Yes! You can own in Mexico!

You can rest assured that you'll receive expert guidance in purchasing your seaside condo at Calafia. While there are several ways for foreigners to hold property, we recommend the bank trust-fideicomiso for purchases in Mexico's restricted zones.

The restricted zones include property within 62 miles of the United States-Mexico border and 31 miles of the coastline. Nearly all of Northern Baja California falls into this zone.

In a fideicomiso, the bank serves as the trustee and legal titleholder. As the trust's beneficiary, you are the actual property owner and enjoy the same rights of ownership as in the United States. Your Calafia condo will be yours to improve, sell, rent, leave in your estate, etc., and you retain control of the property.

A fideicomiso is established as a 50 + 50 year trust. The initial term is for 50 years with the right to renew at any time for an additional 50 years, in perpetuity.

A Mexican notary public, a licensed attorney, will help you establish your fideicomiso. The notary public will check on outstanding liens on the property and gather the necessary permits but will not go as far as securing the clear title.

In Mexico, land purchase transactions are often handled with cash, and closing costs can run as much as 5% of the purchase price. These costs include a mandatory 2% acquisition fee. Annual property taxes, based only on the assessed land value, are approximately .5%.

Land leases are also legal in Mexico, but only for terms less than 10 years. The safest leases are for nine years and 11 months at a time.

Some U.S. citizens are still fearful about purchasing in Mexico. This may be due to disputes involving ejidos, ancient communal land agreements. Title insurance is the key to avoiding such disputes and is highly recommended for property owners. At Calafia, we work with the top title companies to provide our buyers with the peace of mind of title insurance.

We've also teamed up with the skilled real estate experts of Prudential Northern Baja to help make purchasing easier for our friends from the United States and beyond.

Come to Calafia and grab life by the water. You'll discover what some of our residents have known for more than a decade: it's easy and safe to purchase in Mexico with the help of experienced, dedicated professionals. We're here to assist you every step of the way.