Buying in Mexico

Buying land in Mexico as a foreigner is a straightfoward, well established process.  Your agent here at Bacalar Properties and your Mexican real estate attorney will assist you at every step of the way. 

An excerpt taken from our FAQ:  

In 1917, the Mexican Constitution was drafted and passed into law.  In the Constitution, there was a provision that created what is called the Restricted Zone (RZ).  The RZ is 100 km (62 miles) from the borders and 50 km (31 miles) from the coasts.  Within the RZ, only Mexicans could own the land.  Such laws were common around the world as nations were being created; newly founded countries saw such restrictions as a way of protecting their borders.

Around 1970 the Mexican government realized the country was missing out on billions of dollars in foreign investment because of the restrictions on foreign ownership within the RZ.  Therefore, a law was passed in order to bypass these limitations.  This law states that a trust (called a Fideicomiso) can be established with a foreigner as the sole and exclusive beneficiary.  A Mexican bank of your choosing holds the deed to the land and administers the Fideicomiso.  You control the land and can improve it, rent it, sell it, etc.  Due to the passing of this law, major foreign investment flowed into Mexico and we saw world-class destinations such as Cancun, Cozumel, Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa, etc. take off.

In 1994 the newest law pertaining to foreign ownership in the RZ, often referred to as “the corporation law”, was passed.  This law stipulates that a Mexican Corporation can be 100% owned by foreigners (prior to this a Mexican Corporation had to be at least 51% Mexican owned).  The corporation law is as follows:

1. A Mexican Corporation is a legal Mexican citizen, with all the rights and privileges thereof.
2. You own 100% of the corporation and hold all the papers to it. 
3. Your Mexican Corporation holds the deed to the property or properties, meaning you get to physically possess the deed(s).

Surely, you will have more questions so visit our FAQ section first and then email us if you have questions we haven't answered.