In the competitive real estate market in Mérida, Yucatán, the presence of professional agents and companies that provide certainty and good practices is a pressing need.
Iván Cervera López, president of the Mérida section of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI), emphasizes the importance of identifying a formal and certified real estate professional to avoid fraud.
A reliable agent must be thoroughly familiar with the different areas of the city, the types of properties, market prices, and the legal and tax process for buying and selling real estate. Furthermore, they must be registered with the Treasury and able to invoice their services.
“Belonging to the formal business is key. Not only is it illegal to operate without being registered, but it is also an indicator of professionalism,” notes Cervera López.
A professional seeks to remain in the market, and their reputation is their best letter of introduction.
The National Council for Standardization and Certification of Labor Competencies (Conocer), endorsed by the SEP, issues real estate certifications. However, Cervera López points out that this certification does not always guarantee professionalism, as in some cases it is granted without a detailed knowledge assessment.
“Anyone who pays can obtain the certification, without necessarily having their actual skills validated,” he explains.
At AMPI, the process is more rigorous, with demanding training and evaluations that ensure compliance with industry standards.
Cervera López emphasizes the need for constant updating, mentioning that in his 18 years of experience, he has renewed his certification several times.
Currently, at least 50 hours of training is required to ensure that advisors have up-to-date knowledge and prevent untrained individuals from calling themselves professionals, putting clients’ assets at risk.
“Today, anyone can call themselves a real estate advisor simply by opening a social media profile,” warns Cervera.
The lack of adequate regulation allows inexperienced individuals to harm buyers and sellers with substandard transactions, he points out. The registry seeks to establish filters for real estate practices, but its effective implementation is still underway.
“We need this registry to be a true control mechanism, not just a bureaucratic process.” While these regulations are consolidated, the best defense against fraud is information.
TYT Newsroom
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