About us
PHILIP HARDCASTLE
Owner/Director
Realty San Miguel is owned and operated by Philip Hardcastle. Philip oversees all of the strategic planning of the company, day to day operations, marketing, and personnel. He is exceptional in sales, and works tirelessly at providing outstanding service from beginning to end of each transaction. Philip has a passion for educating his clients about their options, and his expertise in both construction and real estate provides the perfect platform. He can often be heard explaining to his clients "I'm going to tell you what you need to hear, not necessarily what you want to hear."
Thus, Philip is known for his honesty, integrity, and fairness to all parties involved . He also stays up to date on changes in the market, relevant legal issues and local happenings which might affect buyers and sellers in San Miguel.
Philip has a long history in construction and sales. He worked as a design-builder for over 28 years, and owned his own company for most of that time. He has designed and built residential and commercial buildings in Texas, Hawaii, Cambodia and Mexico. Because of his strong and varied business skills, he has also held a position on the advisory board of Jim Rohn International, a multi-million dollar company based in Southlake, Texas, for over 10 years. Something of a jack of all trades, Philip is also a skilled carpenter and builder of fine furniture.
Born and raised in Texas, Philip attended A & M University, where he studied architecture. As a young man he moved to Hawaii, where he ran a successful construction company for ten years. He then returned to Texas, this time to Dallas, where he developed a strong reputation in residential construction. He is currently a full time resident of San Miguel.
JOSEPH LOWN
Co-Owner/Broker
It's no surprise that Joseph W. Lown has distinguished himself as one of the top producers in the San Miguel real estate market. As the son of a Mexican mother and American father, Joseph has spent considerable time in both the US and Mexico, and it shows. He is not only fluent in Spanish but is also bicultural and moves effortlessly between the Mexican and American communities. As an agent, Joseph is an expert in Centro, surrounding colonias and developments in and around San Miguel, and his former clients will attest that he is detail-oriented and can be relied upon to make transactions as seamless as possible.
Before moving to San Miguel, Joseph served as the mayor of his hometown, San Angelo, Texas. He was elected to four consecutive two year terms, accruing 89% of the vote, and during this time he developed many professional relationships and friendships across Texas, the U.S. and Mexico. His term in office also proved to be a great education in urban planning, land management, land use, historic redevelopment, zoning and neighborhood development, all of which inform his work as an agent in San Miguel and provide a unique discernment and perspective.
Joseph holds a BA in Business Administration from Principia College, a Texas Real Estate Brokers license (Active) and a Texas Mortgage Brokers license (Inactive) as well as memberships with the National Association of Realtors, Texas Association of Realtors, and AMPI (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios).
From 1999 to 2001, Joseph served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia. He conducted business education for women and youth and assisted with a micro-lending program. He has also lived and studied Spanish in Argentina. Joseph's hobbies include golfing, reading and travel.
GLORIA FARIAS
Agent
If you're looking for someone to help you "break in" to the language and culture of San Miguel and help you buy or sell your home, Gloria is your best bet. She's happy to practice Spanish with you, and her kindness and sincerity have made her popular in San Miguel, not only as an agent but within the community at large. On top of all of that, she works very, very hard for her clients.
She has been selling real estate in San Miguel de Allende since 2003, and has brought with her strong appraisal skills, as well as broad knowledge of the local market. Gloria speaks conversational English and has lived in San Miguel since 2001.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Gloria has also lived in Monterrey and Texas.
She has a degree in Early Education, as well as a degree in Accounting, which she obtained from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Prior to working at Realty San Miguel, she was self-employed in both real estate and accounting.
"Gloria, thank you for all your hard work! You are my favorite real estate agent ever!”
JESSICA AVENDAÑO
Agent
After 8 years of international employment with American companies in Mexico and England, Jessica brings her business experience to Realty San Miguel in San Miguel de Allende. Jessica has held customer service and logistics positions in blue chip companies in Mexico City, Queretaro and London, dealing constantly with clients in the US, Canada and most Western European countries.
Her extensive experience in bicultural spheres allows her to transition from one culture to another with ease, and is combined with a "make it work" attitude on behalf of her clients.
Jessica has also been a permanent resident of San Miguel since 2001, and is aware of shifts in the real estate market as well as strategies associated with effective house hunting.
She is sensitive to the needs and expectations of those looking for their dream home within our city, and guides them through the process of purchasing a house smoothly and securely. Clearly, customer service is Jessica's professional hallmark.
BRYAN TOWNSEND
Agent
Although Bryan continues to represent buyers, since late 2010 he began specializing in listings. Because of his years of experience in the San Miguel market, there are very few agents in town who can give a seller a more accurate appraisal of their property and realistic expectations of what their property will sell for. Thanks to the broad marketing reach of Realty San Miguel and Bryan's practice of aggressively networking with all of the local agents, he has achieved a high success rate in selling his exclusive listings.
Bryan is an experienced professional with training not only in real estate in Mexico, but also in Canada with the University of British Columbia real estate program and the Canadian Securities Course which is the equivalent to the US General Securities Representative Course.
On a personal level, Bryan excels at partnering with his clients, assuring them that he understands and is responsive to their needs, while at the same time keeping in mind the big picture. He also enjoys the challenge of finding appropriate properties for buyers and creating successful marketing strategies for sellers.
Born and raised in Canada, Bryan's first career was in music. He is an accomplished musician and recognized in his field. He has completed several degrees, taught at the university level, and performed music internationally for many years. Locally he has given benefit concerts for several local charities including the SPA. Bryan speaks three languages: English, Spanish and French, and has lived in San Miguel since 1998.
DAVID MACLEAN
Agent
In a short period of time David has carved out a very successful real estate career in Toronto, Canada. So successful, in fact, that for two years in a row he has been in the top ten among an office of 300 agents. He has had his real estate license for 8 years, and during this time, he has been awarded industry recognition numerous times for his impressive sales volume. He is also well-liked by clients and receives consistently positive feedback.
David’s fascination with the real estate market in San Miguel began in 2010. In that year he met Philip and immediately began connecting Canadian buyers with Realty San Miguel. He has also spent a significant amount of time interviewing expats, artists, and business people who live and work in San Miguel. These video interviews can be found on our website. In the coming years, David will continue to provide a first hand glimpse into the vibrancy of life here in San Miguel through articles as well as more videos.
Although David has had to return to Toronto for a portion of 2013, he will be permanently relocating to San Miguel at the end of the year, when he will join Realty San Miguel as a full time agent. In the meantime, he will be available to start working with clients via email as early as November, 2013. So, if you’ll be wintering in San Miguel this year and in the market for real estate, consider the possibility of contacting David before you arrive.
Before real estate, David enjoyed success as an actor and stand-up comedian. He has toured Canada and the States, and travelled as far as China, where he served as on-board entertainer for a cruise on the Yangtze River. He has also has appeared in numerous television commercials. David’s delightful sense of humor is something his client’s reference as being the most enjoyable aspect of working with him.
EDGAR CANCINO
Agent
Having done business in over 85 countries and visited 30 countries for business and pleasure, Edgar brings a valuable cultural sensitivity and global perspective to his work as an agent at Realty San Miguel. He speaks both English and Spanish fluently and has extensive experience in sales and real estate investment. He strongly believes that it is his duty to provide clients with sound advice and assist them in making their buying experience a pleasant one.
Edgar is back in Mexico after 18 years in the US, where he successfully pursued a career in international trading. He held several executive sales positions with various companies specializing in Telecommunications, Medical Instrumentation and Mining industries. More recently, he added real estate investment to his pursuits, and was active in the South Florida market. Since his return to San Miguel he has been involved in real estate and has become a knowledgeable and well regarded agent in the community.
Edgar was born and raised in Mexico City and has a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro. He is an active member of the San Miguel de Allende Fire Department where he is a Captain and plays a leading role in obtaining better equipment and training for his firefighting comrades, mainly working with the foreign community in SMA and many Non for Profit Organizations.
CHARLES THOMAS
Agent
Charles Thomas has been described as an “advocate for his clients” for good reason - he brings to every interaction a sincere desire to serve the needs of his clients. Of equal importance, however, is his extensive background in leadership, customer service, audit, marketing and negotiations, all of which are ideally suited to the intricate process of purchasing or selling a home in a foreign country. In addition, 10 years of living in San Miguel has provided him with unique insight into the evolving real estate market.
Charles’ career history includes 20+ years in banking, finance and operations. He eventually left his position as a Vice President of a multi-national financial institution and took early retirement. Shortly thereafter he moved from the San Francisco Bay Area to San Miguel de Allende, and has never looked back.
When Charles is not working with clients he donates his time to support local charitable organizations, which provide housing for the poor in rural communities and other services for the disadvantaged. He is also a member of AMPI, the local professional real estate organization.
In addition to home design, his hobbies include gardening, cooking, travel and writing.
EDUARDO MORA
Agent
Purchasing a home is one of the most important transactions in a person´s life, and Eduardo understands that. He knows that more than just finding a house that fits your budget, you are trying to find a place you will call home. Therefore his promise to you is to listen to your needs and guide you through the process, making your experience as enjoyable and easy as it should be.
From 2010 through 2012 Eduardo was a private consultant to one of San Miguel's top real estate agents, doing market research studies behind the scenes and creating an exhaustive data base of homes on the market, tracking their prices and sales. This experience gave him a better grasp of value, pricing and marketing than that of many other full time agents and the insight into why some properties are selling while others are not. With his impressive database and natural inclination to help people, becoming a full time agent was the obvious next step.
Eduardo earned his bachelor degree in international business from the Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM). He also studied business in the United States at Angelo State University, and learned about the culture and business environment of Quebec, Canada at Université Laval. In addition, he studied the foreign policy of MERCOSUR at Universidad Nacional de La Plata in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Eduardo was born in Comonfort, a small town just 20 minutes away from San Miguel. After five years of living and studying abroad he has come back to his roots. Since 2010 he has been living in different areas of San Miguel and he has discovered that each area has its own essence and personality.
Even though he is bilingual, Eduardo enjoys helping his clients practice their Spanish. He also likes to play tennis, paint, dance salsa, watch a good movie or read a good book, but what he appreciates the most is the delight of listening to people talk about their values, their philosophy of living , or their traveling adventures.
LUCERO TABOADA
Asistant to Director
Lucero was our first employee and has worn many hats as the company has grown. She is our property specialist and in charge of tracking all the details required to maintain our listings. Additionally, she is Philip's assistant and is responsible for our accounting. She especially enjoys the customer service and public relations aspect of her job, and is always very kind, helpful, and patient with our clients. Prior to joining Realty San Miguel, Lucero worked for the influential import-export companies Corporativo Dentilab and Proveedora de Dulces, S.A. de C.V. for over 7 years.
It was here that she continued to perfect her English, as well as to conduct business with other international companies in India, Malaysia, Korea, England, Chile, Argentina and the U.S. Lucero was born in Mexico City and lived there for 30 years. She began studying English in primary school and later pursued her interest in languages, studying both French and Dutch. She attended Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, where she completed a law degree.
"Thanks also to your assistant Lucero for her very capable and professional help."
