The beach city of Manzanillo, Mexico looks to offer some highly profitable real estate investment opportunities for investing in international real estate. Many real estate prospectors are searching for something a bit different than Mexican tourist cities such as Cabo, Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. Manzanillo real estate values in have been rising steadily lately and will likely continue to increase as Manzanillo gains popularity with tourists.

Manzanillo Information

Manzanillo is located on the Costa Alegre area on the West coast of Mexico. Manzanillo City is the municipal seat of the Manzanillo municipality. Although Marble deposits can be found in the region, a large portion for this region is agriculture. Crops such as corn, sorghum, and mangoes are all grown and sold in large numbers.

The city of Manzanillo has begun to attract the attention of world travelers and more people are choosing to stay here. A large reason for this change may be because cruise lines, including Holland America, have begun including Manzanillo among their ports of call. Manzanillo has just become an origin port for some cruise lines as well, it will have it’s own cruise liner sailing from the Manzanillo port.

A bit of Manzanillo History

Manzanillo’s port first opened in 1825. It’s namesake is the manzanillo trees that were very common in the area at the time. Manzanillo trees are , with sap so potent that even resting under one can result in bodily swelling. Wood from these trees was commonly used when building ships, and by 1767 there was only one manzanillo tree remaining in the city. In 1825, the story goes that the governor of the state of Colima had the last manzanillo tree cut down after several people died from eating its fruit.

High Points of Manzanillo

Though Manzanillo is much more popular than before, the city would never be accused of being a “tourist trap.” The region is still known for being a good family escape for Mexicans and foreigners alike; interestingly, around 60 percent of holiday homes in the city are owned by Mexican nationals. Visit Manzanillo on any national holiday and you will see why.

Manzanillo doesn’t want to become another Puerto Vallarta. There are not large commercialized time shares, very few wandering sellers and when you walk down the street nobody tries to sell you anything. Which is more than can be said of Puerto Vallarta! It is this laid back style that makes Manzanillo so attractive to vacationers trying to get off the beaten path and expats looking for a place to call home.

Manzanillo also has the lowest crime rate in Mexico. Not only does the state of Colima have the lowest crime rate in the country, but Manzanillo has the lowest in the state. When investing in real estate abroad, crime is a major factor to consider.

The Real Estate Market

Because of its growing appeal with locals and visitors alike, real estate value in Manzanillo has been increasing at a rate of approximately 20% per year over the last five years. Property values will continue to grow in coming years. In this economy, growth like that is not very common! Manzanillo luxury real estate is quickly becoming the investment choice of many retirees.

As with buying property elsewhere in Mexico, foreigners must purchase property in conjunction with a Mexican bank that acts as their partner. Foreigners must set up a real estate trust called a “fideicomiso” to act on their behalf if they wish to purchase property in the restricted zone. The restricted zone includes land within 100 kilometers of international borders and land within 50 kilometers of Mexican coastline, according to Mexico Law. These fideicomisos can ultimately make property purchases safer for investors.

Manzanillo isn’t just a choice tourist destination, it’s also a very lucrative option for those looking to profit from real estate for expat living. Take a look at the real estate in Manzanillo for your future home!