What are the experiences of expats and Mexicans who buy or construct their dream homes in Mexico?
The creativity and skill of Mexican craftsmen are highly valued and considered a major advantage of purchasing or constructing in Mexico. Brigham Golden, a designer, builder and real estate professional at San Miguel Sotheby’s International Real Estate, explained why you should choose Mexico if you are considering building. “There are highly skilled craftsmen in Mexico,” he said. “Building is incredibly fulfilling here because you have the freedom to bring your vision to life more easily than in the U.S.”
There are also several cost advantages to purchasing or constructing a property in Mexico compared to the U.S., including lower property taxes and reduced maintenance expenses, notes interior designer Jeffry Weisman, who owns five homes in Mexico.
If you are considering purchasing or constructing a property in Mexico, the pros and cons shared by real buyers and builders can offer valuable insights to help you make informed decisions. Let’s explore the advantages and disadvantages of building or buying a home, with insights from industry experts and the personal experiences of buyers and builders in cities across Mexico.
We hope these considerations will assist you in making well-informed choices!
Pros of building a home in Mexico
To get an idea of the experiences of buyers and builders, we polled expats across Mexico. Based on the feedback from our respondents, building a home stands out as the preferred option. “If your builder is reliable, constructing can be more cost-effective than buying,” said architect Nicolás Orozco, a Guadalajara real estate expert with 25 years of construction experience and director of DIO Architecture.
“You can have the assurance of receiving the quality you are paying for, along with a personalized design that caters to your specific needs. Furthermore, the experience can be quite enjoyable as it feels like acquiring something new: You can actively participate and relish the process from design to construction, with the ability to select the finer details.”
Filmmaker Helena Kutter constructed a house in Tepoztlán, Morelos, and has also acquired an existing property in Mexico City. “The significant benefit of building is the freedom to design the house according to your preferences, and creating a home that reflects your personal style is truly inspiring,” she explained.
Golden: “Building smart is best in terms of cost: You get the most value, you get what you want.”
Zoë Siegel, an artist and architect, has constructed 19 houses in San Miguel de Allende. “Building is a fantastic process as it allows you to create and customize the house of your dreams,” she said. “Additionally, you can integrate ecological systems and features such as optimizing the natural light within the house.”
Cons of home-building Mexico
Though our sources preferred building from scratch, construction also has its drawbacks. The disadvantages are primarily linked to the time investment required and the need to secure a reputable agency to support your project.
Siegel: “If you lack a trusted individual to oversee the construction, you may encounter significant issues with permits, for instance.”
Constructing a home can be immensely rewarding, but it involves a greater level of effort. It is a more challenging process compared to purchasing a property, as there is a possibility of making design errors or altering your preferences midway through the project.
Golden: “If you do not meticulously select your vendors and materials, there is a risk involved.”
Orozco: “I have constructed homes for expats residing in Los Cabos or Puerto Vallarta, who divide their time between Mexico and another location. In such cases, overseeing the construction can be quite challenging. Another drawback is the significant time and energy investment required to manage the project effectively.”
Advantages of buying real estate in Mexico
One of the most thrilling aspects of purchasing your dream property is the speed with which you can take ownership. Our interviewees confirmed that for them, this immediacy was a key benefit of buying a house rather than building one.
Orozco: “It can be simpler to arrive, fall in love with an already built property, and make the purchase, especially if you do not reside in Mexico throughout the year. This approach can also save you time.”
Weisman: “For Americans, the cost is notably lower compared to the U.S. Another advantage of buying a property is the clarity in knowing the exact amount of money you are investing.”
Siegel highlights the advantage of having certainty about new installations such as plumbing and electricity.
Kutter believes that buying is more energy-efficient and provides a clear understanding of the house’s cost, which is a positive aspect.
Cons of buying real estate in Mexico
For the detail oriented, buying real estate also has its drawbacks.
Golden: “Your home reflects someone else’s vision.”
Orozco: “Developers and builders have higher profit margins, leading to increased purchase costs. Additionally, there is uncertainty regarding the quality of the properties as many aspects are hidden. You must rely on the information provided about the installations and the structural integrity. Moreover, you may need to adjust to the space, as it may not align perfectly with your preferences.”
Final tips when it comes to buying or building a property in Mexico
Weisman: It is important to verify the total cost of the property (including taxes) with your agency. Create a Mexican will, as an American wills hold no legal value in Mexico. “The absence of a Mexican will could result in the property being claimed by the Mexican government in the event of your passing.”
Golden: Spend time studying and comprehending the market, even when presented with a favorable opportunity. Prior to commencing the project, it is advisable to explore various options and make informed decisions. Conduct thorough research on the neighborhood, engage in conversations with residents and seek recommendations from previous clients of your agency.
Siegel: There is a fundamental responsibility to incorporate a rainwater collection system and promote self-sustainability in construction.
If you are going to build, know that it will probably take longer than planned. A point upon which everyone agrees is the importance of choosing a professional and experienced agency. Following the recommendations of experienced professionals and reading reviews can also help you to make the right choice.
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and contributor for Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
Was this ever one sided! Don’t be fooled…building in Mexico is not for the faint of heart. Briefly, it is quite challenging. All that BS in creating a dream of all your wants and wishes is just that. Unless, you are into pain buy something already built that you can mold if need be. Generally, building in Mexico is more time consuming and expensive that what you have budgeted. You must have patience, speak some Spanish and not be on any schedule or rush. For most gringos, building in Mexico is a cultural wake up! Things are done very different than what you are familiar with and you need to be on top of the build if that is the direction you want to go. From my experience of many years maybe two in ten have had what would be called a wonderful
experience. Don’t get me wrong. It is a wonderful place to live for so many reasons, just keep your eyes wide open when considering a build vs finding something already built.
Absolutely. If you enjoy delays, unexpected costs and no-show service, building is definitely the way to go. It seems cheap until you calculate just how much longer than promised almost everything takes. A great hobby for masochists.
After building three homes in Mexico, I decided never to go thru that process again, delays, over costs and even a deposit payment that disappeared along with the supplier, it’s just easier find a new home you can maybe still make a some changes you like, plus choose all the finishing details.
Many Mexican homes are built over the course of years, as the owners save more money and bring another work crew in to build. Building a house on a gringo schedule is simply unrealistic and asking for problems. I know of several Expats who tried to build and, in the end, didn’t get the house finished, gave up, sold the property, and went back to the US. Why torture yourself over some idea of the perfect house – ha – there are many nice properties of various styles (Contemporary/Colonial) available for sale. Just use a realtor with a reliable company who knows the ropes when you buy, because there are serious pitfalls in making a real estate purchase in Mexico, like the seller doesn’t really have the papers, the list goes on and on. – Buyer Beware, Be Careful, – bought our home in Mexico seven years ago, had it inspected, and there were no surprises.
A question for Mr. Roach: How did you have your home inspected? I thought in Mexico people did not use home inspectors before buying a home, like in the US. I’d like to buy a home in Guadalajara, but I don’t want a lemon.
WOW We are building in Cabo and are SO grateful for our building experience. We purchased our lot in April 2023 and they started building in July 2023. We are building a 2300 square foot home, with pool on one level. The quality of construction has been/ is excellent up to North American standards. We are building in Rolling Hills which is a development that has over 600 prime lots. Our construction crew are locals, there is an engineer, architect, their crew and sub contractors. We have been given a date of May for move in and all is on schedule and as agreed to. We are very HAPPY we decided to build !!
After an exhausting search for a home in Merida we gave up and went the new build route. Our realtor introduced us with a fabulous young arquitecto and it has been nothing short of an amazing experience. Yes it’s it will have taken a year to construct but it’s a large home on a large lot. Only cost overruns have been by our own making by changing the design and adding features. It all boils down to be introduced to the right people with great reputations and having a good notary. Our experience has been very positive and next month we get to stay in our new home.
Currently I am having a 1000ft built Guanajuato state. So far the experience has been great with architects and crew. Yes,it does take longer than in the US, but the quality is much better and houses have longevity that standard house building doesn’t have in US. My only problem was falling in the hands of an unscrupulous real estate person and her lawyer.Because of that it took me 1 1/2 to get a permit. In the future I would only go with a larger company with a reputation. As far as the cost is reasonable ,but going up as country is developing.