Real Estate in Mexico

"When we still lived in PV, my Mexican husband contacted a real estate place that handled rentals. He flew there to see it and we moved there. Two years later we found a bigger/better place, closer to the border, on the recommendation from a buddy at his work," said one expat who made the move to Tijuana.

"I live in a large furnished studio with good sized kitchen with pantry (full size appliances), true dining area (room for 6-8) living area with sofa, coffee table and 2 chairs and nice sized bedroom area. It has a yard with parking and outside dining and is fully air conditioned. It's actually the ground floor of a 2 story house so it's larger than most studios IME. Including my power, water, garbage, gas and WIFI, it's under $400 USD per month. Outside my front door is a park and 2 more parks are within 3 blocks in opposite directions. It's a great neighborhood away from downtown but still has every kind of business within a 5 minute walk. A really nice mall is 2.4 miles away and it's dog-friendly! I've lived in 3 different neighborhoods in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico including Centro and this is by far my favorite! FYI, my AC runs 24/7/365. It's clean, quite, walkable and has green spaces," explained one foreigner living in Merida, Mexico.

"Finding a place to live in Mexico can be done in a few different ways. The first option is to look for rentals online. Sites like Airbnb or Vrbo offer many vacation rentals in Mexico, which may be suitable for long-term stays. You could also look for rental listings on local listings sites, such as Craigslist, OLX, or Inmuebles24. Another option is to search out real estate agents in Mexico and ask them to help you find a place to live. Additionally, if you know people in Mexico, they may be able to help you find a rental and show you around the area. Word of mouth is another great way to find a place to live in a new country. Finally, if you're looking for something more permanent, you could consider buying property in Mexico. Purchasing a home or condo in Mexico requires researching both regulations and the market. It's important to speak with a real estate professional in the area who can guide you through the process," said one in Mexico.

"What is the average price in the country you’re from? In the US it varies greatly! Mexico is a big country and prices will vary depending on where you are, the size of the house and property, and amenities (pool, gated, security, golf course, etc), as well as being higher in the beach and heavy tourist areas. Due a google search on cities you’re interested in and check out COL (including housing costs) on numbeo.com," remarked one member in Mexico.

"The 5 Diciembre neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta is charming and has many good restaurants. I stay in a 4th floor apartment in the Paramar Hotel, great breakfast, wonderful staff," explained one expat living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

"We rented a 3 BR/3 Bath home. It is very modern and has a small front yard and a beautiful back yard with a pool. It is 2 stories. We also have a terrace overlooking the back yard and a sunny roof top overlooking the front of the house. The house has a large wall around it and an electric gate in the front which is very nice for our 2 dogs and 2 cats. They can go in and out as they please," said one person in Merida.

"We live in a large home one town over from where my husband works. I think the type of housing one chooses depends on the expat. Some are single and would rather live modestly and pocket the excess money from the monthly stipend they are given towards housing. Others have families and need/want more elaborate housing. I don't know any expats living here who aren't working for a U.S. company. This isn't the type of area people move to on a whim. They are sent here for work," said one expat who made the move to Comalcalco.

"Our home is a two story, 2 bedroom with around 2800 sq ft. We have a pool and small garden. The house is stand alone in a gated community. The area in which we live is primarily single family and we are about 10 minutes driving time to the center of town," explained one foreigner living in Ajijic , Mexico.

"Thank god the company pays for it. The cost for an apartment is anywhere from $1,800 usd to over $5,000 usd. We are currently paying $3,800 per month utilities included," said one person in Mexico City.

"Right now a condo on the beach with 2-3 bedrooms can be purchsed for as low as about 150,000.00 US dollars. This is a buying opportunity. We also have a beautiful house on the beach with 4 bedrooms for 869,000.00 US dollars. It is the perfect time to take advantage of our low prices," remarked one foreigner who made the move to Manzanillo.

"Much lower than in Washington state. Taxes are minimal but utilities (electricity) is rather expensive... Based on the former occupant's usage, we opted to install solar. This was a significant amount but with a 3-4 year pay back...We are able to have a maid, gardener and pool guy which we certainly couldn't afford up north... Eating out is inexpensive and about 1/2 of what it would cost NOB. The average cost of housing depends a lot on the area one chooses. The closer to Ajijic center the more expensive. Houses with views (which we have) command a higher price tag... We were looking in the $3-400,000 range and there is a good supply at these prices," explained one person living in Ajijic , Mexico.

"Oh, much lower!! We pay $400. (US)/ month for our house. In San Diego, California, the rent for such a place would be about $1500./month. You can rent a 1 bedroom apt. in TJ for as little as $80. (US)/mo. but I don't think too many Americans/Canadians would be happy with the lack of space, amenities and location. There are also lovely places here for $1000./mo. but those renters/owners are considered to be "rich" and could be a target for robbery," said one expat in Tijuana.

"We lust bought a small (1400sqft) house in Rosarito for $325,000. Not much inventory so if are ready to buy you can't be real picky. The 2 places we really wanted to see sold the day before we got there. New house built in 2019, nice furniture & long range ocean view," remarked one member in Mexico.

"We purchased a home... Buying is easy but selling is a challenge so they say... Ours went well and we have moved over 20 times in our marriage so buying and selling homes is not new to us... One serious recommendation is to get an attorney to look over the papers and assist in closing. Realtors here run from great to not so and having a knowledgeable third set of eyes makes the process painless," said one expat who made the move to Ajijic.

"We bought an empty lot and built a house on it. Had to get construction permits, since I was a resident at the time it had to be in my wifes name as she is a citizen," explained one foreigner living in Apizaco, Mexico.

"1. Be sure to research the local laws and regulations that are in place in the area of the property or development you plan to buy. 2. Make sure to hire a qualified lawyer that specializes in property law in Mexico. 3. Understand the concept of fideicomiso (Trust Agreement) which is a legal restriction that foreign nationals must agree to with a Mexican bank to become a buyer of property. 4. Spend time talking to local expatriates who are familiar with the area and its laws. 5. Determine all closing costs including Mexico's Capital Gains taxes, property taxes and transfer taxes that must be paid by the seller. 6. Consider getting a home warranty that covers the home and its systems for a certain period of time. 7. Be prepared to pay for a land surveyor to come and survey the property, so that it is properly registered at the Mexican courthouse. 8. Familiarize yourself with the title restrictions in the area to make sure you fully understand the property you’re buying," said one in Mexico.

"Yes, foreigners are allowed to own property in Mexico. The Mexican Constitution guarantees the right of foreigners to own property in Mexico, as long as certain restrictions are followed. Foreigners are not allowed to own property within a restricted zone, which is within 100 kilometers of the border and 50 kilometers of the coastline. However, foreigners can own property in this zone through a bank trust, known as a fideicomiso. This trust is administered by a Mexican bank and allows the foreign owner to have full use and control of the property," said one in Mexico.

"Generally, rental properties in Mexico come with basic appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, and washing machine. Some properties may also include air conditioners, microwave ovens, and/or coffee makers. Depending on the property, some additional features such as a dishwasher may also be provided," said one expat in Mexico.

"Expats can search for homes in Mexico by using online real estate websites, such as Inmuebles24, Lamudi, and Vivanuncios, which offer a wide selection of properties for sale and rent. Additionally, expats can contact local real estate agents who specialize in helping foreigners find homes in Mexico. Expats can also search for homes in Mexico by attending open houses and visiting neighborhoods to get a better feel for the area. Finally, expats can join online expat forums and ask for advice from other expats who have already gone through the process of finding a home in Mexico," explained one person living in Mexico.