace of gains isn't sustainable and that some buyers could be
priced out of the market, especially once interest rates rise.
Home prices are still down by 28% from their 2006 peak and have
returned to levels last seen in late 2003. One year ago, home prices
were 35% below the 2006 peak. The Case-Shiller index reached a bottom
last March, which means the year-over-year comparisons could begin to
show less dramatic growth in the months ahead.
A separate national Case-Shiller index of U.S. home prices, released
quarterly, showed that prices rose by 10.2% from one year earlier in
March. That was also the largest such gain since 2006.
Many of the largest home-price gains have come in the West, including
many markets hit hardest by the foreclosure crisis. In March, prices
were up by 22.5% in Phoenix from one year earlier, and by 22.2% in San
Francisco. Other cities with double-digit gains included Las Vegas
(20.6%); Atlanta (19.1%); Detroit (18.5%); Los Angeles (16.6%);
Portland, Ore. (12.8%); Minneapolis (12.5%); San Diego (12.1%); Tampa,
Fla. (11.8%); Miami (10.7%); and Seattle (10.6%).
Other price indexes have shown solid but more modest gains in recent months. An index maintained by Lender Processing Services Inc.,
LPS+1.70%
also released Tuesday, showed that national home prices in March also
rose by 1.4% from February and stood 7.6% above levels of one year ago.
The index tracks home prices in 15,500 U.S. ZIP Codes.
An index released last week by Zillow Inc.
Z+1.40%
showed that U.S. home values in April rose by 5.2% from one year
earlier. The Zillow index estimates changes in home values for 365 metro
areas.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324809804578510931769289110.html?mod=e2fb
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La confianza de los consumidores de EUA en la evolución de la
economía y de su situación financiera personal alcanzó en mayo su mayor
nivel en más de cinco años impulsada por la mejora de los pronósticos
sobre el mercado laboral, informó hoy The Conference Board.
El índice de confianza que esa entidad privada de análisis elabora a
partir de encuestas subió este mes hasta los 76.2 puntos, muy por encima
de los 69 enteros de abril y lo que supone su cifra más elevada desde
febrero de 2008, cuando se situó en las 76.4 unidades.
"La valoración de los consumidores sobre las actuales condiciones
empresariales y del mercado laboral fue más positiva y estos eran
considerablemente más optimistas sobre los pronósticos futuros de la
economía y el empleo", dijo la directora del Centro de Investigación
sobre Consumidores de esa entidad, Lynn Franco, en un comunicado.
La experta añadió que la confianza de los consumidores
estadounidenses "podría estar recuperando la tracción que perdió debido
al precipicio fiscal, las subidas de impuestos sobre la nómina y el
secuestro", como se conoció al programa de recortes del gasto público
que inició en marzo este país.
El subíndice que estudia la confianza que manifiestan los
consumidores sobre cómo será el panorama económico y laboral dentro de
seis meses subió en mayo hasta los 82.4 puntos, frente a los 74.3 de
abril.
Por otra parte, el subíndice relativo a la confianza de los
consumidores estadounidenses en la situación actual de la economía y en
el mercado laboral subió a 66.7 puntos, desde los 61 del mes anterior. Precio de vivienda registra mayor subida en siete años
El
precio de la vivienda en las 20 mayores ciudades de EUA registró en
marzo pasado su mayor subida interanual en siete años, según el índice
Case-Shiller, en lo que supone el tercer mes consecutivo de mayores
aumentos desde 2006.
El precio de la vivienda registró un aumento interanual del 10.9 %
hasta marzo en las veinte mayores ciudades del país, mientras que el
incremento fue del 10.3 % en las diez mayores ciudades, informó hoy
Standard&Poors, que elabora este índice.
"Los precios de la vivienda continúan subiendo", resumió la situación
el presidente del Comité de Índices de S&P, David Blitzer, en un
comunicado.
Blitzer señaló que otros datos sobre el mercado inmobiliario
conocidos en las últimas semanas "confirman esta fuerte tendencia", como
los permisos de nueva construcción, el inicio de obras o las ventas de
viviendas nuevas y usadas.
Añadió que el "inusual" nivel de familias que comparten casa y el
importante número de viviendas en algún momento del proceso de desahucio
apuntan a que la recuperación de este sector "aún no está completa".
Todas las ciudades estudiadas por S&P registraron aumentos en el
precio de sus viviendas en términos interanuales por tercer mes
consecutivo, algo que no ocurría desde 2005, e incluso doce ciudades
tuvieron incrementos iguales o superiores al 10 %.
Los mayores aumentos fueron los de Phoenix (22.5 % interanual), San Francisco (22.2 %) y Las Vegas (20.6 %).
Los menores incrementos tuvieron lugar en Nueva York (2.6 %), Cleveland (4.8 %) y Boston (6.7 %), detalló el comunicado.
Mientras tanto, 15 de las 20 urbes estadounidenses analizadas para
este indicador registraron subidas en el precios de la vivienda respecto
al mes precedente, encabezadas por San Francisco (3.9 %).
En cualquier caso, desde que tocaron sus máximos en junio y julio de
2006, los precios de la vivienda tanto en las 20 como en las 10 mayores
ciudades de EUA acumulan una caída media del 29 % y el 28 %,
respectivamente.
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Date 27.05.2013
Foreign currency earnings generated by international visitors in Mexico registered an increase of 7.7%, from $3.59 billion dollars in the first quarter of 2013, to $3.87 billion dollars, from January to March this year.
The Ministry of Tourism in Mexico (Sectur) said that this figure is the result of a 5% increase in the flow of tourists who arrived to the country by air, which means that it increased from 3.3 million to 3.5 million tourists as of March 2013.
It is, as explained by the tourism authority, the most important international tourist segment because it accounts for the biggest average expense ($874), 3.8% more than the average expenditure recorded during January-March 2012. As of March this year, there were 3.9 million more tourists, 2% more than the 3.8 million tourists recorded during the first quarter of 2012. The tourism ministry said that based on a report by the Bank of Mexico the economic turnover by tourists entering Mexico via plane showed an increase of 9%, from $2.81 billion dollars recorded through March 2012, to $3.67 billion dollars from January to March 2013.
Regarding average spending, most of the items recorded positive growth, highlighting the 9.1% increase in average spending by international visitors and 5.7% in the average expenditure of domestic tourists. In 2012, Mexico received 23 million international tourists, and recorded 178 million domestic tourists. The country generated total revenues of over $11 billion. The highest number of foreign tourists arriving to Mexico came from the United States and Canada, and from countries like the UK, Spain and South American countries.
The tourism sector is the third largest source of foreign exchange earnings of Mexico, after oil and money sent back from emigrants to their families. The tourism sector generates about 9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and directly employs 2.5 million people.
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Mexico's Top 4 Wildlife Adventures
Posted: 05/24/2013 12:21 pm
When you think of Mexico travel, what comes to mind? Commercialized beach resorts with ginormous margaritas and mariachi players? One of the world's largest, most populous and most polluted cities? How about wildlife?
Chances are, most people think of Mexican "wildlife" as what goes on in crime-ridden border towns -- yet the fact is that the vast bulk of Mexico is safe and welcoming for tourism -- and holds plenty to captivate travelers seeking peaceful encounters with the natural world.
Four wondrous nature adventures reveal a wild side of Mexico that few travelers experience: Swimming with Whale Sharks
Off the Yucatan coast, far from the tourist crush of Cancun, lies idyllic Holbox Island. While the tiny island itself offers a placid vacation respite, it's what lies in the waters beyond that is the real attraction: docile whale sharks -- and the opportunity to swim and snorkel alongside them! Not actually whales at all, these are the world's biggest fish, stretching to 45 feet long and weighing up to 15 tons. Whale shark ecotourism adventures take guests offshore by boat to reach the whale sharks where they gather to feed each summer. Then, it's into the water to snorkel with these enormous, amiable creatures, accompanied by expert naturalists. Don't forget your underwater camera!
Sea Turtle ConservationIn late August and September each year, a remarkable spectacle happens on Mexico's southern Pacific coast near the small town of Huatulco: thousands of endangered olive ridley sea turtles come ashore after a life at sea to lay their eggs in the sand. The phenomenon is called an arribada (Spanish for "arrival"), and it happens on just four beaches worldwide. By the light of the moon, the baby hatchings scurry into the ocean, and guests on a conservation-focused sea turtle adventure are on the scene to assist, protecting the tiny turtles from poachers and predators. Alongside biologists at La Escobilla turtle camp, visitors learn in depth about sea turtles and participate in efforts to sustain them.
Mystical Migrating MonarchsIn the highlands of Michoacan one of the planet's most amazing natural phenomena occurs, the annual migration of up to 300 million monarch butterflies. These delicate insects set flight on a remarkable 3,000-mile journey from the northeastern U.S. and Canada to their ancestral wintering grounds in the volcanic mountains of central Mexico. The location of their breeding grounds in a few remote tracts of fir forest remained a mystery until 1977, and how an infant generation of butterflies finds it anew each autumn is still an enigma. Join a small-group adventure to the Kingdom of the Monarchs, where you'll hike and ride horseback into the butterfly sanctuaries. Accompanied by naturalist guides, listen for the hum of millions of vibrating wings, and watch as the flocks take flight in a great swirl of orange.
The Great Gray Whales of BajaThe Pacific gray whale migration from Alaska's Bering Sea to the warm waters of Baja is the longest mammal migration on earth. Each spring, hundreds of them return to traditional birthing and breeding grounds in the sheltered waters of San Ignacio Lagoon and Magdalena Bay along the Pacific coast of Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Friendly and engaging, they are often intrigued with humans, swimming right up to the side of small skiffs where visitors can frequently approach them at close range. For the most intimate whale encounters, join a Baja whale-watching expedition that enjoys exceptional isolation and proximity to the grays from waterside "whale cabanas" on San Ignacio Lagoon.
By Wendy Worrall Redal Editorial Director, Natural Habitat Adventures
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NAPA, Calif. --
While Mexico is better known for beer and tequila, wines have been crafted there since the 17th Century. Now, the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California is emerging as the “Napa Valley” of Mexico, a quality leader and tourism destination for the adventurous wine-and-food traveler.
Vino from Mexico, a U.S. importer of ultra-premium wineries from Baja and Mexico, with a consumer-direct business at www.vinofrommexico.com, has retained Benson Marketing Group for a national campaign to bring “a wild and beautiful wine land” (The New York Times, “Baja Fresh,” November 12, 2012) to American wine lovers. The campaign will highlight unique, exciting wines in the company’s portfolio-–such as Baja’s Monte Xanic–-in the context of the country’s wine quality revolution. Currently, Mexico produces around 1.6 million cases of wine each vintage, but only 10% is exported.
“We want to showcase the next generation of Mexico’s wine leaders, and provide an entirely new wine experience for those looking for new discoveries,” said Vino from Mexico partner, Marvin Nahmias. “We are thrilled to be involved at the earliest stages of an emerging trend, and look forward to introducing Vino from Mexico’s expansive portfolio to the trade, press and consumers,” said Jeremy Benson, president, Benson Marketing Group. The U.S. campaign will be uncorked at the Second Glass “Wine Riot” consumer tastings in San Francisco, June 7-8.
About Benson Marketing Group
Benson Marketing Group LLC is a leading wine marketing agency providing public relations, social media, trade promotion and brand consulting services. It is the only wine marketing agency with offices in New York City, Napa Valley and Paris. For more information visit www.bensonmarketing.com or www.bensonmarketing.fr.
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Christine Delsol, Special to SFGate
Updated 5:09 pm, Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The colonial town of Queretaro is the planned destination of a new high-speed rail from Mexico City.
Photo: Mtb, Ricardo Espinosa
The colonial town of Queretaro is the planned destination of a new...
The remote resort village of Mahahual is set to be connected via bridge to state capital of Chetumal.
Photo: Kim Curtis, The Houston Chronicle, Via Getty
The remote resort village of Mahahual is set to be connected via...
Colima's golf courses are receiving the highest priority for...
With vistas of spectacular volcanoes, Colima is working to lure tourists beyond the resorts of the costal resort city of Manzanillo.
Photo: Stephen & Donna O'Meara, Photo Researchers, Via Getty Ima
With vistas of spectacular volcanoes, Colima is working to lure...
To anyone who was wondering whether President Enrique Peña Nieto would be as staunch an advocate of Mexico's tourism industry as his predecessor had been didn't have to wait long for an answer. Presenting his national tourism policy in February, he said he intended to turn Mexico into a world-class destination, and his new Secretary of Tourism, Claudia Ruiz Massieu, said tourism will be the "engine to drive development for all Mexicans."
Though the presentation was laced through with government-speak and obviously aimed less at tourists than at economic policy-makers concerned with an industry that generates nearly 9 percent of Mexico's gross domestic product, tourists could already see some of the results by the time Mexico's annual Tianguis Turistico, Latin America's biggest tourism trade event, took place in March. Mexico Mix previously covered some of the announcements affecting visitors to some of the country's most popular destinations in March.
In some ways, Peña Nieto is simply furthering what the previous administration set in motion, including a focus on less visited destinations (basically, any destination that doesn't revolve around a beach). Ruiz Massieu said the plan is to highlight these repositories of culture, adventure, sustainable tourism and gastronomy with specific promotions rather than rely on one big umbrella for all of Mexico. Here are some of the changes coming to a few of these destinations. Queretaro: High-speed rail link
Mexico's tourism ministry and the state of Queretaro have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a high-speed passenger train service between Mexico City and Queretaro, fulfilling one of Peña Nieto's campaign promises. Still at the technical and environmental study stage, the train will travel at 120 to 140 miles per hour, covering the 160 miles between the two cities in less than two hours. Mexico's old train network, which crisscrossed the country and was by far the cheapest way to travel, was shut down in the 1990s, leaving the country without passenger trains except for "El Chepe" in the Copper Canyon and the short-run Tequila Express in Jalisco state.
Queretaro is a handsome colonial city, surrounded by mountains, whose downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the state is home to a burgeoning wine and cheese region that has been largely overlooked by foreign visitors.
Also under consideration are rail passenger rail service between the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo on the Yucatan Peninsula and between Mexico City and Toluca. Urban rail projects in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Chalco (Mexico state) are also receiving government support. Mahahual-Chetumal Bridge
The Caribbean coast south of Riviera Maya and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, christened the Costa Maya by the cruise industry, has grown steadily in the past 10 years as the cruise terminal in Mahahual has become increasingly popular and is only expected to become more so in the future. Cruise passengers—and independent travelers who like the small, minimally developed town as it is—must make a long jog inland and then south to reach shopping and services in Chetumal, the state capital.
The state government is planning to build a 20-mile bridge across Chetumal Bay, 13½ miles of which would be over water, to link the two destinations. The benefit would be even greater to residents and travelers in tiny Xcalak, Mexico's southernmost Caribbean outpost about 45 minutes from Mahahual. Veracruz: Adventure travel
The under-the-radar state of Veracruz on the southern Gulf of Mexico coast, endowed with mountains, jungle, a major bird migratory route, rivers and offshore coral reefs, is carving out an adventure tourism niche for itself. Little developed outside of its few cities, the state's abundance of open space has given rise to diving and snorkeling, dune-boarding, whitewater rafting, ocean and whitewater kayaking, mountain biking and climbing, horseback riding, rappelling and zip lines.
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By Gay Nagle Myers
The Riviera Nayarit is in the midst of a hotel boom, according to figures released by DataTur for the Ministry of Tourism.
With a federal investment of more than $21 million in 13 developments, Nayarit came out as the leader in attracting tourism investment in Mexico in the first quarter of 2013, followed by Mexico City and the state of Quintana Roo (Cancun and the Riviera Maya).
In 2011, Nuevo Vallarta had 5,988 rooms. The destination currently has 7,597 rooms and occupancies have increased 53.7% since 2011, the figures indicated. Still to come later this year is the 450-room Iberostar Playa Mita as well as Tau Resorts Nahui, with 172 rooms.
Roberto Sandoval, governor of Nayarit, attributed the large influx of private investment to the safety within the state.
“The peace that has been achieved and maintained every day, thanks to the efforts of the police and citizens, makes investors turn their eyes to Nayarit,” Sandoval said.
The variety of events taking place in Nayarit also have fueled tourism and encouraged investment, including the annual Sports Fishing Tournament and the Mexico Cup Regatta, according to Sandoval.
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http://www.travelweekly.com/Mexico-Travel/Riviera-Nayarit-leads-in-Mexico-hotel-investment/
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By:Linda NguyenThe Canadian Press, Published on Fri May 17 2013
The Toronto Stock
Exchange surged ahead Friday, encouraged by gains from the U.S. markets,
after data showed the world’s largest economy may be in recovery.
“We continue to grind higher here,” said Jason Hornett, a portfolio manager with Bissett Investment Management.
“People continue to be more and more optimistic here in North America and it definitely bodes well for the stock market.”
The S&P/TSX composite index jumped 105.45 points to close at 12,613.05.
The advance came after
Statistics Canada reported consumer prices rose last month at the
slowest rate in 3-½years — coming in below expectations at 0.4 per cent.
The lack of inflation
helped push the Canadian dollar down 0.95 of a cent to 97.17 cents
(U.S.) as the American greenback gained strength against other major
currencies. In early day trading, the loonie had dropped to 96.96 cents —
the lowest it’s been in more than two months.
On Wall Street, signs
of strength in the U.S. economy boosted the Dow Jones industrials index
by 121.18 points to 15,354.40 while the S&P 500 jumped 15.65 points
to 1,666.12. Both closed at record highs.
The Nasdaq climbed 33.73 points to 3,498.97.
The U.S. Conference
Board said its index of leading indicators gained 0.6 per cent to 95 in
April, after it saw a decline of 0.2 per cent in March. The figure came
in above what economists had forecast.
The index, which was
buoyed by a sharp increase in applications for new homes and condos, is
intended to signal economic conditions three to six months out.
The board said the
index is 3.5 per cent higher at an annual rate than it was six months
ago, suggesting an expansion for the economy, with the biggest risk
being a drag from cuts in U.S. federal spending.
Meanwhile, the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index was ahead to 83.7, higher than the 76.4 reported in April.
At the close, the
majority of the sectors on the Toronto Stock Exchange were higher, with
energy and metals leading the pack as the largest advancers.
The energy sector was
up by 1.92 per cent as the June crude contract jumped 86 cents to $96.02
(U.S.) a barrel. Canadian Natural Resources saw its shares climb more
than two per cent, or 62 cents, to $30.34. Suncor Energy got a 2.59 per
cent bump to $32.92 a share.
The metals group was
slightly behind with a 1.88 per cent gain, as copper jumped ahead three
cents to $3.32 a pound. Orbite Aluminae Inc. saw its shares rocket up
nearly 18 per cent, or 11 cents to 73 cents a share after the
Montreal-based company posted a first-quarter net loss of $500,000, or
0.3 per share, shrinking its loss of $3.8 million or two cents per share
in the same period a year ago.
Meanwhile, gold prices
continued to pull back. June gold bullion dropped $22.20 to $1,364.70
(U.S.) an ounce, its lowest level since April 15 after a two-day plunge
knocked $200 off its price.
The gold sector on the TSX lost 3.25 per cent, as shares in Barrick Gold fell by 2.75 per cent, or 54 cents to $19.07.
Hornett said as the stock markets rise, traders will no longer be eyeing gold as a good investment.
“I think that people’s
expectations for the economy both in North America and globally just
continues to improve, so that continues to reduce risk of a any sort of
meltdown which makes the gold trade less and less attractive,” he said.
Meanwhile, stocks in
SNC-Lavalin Group continued to climb by 0.17 per cent, or seven cents,
to $41.87 as the engineering giant defended itself against a nearly $1
million wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by former controller Stephane
Roy. SNC said it was justified in firing the former executive last year
because it claims he acted illegally to help smuggle the son of Libya
dictator Moammar Gadhafi to Mexico.
Bank of Montreal
shares were also up by more than one per cent, or 67 cents to $62.18
after it agreed to beef up efforts to combat money laundering after
American authorities found its operations in Chicago lacking.
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Winnipeg author Evelyn Jacks offers six essential tax facts.
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Chris Young
/ The Canadian Press
There are some ways to reduce your tax bill.
Published on Sat May 18 2013
In this excerpt from Essential Tax Facts by Winnipeg author Evelyn Jacks, she offers these six essential tax facts.
Have a tax-efficient plan: People who become wealthy follow a consistent, purposeful process for thinking about their earning and savings.
Cut withholding taxes:
Employees should complete the TD1 Personal Tax Credit Return and its
sister, Form T1213 Request to reduce tax deductions at source, to reduce
withholding taxes or instalments to pay just right amount of tax all
year long.
Premiums paid by your
employer to private health care plans. Premiums paid under provincial
hospitalization and medical care insurance plans are taxable.
If you paid all of
the premiums to a wage loss replacement plan, then periodic payments (or
a lump sum paid in lieu of periodic payments) from the plan are
tax-free and should not be reported on an information slip.
Employees who use
their company car less than 50 per cent for business should discuss the
reduction of standby charges with their payroll department.
Employees who are
required by their employers to move, can negotiate a reimbursement of up
to $15,000 on a tax free basis, to cover losses on the sale of their
home, with half the amount over this eligible for the same tax free
treatment as well.
Manage debt: Use
the time value of money to your advantage, not that of your creditors.
That means reducing non-deductible debt and increasing savings
opportunities.
Reduce management fees: Doing so can make up for the cost of inflation and tax erosion. Consult on which fees are tax deductible.
Average down your tax bite: Time
withdrawals to minimize taxes and split income with family members
where possible. That’s a great way to “average down” your tax bite,
especially on retirement income.
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By ALYSSA ABKOWITZ
On Friday, a waterfront estate in Greenwich, Conn., was put up for sale. With a price tag of $190 million, it's believed to be the most expensive home now listed on the market in the U.S.
Named Copper Beech Farm, the Greenwich, Conn., estate sits on 50½ acres and includes a 12-bedroom Victorian, French-renaissance mansion, 4,000 feet of water frontage on Long Island Sound and two offshore islands.
The 50½-acre property includes a 12-bedroom Victorian, French-renaissance mansion, 4,000 feet of water frontage on Long Island Sound and two offshore islands. The listing marks the latest test of the ultra-high-end property market, which has seen several record-setting sales in recent years. Pricing in this stratosphere is an imprecise science, however, and it can be difficult for sellers to predict whether a nine-figure listing will lead to a nine-figure sale. A number of U.S. properties that marketed themselves with price tags of $100 million or more have wound up selling for less—or not selling at all. While record price tags can drum up attention for the property—"a vanity price is a great way to get your 15 minutes of fame," notes New York real-estate agent Donna Olshan—they can also lead to multiple and very public price reductions.
Last year, hedge-fund executive John Paulson bought a 90-acre ranch in Aspen, Colo., for $41 million from Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan. The home originally was listed for $135 million in 2006. "At the time it was a very strong market," says Aspen broker Joshua Saslove, of his client's original listing price. "But it didn't sell at that price…so obviously it was the wrong price."
Have you wanted to own a vacation or second home in Mexico but thought it was out of your reach? For the past several years, foreigners have been able to purchase properties in Mexico using a traditional mortgage! Cross Border Investment provides premium financial services in Mexico – including mortgage brokering and closing coordination. At CBI, we work with you to select the top loan for your needs and we shop for the best deals amongst our lenders. CBI offers 99% of the loans available – we are your link to the lowest interest rates and fees, as well as the smoothest closing. Contact us today, and let CBI make your dreams a reality!
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Hipotecaria CBI está orgulloso de ofrecer 99% de las opciones de hipotecas disponibles. Trabajamos con Ud. para seleccionar el crédito hipotecario más económico de acuerdo a sus necesidades y escogemos entre las mejores ofertas entre los prestamistas. Póngase en contacto con Hipotecaria CBI para informarse sobre cuál es el mejor crédito para usted.
Tourists walk through the courtyard inside the Palacio Nacional by the Zócalo in Mexico City. Matt & Megan / 
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