Clear & concise

Guides

How buying property in Mexico works, step by step, plus 196 articles on costs, tax, rentals and life in the Riviera Maya.

The buying process in 4 steps

Buying in Mexico is different from the US and Canada. Read these in order before you make an offer.

1Step 1IntroductionEach country has their own rules for buying Real Estate and when you first buy in Mexico it can seem confusing! If you…Read step 1 →
2Step 2Fideicomiso or CorporationA Fideicomiso gives a foreign buyer all the property rights and privileges of a citizen, with the additional advantage…Read step 2 →
3Step 3Buying ProcessWhen making your initial offer, this should be done using a written Offer to Purchase contract, ensuring no confusion…Read step 3 →
4Step 4Closing and Title TransferAt this point, both parties should be able to execute the purchase/sales agreement (compra-venta), start the closing…Read step 4 →

Articles

Legal & Ownership

Fideicomisos, title, notaries and owning property as a foreigner.

Legal & Ownership

5. Seven Common Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make in Mexico

Every year, US and Canadian buyers fall in love with a beachfront condo or jungle-view villa in the Riviera Maya and move forward with confidence born from having bought property before — back home. The trouble is, Mexican real estate transactions run on a different legal system, different documentation, and different risks, and the mistakes that trip up foreign buyers tend to repeat themselves. Knowing them in advance is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. Mistake 1: Skipping Independent...

Aug 4 · 4 min read

Legal & Ownership

3. Step-by-Step: The Property Buying Process in the Riviera Maya

Buying property in the Riviera Maya follows a fairly predictable sequence, but it looks different enough from a US or Canadian closing that it helps to see the whole path laid out before you start. Here's what actually happens, roughly in order, from the moment you decide on a property to the day you get your keys. 1. Offer and Promise-to-Purchase Contract Once you've found a property and agreed on a price, the next step isn't the final deed — it's a contrato de promesa de compraventa...

Aug 3 · 4 min read

Legal & Ownership

2. The Fideicomiso Explained: How the Bank Trust Works

If you're buying anywhere near the coast in the Riviera Maya, you're going to hear the word "fideicomiso" a lot. It sounds intimidating the first time — like you're handing your property over to a bank. You're not. Once you understand who the parties are and what each one actually does, it stops feeling like a workaround and starts feeling like exactly what it is: a well-worn legal structure that's protected foreign buyers in Mexico for over five decades. The Three Parties in Every Trust...

Aug 3 · 4 min read

Legal & Ownership

1. Can Americans and Canadians Legally Own Property in Mexico?

Yes. Americans and Canadians can legally own property anywhere in Mexico, including beachfront condos in Playa del Carmen and jungle lots outside Tulum. The confusion usually comes from one specific rule in the Mexican Constitution that catches first-time buyers off guard: foreigners cannot hold direct title to land within what's called the restricted zone. That doesn't mean you can't own it — it means you own it a slightly different way. Where the Restricted Zone Rule Comes From Article 27...

Aug 3 · 4 min read