This article analyses performance of the land market in several irregular settlements (colonias) outside Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas. Specifically, it explores the impact upon land prices of a major title 'regularisation' initiative to clear property titles of very poor households undertaken by the Community Resources Group (CRG) Receivership Program at the behest of the Texas State government between 1995 and 2002. Land price data and trends are analysed using a major CRG database of over 1400 price records and files, complemented by a questionnaire survey of over 260 households applied by the research team as part of an evaluation of the CRG Program. The data show that prices are relatively 'flat' in real terms over time and that, while there was a spike in prices during the early 1990s, there does not appear to have been any significant increase since regularisation. The data suggest that prices appear to be shaped more by socially determined criteria associated with the developers themselves, rather than by settlement characteristics, location, etc. Regularisation of land title appears to make little difference to land market performance and, while colonias are a vehicle for investment for low-income groups, the rate of return compared with other segments of the (formal) property market is very low. These findings are compared with similar work for less developed countries and also challenge those theories that argue in favour of land regularisation as a means to improve land market performance and integration of the urban poor.

This article analyzes the impact of The Community Resources Group Receivership Program undertaken from 1998 to 2002 that provided clean property titles to residents in several informal housing colonias (subdivisions) in South Texas. Survey data were gathered from 260 low‐income households comprising two populations: those who had secure title from the outset, and those who were beneficiaries of the land titling program. Focus group interviews were conducted to explore how the beneficiaries construct the meaning of ownership before and after title “regularization.” Formal titling consolidates understandings of absolute property relations in comparison with de facto rights born of use (legal or not), which strengthens people's sense of self‐esteem and potential for political involvement. We found that, contrary to conventional wisdom, title provision per se appears to have little direct impact either upon home improvement or upon residents' receiving enhanced access to credit and financial services. We also found evidence that informality and illegality is likely to reemerge as owners die intestate, and as they revert to informal land market property transfers.

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The adoption of appropriate innovations is an important issue in agricultural development. However many development project officers fail to use strategies to identify and select opinion leaders who can leverage the diffusion and adoption process. This case study used qualitative methods including interviews, focus groups, and observations to gather data to analyze current social networks, identify key participants, understand the roles and characteristics of leaders, and define a strategy to engage leaders within the region of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. The analysis revealed three diverse social networks; one powered by political structures in the urban and rural areas while organized groups of regional farmers powered a second type of social networks. Independent farmers shaped still other unstructured and informal networks that influenced adoption and diffusion of innovations. Data confirmed that opinion leaders have identifiable and predictable roles and characteristics within and among the networks. Therefore, the diffusion of innovation through formal and non-formal leaders represents a promising strategy for development project officers. Local leaders influence adoption decisions largely because of their recognition and respect by community members. The diffusion of innovations through opinion leaders promotes the active participation of local farmers and validates the innovation through time. Therefore, the importance of analyzing social networks and selecting opinion leaders to support the diffusion process of development projects was important in Chimaltenango, Guatemala. The authors recommend future studies to compare results from other regions and cultures in Guatemala.

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