Did you know that foreign persons or companies can purchase property in Mexico?  Including areas near the borders and coastlines which are deemed the ¨restricted zone¨? It´s an area of land that comes from the ocean in 50 km, from the borders in 100km. This zone meant that nobody other than Mexican nationals were allowed to invest in lands located within these areas.No foreigner can acquire land directly in Mexico, something that is mentioned in the Mexican constitution.
So why can a foreigner purchase there now? The coastal and border areas that used to be restricted from foreign investment opened when the government decided to start issuing something called a ¨fideicomiso¨, which is basically a bank trust. It was created to allow foreign investors to participate in Mexico´s rapidly expanding sectors while exercising complete and legal control over their investments while complying with Mexico´s investment laws.
The first step to becoming a homeowner in the restricted zone is to find a bank or financial institution to hold the trust.  A bank trust is a property interest held by a Mexican bank who´s sole purpose is to manage the property for the benefit of the owner. It is essential to remember that although the bank legally acts as the trustee and holds the title, your property is not an asset of the bank. The beneficiary has every legal right to occupy, rent, modify or inherit the property as they wish. Â
We have provided you with this free kit that you will find useful as a first time buyer. Click the image to the right and download this valuable information kit.
The term of a bank trust is 50 years, but don´t worry because you can extend it once you reach year 48 or 49 and extend it for another 50 years. It is essential to sign a Trust Agreement where both parts agree how the trust will be held and what benefits you will enjoy as the first beneficiary. There will be an initial fee to pay for drawing up the agreement, which is usually around $700 USD, but it will depend on the property and institution. Annual fees must be paid.
There´s another option, which is creating a Mexican company. The Mexican company is only advised if you are going to be buying properties for commercial reasons.  If you create a Mexican corporation you have to declare monthly and one annual tax declaration, and for those purposes you have to hire an accountant.
You can retire in Mexico and not only take advantage of a strong dollar, lower property costs and a much cheaper standard of living that makes your retirement dollars go far further than they would have should you stayed within the U.S. Never mind the beaches, warm temperatures and sun that greets you should you choose to move to the Riviera Maya. With all of the modern features of anywhere else in terms of medical, commercial and cultural you are sure to find your retirement years with less stress in a safe, comfortable environment.
There are many options available that make it easy for a potential retiree to do this, so why not join us for one of Top Mexico’s Live it Tours? It’s a great way to get to know the various properties and neighborhoods down here and enjoy a nice vacation at the same time. To book yourself in for the next tour and see the Top Mexico Real Estate representatives . We will be happy to assist you and help you find your very own piece of paradise.
And remember, here at Top Mexico Real Estate…
We Make It Happen!