Slice of paradise becomes eviction nightmare for Canadian in Mexico

LA MANZANILLA, Mexico — Siegfried Schiffmacher thought he had found an idyllic slice of paradise in 2006 when he purchased a large lot at Tenacatita, a spit of land in Mexico with spectacular oceans views to the front and a calm bay with clear water and a golden-sand beach to the back.

He thought he had found a sound investment, too: The 1,007-square-metre property — once part of a communal farm known as an "ejido" — came with a title validated by then-president Vicente Fox.

Those illusions were shattered Aug. 4, when more than 150 state police officers raided Tenacatita, acting on an eviction order won by a Guadalajara-area businessman, Andres Villalobos, who claimed title to 42 hectares of land — including Schiffmacher's lot — that he purchased in 1991 from the widow of a former Jalisco state governor.

"When you buy with a title signed by the president, it feels secure," said Schiffmacher, a retired telecom entrepreneur from Surrey, B.C., whose wife, Margarita, is a Mexican national. "We never thought this would happen."

Schiffmacher's plight highlights the perils of investing in paradise and, he estimates, affects at least 15 Canadians.

It also highlights the problem of purchasing in a country with lingering conflicts over land and titles — two key grievances that fuelled the Mexican Revolution, the centennial of which is being observed this year — and how these unresolved squabbles are affecting foreigners a century later as they move south in increasing numbers and unwittingly into areas with histories of property disputes.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Slice+paradise+becomes+eviction+nightmare+Canadian+Mexico/3457423/story.html

I've lived in Mexico for 11 years and a similar thing happened on coastal land in Mexico about 5 or 6 years ago. All residents were put out of their houses without possessions, etc. Although I am sure some were Mexicans most, if I remember correctly, were from Canada and the US. For some reason buying a home or property in a beach area seems very risky in that someone or group will "legally" seize all the property.

It was in the Guadalajara Reporter at the time, but I never did hear what happened to all the people who were put out of their houses and what happened to those houses.

This most recent land grab reminds me of life in the old west in the US. If you had the might and power you could grab any land you wanted.

Sparks did you say you are leaving this area to move to the beach? I think in Mexico the only home I would put on the beach is a movable trailer, but even that might get seized.

Well I have both just incase. Yep moving back down before November



http://casa-pinal-villa.blogspot.com/

Whenever there are problems, over 98% of the time the word ejido is part of it. Avoid buying land that is or once was ejido and you'll be better off.

Yep, I saw that article in the paper this morning. Same thing can happen up here in Canada with native Indian claims. Only difference being people wouldn't get punted right out nor would the police be guarding it. I won't get involved in any native land.......

Don't take you long to look at a hot horseshoe, eh?

The really sad thing here are the Mexicans who lost not only their homes but their liveli,hood. For most gringos they bought a dream they could not afford elsewhere. Not to belittle their loss but for them in many cases it was easy come easy go.