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

Money & Costs

Closing costs, fees, exchange rates and what ownership really costs.

Money & Costs

How Interest Rates Back Home Affect Riviera Maya Buying Activity

It's tempting to assume Federal Reserve and Bank of Canada decisions matter mostly to domestic housing markets. In a region where cash purchases dominate, the connection is real but more indirect than a typical mortgage-rate headline suggests — and understanding exactly where it does and doesn't apply helps buyers read the market more accurately. Why This Market Is Less Rate-Sensitive Than It Looks A large share of Riviera Maya buyers pay in cash or close using proceeds from a home equity...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Selling Your Mexican Property: A Step-by-Step Cost and Process Guide

Selling in the Riviera Maya follows a fairly consistent sequence, but the costs are split between buyer and seller in ways that differ from what many US and Canadian sellers expect. Knowing the steps and who pays for what ahead of time prevents surprises at the closing table. The Process, Step by Step 1. List and market the property, typically through a real estate agent who prices it based on comparable sales and current market conditions. 2. Negotiate and accept an offer, usually...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Property Insurance Deductibles and Coverage Limits: What to Actually Compare

Two insurance quotes with similar-looking premiums can leave you with wildly different out-of-pocket exposure after a storm. The premium is the easy number to compare — the deductible structure, coverage limits, and coinsurance clause are where the real differences hide, and they matter enormously in a hurricane-exposed region like the Riviera Maya. The Core Coverage Categories A standard Mexican property policy for a coastal home typically bundles several perils: Fire and basic perils — the...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Should You Get a Property Inspection in Mexico?

In the US and Canada, a home inspection is nearly automatic — a contingency built into almost every purchase contract. In Mexico, it's optional, less standardized, and frequently skipped, which means the decision to hire an inspector is entirely on the buyer to make. For a property built in a hot, humid, storm-exposed coastal environment, that decision deserves real thought. Why It's Not Automatic Here Mexico has no government licensing body certifying home inspectors the way many US states...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Understanding Land-Use Permits and Zoning Costs

Not every buildable-looking lot in the Riviera Maya is actually cleared to build what you might imagine on it, and not every finished building got there through a fully compliant permitting process. Understanding the permits behind any property — especially land or a project still under construction — protects you from buying into a legal problem you didn't create. The Two Core Permits Uso de suelo (land-use certificate). Issued at the municipal level, this confirms what type of construction...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

What Happens If You Miss a Predial or HOA Payment?

Owning property from a distance means bills can slip through the cracks — a missed email, a card that expired, a wire that didn't go through in time. What actually happens next differs quite a bit between predial (the annual property tax) and HOA dues, and neither consequence is something you want to discover for the first time when it's already happened. Missing a Predial Payment Predial is a municipal tax, and Quintana Roo municipalities generally offer substantial early-payment discounts —...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Negotiating in the Riviera Maya Market: What's Realistic in 2026

The Riviera Maya isn't one market — it's several, and how much negotiating room you have depends heavily on which one you're actually in. The Overall Backdrop Riviera Maya property prices are on a steadier trajectory in 2026 than during the sharp post-pandemic run-up. Current forecasts point to average appreciation of roughly 5.4% per year, with cumulative gains over five years landing somewhere in a 20-40% range depending on submarket and property quality. That's healthy, sustainable growth...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Opening a Mexican Bank Account as a Foreign Property Owner

Owning property in Mexico doesn't automatically require a Mexican bank account, but most owners end up wanting one anyway — for paying HOA dues and utilities without repeated international transfer fees, for receiving rental income locally, or simply for convenience during visits. The process is manageable, but it has real prerequisites that catch some buyers off guard, particularly given a 2026 procedural change that's added a new step for many applicants. Do You Actually Need One? Plenty of...

Aug 28 · 4 min read

Money & Costs

The True First-Year Cost of Owning a Second Home: A Worked Example

Buyers frequently anchor on the purchase price and treat everything else as a rounding error. It isn't. To show what a realistic first year actually looks like, here's a fully illustrative example — a hypothetical $300,000 USD condo in Playa del Carmen. This is not a specific listing or a guaranteed cost schedule; it's a worked example built from realistic 2026 market ranges to help you build your own budget, using round, representative numbers rather than any particular property's actual...

Aug 28 · 4 min read

Money & Costs

Using a HELOC or Home Equity to Buy in Mexico

Since Mexican banks rarely offer financing terms that feel familiar to US and Canadian buyers, a lot of cash purchases in the Riviera Maya are actually funded indirectly — through a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a cash-out refinance on a primary residence back home. It's a popular route, but it comes with its own set of trade-offs worth understanding before you tap it, particularly around collateral risk and how the numbers actually compare to financing in Mexico directly. How It...

Aug 28 · 3 min read

Money & Costs

Understanding IVA (VAT) on Mexican Real Estate Transactions

Value-added tax trips up a lot of foreign buyers because the rule everyone half-remembers — "real estate is exempt from VAT in Mexico" — is only partly true. IVA (Impuesto al Valor Agregado) does exempt certain residential transactions, but it shows up in plenty of places around the deal that buyers don't expect, and getting this wrong in your own budgeting can leave a real gap between what you planned to spend and what actually shows up on your closing statement. The General Rule: 16% on...

Aug 28 · 4 min read

Money & Costs

What's Included (and Not) in a Listing Price in Mexico?

A quoted price in the Riviera Maya rarely tells the whole story, and assumptions about what "comes with the property" can lead to an uncomfortable conversation right before closing. Knowing what's standard — and what almost never is — helps you compare listings accurately and budget for the real total, rather than discovering the gap between "listing price" and "out-the-door cost" only once you're already committed. Reading Between the Lines of a Listing Description Listing descriptions vary...

Aug 28 · 4 min read