Want to Find Treasure in the Sierra Madres?

Do you remember the 1927 novel, "The TreasureMexican Riviera is exploding with population
of the Sierra Madre", which was about a couple ofgrowth and new development.
down-and-out Americans that joined up with aOne of the results of Mexico's 1917 Revolution
crusty old timer to prospect for gold in Mexico? Itwas the Agrarian Law which provided the
was later adapted into a film by John Huston inredistribution of land from the wealthy land
1948, who returned to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico inowners to the farming peasants. This Agrarian
1964 to film "Night of the Iguana".Law prohibited the farmers from ever selling their
The Sierra Madres have been and continue to beland; they were only to work it. However, in 1973,
rich in mineral wealth containing vast deposits ofthe Mexican government modified the Agrarian
gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, and tin. The problemLaw, thus allowing foreign real estate investment
is; the majority of us North Americans can't doin Mexico. Certain restricted zones were also
very much to prosper from or enjoy the benefitsmade available to foreign buyers by establishing
associated with these rich mineral assets.the fideicomiso, or bank trust. This 50 year bank
However, the Sierra Madres do possess anothertrust grants the real estate title to a bank, acting
great asset that we can benefit from and enjoy;as a trustee, who is obligated to follow all
that is real estate!instructions given by the trust's beneficiary, the
Now, we ask, where exactly are the Sierraforeign buyer. The Agrarian Law was again
Madres? Well, there are actually three mountainamended in 1993, allowing the ejido farmers, with
ranges in Mexico, all referred to as the Sierraunanimous consent, to privatize or regularize their
Madres. The first is the Sierra Madre Orientalland and sell off parcels to others. In 1994,
range that runs about 700 miles from north toNAFTA created a dispute-settlement provision to
the south on the eastern side of Mexico. On theprotect direct foreign investments in Mexico. Since
western side of Mexico, the Sierra Madrethe PAN Party took control in 2000, there have
Occidental range runs about 700 miles from thebeen a number of other legal changes, all designed
US border south to an area just north of Puertoto encourage foreign investments in Mexican real
Vallarta. The Sierra Madre Del Sur begins close toestate. They include financing, title insurance, bank
where the Occidental range ends and continuestrust regulations, and other tools to provide
south to Guatemala. The two western ranges aresecurity to the foreign investor.
bisected by the Trans-Volcanic Axis which is aAll Mexican land within 100 km of the borders and
geologically active volcanic mountain range whose50 km of the shorelines is considered as
smoldering cones link the western ranges with therestricted zones and treated differently than the
eastern range. This east to west volcanic rangeinterior land. Since the beautiful western coastline
starts near Cabo Corrientes, at the southern tipproperty along the Mexican Riviera lies within the
of Puerto Vallarta´s Banderas Bay, and ends50 km restricted zone, it is being slowly but surely
just south of Veracruz on the Gulf of Mexico.acquired by foreigners through fideicomisos, as
Now that we have the geography lesson behindthe ejido farmers privatize it. Of course, as it
us, let's just position ourselves where three ofconverts, its value and selling price skyrockets,
these four ranges intersect, i.e., in Puerto Vallarta.thereby providing substantial new wealth for
Standing in Vallarta, we look to the north and seethose fortunate land owning families or ejidos.
the Sierra Madre Occidental range, to the southThere is so much magnificent coastline available,
we see the Sierra Madre Del Sur range, and tothis process of conversion will probably continue
the east we see the Trans-Volcanic Axis range.for another generation.
Yes, even though Puerto Vallarta is located on theAs this coastline gets privatized, sold to
Mexican Riviera along the Pacific Ocean coastline,foreigners, and developed, the North American
you could say that it's in the center of the Sierrababy boomer invasion continues and the local
Madres. Being located in the center of the Sierraeconomy thrives as thousands of new
Madres and on the Pacific Ocean, Vallarta offersconstruction and service jobs are created. The
some of the most scenic land anywhere on thehead of the local Chamber of Commerce has
planet.predicted the population of greater Vallarta to
Being located at the same latitude as Hawaii, thereach 600,000 inhabitants by 2015, making it
climate in Vallarta is essentially the same asmuch larger than many northern US cities such as
Hawaii. With the fabulous climate, outrageousCleveland, Ohio. The current construction boom
views of mountains and ocean, located only twoseems relentless as new villas, condominium
to three hours from the US, and a progressivecomplexes, shopping centers, and office buildings
PAN Party in power, real estate treasures incontinue to spring up daily.
Vallarta have been discovered!While boating in Banderas Bay, you peer across
The coastline from Riviera Nayarit, 45 miles norththe water and see countless beautiful villas and
of Vallarta all the way south to Careyes on thecondominiums nestled in the foothills of the Sierra
Costa Alegre, 55 miles south of Vallarta, isMadres and you must agree, "There's gold in
currently undergoing a major transformation. Duethem thar hills"; the real treasure of the Sierra
to the recent legal changes pertaining to theMadres is the hills themselves and the real estate
foreign ownership of coastal land in Mexico, thecontained therein. It all lies before your eyes and
stable peso, the conservative and pro-US Mexicanis now available to you in Puerto Vallarta. So, why
government, and of course, the onslaught ofhesitate? Come on down this winter and explore
baby boomers searching for retirementthe opportunities that await you in Paradise.
destinations, this entire 100 mile stretch of the