When homeowners are comfortable, they spend money on improving their homes. That’s no secret. But US home improvement retailer Home Depot is expecting big things from its Home Depot Mexico division, driven in part by the spike in the Mexico real estate market.

Home Depot Mexico now operates 69 stores, having entered the market here in 2001 with just four stores. The company also plans to open an additional nine outlets by the end of 2008 and a new distribution center in the Mexican state of Hidalgo. The company has seen double-digit growth in the years it has been doing business in Mexico and doesn’t see anything that would interrupt that growth rate in the foreseeable future.

The chain’s annual revenue exceeds $1 billion in Mexico alone and analysts look at stores like Home Depot as a bellweather indicator of the housing industry in general. There’s no doubt about it: real estate in Mexico is hot, and that’s backed up by the enormous success of Home Depot Mexico.

Much of the housing in Mexico’s hot real estate markets like Puerto Vallarta is new. Luxury condominium projects are being built at a frenzied pace, and established real estate is providing substantial gains in property values. For developers, the investment path is clear: buy and build on Puerto Vallarta real estate!

For the individual investor in Mexico real estate, this poses somewhat of a problem. Much of the desirable coastal real estate in Puerto Vallarta is being bought by developers who are planning hotels, resorts and condominiums. Individual investors who want to get in on the opportunity need to act quickly to secure some of the limited prime residential real estate.

Select Mexico Properties is offering pre-screened properties that have been evaluated for both their investment and enjoyment potential. In addition, the properties being offered for sale would be ideal for locating “green” homes that offer a low environmental impact on their surroundings. Given the strong interest in Mexico real estate, individual investors would be wise to heed the boom market indicators being seen in Puerto Vallarta right now.

Photo Credit: David Neubert