| If you're considering getting away from the | | | | real estate license in Mexico, meaning that |
| madness of the 9 to 5 and buying land in | | | | anyone, regardless of their intent or their |
| Mexico for a taste of the good life, you're | | | | knowledge of real estate, can conduct real |
| not alone. Thousands of Americans have made | | | | estate transactions. The first step to buying |
| Mexico their home and are now enjoying the | | | | land in Mexico is to identify a real estate |
| relaxed pace of the "manana" lifestyle. Not | | | | agency with a solid reputation and a lot of |
| only is the climate ideal, the price of real | | | | experience selling real estate to non-Mexican |
| estate is only a fraction of comparable real | | | | nationals. |
| estate in the United States. As an added | | | | |
| bonus, buying land in Mexico and particularly | | | | Visit the area: |
| the area of the Caribbean Costa Maya along | | | | |
| the Caribbean Sea is considered by investors | | | | Though you may be tempted to purchase a |
| to be one of the hottest real estate | | | | property site-unseen, it's best to go and |
| investment opportunities in the world today. | | | | visit the property and scope out the |
| | | | surrounding area before buying land in |
| Though living in Mexico seems fantastic in | | | | Mexico. If you're buying land in Mexico in a |
| theory, what may seem challenging are the | | | | remote area, make sure that the area is zoned |
| steps between dreaming about buying land in | | | | for housing and that there are solutions for |
| Mexico and actually holding the title in your | | | | water, power, and phone. Ideally, you should |
| hand. However, buying land in Mexico is | | | | spend at least a week or more in the area to |
| actually fairly simple and the journey toward | | | | get an idea of what life will be like while |
| making it your own can be as exciting as | | | | you're staying in your new vacation home. |
| spending the first night in your new tropical | | | | |
| beachside casa. This article will take you | | | | Hire an attorney: |
| step by step through the process of buying | | | | |
| land in Mexico so that you can plan your move | | | | Once you decide on a property, there are a |
| to the lifestyle you desire. | | | | number of paper work items that need to be |
| | | | handled. A good real estate agent will work |
| Apply for a passport: | | | | with you to complete each of these steps. The |
| | | | most important of these steps is securing the |
| As soon as you begin entertaining the idea of | | | | title to the home. Even if the real estate |
| buying land in Mexico, apply for a passport. | | | | agency has its own lawyer, it doesn't hurt to |
| In the past, a passport wasn't required for | | | | have a second review the paperwork. If you're |
| entering many parts of Mexico but today | | | | buying land within 50 miles of the coast or |
| you'll want to make sure you have one to | | | | 100 miles of a national border line, you'll |
| prevent being turned back when it's time to | | | | need to set up either a Fideicomiso or a |
| take a scouting trip. Whether or not you end | | | | Mexican corporation in which to own the |
| up buying land in Mexico, you'll have a | | | | property. You'll also need the lawyer to |
| reason to take a great vacation. | | | | double and triple check that the title is |
| | | | clear and that the area is zoned properly. |
| Identify your general areas of interest: | | | | Even if you're an expert on Mexican law and |
| | | | buying land in Mexico, it's important to have |
| Mexico has a wide variety of beautiful | | | | a lawyer from Mexico scrutinize the documents |
| landscapes and ambiances. You'll need to | | | | carefully. |
| decide if the right place for you is a quiet | | | | |
| slice of Caribbean beachfront like in the | | | | Obtain a Visa: |
| Costa Maya, a condo in the midst of a tourist | | | | |
| hotspot like Cancun, an ancient yet modern | | | | If you'll be living in Mexico for 6 months or |
| city like Merida, or a place were there are | | | | more at a time or will be bringing a foreign |
| no ex-pats for miles around where you can | | | | plated car, you'll need to apply for an FM3 |
| truly immerse yourself in the Mexican | | | | visa. These visas are very easy to obtain and |
| culture. | | | | will grant you non-immigrant status in |
| | | | Mexico. Don't confuse the FM3 Visa with the |
| Choose a real estate agent: | | | | FM2 Visa. The FM3 Visa allows you to keep a |
| | | | foreign plated car in the Mexico indefinitely |
| In the US you might browse through property | | | | while the FM2 requires that you sell the car |
| listings online, find one you love, and then | | | | out of the country after 5 years. Also, with |
| contact the real estate agent representing | | | | the FM3 you can come and go as you please |
| the property. However, when buying land in | | | | unlike the FM2 where you can only leave |
| Mexico it's important to find a reputable | | | | Mexico for a total of 18 months during a 5 |
| real estate agent before you fall in love | | | | year period. |
| with a property. There is no such thing as a | | | | |