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About Us
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Craig Saunders
Real Estate Agent (Buyer Specialist)
in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
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Craig Saunders
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My 25 years experience as a Canadian Realtor encompasses all facets of the real estate industry, including residential
and small investment sales in Calgary, Alberta, and operating my own real estate firm in Kelowna, British Columbia.
My business for the last three years of my real estate activity, prior to relocating to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, has
focused on Buyer Agency, representing and promoting the interests of the buyer in the new home and condo market.
We must bear in mind that a buyer’s potential real estate activity will take place in Mexico, governed by Napoleonic
law. Buyer agency, or agency relationships, is governed in North America by the law of agency, which is somewhat an
extension of both the law of torts and the law of contracts. Under either of these laws, usually the worst that can
happen to the wrongdoer is the assessment of damages, specific performance, or loss of an agent’s license.
No regulations govern the conduct of agents here – essentially, there may be no serious consequences for a
wrongdoing; furthermore, would a buyer have any inclination to go to court in Mexico to right a wrong?
The common law, typically in North America, requires the following duties of an agent to a client:
- the duty of loyalty,
- the duty of obedience,
- the duty of exercising care and skill,
- and the duty of accounting for all money and property that the agent handles.
For all intents and purposes here in Mexico, the “buyer agent” will conduct himself as a buyer specialist. In my
opinion, it is incumbent on the buyer to seek the services of an agent who, through his or her actions, demonstrates
the principles and characteristics of a North American buyer agent.
Diverse Experience
- Buyer Agent – representing buyers only
- Listing and sales of Residential Property – representing vendors
- Sales of single family homes, condos, and small investment properties
- Mortgage Agent
- Agent for Builders – sales and marketing
- Condo Project Sales and Marketing
- Manager of large independent real estate company, Calgary, AB
- Manager of the largest Century 21 office in Calgary, AB
- Co-owner of a Residential real estate firm, Kelowna, British Columbia
Real Estate Education
- Graduate of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, Residential Appraisal
- Senior levels of achievement as an Agent, meeting Broker prerequisites
- Mandatory and Optional Continuing Education Courses - 1979 - 2005
Affiliations
- Canadian Real Estate Association
- Alberta Real Estate Association
- Calgary Real Estate Board
- Medicine Hat Real Estate Board
- British Columbia Real Estate Association
- Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board
Worthy of Noting
Real Estate agents in Mexico are not required to be licensed, nor are there any educational standards to be met.
There is essentially no difference between a broker and an agent in terms of educational qualifications and
prerequisites. Anyone can be a real estate agent in Mexico – that is the bottom line. There is no registry for agents
except in the state of Sonora, and perhaps two others. There is none in Jalisco or Nayarit. Furthermore, unlike
North America, there is no assurance fund (errors and omissions insurance) for parties to a contract, should there be
financial loss, or legal issues.
The foregoing is not intended to be alarmist or negative in nature. There are many experienced, industry educated,
and competent agents and brokers in the Costa Vallarta region. But there are those who do not fall into the above
classification. You may be familiar with the term caveat emptor - let the buyer beware - if you have bought or owned
real estate. In a marketplace ostensibly lacking a will, if I may suggest, to self impose regulation, and governance,
caveat emptor should be uppermost in the minds of buyers.
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