A few weeks ago I signed off on the paperwork in escrow and purchased property in Baja California. There is a lot of anxiety when purchasing property in a foreign country, because the laws are vastly different. To minimize the stress, it is extremely important to connect with the right people that are savvy on the Mexican laws and are willing to take the time to guide you through the process. Before my Real Estate agent referred me to Ross, I had inquired on my own with a few other Title Companies that processed loans to Americans to purchase property in Mexico. Everyone of them gave me a different set of information and when I compared notes, they contradicted each other and left me totally confused.
When I spoke to Ross, he explained to me that he started this business because being an American himself and having purchased property in Mexico, he wanted to make sure Americans had the most positive experience possible when purchasing property in Mexico and also wanted to make sure Americans were not being taken advantage of in terms of the closing costs. After talking to Ross, I felt more comfortable with what I was up against, so I went back to the other companies I had originally spoken to, now more knowledgeable about the process, to question some of the (mis)information they had given me. One company had told me that there was not one lender that would finance property in the Northern Baja area, and if I was told that they could, to beware because there would be humungous hidden costs.
I took this information back to Ross and he very professionally eased my weariness, and assured me that the information I received was a myth. He provided references so I could investigate this information on my own, and being the doubting Thomas that I am, I did. I am so glad in the end I went with my gut feeling and listened to Ross, because he did have a lender (Compass Bank) who gave me an excellent rate and even lower closing costs than every other company I had spoken to.
Once I went into contract, Ross turned me over to his wife Silvia, who processed the loan for me. She is extremely knowledgeable on the Mexican laws also, very professional, and actually made this very stressful process a lot of fun. She constantly kept me informed and included me in every correspondence so I was not kept in the dark. She was always available for my many questions, at any time day or night, and literally held my hand through the process every step of the way. She is so easy-going and kind, that it was easy to form a friendship with her along the way. Her free spirit often had me laughing over the phone, even when we were discussing serious issues.
I am here to tell you that it is not easy purchasing property in a foreign country, and when you are not familiar with the laws and are at someone else’s mercy to interpret them for you and handle your financial affairs, it is extremely stressful. My advice to anyone that decides to purchase property along the beautiful Baja peninsula, would be to hook up with knowledgeable people that understand the laws, that have your best interests at heart, and someone you know you can trust. I can honestly say that I found that in First Title Services with Ross and Silvia. Because of them and my agents Kathy and Max Katz from Baja Real Estate Group, and the Broker of Bajamar, Mimi Mills, I am now a proud owner of a Mexican Villa in Ensenada. I am so glad that I put all my fears aside and allowed them to walk me through the process. It made all the difference in the world having connected with Ross and Silvia, because they made sure that I closed this deal, leaving a very good taste in my mouth. What a positive experience this entire endeavor turned out to be. My hope for someone that is purchasing in Baja is that once they find their dream home in the beautiful country of Mexico, that they play it smart and hook up with the same wonderful folks I did, so they are able to share the same positive experience as me.
Thomas D. – San Jose, CA
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