RealtyBizNews - Real Estate Marketing and Beyond
Real Estate Marketing & Beyond
Home » World Real Estate » International » Big Changes in Store for Americans Buying Baja Real Estate

Big Changes in Store for Americans Buying Baja Real Estate

By Allison Halliday | May 8, 2013

At the beginning of April this year the Parliamentary Group of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Parliamentary Group of the national Action Party (PAN) of Mexico submitted a bill proposing to amend section I of Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution to allow foreigners to own land.

large_116228949

photo credit: nathangibbs via photopin cc

At the moment Americans can own property in Mexico through a Fideicomiso or Bank Trust. A Fideicomiso is the equivalent of an American beneficial trust and can be organized by any foreigner through a Mexican bank in order to purchase Mexican real estate, including in what is known as the “Restricted Zone.”  In order for this to happen the buyer requests that a Mexican bank of their choice acts as a trustee on their behalf. This allows property owners to lease, sell, rent, improve and to will the property to others. It is a very secure way to own land, but these new changes should make ownership even more straightforward.

The reform is intended to allow foreigners to purchase property directly and will replace the current structure that requires a trust agreement, regarding the land in the so-called "Restricted Zone," which consists of 100 km stretch along the borders and eight 50 km stretch along the beaches, providing the land is given over to residential use only. The whole point of the reform is to eliminate intermediaries and the participation of trustees in the process, reducing the cost of the transactions involved while still giving legal certainty. This should help encourage foreign investment.

If the amendment goes ahead then foreigners will be able to purchase property directly for residential usage within the Restricted Zone without the need to resort to a trust. Foreigners who already own property under the trust an agreement will be able to cancel that arrangement and become the direct owners of their properties. The amendment to the Mexican Constitution still has a few necessary steps that must be completed before it is enacted. It's estimated this will happen approximately 6 months from now.

This would affect owners of developments such as Rancho Costa Verde which is a 350 acre master planned real estate community just south of San Felipe. Every home site has 180° sea and mountain views, and it's a self-contained solar powered green community designed to take advantages of the advances in solar power and green technology. The prices of the 1/4 acre home sites start from as low as $17,500.

Allison Halliday is a Realty Biz News contributing writer. She handles International Real Estate and is a seasoned blogger.
  • One comment on “Big Changes in Store for Americans Buying Baja Real Estate”

    1. Your HEADLINE is very deceptive. To say these changes are "In Store" is not accurate in any way. This "reform" has been discussed for many years and as of now has passed one of three legislative challenges. This is an Amendment to Mexico's Constitution! It could take only months, it could take years or it might never happen.

      The fidecomisio, which is very similar to a "Family Trust" remains (and regardless would still be) a great way to hold property. Like a US family Trust the fidecomiso offers "asset protection" and "wealth preservation". it is, for the same reasons we use them in the US, a great way to hold property and protect it as a family asset.

      The "reform" would be a great thing for Mexico's real estate market at large as it would provide another choice for ownership. However, the Fidecomiso remains a great vehicle for owning property in mexico and the current developments should not provide pause for people interested in securing mexican real estate opportunities.

  • Sign up to Realty Biz Buzz
    Get Digital Marketing Training
    right to your inbox
    All Contents © Copyright RealtyBizNews · All Rights Reserved. 2016-2024
    Website Designed by Swaydesign.
    linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram