Novedades en el Mercado inmobiliario hispano
Mientras que muchos de los hispanos que trabajan hoy en día en Estados Unidos, se las arreglan para seguir realizando enviar dinero a México y a otras partes de Latino América, también se las ingenian para invertir su dinero en comprar su primera vivienda. Esto se ha dado tan frecuentemente, que los expertos inmobiliarios creen que el deseo de los latinos por tener un lugar propio puede tener un rol fundamental en el mercado en los próximos años.
De acuerdo al informe de 24 páginas publicado por la Asociación Nacional de Profesionales Hispanos de Bienes Raíces, NAHREP (por sus siglas en Ingles), hoy en día, los latinos son el grupo de más rápido crecimiento en el mercado inmobiliario. Esta tendencia ha sido única en toda la historia de Estados Unidos y los llamados compradores "vírgenes de casas" han marcado todo un record.
Por ejemplo, durante los últimos 12 años, más de la mitad – 51 por ciento – del total del incremento neto de las viviendas ocupadas por sus propietarios, han sido hispanos, o lo que se traduce en unos 355.000, según los informes del RIS Media.
Juan Martínez, quien ha sido recientemente nombrado presidente del NAHREP, dijo que este escenario es sólo uno de los últimos signos de la positiva influencia que los latinos han traído al bienestar del desarrollo de la economía eestadounidense.
Agregó que debido a que muchos hispanos hoy en día son responsables con la forma en que administran su dinero, el mal crédito no es un problema que en un futuro les impida a los latinos convertirse en propietarios de sus viviendas.
Lo que podría afectar esa realidad es el ritmo acelerado con que hoy se están comprando las casas – el cual es más rápido que la actualización de los niveles de inventarios que los constructores de viviendas realizan.
Poca oferta, limita a la industria inmobiliaria
Esto ha sido un problema desde hace varios meses. Por ejemplo, en el último informe publicado por la Asociación Nacional de Agentes Inmobiliarios (NAR, por sus siglas en Ingles), las ventas pendientes de casas – que son las transacciones de bienes raíces sobre la base de cuántos contratos se han firmado – se redujo aproximadamente cinco décimas de un por ciento en febrero. La razón de esta disminución se dio por la poca cantidad de casas disponibles.
Lawrence Yun, jefe economista de NAR, indicó que las empresas de construcción tienen la llave para frenar esta disminución.
"Realmente, sólo la construcción de nuevas viviendas puede ayudar a aliviar la escasez de inventario, la construcción de viviendas tiene que incrementar en al menos un 50 por ciento desde los niveles actuales", dijo Yun.
Predijo que la curva en que la compra de propiedades se desplace a lo largo de los próximos meses, dependerá en gran medida de la mejora de los niveles de inventarios limitados, lo que él dice podría ser efectuada si las regulaciones para las empresas de construcción fuesen menos pesadas. Evitando así, algunos de los trámites burocráticos involucrados con la producción inmobiliaria.
Si bien, los latinos parecen ser el principal motor detrás de la compra de la primera casa, los niveles de propietarios hispanos han caído sobre una base porcentual.
Según el informe del RIS Media, alrededor del 46 por ciento de los hispanos son dueños de una casa, en comparación con el 47,5 por ciento del 2010. Esto significa una baja porque hoy en día hay más personas de origen latino en los Estados Unidos que hace tres años.
El informe también revela otros aspectos de la vida de la comunidad latina en los EE.UU. Por ejemplo, el poder de compra – o la cantidad que una determinada comunidad contribuye a la función económica de un país - la cual se ha incrementado considerablemente entre los hispanos. En la actualidad supera el $ 1 billón y se prevé que alcance los $ 1,5 billones en el plazo de dos años.
Mucho de esto puede derivar de los niveles de educación que los hispanos están logrando. El informe de la NHAREP muestra que los latinos representan el segmento más grande de las minorías matriculados en las universidades. Ellos lo están haciendo bien, pues una vez que se gradúan de las escuelas, también siguen teniendo un buen desempeño, ya que cuatro de cada 10 ganan un promedio de aproximadamente $ 50.000 cada año.
Mexican-inspired art once divided, now unified
A new article indicates that what were once two separate and distinct entities – Mexican art and Mexican American art – may now be uniting to form one unique whole.
According to a recent feature published in the Los Angeles Times, for the past several decades, there has been a divide between people who send money to Mexico in order purchase artistic renderings that were produced there and the showpieces that were made by someone of Mexican descent, only in America.
C. Ondine Chavoya, associate professor of Latina and Latino art at Williams College in Massachusetts, indicated that the two being isolated from each other has likely been because of the structural differences in how art is taught in the U.S. versus Mexico, not to mention the disparity in how galleries in each country are.
But art experts say that this separation is less apparent, due to recent discoveries revealing that Mexican art and Mexican American art have a lot of comparables.
These similarities were on display at an art festival held in Mexico City, called "Asco: Elite of the Obscure" which catalogued various pieces that were produced between 1972 and 1987. The Los Angeles Times notes that art enthusiasts will be able to see this exhibition through the month of July.
Technology has enabled art enthusiasts to overcome longheld stereotypes
But it isn't just the renderings that contributed to the estrangement between Mexican and Mexican American artwork. The newspaper notes that for generations, each camp had perceptions of the other that were less than favorable. For example, among Mexican artists who have never left their home country, many believed that those who moved to America turned their back on their culture in the pursuit of a different ideal. Octavio Paz, who won a Nobel Prize for literature, may have helped contribute to this stereotype in his work, "The Labyrinth of Solitude."
But modern-day conveniences have helped Mexicans and Mexican Americans overcome these barriers. The Times indicates that the prevalence of text messaging and the internet has enabled individuals on both sides of the border to share their experiences one with another about the differences they've witnessed in the respective art pieces. A more liberated political environment has also contributed to greater communication, even about art topics that were once considered off-limits.
Curators tell the Los Angeles Times that as Mexican and Mexican American art become increasingly interconnected, even more parallels will become apparent. There will be more opportunities to discern the things that are analogous in future projects and exhibitions, including four years from now when Southern California hosts a festival akin to the one that Mexico City opened earlier this year.
Mexico has a rich history of famous painters who have made their mark on the world of art over the past centuries. One of the most well-known Mexican artists is Diego Rivera, who was a prominent painter throughout much of life. Several years before he died in 1957, Rivera's works were showcased in New York City at fine art museums in 1931. Some of his most famous pieces are in Mexico City today, as well as in U.S.-based cities like Detroit and San Francisco.
A slightly more contemporary Mexican artist is David Alfaro Siqueiros, He's perhaps best known for major works like "La Marcha," "Portrait of the Bourgeoisie" and "The March of Humanity." Siqueiros died at the age of 77 in Mexico in 1974. University of Mexico students get to see his work with regularity as an entire wall of a building on the campus depicts one of his murals.
Netherlands leads the way in child welfare, UNICEF report reveals
A new study may prove to be a source of stress relief for immigrants who wire money to the Netherlands in order to provide for their families. That's because it indicates that among the world's most prosperous nations, no country is better at ensuring the overall safety, health and well-being of children than the Western Europe nation.
According to the report, which was conducted by the United Nations – or more specifically the United Nations Children's Fund, otherwise known as UNICEF – the Netherlands is the runaway leader in health statistics for children in many different categories. This includes material well-being, physical health and safety, educational awareness, behavior, as well as housing and environmental concerns.
While there are nearly 200 countries in the world, UNICEF confined its report to only those countries that are the wealthiest, which was determined by their gross domestic product. Of the 29 nations that were analyzed, the Netherlands came out on top.
Interestingly, however, wealth didn't necessarily correlate with overall well-being.
"There does not appear to be a strong relationship between per capita GDP and overall child well-being," the report stated. "In other words, country wealth does not always mean happier and healthier children."
Separate analysis has revealed this to be true as well. Previous reports have shown that several countries in Latin America and parts of Europe have some of the happiest people on earth, but their GDP was a fraction of other more prosperous nations.
There's also something special about this general region of the world. UNICEF notes that in previous studies, countries like Finland, Iceland and Norway – just north of the Baltic States – have routinely been high among the ranks of countries whose children are doing well health-wise.
UNICEF: Public policy plays large role in child wellness
Much of this stems from government investments, the report found.
"Child poverty is not inevitable but policy-susceptible," the study said. "And some countries have been doing much better than others at protecting their most vulnerable children."
There were several sub-categories of the five factors that UNICEF looked at in order to draw their conclusions. For instance, for material well-being, researchers based this on monetary deprivation and material deprivation. In both of these sub-section, children in the Netherlands fared well. The same was found for educational well-being, which was determined based on scholastic achievements and participation, or the percentage of children in the Netherlands who are in school and graduating.
Gordon Alexander, director of research at UNICEF, noted that this study is meant to encourage governments to focus more on how they can improve children's lives so that they can thrive once they become adults, contributing to their own well-being as well as their country's financial status.
"Whether in today's time of economic crisis, or in better financial periods, UNICEF urges governments and social partners to place children and young people at the heart of their decision-making processes," said Alexander. "For every new policy measure considered or introduced, governments explicitly have to explore the impact and effects on children, families with children, adolescents and young adults. These groups do not have a voice in the political processes, or their voices are too seldom heard."
As for the United States, the country's child welfare finished 26th out of 29 countries, far below what most people may think of when they think of the U.S. and it's standing in comparison to other industrialized nations.
One area where the children's welfare was weak was educational well-being. Despite spending more for education per capita than any other country in the world, UNICEF ranked the U.S. as having the third-worst performance record based on achievement and participation.
Setting the record straight on insurance and earthquakes
Some of the most significant natural catastrophes to affect people around the world have come in the form of earthquakes.
Over the past decade, millions of people from all around the world have reached into their pockets and bank accounts so that they could send money to nations like Haiti, the Philippines, China, Indonesia and Pakistan so that victims can recover as quickly as possible.
One nation that has been relatively unscathed by earthquakes in recent years is the United States. However, as the Insurance Information Institute indicates, these earth-shaking events can happen at anytime and at any place. As such homeowners and renters need to be sure that they're prepared in the event a temblor occurs.
A mistake that many homeowner often make is assuming that their insurance coverage includes protection from earthquakes. As a general rule, however, basic homeowners policies do not provide compensation for quakes, no matter how minor or powerful they may be. In fact, even in California – a state where earthquakes are 66 percent more likely to transpire than in other parts of the country, primarily due to the sheer number of fault lines in the region – earthquake insurance has to be purchased separately from a normal home owner's insurance policy.
As common as earthquakes may be in the Golden State, though, they occur on a regular basis throughout the U.S., but most of them barely perceptible. Two years ago, though, this coming August, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Virginia, a state where earthquakes have historically been few and far between, but was still strong enough to cause serious property damage.
Loretta Worters, consumer spokesperson and vice president of the III, noted that what happened in Virginia is a perfect example of how unpredictable earthquakes can be.
"Earthquakes can strike suddenly, without warning and can occur at any time, and in any season of the year," said Worters. "That's why it's important that everyone, no matter where they live, contact an insurance professional to make sure that they have the right type and amount of insurance."
What earthquake insurance covers
For those who've gone through an earthquake and what can result in the aftermath, these natural catastrophes can leave severe devastation. Depending on how strong it is, which seismographs are able to determine, the shaking and cracking caused by earthquakes can bring significant crevices and cracks to the earth's surface, destroying buildings, homes and possessions. Fortunately, earthquake insurance can help homeowners pick up the pieces.
"Earthquake insurance covers debris removal and pays for extra living expenses you may have while your home is being rebuilt or repaired," according to the III. "Coverage for other kinds of damage that may result from earthquakes, such as fire and water damage due to burst gas and water pipes, is provided by standard homeowners and business insurance policies in most states."
Homeowners are encouraged to speak with their insurance professional if they aren't sure whether they have earthquake coverage and how much it will cost them to add it to their standard homeowners policy. They may also want to ask about the offspring of earthquakes, such as landslides and mudflows. While these events may have occurred because of a quaking event, the damage resulting from them may require separate coverage, the III notes.
Even though earthquakes can happen anywhere, history shows that they tend to occur in California, which just so happens to be the state that most immigrants who currently live in the U.S. reside. According to the Immigration Policy Center, more than 10.1 million immigrants currently live in the Golden State. Nearly half of them call California their home, as 45 percent of the immigrants there have gone through the naturalization process.
Immigrants continue to buoy America’s economic engine
While immigrants come to the U.S. for other reasons besides economy, for the most part, they do so to improve the economic well-being of their loved ones after making a money transfer. Naturally, these funds give their spouses and children the financial backing they need to satisfy their daily lives, whether they're routine-oriented – such as shopping for weekly groceries – or for the occasional spending splurges on various forms of entertainment.
But as a new study shows, immigrants who work in the U.S. do a great deal of good for the country's finances.
According to its latest report, "Immigration and the American Worker," the Center for Immigration Studies reports that the goods and services the country produces would not be as significant were immigrants not here. For example, the report found that the U.S.' gross domestic product – which is the total value of what the American workforce produces, is 11 percent larger thanks to the immigrant community. Their contributions add an estimated $1.6 trillion to the national GDP on annual basis.
This contribution improves the lives of both those who originate from the U.S. as well as people who are foreign born. When it comes to the impact immigrants' work productivity has on the native-born population specifically, though, this translates to $35 billion each year.
Unauthorized immigrants have also heightened the value of what the U.S. produces each year in the form of goods and services. The report found that between $395 billion and $472 billion is directly attributable to undocumented immigrants.
H-1B visa cap reached in five days
The levels of success that many immigrants have achieved in the U.S. – illustrated by their contribution to the GDP – helps explain why so many people from overseas seek to come to the U.S. so that they can work. And every year, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services makes a special type of visa available to foreign workers so that they can enter the country based chiefly on their skills in a particular profession or trade. These visas are known as H-1B.
Because there are so many people who want to enter the U.S. and a limited number of H-1B visas immigration officials put a cap on how many are distributed, determining who get them on a first come, first served basis. Less than a week after USCIS indicated it would begin the approval and application process for H-1Bs, the 65,000 cap was reached.
In short, this means that those who did not file for a high-skill visa will have to wait an entire year if they want to enter the U.S. through this method. It's also bad news for business owners, many of whom hire from overseas due to some individuals' advanced training in specific fields. They, too, will have to wait until April 2014, when the H-1B process begins anew.
The benefits and popularity of the H-1B visa application process has prompted many legislators and immigration advocates to request that the cap be expanded so that more people can take advantage of it. As noted by the Brookings Institute, bills are currently being considered in Congress that would raise the cap to 115,000. It would then increase or decrease by 20,000 in the subsequent year, depending on the type of demand there was.
The Washington, D.C.-based think tank is in favor of increasing the cap.
"The current immigration reform debate is a great opportunity to overhaul the system and move away from an arbitrary race against time for H-1B visas," said Brookings. "A new method that structures America's future immigration system to better meet the demand for high-skilled workers … will be welcomed by employers and workers alike."
‘Illegal immigrant’ no longer acceptable with The Associated Press
Journalists and reporters often turn to The Associated Press Stylebook as the definitive resource for how to write and report news stories, as there are certain procedures and idiosyncrasies that are unique to news reporting versus traditional writing. They also use this book to assess what terms are and are not appropriate.
And based on a decision of AP executives, one term that is no longer considered permissible is "illegal immigrant."
In a blog posting by the AP's vice president and executive editor, Kathleen Carroll, the news agency explained why it's decided to cease and desist from using the phrase.
"The Stylebook no longer sanctions the term 'illegal immigrant' or the use of 'illegal' to describe a person," said Carroll. "Instead, it tells users that 'illegal' should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally."
She added that at one time, the term was considered to be the best option when referring to the strict definition of describing an individual from overseas without going through the appropriate protocols and procedures. But because the English language is always evolving, there are a variety of other phrases and usages that more adequately defines people who came to the U.S. in an unsanctioned way, such as "unauthorized immigrant" or "undocumented immigrant."
As journalists no longer use the term 'illegal' in reference to a person, this corroborates what many immigration advocates have said, in that no person is illegal. Instead, only actions can be considered unlawful, and have encouraged reporters to make note of that accordingly in their reportage.
Term offends both immigrants and natives
This development comes at a time in which many people in the U.S. – both those who are naturalized citizens as well as people who originate from overseas – believe the term is offensive. Last year, a nationally representative sample of likely voters, said they thought the phrase was unnecessary. In a Fox News poll that surveyed Latinos exclusively, approximately 50 percent of respondents, many of whom send money to their families back home, said they thought the term was disrespectful and hurtful. Less than one-third thought it was an accurate term and thus OK to use.
"Calling people illegal or an illegal immigrant has become normalized even though it's a term that's inaccurate," Monica Novoa, coordinator of the public campaign "Drop the I-Word," told Fox News Latino last year. "It's anti-immigrant, anti-Latino language that's harmful."
The public awareness event is still in effect and many people have signed the pledge at the campaign's website, promising never to use the phrase when referencing actual people.
The Hispanic and Latino community's quest to rid the American lexicon of the phrase has been a long time coming. It's also had its representation in the world of journalism. Earlier this year, Washington Post reporter Antonio Vargas testified in front of a legislative panel in the U.S. Senate.
"When you inaccurately call me illegal, you not only dehumanize me, you're offending them," said Vargas. "No human being is illegal."
Several lawmakers have indicated that they will make it their personal mission to make the terms use extinct. According to ABC News, legislators like Rep John Conyers of Michigan and Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois are among the public officials who've taken the pledge.
Proponents of banning the term are hopeful that other major news sources, such as the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times, will follow the AP's lead and prohibit the phrase from being used in their copy.
Next Pacquiao fight more than likely outside the U.S.
It's been more than six months since Filipino fans of Manny Pacquiao made a money transfer to their families so they could watch the Fighting Congressman take on Juan Manuel Marquez on pay-per-view. And if his training goes as he plans, he hopes to return to the squared circle relatively soon to take on the man who knocked him out in the sixth round.
According to The Philippine Star newspaper, Pacquiao wants what would be a fifth go-round with Marquez. However, instead of in Las Vegas – where most of his fights have been – he wants to face off with the 39-year-old Mexican in his home country.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, shares his fighter's wish.
"I want the last fight in Mexico," said Roach before a group of television and print news reporters at The Venetian Macao in China. "That's my dream."
While Pac-Man's thoughts and actions are almost constantly involved with boxing and training to be a better fighter, his associates say that he's devoting most of his attention toward politics these days, as elections are just around the corner in his home country of the Philippines.
Bob Arum, who has promoted a great deal of Pacquiao's fights, told the reporters that the election can't come soon enough, as once it's over, the 34-year-old Pacquiao will likely recommit himself toward training and preparation.
Singapore, Macau other potential cities for upcoming fight
Meanwhile, even though Roach and Pacquiao say that they'd like to have their next contest in Mexico – mainly because the tax rate would be more affordable there than if they had it in Las Vegas – Arum said he's hoping for a different host city. The Philippine Star pointed out that "he sounded like he was pitching for either Macau or Singapore" as the venue for Pacquiao's next bout.
Wherever Pacquiao's upcoming fight happens to be, the chances that it will be someplace outside the U.S. are almost certain. Roach told reporters at The Venetian Macao that the tax rate in Las Vegas where his previous matches have been held have skyrocketed over the last couple of years, jumping from 31 percent to nearly 40 percent. Plus, Pacquiao's popularity has grown in the international arena and there are several cities that would like to host a major boxing match with the Fighting Pride of the Philippines as the main event.
Rose Tamayo, Pacquiao's representative, also spoke on behalf of her client to reporters recently.
"The fight is definitely in September," said Tamayo, according to the United Kingdom-based newspaper the Daily Mail. "We will talk about the opponent and the place after the May 13 elections."
Tamayo corroborated some of the statements Arum and Roach made about boxing in the U.S., saying that the tax rate in Las Vegas has become too cost-prohibitive. Thus, some of the top considerations for the host city include Mexico, Macau, Dubai and Singapore.
Those close with Pacquiao, as well as boxing experts, believe that Marquez will, in fact, be the next boxing match on the docket for the 34-year-old. In an interview with Boxing Scene, former heavyweight boxer George Foreman told the online news source that he has every confidence that Pac-Man will redeem himself.
"All the odds are in his favor to become champion again," said Foreman.
He added that the best thing going for him is his peak condition and stellar training, which he says has enables Pacquiao to recover more quickly than the typical in-ring fighter.
Facebook founder staunch immigration reform advocate
Though social media mogul Mark Zuckerberg may not know what it's like to send money to family members in another country, he's sensitive to the plight of many immigrants who are trying to make ends meet here in the U.S. so that they can provide for their families back home. As such, he's a stalwart supporter of immigration reform.
As anyone who's watched the news is well aware, immigration is a significant issue in America today and one that legislators on Capitol Hill are taking on with greater immediacy. From everyday Americans to the Hollywood elite, there has been no shortage of opinions on how to deal with immigration, especially the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country who would like a pathway to citizenship.
Technology industry leaders have been among those who have met with representatives and senators, as well as President Barack Obama himself. Executives, such as Zuckerberg, have expressed that immigrants play a major role in the U.S. economy, especially as it relates to technological development. Speaking to Fox News Latino, Duke University researcher Vivek Wadhwa noted that foreign-born business owners have employed more than 550,000 people since 2006, contributing more than $63 billion in retail sales to the U.S. financial system.
With these facts in mind, Facebook founder Zuckerberg is reportedly putting together a group of fellow technology industry leaders and immigration reform supporters, in hopes of forming an advocacy group. According to public policy news website Politico, the 28-year-old is said to have already committed millions of dollars toward its implementation, with the assistance of America Online founder Steve Case.
Though Zuckerberg is known to be a businessman, whose earnings put him in the upper echelon of the world's wealthiest, the advocacy group he's forming is exclusively for philanthropic efforts, as sources tell Politico that the yet-to-be-named coalition will be a nonprofit.
One of the main goals immigration reform advocates have moving forward is making more visas available to people who wish to come to the country. Each year, there are only so many visas that the government issues, controlled by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The millions of people who are on the waiting list hope that Zuckerberg's efforts will bear fruit.
Facebook used regularly in Latin America
Much of Zuckerberg's success with Facebook is due to its popularity not only in the U.S. but throughout the world. According to internet analytics firm comScore, Facebook is far and away the most popular social media platform in Latin America, a site that's frequented by millions of people who live in this region of the world. In fact, in 2011, there was a 16 percent increase in usage of the social media site, which was originally started so college students could keep in touch with one another.
Latin Americans have been in good company among international visitors to Facebook. Numbers reported by comScore reveal that in June 2011 alone, Facebook had more than 734 million people log on to their servers, followed by Twitter at 144 million. Windows Live Profile, LinkedIn and QQ Microblogging rounded out the top five at 119 million, 84 million and 74 million, respectively.
As far as time spent on the website, internet users averaged 5.4 hours in June 2011, according to comScore. However, Latin American visitors spent more time there, with Argentinians averaging 10 hours, Chileans 8.7 hours and Peruvians 6.6 hours. Among primarily Hispanic countries, the fewest number of average hours spent at the website was 4.9 hours by Brazilians.
Xoom’s Game-Changing “POWR” Expands to Latin America
POWR: “Pay Only When Received” — Customers Pay Nothing Until Money Sent is Received by Their Loved Ones
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, April 2, 2013 – Xoom Corporation (NASDAQ: XOOM), a global online money transfer provider, launched POWR (Pay Only When Received), to Filipino remitters last month. Today, Xoom announces that the breakthrough initiative is now available to qualifying remitters throughout Latin America and the Caribbean who choose to send with their bank account (https://www.xoom.com/pay-after-received). Xoom is unlike other money transfer companies in that, if the sender pays with a bank account, Xoom will only withdraw the total amount of the money transfer once the money has arrived.
“With POWR, we show once again how Xoom is revolutionizing money transfers to Latin America and the Caribbean,” says Julian King, Xoom’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development. “When our customers send money and pay with their bank account, Xoom will not charge them until their loved ones get their money. We believe in giving people ‘power’ for a convenient, safe and fast way to send money home.” POWR gives customers assurance that Xoom will not withdraw a dime from their bank accounts until the money is received by their loved ones.
POWR is Xoom’s latest product offering to give customers peace of mind and reassurance. Earlier this year, Xoom introduced its customers to StatusTrak an online tracking service that provides ways for people to track their transfer via SMS text messages, email updates and 24/7 phone support.
“When our customers send money, they want the peace of mind of knowing that their loved ones have safely received it,” King added. “Both POWR and StatusTrak provide very reassuring money transfer experiences with Xoom.”
About Xoom
Xoom is a global online money transfer provider, focused on helping consumers send money in a secure, fast and cost-effective way using their mobile phone, tablet or computer. During the year ended December 31, 2012, Xoom’s more than 750,000 active customers sent more than $3.2 billion to family and friends in 30 countries worldwide. The company is headquartered in San Francisco and can be found online at www.xoom.com.
Xoom cambia las reglas de juego con su nuevo servicio: solo retira el dinero cuando haya sido recibido.
Xoom revoluciona la forma como envías dinero.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Abril 2, 2013 – Xoom Corporation (NASDAQ: XOOM), un proveedor mundial de envíos de dinero por internet, lanza su nuevo servicio de retirar monto total del envío de dinero incluidos los cargos, solo cuando haya sido recibido. Esta es una iniciativa que rompe con los esquemas del tradicional envío de dinero, dándole a los clientes de Xoom la tranquilidad que no se va a retirar un centavo de sus cuentas de banco hasta cuando el dinero haya sido recibido por sus seres queridos.
Este servicio está disponible para algunos clientes de Latino América y el Caribe, que seleccionen enviar con sus cuentas bancarias (https://www.xoom.com/paga-despues-de-recibir). Xoom se diferencia de las demás compañías de envíos de dinero, en que solo retira el monto total del envío de dinero cuando haya sido recibido.
“Con este servicio demostramos una vez más como Xoom revoluciona el mundo de envíos de dinero,” dice Julian King, Vicepresidente de Mercadeo y Desarrollo Comercial de Xoom “Cuando nuestros clientes envían dinero y lo pagan con su cuenta de banco, Xoom no les cobra hasta cuando sus seres queridos reciban el dinero. Creemos en darle más poder a nuestros clientes, para que hagan envíos convenientes, seguros, y rápidos a casa.”
Este servicio es la oferta más reciente de Xoom para darle a sus clientes tranquilidad y confianza. Al inicio de este año, Xoom presentó a sus clientes StatusTrak un sistema de seguimiento en línea, que le permite a los clientes hacer seguimiento a sus envíos de dinero a través de mensajes de texto, actualizaciones por correo electrónico y apoyo telefónico 24h, 7 días a la semana.
“Cuando nuestros clientes envían dinero, quieren la tranquilidad de saber que sus seres queridos lo han recibido con seguridad”, añadió King. “Ambos servicios dan una gran confianza en la experiencia de envío de dinero con Xoom.”
Sobre Xoom
Xoom es un proveedor mundial de envíos de dinero, que se enfoca en ayudar a los consumidores enviar dinero de una forma segura, rápida y rentable usando su teléfono celular, tablet o computadora. Durante el año terminado en Diciembre 31, 2012, los más de 750.000 clientes activos de Xoom enviaron más de US$3.2 mil millones a familiares y amigos en más de 30 países alrededor del mundo. El centro de operaciones de la compañía está en San Francisco y puede ser encontrada en línea en www.xoom.com.
