{"id":13144,"date":"2026-07-05T21:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T02:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/expat-property-legal-checklist-7f3a9\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T21:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T02:31:55","slug":"expat-property-legal-checklist-7f3a9","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/expat-property-legal-checklist-7f3a9\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreigner Legal Checklist for Buying Property in Mexico"},"content":{"rendered":"<script>\ntry{(window.adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).pauseAdRequests=1;}catch(e){}\n(function(){function z(){document.querySelectorAll('ins.adsbygoogle,.google-auto-placed,iframe[src*=googlesyndication],iframe[src*=doubleclick],ins[id^=aswift],div[id^=aswift]').forEach(function(n){n.remove();});}\ntry{new 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a.primary{background:#fff;color:var(--accent-ink)}\n  .cta a.ghost{background:rgba(255,255,255,.14);color:#fff;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.3)}\n\n  footer{padding:34px 0 0;color:var(--muted);font-size:12px;text-align:center;border-top:1px solid var(--line);margin-top:44px}\n\n  @media(max-width:560px){.seal{width:44px;height:44px;font-size:19px}.item{gap:11px}}\n  @media print{body{background:#fff}.pbtn{display:none}.cta{background:none;color:#111;border:2px solid #1B6F78}.cta h3,.cta p{color:#111}.doc{max-width:none}}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"doc\">\n  <div class=\"mast\">\n    <span class=\"mk\">CL<\/span><span class=\"bn\">City Laws<\/span>\n    <span class=\"tag\">Expat Legal Guide<\/span>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <header class=\"cover\">\n    <div class=\"eyebrow\">Real Estate \u00b7 For Foreign Buyers<\/div>\n    <h1>The Foreigner&#8217;s Legal Checklist for Buying Property in Mexico<\/h1>\n    <p class=\"sub\">A phase-by-phase guide for expats and non-residents buying a home on the coast or anywhere in Mexico \u2014 grounded in the actual law: Article 27 of the Constitution, the Foreign Investment Law, the Agrarian Law, and the Federal Tax Code. Follow it in order and you avoid the mistakes that cost buyers their money.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"metarow\">\n      <span>28 checkpoints<\/span><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n      <span>5 phases<\/span><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n      <span>Last reviewed: July 2026<\/span><span class=\"dot\"><\/span>\n      <span>Educational guide<\/span>\n      <button class=\"pbtn\" onclick=\"window.print()\">Save as PDF \/ Print<\/button>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/header>\n\n  <!-- PHASE 1 -->\n  <section class=\"phase\">\n    <div class=\"phead\"><div class=\"seal\">01<\/div><div><div class=\"plabel\">Phase One<\/div><h2>Before You Sign Anything<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n    <p class=\"pintro\">Most costly mistakes happen before a single peso changes hands. Nail down what you are actually buying, whether you can legally own it, and never let a private contract or a rushed deposit replace a proper closing.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Confirm whether the property sits inside the &#8220;Restricted Zone&#8221; before you even negotiate.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Article 27 of the Constitution and <span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 2(VI)<\/span> define the Restricted Zone as <b>100 km along borders and 50 km along the coastline<\/b>. The entire coast of Quintana Roo (Canc\u00fan, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, the wider Riviera Maya) falls inside that 50 km coastal strip, so a foreigner cannot hold direct title there and must own through a bank trust (<i>trust<\/i>).<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Verify the intended use: personal or vacation home vs. commercial.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A personal or vacation home means a <i>trust<\/i> for the foreign individual (<span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 11, fracci\u00f3n II<\/span>). For commercial or non-residential use (hotel, rental as a business, offices), a Mexican company can hold <b>direct title<\/b> instead \u2014 but only with a foreigner-exclusion (Calvo) clause in its bylaws and notice to the SRE within 60 business days (<span class=\"ref\">art. 10<\/span>). A Mexican company <b>cannot<\/b> hold a residential home in the Restricted Zone by direct title \u2014 that path is for non-residential use only; residential ownership runs through a trust.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Never accept a private purchase contract or an &#8220;irrevocable power of attorney&#8221; as a substitute for a public deed.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A private contract is not recordable at the Public Property Registry, so it is not enforceable against third parties. It exposes you to double sales, the seller&#8217;s creditors seizing the property before you record, and \u2014 if the seller dies \u2014 a lawsuit against the heirs to force the deed. The National Notary College warns these are not long-term solutions.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Do not pay the price (or any large deposit) before signing the deed and confirming the property can legally transfer.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Once money is gone it is hard to recover. Pay against a signed public deed and confirmed registration, not against promises. Beware of pressure to close fast or pay in cash before deeding \u2014 a classic red flag.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Engage a notary and a licensed attorney who are independent of the seller or developer.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The notary is an impartial officer who gives public faith, but they do not represent your interests the way your own lawyer does, and they cannot deed land that is still <i>ejido<\/i>. Use professionals you chose, not ones handed to you by the seller.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n  <!-- PHASE 2 -->\n  <section class=\"phase\">\n    <div class=\"phead\"><div class=\"seal\">02<\/div><div><div class=\"plabel\">Phase Two<\/div><h2>Due Diligence \u2014 Title, Ejido Land &amp; Debts<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n    <p class=\"pintro\">This is where you find out if the seller can actually sell \u2014 and whether the land is truly private property or <i>ejido<\/i> (communal) land dressed up as private. Verify every document with the issuing authority; do not rely on sales brochures or a developer&#8217;s reputation.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Demand the public deed and confirm the property already holds FULL OWNERSHIP (<i>dominio pleno<\/i>) \u2014 not just a parcel certificate or a private rights-transfer contract.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A RAN parcel certificate proves rights inside the <i>ejido<\/i> system only; it cannot be notarized or mortgaged. Ejido land cannot be sold as private property until it has completed the full <i>dominio pleno<\/i> process (<span class=\"ref\">Agrarian Law arts. 81\u201382<\/span>). A seller who only shows a parcel certificate or a <i>cesi\u00f3n de derechos<\/i> is offering ejido land \u2014 even if it is advertised as &#8220;private&#8221; or &#8220;regularized.&#8221;<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Check the seller and the parcel directly at the National Agrarian Registry (RAN).<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The RAN issues <i>constancias de vigencia de derechos<\/i> and ejidatario listings and offers online consultation (<i>Consulta de Sujeto Agrario<\/i>). This confirms whether the parcel is still ejido or already has full-ownership title. If it still shows as ejido but is sold as &#8220;private,&#8221; that is a direct sign of fraud.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">If the land came from ejido, obtain the assembly minutes that authorized <i>dominio pleno<\/i> and confirm they were recorded at the RAN.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\"><i>Dominio pleno<\/i> requires a formal assembly with the Agrarian Attorney&#8217;s Office (<i>Procuradur\u00eda Agraria<\/i>) and a public officer present, a reinforced quorum (75% on the first call; on a second call the assembly installs with 50%+1) and a two-thirds vote of those present (<span class=\"ref\">Agrarian Law arts. 23, fracci\u00f3n X, and 81<\/span>). Without a valid, recorded assembly, the parcel never legally left the ejido regime.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Confirm the RAN title is recorded at the Public Property Registry (RPP) and that a current <i>folio real<\/i> exists in the seller&#8217;s name.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A legitimate full-ownership property must have its RAN title recorded at the RPP with a live <i>folio real<\/i>. This is what makes ownership provable against creditors and other buyers.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Pull a current Certificate of Freedom from Encumbrances (<i>certificate of freedom from encumbrance<\/i>) as close to signing as possible.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Issued by the Public Property Registry, it confirms there are no mortgages, liens, seizures or ownership limits. A lien can be recorded at any time, so request it fresh right before the deed \u2014 not weeks ahead.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Request the full registry history (<i>antecedentes registrales<\/i> \/ chain of title).<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Reconstructing the chain of owners detects forged titles, double sales, and unformalized inheritances. Confirm the seller&#8217;s title legitimately traces back to the prior owner.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Verify land use \/ zoning with the urban-development authority.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Zoning (via a <i>Certificado de Zonificaci\u00f3n<\/i> \/ municipal land-use certificate) determines what you can build or operate \u2014 residential, commercial, tourism, conservation, or protected natural area (ANP). Ejido land or conservation\/ANP zones often permit no development, making a project unviable even if the paper says &#8220;private.&#8221;<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Verify the seller&#8217;s identity, civil status, co-ownership, powers of attorney, and any inheritance.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Match the name on the deed, the encumbrance certificate, and official ID. If it is marital community property, the spouse must consent; co-owners must all sign; a power of attorney must be current, unrevoked, and grant powers of dominion; an inherited property must have the estate closed and adjudicated. Impersonation of the owner is one of the most common frauds.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Obtain current no-debt certificates for property tax (<i>predial<\/i>), water, and \u2014 in condominiums \u2014 maintenance fees.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">These debts follow the property and block deeding: without a <i>predial<\/i> no-debt certificate the sale cannot be notarized. Unverified, these hidden liabilities can pass to you as the buyer.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n  <!-- PHASE 3 -->\n  <section class=\"phase\">\n    <div class=\"phead\"><div class=\"seal\">03<\/div><div><div class=\"plabel\">Phase Three<\/div><h2>Restricted Zone &amp; the Fideicomiso (Bank Trust)<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n    <p class=\"pintro\">On the coast, a foreigner owns through a bank trust. This is not a lease and it is not a loophole \u2014 it is the legal ownership mechanism written into the Foreign Investment Law. Understand what it gives you, what it costs, and how to set it up.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Understand what the <i>trust<\/i> actually grants: full use and enjoyment, not a rental.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\"><span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 12<\/span> gives the beneficiary the rights to use and enjoy the property and collect its rents, fruits and profits; you dispose of it by assigning your trust rights or instructing the trustee bank to sell \u2014 <span class=\"ref\">art. 11<\/span> states the trust itself confers no <i>real right<\/i>, the bank holds bare title. In practice you exercise every attribute of an owner \u2014 live in it, remodel, rent, sell\/assign your rights, and pass it on \u2014 while a Mexican bank holds fiduciary title and acts on your instructions.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Choose an authorized bank (credit institution) to act as trustee and request its fee quote.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Only a bank can hold fiduciary title (<span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 11<\/span>). Ask up front for the opening\/acceptance commission and the annual administration fee, which vary by bank and property value.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Let the bank \u2014 not you \u2014 file the SRE permit application online.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The trustee bank&#8217;s fiduciary officer files electronically with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) using the SAT e-signature. By law the SRE must resolve within <b>5 business days<\/b> of a filing with the competent central unit (up to ~30 business days through a state delegation); if it does not resolve in time, the application is deemed approved (<i>afirmativa ficta<\/i>, <span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 14<\/span>). The buyer does not file this personally.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Budget the official SRE permit fee \u2014 about MXN&nbsp;$21,650 for 2026.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">This is the federal duty to issue the permit to constitute a <i>trust<\/i> in the Restricted Zone, set in the <b>Federal Duties Law<\/b> (<span class=\"ref\">Ley Federal de Derechos, art. 25<\/span>) and updated each year in the DOF. Older materials citing ~$19,950 reflect prior years \u2014 always confirm the current figure.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Name substitute beneficiaries (heirs) inside the trust agreement.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">On the holder&#8217;s death, the trust rights transfer directly to the named substitutes without a Mexican probate proceeding \u2014 faster and cheaper than direct ownership. Failing to name them complicates and raises the cost of succession.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Plan for the 50-year term and its renewal \u2014 the property does not revert to the State.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The trust runs for a maximum 50 years and is renewable indefinitely at the beneficiary&#8217;s request (<span class=\"ref\">Foreign Investment Law art. 13<\/span>). Request the extension before it expires. The term does <b>not<\/b> mean you lose the property at year 50 \u2014 that is a common myth.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Reserve for the recurring annual trustee fee.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The bank charges an annual fiduciary administration fee, generally around US$450\u20131,000+ (most sources land near US$500\u2013700). It recurs for the life of the trust and is separate from municipal property tax.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n  <!-- PHASE 4 -->\n  <section class=\"phase\">\n    <div class=\"phead\"><div class=\"seal\">04<\/div><div><div class=\"plabel\">Phase Four<\/div><h2>Closing Before a Notary<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n    <p class=\"pintro\">The notary is not optional and not a mere formality \u2014 it is the impartial officer who gives public faith, calculates and remits taxes, and records the deed so your ownership is enforceable against everyone else. Get the numbers right and confirm the deed is actually recorded.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Have RFC, passport, migratory document and CURP (if applicable) ready before you start.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A foreigner needs an RFC from the SAT to comply with the tax side of the transaction; the notary requires and records these documents in the deed. CURP is assigned to nationals and residents \u2014 a pure non-resident may not have one but still needs an RFC.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Order the appraisal (<i>appraisal<\/i>) from an authorized valuer and know which value the taxes use.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The one-time <b>acquisition tax<\/b> (ISAI\/ISABI) is computed on the <b>highest<\/b> of three figures: the agreed price, the cadastral value, and the commercial appraisal. (The seller&#8217;s income tax works differently \u2014 see Phase 5.) If the appraisal exceeds the price by more than 10%, the difference can be imputed as taxable acquisition income to <b>you, the buyer<\/b> \u2014 so the appraisal matters to you. The appraisal typically costs 0.1%\u20130.5% of value.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Confirm the current ISABI\/ISAI acquisition-tax rate with the Municipal Treasury \u2014 the buyer pays it.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">This one-time local tax varies by state and municipality (roughly 2%\u20136%). In Quintana Roo the municipal ISABI has risen: ~2% historically, 3% in recent years, and 4% for operations from December 2025 in several municipalities. In Solidaridad (Playa del Carmen) it is due within 15 business days of the transfer. <b>Date-sensitive \u2014 always confirm the rate in force.<\/b><\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Budget total closing costs at roughly 6%\u201310% of the value, all borne by the buyer.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">They include notary fees (~1%\u20132%), ISABI\/ISAI, appraisal, registry fees, certificates and \u2014 for a foreigner on the coast \u2014 the SRE permit and the trust setup. On a ~US$300k closing, expect roughly US$18,000\u201330,000 in closing costs. About 85% of what the notary invoices is taxes and fees, not the notary&#8217;s own fee.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Insist on signing a public deed and confirm the notary records it at the Public Property Registry.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Only notarized deeds are recordable; a private contract is not. Registration gives public notice and enforceability against third parties \u2014 without it you cannot prove ownership against creditors or other buyers. Recording typically takes 2\u20138 weeks.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Keep the original <i>testimonio<\/i> (deed) and store 2\u20133 certified copies in separate places.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The recorded deed is your proof of ownership. For a foreign buyer with an SRE permit and trust, the full closing usually takes 1\u20133 months, not a few days \u2014 plan accordingly.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n  <!-- PHASE 5 -->\n  <section class=\"phase\">\n    <div class=\"phead\"><div class=\"seal\">05<\/div><div><div class=\"plabel\">Phase Five<\/div><h2>Taxes &amp; Ongoing Obligations<\/h2><\/div><\/div>\n    <p class=\"pintro\">Owning is only the start \u2014 renting and eventually selling trigger Mexican taxes, and non-residents do not get the same breaks as residents by default. Get your RFC, understand the rates, and keep the records that lower your future bill.<\/p>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Get an RFC from the SAT before you rent or sell.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">A foreigner needs an RFC to declare income, issue\/receive invoices (CFDI), appoint a legal representative, and opt to be taxed on a net basis. Without it you are stuck at the flat gross rates. RFC is required even where CURP is not.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Know the rental tax: a non-resident pays 25% on GROSS rent with no deductions.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\"><span class=\"ref\">Income Tax Law art. 158<\/span>: rental income from a Mexican property is Mexican-source. If the tenant is a Mexican resident they withhold; if the payer is also a foreigner, you self-remit within 15 days. Treaty residents (e.g. Mexico\u2013US) can elect net-basis taxation, or you can become a Mexican tax resident and use the Leasing regime with real deductions or the 35% &#8220;blind deduction&#8221; plus property tax.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Charge 16% IVA on furnished, commercial, or short-term\/vacation rentals.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Unfurnished long-term residential rent is IVA-exempt (<span class=\"ref\">VAT Law art. 20(II)<\/span>). Furnished, commercial, or short-term\/vacation (Airbnb-style) rentals are treated as lodging: 16% IVA plus the state lodging tax (ISH, ~3%\u20135%). Digital platforms often withhold ISR and IVA.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Do not confuse ISABI (one-time acquisition tax) with <i>predial<\/i> (annual property tax).<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">ISABI is paid once, at purchase; <i>predial<\/i> is a municipal tax paid every year by the owner, usually in January\u2013February with early-payment discounts. Program the annual <i>predial<\/i> payment and take the discount.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Keep every cost document (purchase deed, invoices for improvements and commissions) to reduce tax when you sell.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">On sale a non-resident&#8217;s default is 25% of the total price with no deductions (<span class=\"ref\">Income Tax Law art. 160<\/span>). The alternative \u2014 35% on the actual gain \u2014 requires a Mexican legal representative and a public deed, and only pays off if you can prove your cost basis. For resident individuals the notary also withholds a 5% state tax on the gain (creditable against federal ISR); whether it applies to a non-resident electing the 35%-on-gain option should be confirmed with the notary.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Do not assume you get the primary-home exemption automatically \u2014 you must prove Mexican tax residency.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">The <i>casa-habitaci\u00f3n<\/i> exemption is a resident benefit. A non-resident taxed under art. 160 does not get it by default; you must accredit tax residency (declaration under oath plus a residency certificate) and prove you lived in the home. The exemption caps at 700,000 UDIS of the PRICE (about MXN 6 million \/ ~US$320,000), requires notarization, and you cannot have used it in the prior 3 years.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"item\"><div class=\"box\"><\/div><div>\n      <div class=\"check\">Understand how Mexican tax residency is actually determined \u2014 it is not a simple 183-day count.<\/div>\n      <div class=\"note\">Under <span class=\"ref\">Federal Tax Code art. 9<\/span>, you are a Mexican tax resident when your home is in Mexico; if you also have a home abroad, when your <i>center of vital interests<\/i> is in Mexico (over 50% of income is Mexican-source, or your main professional activity is here). Owning a vacation home and visiting does not, by itself, make you a tax resident.<\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n  <div class=\"disclaimer\">\n    <div class=\"h\">Important \u2014 please read<\/div>\n    This checklist is <b>educational information, not legal advice<\/b>, and it does not create an attorney\u2013client relationship. Laws, tax rates, and official fees change and vary by state and municipality \u2014 the figures here reflect the sources current as of <b>July 2026<\/b>. It is not a substitute for personalized advice from a licensed attorney (<i>abogado con c\u00e9dula profesional<\/i>) and, where relevant, a notary public and a tax advisor who have reviewed your specific property and situation. Verify every document directly with the issuing authority (RAN, Public Property Registry, Municipal Treasury, SRE, SAT) before you commit funds.\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"cta\">\n    <h3>Have a specific property in mind?<\/h3>\n    <p>Buying in Mexico as a foreigner is safe when it is done right \u2014 and expensive when it is not. Book a free consultation with City Laws and we will walk your property through this checklist, flag the risks before you sign, and confirm you can legally own what you are paying for.<\/p>\n    <div class=\"btns\">\n      <a class=\"primary\" href=\"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/reserva-tu-asesoria-legal\/\">Book a free consultation \u2192<\/a>\n      <a class=\"ghost\" href=\"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/abogado-inmobiliario\/\">Real estate for expats<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <footer>City Laws \u00b7 Abogados y Consultores \u00b7 Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo \u00b7 Bilingual ES \/ EN \u00b7 Last reviewed July 2026<\/footer>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CLCity Laws Expat Legal Guide Real Estate \u00b7 For Foreign Buyers The Foreigner&#8217;s Legal Checklist for Buying Property in Mexico A phase-by-phase guide for expats and non-residents buying a home on the coast or anywhere in Mexico \u2014 grounded in the actual law: Article 27 of the Constitution, the Foreign<\/p>","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13144","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13144\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citylaws.com.mx\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}