Choose your broker before searching for a property.

Of course hire a professional. Your purchase will be in the thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars. And millions of pesos. Gary Martin Wendt is a professional broker trained and certified in México.

The logic: choose your broker before searching for a property so you will be correctly and fully informed. Honesty and transparency is the basis – the first step – the most essential consideration. Get to know the broker under the surface. Know and understand the broker history, lifestyle, business style, orientation to details, knowledge of the processes and procedure, professional relationships; and please ask great questions.

Hiring a “real” broker in Playa del Carmen can prevent missteps, save time, save money, limit frustration, and develop a relationship beyond your purchase. Save money? Yes, save money. Honest brokers commissions are paid by the seller unless specified otherwise.

Finding the property that fits your preferences is the easiest part. Performance in negotiation, due diligence, choosing the appropriate professionals to assist, selecting the notario and, if a foreign buyer, preparing the bank trust and much more complete a successful purchase.

After committing to your broker because they earned your trust and respect, go ahead and browse properties in Playa del Carmen and so many websites, send messages, compare prices, and share your discoveries with your trusted broker. Your searches will assist the broker to see what you like, understand your preferences in architecture, style, locations, features, and prices.

Gary Martin Wendt, gary@playacitizen.com, is your broker at Playa Citizen Real Estate. He will follow your lead, contributing his knowledge of the seller, developers, buildings, builders, sale offerings, history of prices, current negotiation expectations and opportunities, interesting strategies, and when prices vary in seasons and local economies. And then we celebrate only after the successful closing. 

Allow the relationship between buyer and broker to grow as the search and process evolves. Building the relationship is a creative and continual learning process that and benefits both the buyer and broker, and definitely the purchase result.

What is a broker in the Caribbean of México?

The broker represents the buyer, with important knowledge of the marketplace and sellers.

Gary’s job is to:

• guide you,
• understand your preferences,
• pay close attention to your budget,
• assure a wise purchase decision – you choose, of course,
• stay with you through the due diligence, the work of the lawyer, the bank, the notario, the seller’s representative, into the closing and beyond. 

Most buyers require more assistance after their purchase is completed. A great broker does not collect compensation and disappear when the purchase is completed. Communication may be more than expected, yet essential for the best results. If never invested in real estate in México, the communication includes hearing and understanding more details than perhaps in other countries where the title companies are involved.

No title companies will be involved in your purchase in México. Your legal representative will be a carefully vetted lawyer or law firm. Why? Because title companies are in name only in México – they are law firms like any other without “title” in their name. When a law firm uses “Title” in their company name, it is to get your attention and add credibility. It does not improve the purchase nor the law firm.

Title insurance policies are available at additional cost. They are, after all, insurance policies.

Lawyers must be coordinated and managed just as all others in the process to closing.

The most common misconception: “I can find everything on my own”

Yes, you can. And your searches will be welcome. And then what? The buyer who searches the market alone and then prepares the purchase “on their own” will typically face this:

• repeated listings,
• prices that don’t appear to compare well,
• properties that are appear better than they will during a visit,
• visiting neighborhoods that are simply not fitting the buy preferences,
• lack of context about so much more that matters,
• and less clarity on costs, regulations, or processes,
• and proper procedures, requirements, and the laws of México.

The buyer starts out excited and ends up overwhelmed, frustrated, and ready to quit. Don’t quit yet.

What we do for you

1. We filter properties according to your actual objective

Listening and understanding the buyer’s preferences.

• where to live,
• buy to live or rent or both,
• a first home, an only home, a second home,
• plan to occupy all year, partially, rent sometimes,
• share with family, friends, and business associates,
• or simply maintain the asset to hold and enjoy.

Therefore, before discussing condominiums, houses, or land, we first address questions such as:

• Do you want to live or invest?
• How important is the beach?
• What’s your budget?
• Do you want something easy to manage?
• Your preference includes capital gains, maintaining the asset, produce income, and/or lifestyle?

2. Inside knowledge of neighborhoods, areas, regions, and zones

For example, in Playa del Carmen, shopping at:

• Center,
• Playacar,
• Coco Beach,
• or gated communities and emerging residential areas.

You might find the following helpful:

• The best areas in Playa del Carmen to buy a rental property (compatible with Airbnb)
• Living in Playa del Carmen: The best neighborhoods for expats and digital nomads
• Playacar vs. Downtown Playa del Carmen: Where should you buy your condo?

3. We save you time by looking at what makes sense first.

Another advantage, call it a benefit, of hiring a broker. Avoid unnecessary visits.

You can see twenty properties. After a few, clarity diminishes. Confusion. Frustration.

We filter. Compare. Plan contenders for visits. Revisits to make certain.

Save:

• time,
• fatigue,
• confusion,
• improve expectations.

4. Experience and knowledge lead to a wise decision

You know that:

• “I loved the view,”
• “It feels nice,”
• “The rooftop pool was attractive,”
• “The reception was nice.”
• “The neighborhood restaurants were convenient.”
• “The area during the day looked ok.”

Gary guides you beyond the surface:

• building management,
• HOA fee reasonable, appropiate for the features,
• value appreciation,
• potential resale,
• within budget after all closing costs and future living expenses.

And so much more that grows in the continuing communication.

5. Gary negotiates with more context and over 25 years of knowledge

The basics of negotiation:

• price,
• confidence shared in the property documentation.
• seller and seller agent assessment,
• timing leading to the desired closing date,
• furniture and/or equipment,
• price versus dates, terms, and conditions,
• strategy between the lines come from experience,

Many more considerations develop – every transaction is unique.

6. Gary detects red flags from experience

• complicated condominium regulations,
• unusual and potential extraordinary HOA fees,
• building and location history,
• inside knowledge of the builder and building property management,
• or deviation from “the buyer’s plan” – it can happen.

7. We accompany you throughout the process, not just in the search.

Basis steps:

• offer includes essential conditions,
• property condition investigation,
• negotiation,
• choose legal assistance,
• diligent review of the legal package,
• notary/notario,
• trust for foreign buyers,
• intelligent and careful management of payment deliveries,
• all coordination of all participants through to closing,
• know proper procedures, requirements, and the laws of México.
• And there’s after the closing. Ask Gary.

Additional foreigner assistance:
How to Buy a residence in Playa del Carmen as an American or Canadian – Step by Step

What a broker should not do

• push you to buy anything or quickly,
• hide any expenses – a total is only a total if it comprehensive,
• to speak too well of everything without nuance,
• or make you feel that any property “is perfect” when you have doubt.

Context, experience, and years of local knowledge matter.

Is it worth shifting to a broker after you found “the one”?

Well, of course. Gary can offer stories over a plate of breakfast or coffee when you arrive.

Because even if you’ve already found a property that interests you, you still need to understand:

• The broker matters because everything matters