After reading Frances Mayes’ bestselling book Under the Tuscan Sun, many Americans found themselves dreaming of a poetic, luxurious lifestyle in an earthy, contextual home amid a location surrounding them with peace, serenity, and adventure. San Miguel de Allende Broker and American expat Greg Gunter was one those who said to themselves “Frances did it, why can’t I?” And he did just that. In 2009, Gunter replicated the lifestyle Frances lyrically shared with the world by settling in the UNESCO central-Mexico village of San Miguel de Allende, a place even Frances Mayes waxed poetic about here in 2012.
And now Gunter enjoys introducing fellow American expats to the very same lifestyle he has enjoyed for almost 15 years. As Mexico’s first Broker of the Warren Buffett-led real estate empire Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Gunter has eased literally hundreds of expats—Americans, Canadians, and Europeans—into living their dream life here.
Gunter finds that his clients have different definitions of the term “dream lifestyle.” Some want a balmy, spring-like climate supporting a year-round indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Some crave an active retirement filled with classes, culture, theater and more. And some simply seek an escape from the negative hustle-and-bustle of life NOB, North of the Border. “And that’s the wonderful thing about San Miguel,” says Gunter, “we offer it all here.”
Indeed, in a world filled with dynamic cities, emerging art cultures, and cross-cultural exchanges at a broader scale, San Miguel de Allende is a city that stands out from the rest. In fact, this 480-year-old village has been crowned as the “#1 City In The World” by Condé Nast Traveler for five years and four times by Travel + Leisure magazine.
We are talking about a serene haven tucked away in the beautiful and captivating mountainous terrain of the central Mexico where—at 6,400 feet in altitude—humidity is unknown. It is frequently mentioned as one of the most picturesque and nostalgic cities in the world and has evolved—Americans first started coming here in the late 1940’s—into a “must visit” on most educated traveler’s bucket lists. This dwelling tourist hub and colonial-architecture mecca—“I literally work, play and live in a UNESCO site,” says Gunter—attracts a wealth of expats looking to settle into the same lifestyle Gunter praises.
Do you have plans to own a second home or vacation home in the future? Wise investors—those seeking the security of fee-simple deed ownership of a home, not just a leasehold—start their search with the San Miguel de Allende real estate market. But wade carefully, be sure to only work with a licensed Realtor with extensive experience in the local market, preferably one holding the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation issued by the National Association of Realtors. “I also find,” notes Gunter, “that my clients like working with someone like me who has gone through the exact same transition from the U.S. to Mexico—they know I’ve been there.”
Greg Gunter was ranked the #2 Realtor in all of Mexico in real estate sales volume before the Warren Buffett—led team called him to open their first office in Mexico. volume. Schooled as an architect with a real estate MBA, he’s an experienced foreign expat able to ease newcomers into their own dream lifestyle and integrate with the thriving local and foreign expat community.
Gunter has helped hundreds of homeowners find their dream property in San Miguel de Allende, a city boasting a mix of Spanish colonial, Mexican heritage, and bohemian architectural styles dating sometimes a few hundred years. He has listed the city’s most expensive listing, a $6.995MM Starchitect Ricardo Legorreta estate, much like selling a Frank Lloyd Wright home. “Producer Joel Silver’s Legorreta in L.A. is on the market for $52MM,” notes Gunter, “making my Casa Legorreta a bargain by comparison.”
While Gunter’s official title is real estate Broker, he notes that he really serves as an ambassador for the city and the enriching lifestyle he has found here, often investing weeks educating clients about the city far before discussing real estate. “In fact, I’ve over 50 articles just about San Miguel on my web site,” adds Gunter, “just to help clients learn about this marvelous city.” You can check out his ventures and that web site at www.DreamProHomesLuxury.com
Hyperlink:
waxed poetic about here: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/san-miguel-de-allende-frances-mayes-traveler