Moving to a new country is a challenge: you need to get accustomed to a new lifestyle as quickly as possible and this includes finding a place to live. After the hotel phase you must surely want to find a place or your own and have your version of the ideal home (or as close as you can get to it), but where to start?
The first step would be to find a realtor who is a member of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professional, the AMPI (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios). Being a member of the AMPI gives you certainty the realtor agency of your choosing has fulfilled the legal requisites for realtors and their agents are capable of navigating through the legal terms involved when renting or buying a house as well as being continuously updated with courses and workshops to stay at the top of the changes happening in the real estate market and legislation.
After finding a realtor you must define a budget and know exactly how much you want to spend, whether renting or buying. Having all your needs in is important: you might need the property to be already furnished or maybe your need it to be near your workplace or a park for the kids; maybe you want it to be in a gated community or need an extra room for when visits come from abroad. Make a list of all these requirements with your agent and this will help him or her to find you a perfect property within the price range you are expecting.
AMPI members are capable of navigaring through the legal terms involved when renting or buying a property.
In San Luis Potosí it is required by law that any person or company dealing in real estate must have a license and their license number must be visible in any ad they publish. This license is a guarantee the persons involved in the company are properly trained and abide by regulations and an ethics code applying for all realtors.
If you need a directory listing the authorized realtors in San Luis, you can get one from the Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico (meaning Secretariat of Economic Development, its acronym being SEECO) as they are in charge of authorizing and supervising this licenses. You can reach SEDECO at 444 834 3600 or send them an email at sedeco@slp.gob.mx
Remember a real estate agent aside from finding residential properties can also be of use when looking for industrial land, business properties and warehouses. They are also capable or doing a ROI analysis to help companies decide where to locate their facilities considering factors as land price, roads and highways and growth potential, making realtors great allies for finding places to live and doing business in.
So, find a realtor you feel comfortable with, ask for their license number and you’ll be in great hands!
Written by:
Lic. Ramón E. Baez Sainz
Inmobiliaria Brokers & Real Estate Holding, SA de CV
AMPI Member in San Luis Potosi
