Mexico has thousands of miles of pristine coastline, wonderful colonial cities which boast architectural wonders stretching back many hundreds of years, and diverse expatriate communities of Americans and Canadians scattered throughout the country. The Mexican government is encouraging the expansion of tourism and investment in Mexico. Anyone can acquire real estate in Mexico if some simple rules are understood.

Mexicans by birth or naturalization can buy real estate anywhere in Mexico. Foreigners may purchase real estate directly in their own names throughout the interior of Mexico. In addition, foreigners may buy property near the border and the coastline in the area referred to as the restricted zone (about 31 miles inland from the ocean and about 62 miles from the borders) as the beneficiary of a bank trust.

The bank holds technical legal title to the real estate and the foreigner is the beneficiary of the trust. The bank acts on behalf of the beneficiary like any trustee must act. The beneficiary may use the ownership interest in the trust as collateral for a loan. That interest may also be transferred by will or through a typical sale process like other real estate interests. Although the foreigner does not technically own a direct interest in the real estate, the foreigner's rights to use and deal with the property are very similar to outright ownership. A bank trust may be issued for 50 years and it is renewable for another 50-year term. During the trust term and at its end, the interest may be sold by the beneficiary at the price determined by the beneficiary if the beneficiary chooses to sell. Of course, always obtain proper professional advice before signing any contract to purchase.

Thousands of people from countries around the world own real estate in many parts of Mexico. It has been estimated that 300,000 to 500,000 Americans and Canadians spend over six months each year in Mexico. Many own real estate. As U.S. baby boomers grow older, more and more will be setting their sights on a secure retirement which includes spending part of the year in Mexico. Many will buy a condo, house or villa in one of the many choice beachfront or other interesting locations around the country.

Always work with your own professional advisor to acquire that perfect piece of Mexican property you have always wanted

Debunking Some Myths

Americans are sometimes afraid to buy property in Mexico. Often their fears are based on stories they've heard at third hand, or confusions between past history and present practice. Here are some of the myths I hear most often, followed by an explanation of the facts of each situation.

Americans can't own real estate in Mexico.
An American must have a Mexican partner (who has at least 51% ownership) in order to own real estate in Mexico.
A bank trust is a lease agreement.
The Mexican government can take away foreigners' property at any time.
1. Americans can't own real estate in Mexico. Not true. In most of Mexico, Americans, or any other foreigners, can own land outright with what's called fee simple title, the same kind we have in the United States.

Only in the restricted zone--50 km.(31.05 miles) from the ocean and 100 km. (62.1 miles) from the borders--is it true that foreigners can't hold fee simple title). Puerto Peñasco is in that area, so these limitations apply.

Perhaps one reason for this restriction is that the Mexicans were somewhat concerned about having lost so much territory to the U.S. in the 19th century--about 1/3 of their country: Texas in 1845, and in 1848 through the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the territory that became California, Nevada, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. The treaty was signed shortly after American forces had captured Mexico City. The U.S. paid $15,000,000 for all this land. And in 1854 through the Gadsden Purchase the U.S. acquired the rest of what is now Arizona and New Mexico. It's not surprising that Mexico was a little nervous about allowing foreigners, especially Americans, to acquire any more land.

But old wounds heal, and now the U.S. and Mexico are working hand in hand. NAFTA has promoted good business relationships, but even before NAFTA, Mexico wanted to make it possible for foreigners to invest in their country, so in 1971 they developed the bank trust (fideicomiso) as a way for Americans to buy residential property in the restricted area. I'll explain the bank trust more fully a little later.

2. Americans can't own real estate unless they have a Mexican partner. Not true. It used to be that for a partnership or corporation, foreigners had to have Mexican partners who owned at least 51% interest. This is no longer the case. Under the new Foreign Investment Law of 1993, a Mexican corporation--like ours--can be owned 100% by foreigners, and the corporation can buy and own any property with fee simple title, as long as its use is non-residential.

3. A bank trust is a lease agreement. Not true. Under a bank trust the beneficiary (buyer) has all the rights of ownership: the right to use, borrow money on, make improvements on, and transfer. A lease grants only the right to use. If the tenant makes improvements, such as building a house, on the property, that house belongs to the landlord. Nor can the tenant sell the property or borrow money on it.

In Puerto Peñasco there have been in the past many long-term lease agreements for land. Before 1971 the Bank Trust was not available, and leasing was the only option for Americans. Apparently some of them were confused about the difference between a long-term lease and ownership; thus they built homes and made improvements on the land they were leasing. After the Bank Trust was initiated, some leases expired and the landlords declined to renew, which was their legal right. The tenants then lost the houses they had built. This frightened other Americans, who thought that their compatriots had had their ownership rights taken away, when in fact they had never possessed such rights. In many cases, however, the tenants of the former leases were able to regularize their situations by purchasing the property under a bank trust

4. The Mexican government can take away foreigners' property at any time. Not true. The bank trust is established by the government and gives foreigners the same rights as Mexican citizens. The only difference is that they never receive the actual fee simple title. It is held in trust for them by a bank. When first established, the term of a Bank Trust was for 30 years only. In 1989 it was made renewable for another 30, and in 1993 the term was extended to 50 years, renewable for another 50.

It may help in understanding the Bank Trust to compare it with the Deed of Trust, a type of financing instrument used in the U.S. People who buy homes for cash receive their titles right away. But the majority don't buy for cash. Under a deed of trust the buyer of a house has only "equitable title," or an equity interest, with the right to use but only a restricted right to sell, until the loan is paid off, after which the owner receives the actual fee simple title. Until then it is held by a trustee, usually a bank or title company.

In Mexico the Bank Trust is also held by a trustee, but the buyer never receives the actual title. Realistically many homeowners in the U.S. never receive title to their properties either, because they sell or refinance their homes long before the 30-year term of their loan is complete.

The Process of Buying Real Estate

The process of buying real estate in Mexico is similar to that in the U.S. The chart below will help clarify the similarities.