National & International News Desk:

Latin American Investment Seminar Florida.
New Post for Hornberger

by John K. Glaab, CIPS

Hornberger in NEW NAR® Post

For more than a decade, Jeffrey Hornberger served as International Market Development Manager for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) during that time, he made many friends and contacts in AMPI Los Cabos, AMPI across Mexico and within NAR’s 57 affiliate associations. In addition to his achievements in working with AMPI, he was successful in various projects in Brazil, Panama and Spain.

I first met Jeff in Aguascalientes at the first annual meeting of the 43% Club. This group had been established the year before at the AMPI Conference in Merida. It brought together AMPI members from the restricted zone, places such as Acapulco, Cancun, Mazatlan and Los Cabos. Its purpose was to exchange information and discuss problems common to those marketing Mexican real estate in the “Forbidden Zone.”

Jeff, Jan Tarnow (then Manager of NAR’s Resort group) Linda Neil and I met in Chicago, following NAR’s 2001 Annual Conference. Jeff and Jan came to Los Cabos in the summer of 2002 to check out facilities for the first annual Resort Marketing Forum. This took place in Los Cabos in February 2003. Several would follow in places like Cape Cod, Hawaii and Vail. According to feedback from resort marketers, the one in Los Cabos was the best in terms of location, organization and educational content.

AMPI celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2006. This was marked by the signing of a joint venture between AMPI and NAR®. There are many benefits to AMPI members, including automatic membership in NAR®. Jeffrey Hornberger was one of the architects of this initiative. He will be missed by many in our industry. Jeff has become Managing Director Member Development, Commercial Real estate for NAR®. Meanwhile at AMPI headquarters, Barabara Gaxoet has replaced Vanessa Finson as Director, International Relations AMPI/NAR®

(Article continues below...)

Latin America Real Estate Investment Conference, Florida

Real Estate Investment World Latin America is the gathering place for experienced players and new entrants in this growing market. Twenty seven industry sectors were represented at the gathering held September 26-28th at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida. Among the Sectors represented were Institutional and Private Investors, Asset Management Companies, Insurance and Pension Funds, Hotel Groups, Investment Advisors. Lawyers, Property Securitization, Real Estate Brokers and Agencies, and Regulatory Bodies.

Among the topics discussed were: Real Estate Financing in Latin America, Trends and Innovation, Latin American Real Estate, The Latin American Growth Story, Country Sector Analysis of the Latin American Market: What’s Hot and What Isn’t, Mexico’s Increasing Appeal, Trends in the Leisure and Resort Market and Growth in Primary and Secondary Housing Development.

Panelists for the Growth in Primary and Secondary Housing Development session represented a variety of special practitioners. Contributors to the panel included, Dr. Marcus Engleman, CEO, One World Healthcare Group, Mathew Bishop, CEO Cortez Development Group. Tom Kelly Real Estate Editor/Journalist, and from Baja California Sur, Linda Neil, Director, Linda Neil Properties.

Sam Zell, a U.S. born billionaire, real estate entrepreneur and Chair of Equity Group Investment made the following observation, “Big picture economic fundamentals, politics and recent laws welcoming foreign investments are helping to trigger building sprees in residential and commercial properties: The Latin market has changed dramatically over the years and is becoming increasingly sophisticated.”

Moon Over Miami

Jose Manuel Palli left Cuba in 1960 for Buenos Aires, Argentina. There he graduated from law school. Next stop was Miami. He became involved in title insurance first with the First American Title Insurance Company and later with his own company, World Wide Title. A real pioneer, he is considered by many as the Grandfather of title insurance in Mexico. Jose Manuel worked very hard in the Los Cabos area and helped issue many of the first title insurance polices in Baja California Sur.

Recently José Manuel and his lovely wife Marcia, hosted an Argentinean style BBQ at his home in Coral Gables. The purpose was to host a group of colleagues and friends who were in Miami to attend, Real Estate Investment World Latin America. Those attending represented a large spectrum of people from the Mexican real estate industry. Coming from Stewart Title Guaranty Company, in Houston were Michael Skalka, Chairman & CEO. Stewart International and Mitch Creekmore, Senior Vice President with Stewart. John McCarthy former Director General of FONATUR, (the economic development arm of Mexico’s tourism department) and his partner Gustavo Ripol were there from Mexico City. John is now with Altavista Partners as CEO. This company is working on a large new development on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. Arriving from La Paz, Baja California Sur were myself, John Glaab of The Settlement Company, and Linda Neil of Linda Neil Properties. Tom Kelly was there from Seattle. Tom is referred to as, “The Real Estate Communicator.” He co-authored with Mitch Creekmore, the book, “Cashing In On a Second Home in Mexico.”

It had been a rainy week in Miami. At one point during the evening, Jose Manuel pointed at the clear sky and said, “Look, moon over Miami!”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: John Glaab was in attendance at Real Estate Investment World Latin America reporting for Another Day in Paradise magazine where he has acted as national and international Real Estate correspondent for over three years, and will have more posts from this important event and others next month. For more information contact: john.glaab@settlement-co.com

Site Map