AMPI History
Mexico City was gradually changing and was steadily becoming known as the real estate capital of Mexico. However, the business was overflowing of very unserious players that were damaging the profession.
This was how a group of people began visualizing the need to associate together to be able to raise the level of professionalism and establish strict codes of ethics with regards to real estate activities within an organization. Thus, On November 14th 1956, the Union Mexicana de Corredores y administradores de Inmuebles A.C. was created.
Initially, the offices were located on 5 de Mayo & 17 St., and with the aid of its founding president and other friends and associates the U.M.C.A.I. began operating primarily under the direction of Don Ramón Salcido, Don Roberto Henkel, Don Luis Barrios, Don Guillermo Bretón, Don Jorge Nicolín, Don Manuel Nicolín, Don Francisco Góndara Ugarte, Don Juan Mijares, Don José J. Galindo Don Joe Robertson, Don Keneth Robinson, Don Javier Arriaga.
All committing to pay an inscription fee of 200 dollars/pesos? And 150 dollars/pesos per trimester.
Members of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, now the N.A.R., Stanley Mathias, Sam Brown and Lowerll Baker, offered advice and supported this initiative.
It was sought from the very beginning that the U.M.C.A.I. would cover many regions of Mexico by including people from all over the republic that had done outstanding work, not simply Mexico City. The Union thus had from the very beginning associates in the City of Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Acapulco and Cuernavaca.
The next twelve years were devoted to reaching the many goals set forth upon creation in 1956, such as the abolition of rent control. It is important to keep in mind that at the time, rent control was a much larger issue than it is today, as it represented a much larger percentage of the real estate market than was strictly necessary. Time has lessened the problem, due to the death of contract owners, as well as housing degradation and the earthquakes that hit the country especially the ones in 1957 and 1985.
Other important goals reached during these twelve years was the consolidation of the ´Union´ through increased membership, as well as continuous modifications to the laws and codes of ethics such as to strengthen the Union. The exemption of real property taxes for real estate with housing purposes, lower than $ 700.00 was achieved due to the involvement of some of our Union members and official recognition from the authorities was sought ever since then.
The Union went through some rough times during this period as a division emerged within that threatened the survival of the Union, fortunately, good sense conquered along with the conscientiousness to continue pursuing the goals set forth and this helped reintegrate the Union to its initial grandeur.
However, this event gave new life and motivation to our institution and one can say that the final launch happened with this issue. For the third time in its history the Union amended its statutes, always looking to be in sync with the moment. During this time we also joined together with FIABCI, at the time just created, who decided to organize its congress in Mexico City, and make Mexico its host country for two of its large congresses.
From then on, the first real attempts of communication between us and the public as a whole arose by means of publication of our bimestrial magazine ´Bienes raices y Turismo.´ The public could suscribe to our magazine for a fee of 25 pesos and could then read articles written by our associates and members about our activities as well as find a section devoted to sale and rent of properties,
The threshold to the 70´s was a challenging time and the results achieved had not met the expectations. The ´Union´ continued its battle to adapt to the times and changed its name to the ´Asociación Mexicana de Administradores y Agentes Inmobiliarios A.C.´ The new name seemed more fitting to the work performed by real estate agents as well as more appropriate to the transformation of laws and codes of ethics the organization had done.
The fact that the Asociación of Corredores Públicos tried to suppress the term ‘broker’ in our activities, is not important and the opportunity was taken to change the term to ‘Real Estate Agent’ believing that it was a closer term for the activities we carried out, anyway, the juncture favored internal restructuring.
The changes suffered by our organization, now called the Asociación Mexicana de Administradores y Agentes Inmobiliarios A.C. (July 4th, 1978), allowed for the creation of other associations around the country, among them the A.P.A.A.I (Asociacion Poblana de Administradores y Agentes Inmobiliarios) born in the 70´s. This precipitated a national growth that would consolidate itself in a definite form halfway through the decade.
In 1972 the old idea of hosting a convention bore fruit, our association managed to assemble 120 persons at the Hotel Jurica in the city of Queretaro, persons who with their enthusiasm, and the support of the state government, Don Juventino Castro at the time, made this event into a great success, providing us with the motivation to continue to host large successful conventions, that have become one our trademarks.
This in turn precipitated great real estate activity that lasted seven years and became an era that amongst others shaped the National Development plan, preceded by the Housing Program for the Federal District of Mexico.
The A.M.A.A.I. was making headway in dignifying the real estate profession, improving the image of professionalism, accrediting certifications through dialogues with government authorities and further integrating itself on a national level. The A.M.A.A.I. was aiming towards becoming a national guild association.
Our efforts did not bear fruit all the time however, and at times we felt as if we were sowing on infertile land. Nevertheless, the seed was planted and by keeping our eyes on the prize we knew that this was the necessary groundwork needed to be able to become a national guild association for all real estate activities in the Republic of Mexico.
The A.M.A.A.I. was with out a doubt on the right track, however, the goals set and the realities faced were not always congruent. This is when the realization arose that what was needed was a restructuring of the operations so as to fit reality more, while at the same time, complying with goals set of lifting the real estate profession to a new level of professionalism. The people elected as members, then, were only people of high moral caliber, making A.M.A.A.I. more of an idealist organization than a business per se.
This situation provided us with new guidelines that in 1975 lead to a further reform of our laws which consequently led the contemplation of regions and sections within different cities of Mexico.
Meetings with colleagues in Puebla and Guadalajara produced the creation of the respective sections. And further room was given within the reformed laws to concepts such as: consulting, construction, promotion, financial advisors and appraisals, all concepts that were added to the traditional laws already covered that had constituted until then the heart of the A.M.A.A.I.
Our association was now ready to create its own dynamics and nothing could stop us now, this was clearly demonstrated the changes that were taking full force. A thorough Code of Ethics was established which has molded our conduct till this day.
In 1979, changes made proved rewarding and superseded expectations, there was organizational cohesion, national interest in professionalizing the field, interchange of ideas and procedures, business interaction between associates from different regions, and last but not least, the real estate profession had received dignity and credibility.
That same year, during a convention held in Acapulco, Gr. AMPI receives its first medal as a recognition for its hard work towards the overall improvement of the real estate field. Since then, a recognition is bestowed upon a worthy candidate, within or outside of our association, each year.
However, for our next convention in Cocoyoc, Mor. we realized that due to internal and external changes we needed to reconsider our name again, and hence February 16th, 1979 we changed to the Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios A.C. - this along with the creation of a new logo and a further promise to our, and from our associates of increased professionalism.
This promise of responsibility has paved our way ever since. Mexico needed this as we experienced a remarkable demographic explosion with a corresponding increase in needs of homes. We needed to restructure resulting in the 1982 creation of an organizational chart that to this day guides us and functions as the bases of our structure. In 1982 AMPI had three sections and 421 members.
Judging the relevant cases and the speed at which they were happening in our country, the federal housing law is created and there is word of a ‘Tenant Law’ which was reduced to changes, mainly in the Civil Code, thanks to the action of a group of colleagues that paid attention to all the suspicious attempts of amendments.
More frequent intervention by real estate professionals was seen all over the Republic of Mexico, taking part in important commissions and organizations. Today the number of real estate professionals operating in Mexico is large; however, one cannot forget the work and effort that has made this a possibility by our members, colleagues and associates.
A truly rough year for us was 1982, our economy was struggling due to the fall of the oil industry, discouraging events were seen every day; the Bank of Mexico withdraw of the exchange market, currency had fled buying land in the south of the United States or went to American or European Banks.
During these hard times AMPI´s voice was heard in every forum, and every editorial in our magazine lamented the situation and urged for unity so as to better prepare for future similar circumstances.
With this zeal and enthusiasm, grew the idea of the first real estate forum organized by the section of Satelite, an event that has taken on great importance in how we organized all our future forums.
Work platforms designed by our various presidents that took in their hands the destiny of our association have been carried out. In general terms a sense of unity was growing within and this gave the members an obligation to serve as support and counseling elements before local governments, standing out issues that risked real estate. A.M.P.I’s opinion was heard against the rent control decree in the state of Michoacán.
As a clear proof for urban problem solutions there is the property value study in which A.M.P.I- Acapulco worked with local authorities: The same study was made years later by the Chihuahua section. The Bolsa Inmobiliaria (MLS) in Puebla is created.
Following the Example of A.M.P.I. – Guadalajara, real estate papers made by A.M.P.I. members created the library, which had 116 volumes when it opened. An important step is taken with the creation of ICAMPI (Instituto de Capacitación de A.M.P.I.), our magazine, thirteen years after the first article was published acquires the current format, brochures to illustrate our clients and potential associates, explaining what is our organization, our goals and the activities made to improve real estate activity are printed. Our general politics are published and a detailed work on social housing projects in rent is made.
As the real estate system little by little accustomed itself to the abrupt changes the 1985 earthquake brought, much reconsideration was necessary, mainly in Mexico City. Emergency measures caused by these earthquakes were rapidly taken by A.M.P.I. working along with the authorities. 30 days after the disaster A.M.P.I. gave to the City’s government a study that contained the measures that later would be used as a base for the actions made by the City. Immediately we participated in reconstruction commissions at a national and city level, showing once more, the service spirit that distinguishes A.M.P.I. members.
Our offices were also affected by the earthquake and we occupied provisional office spaces until we in July 1986 proudly inaugurated the offices we still to this day operate from. This was possible, due to the support of our members and the work of our president. This also gave us an opportunity to acquire, with the help of our members, our first computer which allowed us to systemize our information better in order to provide better services. Mexico also received the honor of hosting the World Congress for FIABCI in Acapulco some years later, and though the fear of earthquakes was always there and was very real, the organizers pulled through and the success of the event was tremendous.
The trials we lived strengthened AMPI and made us better. We restructured our regions by a more logic geographic grouping according to membership increase and consequently began to celebrate board meetings in varies locations in order to bring our members closer and promote increased communication, which also serves as local promotion.
AMPI endeavors to invite persons from the different communities to events and forums so that they can get to know AMPI and its operations, as well take advantage of such opportunities to widen its network in order to establish new relationships which are mutually beneficial.
AMPI has, not only nationally, but locally as well, worked towards creating relationships and maintaining them, so that our association cannot only be better known, but also be invited to participate in our competitor’s events.
Our association, as such or its members at a personal level always wearing the A.M.P.I. trust have participated with FIABCI (two World Congresses) Centro Impulsor de la Habitación, A.C. (CIHAC), Instituto Mexicano de Valuación, Asociación Nacional del Notariado, Colegio de Notarios, Canacintra, Canaco, Cámara Nacional de la Industria de la Construcción, Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles, Colegio de Arquitectos, Coparmex, etc. And at a government level with Presidencia de la República Mexicana, Secretaria de Hacienda y Crédito Público, Departamento del Distrito Federal, Asamblea de Representantes del Distrito Federal, FONHAPO, Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor, INFONAVIT, Comité de Reconstrucción Nacional and with many State governments and Local governments, obtaining many achievements for the improvement of our real estate activity and for our communities.
At the end of the 80´s AMPI was consolidated. The different sections were fortified across the region. The implementation of real estate stocks in many sections, prove it.
Lately we have seen a dramatic increase in AMPI membership which consequently has meant an increase in regional sections as well; this is due to the fact that AMPI is becoming more known in our respective communities thanks to the work of our national Presidents, through crucial communication and valuable PR done by means of increased participation and promotion of conventions and forums and increased marketing in real estate literature. This development gives us a hopeful glimpse into the future of AMPI.
AMPI is, without a doubt, one of our association’s pillars, for this reason we have reorganized it and made it more flexible to serve our purpose and benefit the associates.
The image of professionalism projected by AMPI is further reinforced by our institutional campaigns that began in 1990 of keeping our labels and symbols uniform.
Due to the globalization of the real estate market, this campaign is crucial to project a sense of unity both within our association as well as to the market as a whole. A sense of unity also increases sharing and communication between our associates and the respective regions. The introduction of high technology will also aid AMPI in the future, as it allows for even further communication at a much higher speed, as well as allows AMPI to take full advantage of the large network it has created that only three years ago seemed impossible to fully utilize.
AMPI is providing its associates and members with new services every day; the government through its organizations is recognizing AMPI´s authority and important work, and the same can be said for the general public. AMPI´s overall image is dramatically improving, its network increasing and its importance is becoming widely recognized.
