Buying Property in Mexico: A Practical Buyer’s Checklist

Buying a home in Mexico involves more than finding a listing you love. Between the photographs and the signing date are decisions that affect how comfortably you will live and how much the property will cost to maintain. This checklist helps you make those checks at the right point in the process.

Before viewing: decide what must work every day

Put your own purchase figures on one page

For an illustrative calculation, suppose the home costs MXN 3,000,000, your quoted acquisition and transaction costs total MXN 150,000, and equipment and moving require MXN 100,000. That adds up to MXN 3,250,000 before financing and an unexpected-expense reserve. The MXN 150,000 is an example input, not a closing-cost rate or recommended allowance.

Track living costs separately. A MXN 2,500 monthly fee is MXN 30,000 a year before utilities, insurance and other expenses. Request the property's actual figures and keep the itemized quotation. This helps compare homes even when their asking prices match.

Choose three priorities you do not want to compromise on: perhaps a real workspace, a quiet bedroom and a manageable school journey. Separate those from appealing extras such as a large terrace or pool. This makes it easier to recognize a practical home even when another one has more striking photographs.

Budget for the purchase, transaction costs and life after receiving the keys. If you need financing, obtain terms and costs for your case before committing a reservation payment.

At the viewing: open, listen and walk

Take your time. Open cupboards, look at ceilings and corners, and ask about staining or repairs. Check ventilation and bring measurements for your bed, sofa or desk. A room that photographs well may not fit the furniture you need.

• Spend a quiet moment in the bedroom listening for traffic, equipment and neighbors.
• Check space for laundry, drying clothes, bicycles and storage.
• Enter the garage and consider the maneuver with your own vehicle.
• Ask about water supply and equipment that needs regular servicing.
• Walk to an everyday service to experience the immediate surroundings.

For a used home, consider a technical inspection suited to its condition. PROFECO's used-home guidance helps organize questions. Fresh paint does not establish that wiring or plumbing has been renewed.

Before a reservation payment: understand its conditions

Get the unit, price, amount, payee and refund or purchase-credit conditions in writing. Ask what happens if the document review identifies a problem or financing does not come through. A friendly conversation is not a substitute for those terms.

Verify payment details through a trusted channel. If they change, stop until the explanation and authorization have been verified in writing. Keep payment receipts and offer documents.

Documents: confirm what you can actually acquire

Your Mexican notary and, where appropriate, your lawyer should check ownership, the seller's authority, registration, encumbrances and debts. An encumbrance may include a mortgage or attachment; understand what must be resolved and how before closing.

Match size, unit, parking and included spaces to the records. If a representative, multiple owners or an estate is involved, ask what remains necessary to transfer the property.

Ejido land requires a different assessment from private property. Do not treat a promise of a future title as the equivalent of a completed private title. Seek advice about the applicable regime and procedures under the Agrarian Law.

Condominium living: understand the shared decisions

Request rules, current fees, the unit's account balance and recent meeting records. These can reveal repairs or additional contributions that are not apparent in the monthly fee.

Ask about pets, visitors, moving arrangements and short stays according to your plans. Visit amenities at normal hours: an empty pool during a sales tour does not show how it feels on a weekend.

Presales: distinguish promises from contract terms

Have land, permits, delivery specifications, dates and remedies reviewed independently. Important finishes, parking and amenities should be documented. An illustrative image does not by itself define what you will receive.

NOM-247-SE-2021 regulates information and contracts within its scope. Check the relevant registered model through PROFECO's register. Registration of a contract does not guarantee that a development will be completed.

Warranty periods worth asking about

For transactions within NOM-247-SE-2021’s scope, section 7.1 sets minimum warranties of five years for structure, three for waterproofing and one for other elements, starting at actual handover. Request the warranty and claim procedure. These help compare applicable suppliers; they do not establish identical coverage for every private resale.

Costs and signing: request a breakdown for your purchase

Ask for acquisition taxes, notary fees, registration, certificates, appraisal and applicable financing or trust costs. There is no single national percentage that accurately quotes every purchase. Then add annual property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance and expected repairs.

Foreign residential buyers in the restricted zone should review the bank trust, or fideicomiso, with their bank and notary. The SRE explains the relevant permit. Our guide to buying from the United States or Canada covers questions for a remote purchase.

At handover: put the details in writing

Record condition, inventory, meters, keys and outstanding work. Confirm with the notary how registration and final documents will be followed through. An orderly handover leaves fewer loose ends when you begin enjoying the home.

Tell us what you want to buy. We can help compare options and coordinate the commercial process; your professionals handle the individual legal, tax and technical assessment.