The National Association of Realtors© has formally signed its first joint reciprocal membership agreement with a foreign real estate organization. NAR President-elect Pat Vredevoogd Combs executed the agreement with the Mexican real estate association, Asociacion Mexicana de Professionales Inmobiliarios, (AMPI) at AMPI’s 50th anniversary meeting in Mexico City, in October, 2006

Because of this historic partnership, all of Mexico’s AMPI members will become in January. “This is an important initiative. Not only will it create a wealth of new business opportunities for NAR’s members in the United States and AMPI members here in Mexico, but also it will help promote standardization of international real estate practice,” Vredevoogd Combs said. She went on to mention, “It is time to build bridges, not fences,” a theme that was mentioned several times during the AMPI Conference.

The agreement between the two organizations means that as official dues-paying members of NAR, AMPI members, who will join NAR in the international membership category, will be able to use the logo and registration mark. “NAR chose AMPI for this groundbreaking partnership, in large part, because its members adhere to a strict Code of Ethics like that of NAR. AMPI’s high standards of practice will help increase the positive perceptions of worldwide,” Vredevoogd Combs said.

The new relationship highlights the increasing level of business cooperation in real estate markets in both countries, as a growing number of United States citizens opt to acquire second and retirement homes in Mexico and residents of Mexico are buying property in the United States more frequently.

Mexico is attractive to second home buyers from the United States, thanks to the availability of properties near the ocean and mountains, reasonable costs of resort properties, and lifestyle considerations. Thanks to a favorable legal and financial infrastructure, the No. 1 foreign destination for retirees from the United States is Mexico, with over 1 million Americans living here.

Mexican President Vicente Fox keynoted the AMPI meeting. Expansion of the housing sector and homeownership opportunities has been a major focus during the Fox administration. Government policy has promoted programs that have expanded mortgage lending, assistance to low-income families and development of a secondary mortgage market similar to that in the United States. As a result, more than 2.4 million families have become new home owners during the six years of Fox’s term, which will end in December. He saluted AMPI for its role in fomenting the housing market.

The noted Mexican economic and political analyst, Federico Reyes Heroles, followed President Fox on the podium. He reviewed Mexico’s recent economic history dating back to the “peso crisis” and dealt with the future. His conclusion is that the Mexico economy is strong and the country can be optimistic about the future.

Later in the Conference, Manuel Medina Moro Director General of Banamex and City Bank came to the same conclusion.

AMPI’s new President Mario Aviles with Linda Neil, who was elected to the National Advisory Council of AMPI, at the AMPI Conference, in October in Mexico, D.F.

A special recognition was awarded to Carlos Gutierrez Ruiz, for his important work as the Commissioner of National Housing.

To help in the United States increase business opportunities with AMPI members, NAR launched a four-hour course titled “Doing Business in Mexico,” at the Conference. It will be presented again at the NAR annual conference in New Orleans in November. Authors of the course are Sergio Dueñas of Gudalajara, Adrian Arriaga of Mc Allen Texas and Linda Neil of La Paz, Baja California Sur. The course has been designed to help teach in the United States about business opportunities in Mexico and help them connect with their AMPI counterparts.

“This joint venture reflects AMPI’s desire to be more closely linked to international business standards and practices, and opens up opportunities for members on both sides of the border to do more business together,” said Galo Blanco, AMPI’s 2006 president.

AMPI, the Mexican national professional organization of real estate brokers and agents in both commercial and residential real estate, was established in 1956, and presently has 2,500 members, who represent companies located in all regions of Mexico. Further information about AMPI is available at http://www.ampi.org. AMPI is also a founding member of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations. Information about ICREA is available at http://www.worldproperties.com. The National Association of , “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. For further Information, you can contact the author:
John.glaab@settlement-co.co