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Posted by Roxanna McDade on Fri, Mar 12, 2010 @ 07:03 AM
 By Charles Sipe and Mexico Real Estate Investment In the past, it was easier for foreign investors in the Mexican real estate market to get tax exemptions on the sale of their Mexico properties. Proving residency required only one to two years and many foreign sellers found it easy to qualify for tax exemption.
Not any more. Recent changes in tax laws are expected to make it more difficult for foreign investors in Mexican real estate to avoid paying taxes on the sale of residential property. Under the new rules, only homeowners who can prove five years of primary residency can qualify for the tax exemption.
With a new emphasis on enforcement of the new tax laws, foreign buyers should exercise caution when investing in property in Mexico to take the appropriate steps to minimize future tax liability:
- Don’t declare a lower property value. Buyers in the past often were encouraged to record a lower property value than what they paid. Nowadays, it makes sense to declare the full value paid in your deed – so that when you sell, any taxes will be on the real profit you’ve made on your property.
- Hire a reputable and experienced notary public. Some aspects of the new tax laws are still confusing and open to interpretation. Often times, the application of what constitutes a residency status can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. An experienced and reputable Mexican notary public can assist you in determining whether you can qualify for residency status and any tax exemptions.
- Talk to your tax advisor. US and Canadian residents may be able to declare the taxes they pay in Mexico on their home country income tax filings, so its worth it to discuss issues regarding your Mexico property holdings with your tax advisor.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 @ 10:03 AM
 Flagstaff, Ariz. (PRWEB) March 10, 2010 -- As vacationers prepare for Spring Break they must beware of several changes that have taken place in Mexico entry/exit and U.S. re-entry requirements in the course of the past year. International Insurance Group, Inc. (IIG) has created a list of the latest requirements and tips to help make any 2010 Mexico Spring Break vacation a breeze.
Click here to read press release on Driving to Mexico Requirements from PRWeb.com.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 @ 08:11 AM
 by Mexico Premiere In most of Mexico daylight saving time begins at 2:00 a.m. local time on the first Sunday in April. On the last Sunday in October areas on daylight saving time fall back to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. local time. Central Standard Time (CST) becomes Central Daylight Time (CDT), and so forth. The state of Sonora does not observe daylight saving time. During daylight saving time turn your clocks ahead one hour. At the end of daylight saving time turn your clocks back one hour. NEW! In 2010 ten Mexico municipalities which share a border with the United States will begin daylight saving time three weeks earlier on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November. Previously all of Mexico, with the exception of the state of Sonora which does not observe daylight saving time, began and ended daylight saving time at the same time. The Congress of Mexico passed legislation in December 2009 which allowed these ten border cities to adopt a daylight saving time pattern consistent with the United States. The municipalities which are now permitted by law to observe daylight saving time consistent with the United States are: City, State
Acuna, Coahuila
Anahuac, Nuevo Leon
Juarez, Chihuahua
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Mexicali, Baja California
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Ojinaga, Chihuahua
Piedras Negras, Coahuila
Reynosa, Tamaulipas
Tijuana, Baja California The observation of daylight saving time for these ten municipalities will begin at 2:00 a.m. local time on the second Sunday in March (March 14, 2010). On the first Sunday in November these areas will return to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. local time. This change in daylight saving time observance was requested by local governments and political leaders to help facilitate commerce with the United States. Industries such as transportation and banking were especially affected by the differences in daylight saving time. In some cases businesses had to to open an hour early than usual to conduct business with US companies during the 3 weeks in March when the two countries were on different times.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Thu, Mar 11, 2010 @ 07:00 AM
 By Christine Pollock on Suite101.com. A vacation to Mexico can be more than a honeymoon getaway. The country is famous for its beaches and is also filled with history and culture that can appeal to family members of all ages. Visit the Mayan ruins and soak in the beauty of nature, smelling the flowers and watching the children chase butterflies as the snow back home melts from everyone’s minds.
All Inclusive Family VacationAlleviate budgeting worries when traveling to Mexico by taking an all inclusive vacation for a Mexico winter getaway. All fees are taken care of before setting foot on resort properties so there is no need to keep a tab on food or entertainment bills. Many resorts offer all-inclusive packages for family members who want to sample a variety of activities from golf to spa treatments to kid activities and waterparks. Don’t forget the pools and beaches, either. Look for resorts that are connected to other resorts that allow guests to visit without additional fees.
Adventure Vacations in MexicoTake a tour of Mexico taking advantage of the waterways. Vacations such as Baja Blast: A Family Adventure Trip help families take a break from winter by offering adventurous activities that celebrate life in Mexico. These activities include surfing in the warm Lost Cerritos waters, riding horses on the sandy beaches, kayaking in the sea and swimming with wild sea lions. Local families join in the fun with tourists by playing games, playing music and showing off their crafts and handiwork.
Tours of MexicoFamilies with older children that like to explore new areas and delve into new cultures might appreciate taking a multi-day island tour. Drive around on a bus to visit areas of historical significance while a tour guide answers questions and offers information on the area. Some tour groups such as Mexico’s Ancient & Colonial Cities tour spend as many as nine days days exploring areas of interest. Many of these tours come with food and bottled water included.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Wed, Mar 10, 2010 @ 07:05 AM
“Should we rent a car and drive ourselves?” “What a great idea! Did you come up with that all by yourself?” Just take this simple quiz to see if you are up to the task: 1. The car in front of you has his left turn signal on. What does this mean? a. He is turning left. b. Pass him on the left. c. Nothing, the signal is broken and the driver has not bothered to fix it. d. He is daring me to pass and I should do so immediately even if I have to swerve into oncoming traffic. 2. A group of pedestrians are waiting to cross the street in a marked crosswalk. What should you do? a. Stop immediately and allow them to cross safely. b. Slow down a little bit so that they can get across if they run. c. Swerve around them so that they do not slow me down. d. Speed up so that if I hit one, he will die and not be able to sue me. 3. What is the procedure to follow when you encounter a stop sign? a. Stop, look, listen, yield to other traffic and then proceed with caution. b. Slow down a little bit, but only if I am in my own neighborhood. c. Speed up so that I can get through the intersection before the other jerk gets there. d. Stop signs do not apply to me; they were invented to slow the other guy down. 4. You have to shop in a tienda downtown Puerto Vallarta, but there are no parking spaces available on the street. What should you do? a. Continue on around the block and look for another space or possibly park in the garage. b. Take any available spot, even if it is marked “no parking” I will just be there for a minute. c. Pull over to the side, block the cars that are parked and put on my emergency flashers. d. Stop in the middle of the street, so I can take care of my business. The other cars should know better than to be in “MY” parking place. 5. What is the purpose of the horn? a. To warn other drivers of impending danger. b. To say “hi” to friends and let everyone else know that I am here. c. To let the idiot sitting in front of me at the stoplight know that the light is about to turn green, so he may as well go now. d. Horn? Why would anyone ever honk at me, I own the road! 6. Besides driving, what other actions are you able to perform while operating a motor vehicle? a. Nothing, I pay strict attention to the driving conditions and keep two hands on the wheel at all times. b. I can talk on my cell phone and still keep my eyes open for “transitos”. c. I am able to talk to my passenger about the Chivas game while swerving through traffic and cursing at all other drivers. d. Anything and everything. I can give change for a $50 peso bill, issue a receipt, talk to my buddy, and whistle at cute girls while drag racing all other traffic. I have never lost a race and have scratches and dents on my vehicle to prove it.
SCORING: Give yourself 1 point for each letter “a” you selected, two points for each letter “b”, three points for each letter “c” and four points for each letter “d”. RESULTS: 7 and below. You are a hopeless case and should not even be trusted to ride in a taxi much less drive a car here. 8-13: You show promise and have potential to be a bona fide “local” driver. 14-19: Your advanced driving skills make you a candidate for a taxi driver. 20-24: You are the king of the road and have a great future as a local bus driver. See this article on www.topmexicorealestate.com.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Tue, Mar 09, 2010 @ 08:14 AM
Article from KTAR.com. While Texas authorities have advised students to avoid Mexico during spring break because of violence involving drug cartels, an Arizona border county sheriff said the best thing to do is just be careful. Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada said tourists have not been targets of the drug violence. However, he said bordering towns such as Nogales, the Mexican state of Sonora that borders Arizona and the country of Mexico have changed dramatically.
He said tourists should avoid outlying areas of towns where most of the violence has happened.
"They have to stay away from these problem areas, especially late at night when it's a little more dangerous," said Estrada.
Rocky Point, a hot spot for Arizona college kids, appears to be safe, he said.
"So far, Rocky Point has been excluded from a lot of the violence that we have been seeing, even though it is also a corridor for these drug movements and human smuggling."
He added, "The potential is always there. You just have to recognize that and make a personal decision whether you want to go over there and feel comfortable and feel safe."
Estrada said people "just need to be very aware of the fact that there is turmoil, just like there would be maybe in other communities or other countries. They just have to be very careful.
"There are things that are happening. It can be dangerous just like anywhere else. People have to be careful. They have to be very aware of their surroundings and try to stay out of trouble."
Rocky Point, one of Arizonans' most popular Mexican getaways, is getting a bad rap, according to Mary Snyder who lives there and works to promote the resort town.
The tourist trade suffered significantly last year because of border violence, new passport restrictions and the H1N1 flu outbreak, she said.
She said Rocky Point has some issues with crime, just like any other city, but, "Does somebody need to feel insecure to go down there? Absolutely not."
She said she has driven the road to Rocky Point alone for 15 years and, "I feel completely safe."
"Because it's a foreign country and because it's a foreign language, it's more a fear of the unknown than the reality of something people need to worry about," she said.
The outlook is improving, said Snyder.
"Real estate sales have been up, rentals have been up, everything over this spring now has been great." While many students will hit the beaches of Rocky Point, many others will head to San Diego and Las Vegas for spring break, according to AAA Arizona. Michelle Donati with AAA expects many students to drive to their destination.
"Split the gas cost between two or three or four people. It's going to be pretty minimal," she said.
"Really popular destinations are close to home. The theme really for spring break 2010 is budget travel. Where can I go and stay on a budget? Where can I get the most bang for my buck?"
Cruises in Mexico also are becoming popular, she said.
"We are seeing cruise traffic pick up. Cruising to Mexico is extremely affordable and that's because many of the ships leave from California, so you don't have to fly over if you don't want to."
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Tue, Mar 09, 2010 @ 07:05 AM
 Mexico’s National Immigration Institute (INM) has announced a range of amendments to its immigration and internment procedures to be implemented starting May 1, 2010. Although the amendments do not significantly alter the core rules and regulations which underpin current immigration law, the changes will make the paperwork and procedures less complicated for foreigners wishing to enter Mexico; particularly for those coming to Mexico to do business and those who wish to live, work and retire here.
The current entry form completed by all foreigners entering Mexico and traveling beyond the 20km ‘frontier’ zone, known as FMT-Forma Migratoria Turista-will be replaced by a FMM, or Forma Migratoria Multiple.
The new FMM will cover visits of up to 180 days for tourists, business visitors and technical visitors, with sections on the form for each category type. Business and technical visitor categories are clearly defined and the entry extension to 180 days is a significant change to current regulations which allow business visitors only a 30-day window to remain in the country.
The new FMM forms are scheduled to be introduced on May 1 and the new FMM-based procedures will be available to visitors who are passport holders of countries eligible for entry to Mexico under the current FMT. People entering Mexico as well as those who have applications for FM3 and FM2 visas in process to April 30, will be treated and processed under the current procedures.
For people who are staying in Mexico longer than 180 days using FM3 or FM2 visas, the current paper booklets will be replaced with plastic cards, and holders will no longer need to have their change of address, change of business activity, marital status, et al, annotated on the document proper. Resident foreigners will still be required to file notification of changes in personal and professional circumstances, but the procedures which required the surrender of the document to the institute for a period of up to several weeks while changes were annotated will no longer be required.
Mexican consulates based overseas will no longer issue FM visa booklets. They will, instead, issue a sticker that is placed into the applicant’s passport once the INM has approved an overseas application. The applicant will then need to enter Mexico within 365 days and obtain the new FM visa card within 30 days of internment, by visiting a local office of the INM.
In summary: Tourists: If you enter Mexico as a tourist, your entry will remain virtually unaffected by the new procedures. You will simply need to complete the ‘Tourist’ section of the new FMM visitor’s card (which replaces the FMT) at the port of entry, and when you enter the country you will be granted leave to remain in Mexico for no longer than 180 calendar days.
Business Visitors: If you visit (or plan to visit) Mexico to undertake business activities or to undertake work in Mexico for periods of 180 days or less, you will enjoy greater flexibility by way of these new arrangements. Long Term Visitors and Residents: If you remain in Mexico for longer than six months, there are some welcome simplifications being introduced to the FM3 and FM2 visa procedures, especially in relation to doing-away with the process of surrender and re-issue of paper booklets. To read more on Mexico Visa Procedures, read this article in its entirety on Mexperience.com Mexico Insight.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Mon, Mar 08, 2010 @ 02:38 PM
 Mexico’s amicable trade relations with its neighbors and its abundance of beaches, historic districts, and other tourist sites make it an ideal place to visit, whether for business or pleasure. But if you plan to go to Mexico by car, it is vital for you to have Mexico auto insurance. It doesn’t matter if you carry substantial liability coverage in the United States or Canada. That doesn’t count for anything in Mexico. When you are in Mexico, you should always have liability coverage from Mexican insurers. Mexican law requires you to have at least Civil Liability Insurance, which will cover you in the event that you are involved in an accident and injure other people, whether motorists or pedestrians, or if you cause damage to property. And new travelers to Mexico should take note of how seriously the law regards the issue of traffic accidents and auto insurance. If accidents as minor as fender-benders are regarded with utmost severity, then you can probably imagine how bad it would be to become involved in accident resulting in personal injuries, especially if you are the at-fault driver and you don’t have Mexico auto insurance. Even if you are not the at-fault driver in an accident, you can expect to be detained in a Mexican jail while the authorities flesh out the details of the incident and decide who is to blame for it. And if you were the one at fault, you’ll still spend some time in jail while the police determine if you are financially capable of paying for any damage you may have caused (and if you’re not, you may face criminal charges). That’s not something you want to remember from a vacation to Mexico! That’s why it is vital to get Mexican auto insurance if Mexico is in your automobile travel itinerary. Short-term and long-term coverage is very affordable: a typical rate would be $30 for three days of Mexican liability coverage. And you can purchase Mexican auto insurance in the United States or in areas in the American-Mexican border. You should always include Mexico auto insurance if you plan to visit Mexico by car, whether you decide to stay there a few days or a few months. Being prepared for an accident, whether it happens or not, is a wise investment and it will most likely enable you bring you a piece of mind and to enjoy your visit to Mexico even more. Quote, Print and Purchase your Mexico Auto Insurance policy in minutes at www.Mexpro.com. To read this Mexico Auto Insurance Guide, in full, please click here.
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Fri, Mar 05, 2010 @ 09:00 AM
Read entire Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 desert race article at www.motorcycle-usa.com. Desert racers Ron Whitton of Arizona and Southern California’s Robby Bell received the pole positions for four-wheel and two-wheel vehicles in the computerized drawing for starting positions held for the upcoming 24th Annual MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250. Whitton races in the featured SCORE Trophy-Truck division while Bell competes in Class 22 for open motorcycles.
Round 2 of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series will be held March 12-14 in Mexico’s picturesque fishing village of San Felipe, located 120 miles south of the U.S. borer on the East side of the Baja California peninsula along the azure waters of the tranquil Sea of Cortez. With nearly 275 entries expected to compete in 28 Pro and 6 Sportsman classes in the 232-mile race, the green flag will drop at 6 a.m. Pacific time on Saturday, March 13, for the motorcycle and ATV classes, followed three hours later by the car and truck classes at approximately 10 a.m. local time. The start and finish line for the race will once again be the landmark San Felipe Arches on Highway 5 on the outskirts of San Felipe. One vehicle will start every 30 seconds in the elapsed-time race, with a 10-hour time limit to become an official finisher.
Following January’s season-opening SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, the World’s Foremost Desert Racing Series will visit Mexico for the first of three races in 2010.
In Saturday’s computerized drawing, SCORE Trophy-Truck had the most entries with 32, followed by the unlimited Class 1 with 18 and Class 1-2/1600 with 12. While 192 entries were received in time for the start draw, late registration will be accepted up until race morning and as many as 100 additional entries are expected.
This year’s race will use a similar 232-mile race course as the past two years with a few modifications other than those caused by weather conditions. Running in a counter clockwise direction out of San Felipe up to and then parallel to Highway 3 (southside) and south back down through three of the most picturesque and challenging washes in all of Baja.
After the start at the landmark San Felipe Arches, the race will proceed north towards Zoo Road. The area approaching the Zoo Road crossing has been bladed again, which makes it a safer approach to the popular spectator area. That area will again be fenced, have grandstands and a jump and will be patrolled so that spectators can watch the action but not put themselves in way of the action.
For the first time the course will travel east of instead of on the graded Morelia Road (after the Zoo Road junction) to the entrance to Matomi Wash. This will be one of the few times that SCORE will run through the majestic Matomi Wash in the early part of the race instead of near the end. After Matomi, the challenging course will run through two more of the infamous Baja canyons—Huatomote and Chanate before heading back Northwest for the final sprint to the finish line.
At 10 a.m. on Sunday (March 14), the awards celebration will be held in front of The Beachcomber Night Club on the Malecon.
Current SCORE official annual sponsors are: BFGoodrich Tires-official tire, Volkswagen of America-official vehicle, Sunoco Race Fuels-official fuel supplier, Bilstein-official shock, Instant Mexico Auto Insurance-official Mexican auto insurance, Slime-official tire sealant and Red Bull-official energy drink. Associate sponsors are: Tecate Beer, Coca-Cola of Mexico, Las Vegas Events, MasterCraft Safety, Blue C Advertising, Off-Road, SignPros, P.C.I. Race Radios, McKenzie’s Performance Products and Advanced Color Graphics.
Associate sponsors for the MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 are the Tourism and Convention Bureau of Mexicali/San Felipe and Cotuco. Additional sponsors in Baja are the Office of the Secretary of Tourism of Baja California and ProTurismo de Ensenada.
The race annually provides a greater economic impact to San Felipe than the popular month-long ‘Spring Break’.
For more information regarding the series, contact SCORE at its Los Angeles headquarters 818.225.8402 or visit the official website of the 2010 SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.
24th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250
Round 2 of five-race 2010 SCORE Desert Series
March 12-14, 2010—232.0 miles
San Felipe, Baja California, Mexico
Total Entries: 192 (as of 2/14/10)
(from 22 States, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Mexico)
PRO CARS & TRUCKS
SCORE TROPHY-TRUCK (32)
39 Ron Whitton
1 Robby Gordon
19 Tim Herbst
30 Robbie Pierce
21 Gus Vildosola Jr.
23 Mark McMillin
8 Roger Norman
16 Cameron Steele
31 Andy McMillin
40 Chet Huffman
37 Bruce Greer Jr.
76 Jesse Jones
51 Kory Scheeler
2 Pete Sohren
68 Marc Ewing
96 Bobby Baldwin
84 Nick Vanderwey
7 Jimmy Nuckles
10 Greg Nunley
78 Jesse Ashcraft
20 Rob MacCachren
35 Jason Voss
9 Gary Weyhrich
74 Rob Bruce
42 Will Staats
24 Adam Householder
13 Ed Stout
97 B.J. Baldwin
3 Mark Post
49 Troy Herbst
36 Glen Greer 47 James Bult
Posted by Roxanna McDade on Fri, Mar 05, 2010 @ 07:19 AM
SCORE International Off-Road Racing has released their 2010 Desert Race Schedule.  16th SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge Laughlin, Nevada January 15-17, 2010 24th MasterCraft Safety Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250 San Felipe, Baja, Mexico March 12-14, 2010 42nd Tecate SCORE Baja 500 Ensenada, Baja, Mexico June 4-6, 2010 15th SCORE Terrible's Las Vegas Primm 300 Primm, Nevada September 10-12, 2010 43rd Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 Ensenada to La Paz - Peninsula Run November 17-21, 2010 To get more information go to www.score-international.com.
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