Well, in terms of real estate, mortgages and in reference to our last editorial, I define culture clash as to how a group of foreign purchasers react to the commonly uncontrolled, non-regulated, increasingly abusive and risky, one-sided condo selling practices performed by SOME of the local or foreign condo developers in Mexico. High emphasis should be put on SOME.
One case in particular I will continue to address, based on our previous editorial.
The Culture Clash in this case occurs when, after well over 12 mos. of promised delivery and constant delays for deficient construction and material used in the construction of their Condo development, purchasers have finally come together and are forcing, the developer's top executives to the negotiating table to look at the issues. Only in America, Canada or a developed country, this would happen, some would say, but now also in Mexico. Just that the grievance party herein involved is a group of Canadian and American condo owners fed up with the continuous lies from the developer.
Two groups, one originally formed of purchasers with little patience whom are now litigating against the developer, and the a second group of fully paid owners, now organizing themselves to demand upgrading of deficient materials used in the construction of the development and the termination of unfinished areas, in addition to the requesting of construction material guarantees of hidden construction defects are now confronting the bewildered developer.
The Culture Clash has been played onto the developer, whom happens to be a foreign company also, where had he sold his condo units to locals (Mexican Nationals-I am Mexican by the way), he could have gotten away with closing on all his deficiently built , poorly constructed with cheaply provided material, finished condo units. He would have gotten away with no complaints, or any major responsibility issues. Not so, when you are dealing with a different culture group whom are used to more professional work and ethics which also demands better materials to be used in their condo units. They are simply demanding their investment's worth to be put into the condo unit.
This Culture Clash can also be played onto the local community, to help them understand that if you are handed over a deficient project, not only can you demand the proper termination and use of better construction material on the project, but you can also bring the developer to their knees and demand proper fulfillment of their contract binding agreement and everything that is included on the same, including but not limited to timely handling of the transfer of deeds.
This is an interesting phenomena which only proves that regardless of who you are, your cultural background does have a direct affect on the different cultural aspects of the country you are purchasing property in and can become an influence on your decision and how you can handle the same. In this particular case, I hope the moves of these two groups shed some light on all of those other condo purchasers in the area whom have somehow, somewhere being neglected, not to say abused, by developers not fulfilling their contractual agreements. On a normal basis, a condo developer just takes the money, collects full payment on the unit, without even finishing the development's common areas and hands it over the purchaser, by way of letting him take possession leaving the legal tendering of the unit for a later date, some times even years go by until the actual deed on the condo unit gets transferred. Big mistake on part of the purchaser.
Perhaps this move will also shed some light on local realtor groups and realtor organizations to begin regulating the real estate industry in Mexico, including Mortgage Companies and developers and the like.
"Not everything that glitters is gold" the saying goes, and in fact, you will find that many of those magnificent looking beach front condos are NOT in the "inside", what they look like on the "outside."
There are professionals that could do a construction quality inspection, or Home Inspection as it is called in Canada and the USA, unfortunately, not a lot of buyers are requesting it, much less demanding it from the developer. By law, the developer must provide a one year guarantee on some of the construction materials used in the condo units, such as; wiring, plumbing, a/c ducts, hidden defects, etc. You must make sure you demand those warranties before signing off, or signing your property deed transfer, at closing.
This article is provided by Enrique (Henry) Saldana – He can be contacted at Cell: (984) 116-8528, Cell: (998) 147-8986. www.buyerbewaremexico.com , and www.mexicohomerealtycenter.com ,
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