Real Estate in Mexico

Last updated on Mar 16, 2023

Summary: An expat should begin their search for a home to buy in Mexico by researching the different areas of the country and determining which one best suits their needs. They should also consider their budget and the type of property they are looking for. It is also important to research the local real estate market and the availability of properties in the area. Foreigners are allowed to purchase property in Mexico, however, there are restrictions on the type of property they can purchase. Foreigners are not allowed to purchase property within the restricted zone, which is a 50-kilometer zone along the coast and a 100-kilometer zone along the borders. Houses in Mexico typically include amenities such as air conditioning, a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom. Some houses may also include a pool, a garden, and a terrace.

How do I find a place to live in Mexico?

We asked expats how they chose their neighborhood and found a place to live. They answered:

"Versalles, Aralias & Fluvial just to name a few. Rentals are found easy with boots on ground. You need to view in person and no deposits until you arrive. Otherwise, most likely, you will have a problem with your deposit and may never see it. In Zona Romantica (my opinion is that it’s for visitors/tourist) you will have fireworks almost every night, many tourist, road blocks for celebrations/water repairs, spring/winter breaks, flooding during the rainy season, and parties non-stop," remarked one member in Puerto Vallarta.

"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 expat living in Merida, Mexico.

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What is a typical expat home or apartment like in Mexico?

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About the Author

Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.