# Owning property in Mexico **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 13, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803 "2007-03-13T22:12:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/1 "2007-03-13T22:12:43Z")
Is it true as I’ve been told that non Mexicans cannot own land in Mexico? Seems like if this is so Mexico just has to change that simple law and folks with money would flock to there to live. Maybe even semi retire. That would bring US money folks there to run small buisnesses which would solve Mexico’s biggest problems. Except for corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/2 "2007-03-13T22:28:29Z")
[QUOTE=justwannano] Is it true as I’ve been told that non Mexicans cannot own land in Mexico? Seems like if this is so Mexico just has to change that simple law and folks with money would flock to there to live. Maybe even semi retire. That would bring US money folks there to run small buisnesses which would solve Mexico’s biggest problems. Except for corruption. [/QUOTE] No, it’s not true. Foreigners can own land in Mexico; they just can’t own land in the restricted zone (basically, on the water). Here is a good primer about it: [http://www.mexonline.com/propmex.htm](http://www.mexonline.com/propmex.htm) I have entertained the idea of buying a hotel in Mexico at some point, so I did a little bit of research on it. There’s a lot of financial and legal red tape, but I get the impression that it is done fairly often and there are banks/companies out there that are available to help people out with this. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2007, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/3 "2007-03-13T22:30:01Z")
> [@](#): > > The Mexican Constitution prohibits direct ownership of real estate by foreigners in what has come to be known as the “restricted zone.” The restricted zone encompasses all land located within 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) of any Mexican border, and within 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) of any Mexican coastline. However, in order to permit foreign investment in these areas, the Mexican government created the “fideicomiso,” (FEE-DAY-E-CO-ME-SO) which is, roughly translated, a real estate trust. Essentially, this type of trust is similar to trusts set up in the United States, but a Mexican bank must be designated as the trustee and, as such, has title to the property and is the owner of record. The Mexican Government created the “fideicomiso” to reconcile the problems involved in developing the restricted zone and to attract foreign capital. This enabled foreigners, as beneficiaries of the trusts, to enjoy unrestricted use of land located in the restricted zone without violating the law. From [here.](http://www.mexonline.com/propmex.htm) So it is no problem for foreign ownership in non-border/non-coastal Mexico. However, you must have a real estate trust (fideicomiso) to hold land in these restricted zones. It is my understanding the fideicomiso’s are becoming increasingly routine in Baja California which is almost entirely a restricted zone. On preview: what **Necros** said. ---
**Author:** ![ChicanoRojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@ChicanoRojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChicanoRojo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/4 "2007-03-14T01:10:41Z")
[QUOTE=justwannano] Is it true as I’ve been told that non Mexicans cannot own land in Mexico? Seems like if this is so Mexico just has to change that simple law and folks with money would flock to there to live. Maybe even semi retire. [/QUOTE] Foreigners can own property, as has been noted and they have been doing so for a while. A good number of areas in Mexico have retiree homes from US ex-pats. If you are considering buying property in Mexico, it is best to do it through reliable channels (lawyers, real estate, etc) lest you get caught in a bad property with bad land titles in a disputed area. Which would be a similar advice here in the US. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/5 "2007-03-15T05:43:29Z")
Your instincts are correct - there are thriving retirement communities in Mexico, primarily Canadians and Americans, some of whom live there year-round and others who go only to escape the winters. Google Chapala and Ajijic and you’ll see what an active expat community lives in those locations. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/6 "2007-03-16T13:43:10Z")
[QUOTE=CairoCarol] Your instincts are correct - there are thriving retirement communities in Mexico, primarily Canadians and Americans, some of whom live there year-round and others who go only to escape the winters. Google Chapala and Ajijic and you’ll see what an active expat community lives in those locations. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but those aren’t in the border/sea exclusion zones and anyone can own property there without a fideicomiso. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/owning-property-in-mexico/395803/7 "2007-03-16T16:29:07Z")
Better check your insurance coverage before you go there to retire. You may not be covered and even if you are you may not like the level of care that you recieve there.