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The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico: Insider Secrets You Need to Know

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Mexican real estate has changed drastically over the past two decades, and in The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico, Jackie Bondanza explains the ins and outs for prospective buyers. With case studies, charts, and an extensive look at every possibility, this book explains what properties foreigners can buy, how many contracts are required, how closing costs may differ from that of the U.S., and even top locations with the best deals.

Curious about the differences between purchasing Ejihad land, restricted zones, or private property? Want to know which properties must be appraised by the government or what measures are being taken to protect land buyers? Bondanza informs, prepares, and cautions potential buyers on what they should know about purchasing real estate internationally.

The book is broken down into several sections, explaining what to expect, starting the search, following through with the purchase, and what to expect while living in a foreign country. This book is an extremely well-researched, easy-to-read guide that is a must have for anyone considering purchasing land in Mexico.

Whether you're looking to retire in a tropical paradise or make a real estate investment, this book will open your eyes to another option - purchasing a home in Mexico.

This book is much more than a guide filled with technical and legal instructions on buying real estate in a foreign country, although it does an excellent job in detailing everything you need to know while anticipating every question and concern. This book will lead you through the thought process necessary to determine if buying in Mexico is really for you and offers a great deal of sound advice. Sprinkled throughout the text are real life stories of folks who have purchased properties in Mexico along with the reasons why they chose to do so and the success they have found in their new investment or home.

I found the section on what it's like to live in Mexico especially interesting and helpful. The author covers every aspect of Mexican living including what the local culture is like, safety, religion, food, shopping, how to interact with the locals and the average costs of utilities, taxes and medical care. She also explains Mexican immigration including a clear description of the different types of visas needed depending on your residency status.

In a nutshell, this easy to understand guide will hold your hand through every aspect of buying a home in Mexico from the decision of whether to buy, and in which area - to finding the type of property that is right for you - to how to fit into the local culture.

Buying real estate in your own country can be a confusing, complicated process, but buying real estate in a foreign country may seem almost impossible to even consider. In the Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico, author Jackie Bondanza fully outlines the process of buying property in Mexico. She explains everything buyers should know, step-by-step, in a clear, easy to understand format. Starting at the beginning, the author guides potential buyers through each step of the buying process and gives helpful case studies along the way of others who have purchased property in Mexico. Reading the stories of others who have ventured into the Mexico property market is extremely helpful.
In addition to guiding readers through the complicated buying process in Mexico, the author identifies the most popular areas in Mexico for foreign investments. She tells about the history and attractions of each area and lists the pros and cons of living there in simple, easy to read charts. Bondanza guides readers through selecting the perfect piece of property, deciding whether to build or buy, and financing the purchase. This comprehensive guide is a must-have for anyone considering buying property in Mexico

The whole idea of investing in real estate can be a touchy subject in the post-housing-bubble and (hopefully) post-recession climate, but the general cause of that reticence is fear of the unknown. Jackie Bondanza's Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico is a clear, informative, comprehensive resource that details exactly what to expect, what questions to ask, what to look for, and how to go about purchasing real estate in Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and many other beautiful regions of Mexico.

Over the past twenty years, the process of purchasing property in Mexico has been reformed and regulated, so that it is now similar to the process in the United States. Although there have been a couple of high-profile real-estate debacles highlighted in the last decade (Trump Ocean Resort in Baja, and the Baja Beach and Tennis Club in Punta Banda), Bondanza emphasizes that these examples are not the norm but should be considered instructive: know what you are looking for and follow the proper purchase steps--all of which are detailed in this guide.

Bondanza breaks this book into four consecutive parts, ordered in the same way the purchase process itself would proceed: part 1 outlines the different types of property available in Mexico, the legal system, and the investment process; part 2 guides the reader in finding a real estate agent, attorney and bank, issues of buying versus building as well as the option of renting out your property; part 3 focuses on the nitty-gritty of the purchase itself, including determining right to sell, contracts, negotiations, appraisals, and financing; and part 4 outlines the practical aspects of living in Mexico, from climate to medical services and transportation.

Overall, Bondanza's guide is well-organized, informative, and thorough, taking many of the questions out of what could otherwise be a nerve-wracking process. And Bondanza makes a timely point: unlike the volatile U.S. housing market, Mexico's real estate market has been slowly and steadily growing.

If you're planning to buy property in Mexico, you need to read The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico: Inside Secrets You Need to Know by Jackie Bondanza. The guide provides a clear, detailed overview of what you need to know for this venture. Bondanza goes over everything from Mexico's tax system, how the country's banks and real estate companies operate, the process of establishing residency, how to make moving plans, and whether you should plan to sell the home you currently own, to the cost of heating and cooling your home and the rules of etiquette when you travel south of the border. She offers insight into the different cities and areas open to foreign investors and goes through an extensive list of how to's, like obtaining the deed, doing a title search, determining if the developer has the secured the right to develop the land, and more.
The author makes it plain that, while Mexico is quite open to foreign investors, buyers are responsible to do their research. They need to be aware of the pitfalls, such as condominium developers who don't hold title to the land and real estate agents who encourage you to form a corporation, which you shouldn't do if you're only interested in residential property and don't intend to use it for a business. Bondanza warns that buyers should never deposit funds into any company that claims to be an escrow service unless it has a legitimate U.S. trust account. The guide also offers inside information from top real estate agents, closing agents, and mortgage brokers. Sprinkled throughout the book are case studies of people who have successfully bought property in Mexico.
If the book has a weakness, it's in the fact that with the volatility in the real estate and financial markets, what's true today might not be true tomorrow. But Bondanza provides an extremely solid foundation for understanding the real estate system in Mexico. The majority of the information in The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico will be just as helpful in ten years as it is right now.

With millions of baby boomers looking for an affordable and attractive place to retire, Mexico tops the list for most. The rules for acquiring property in Mexico are not quite the same as those for property purchased in the United States and Canada. It is important to understand the differences and never to "assume" that things will work out. This book provides all the basics ACCURATELY! It is written in simple, understandable English with lots of references for those who wish additional information. It tells us all how to do it the right way .........and to do it safely!

I am proud to have been able to contribute to this project. Congratulations, Jackie, on a great job!

Linda Jones Neil, ABE, PIC, Real Estate Broker and Founder of The Settlement Company, Mexico's first escrow and title company.

This book, written by experts in the real estate field, provides a comprehensive analysis of proper procedures for purchasing property in Mexico. It details what to expect from the entire endeavor, include what to expect from the government, human guides, groups with competing interests, costs associated with your home (like air conditioning and taxes), obtaining medical care (which can prove tricky), complications with establishing residency, creating plans should you consider moving, and navigating the surrounding area. Along with tips from professionals in the real estate field, the book also contains many case studies, involving both success and failure, that demonstrate the perils and merits of investing in a home in Mexico.
The Complete Guide is divided into four parts (What You Should Know Before You Buy, Beginning Your Search, The Process of of Purchasing, Financing, and Securing Your Investment, and Mexican Living). Like the majority of the book, the sections are divided in a chronological fashion, so you can start from the very beginning of even considering purchasing a second home. Part One, for example, provides details that will help one decide whether investing in a Mexican home is even a prudent decision and goes on to detail major discrepancies between purchasing real estate in the U.S. and Mexico. One of the most worthwhile parts is "Understanding the Investment Process," because so many Mexican customs are different from the U.S. versions, and the portion regarding the Mexican legal system, which, naturally, also differs from the U.S.
Like the latter section, the book contains invaluable resources for understanding what to expect from the entire buying experience. Bondanza provides information pertaining to the seemingly innumerable financial, legal, and real estate intricacies of buying Mexican property and then goes on to describe the behavioral adaptations one must make to make a successful purchase (e.g. when negotiating, go 5-30% lower than asking price and maintain a friendly demeanor). She then goes on to describing what to expect when living in largely different geographic and climate conditions (which are mostly beautiful). Also mentioned are some drawbacks (e.g. medical care is tricky, the legal system poses some restrictions if one is deemed a "foreigner" if they don't meet certain criteria, some hidden fees may accrue if one isn't careful).
Put simply, the title is extremely accurate. This book really is a Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico. It covers every aspect one would likely find, even in their wildest dreams (apart from parrots), when attempting to purchase Mexican property. While Bondanza's writing may be objective and lacking a great deal of personality (she was a journalism major, after all), that is not the point: the point is to prepare the reader for every dimension he or she may encounter when pursuing a second home or real estate in Mexico, and Bondanza does so in an extremely thorough, all-encompassing fashion.

(4/5 stars)

Whether you're looking to buy a condominium in Mexico as a second home during the wintry months north of the border or purchasing property as an investment, this book will help you accomplish your goals. The Complete Guide to Buying a Second Home or Real Estate in Mexico, Insider Secrets You Need to Know is both an overview and a step-by step handbook to buying property in Mexico.

The laws of buying property in Mexico are tricky and complicated, especially for foreigners. There are four different classifications of property and non-Mexicans can't purchase some of them directly, for instance, those in a "restricted zone", which include some of the prime residential and investment properties. There are legal ways around those restrictions, however, and the author clearly explains how setting up a bank trust allows the purchase of land in the restricted zones. Another big difference in purchasing Mexican Property is the involvement of a notary public during real estate purchases. If anyone tells you don't need one, don't believe them, Bondanza says! While Mexico has tried to tighten up on the free-for-all in real estate in the past 20 years, there are still unsavory characters, and bad businessman, operating south of the border. Jackie Bondanza minces no words in warning how to avoid losing your shirt while seeking a place of shelter in Mexico.

A couple important features in the book include warnings to avoid rip-offs and costly misunderstandings. A well-thought out graphic of key positives negatives and general information about each of the prime investment cities and is included-from the well-known Cancun to the less well-known and up and coming region of Huatulco. All in all, a great book, this book will let you know how to find the professionals you need to safely complete a real estate transaction in Mexico.