Can a foreigner own property in Mexico?
It is a common misconception that foreigners cannot own Real Estate in Mexico. But in reality it’s possible to do so. However, there is a restrictive zone and you have to consider the following alternatives: Outside the Restricted Zone, a foreigner or foreign corporation can acquire any type of real estate just as any Mexican National can, holding the property as a direct owner complying with Mexican law. Within the Restricted Zone, a foreigner or foreign corporation may obtain all the rights of ownership but it must be in a bank trust, known as Fideicomiso. The Mexican Constitution regulates the ownership of the land and establishes that; ‘in a zone of 100 kilometers along the border or 50 kilometers along the coast, a foreigner cannot acquire the direct ownership of the land’. These areas are known as the “Restricted or Prohibited Zones”. The latest Mexican Foreign Investment Law, which became law on December 28, 1993, makes the allowances mentioned above. Any foreigner or Mexican Na
