Smart Buyers vs Dumb Buyers in the Riviera Maya 2025

Thinking about buying real estate in Riviera Maya, Mexico? Whether you’re from the U.S. or Canada, this might be your second home, your relocation plan, or even your retirement nest egg—so it’s crucial to get it right.
The real estate process here isn’t the same as in the U.S and Canada, and one wrong move can cost you big time. But don’t worry—we're going to walk you through the best and worst ways to buy a property here safely and successfully. Let’s dive in!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Step 1: Work with The Right Agent
- Step 2: Educate Yourself About the Buying Process
- Step 3: Find the Right Property
- Step 4: Work with The Right Real Estate Attorney
- Other Articles About Relocating To The Riviera Maya
- What Are Clients Saying About Mycasa Real Estate?
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Step 1: Work With a Licensed Buyer’s Agent, Not a Developer’s Sales Team
The first thing you want to do is find yourself a licensed, reputable, and dedicated Buyer’s Agent—someone who represents you, not the seller or the developer.
Just like in the U.S. and Canada, you need a real estate license to practice real estate in the state of Quintana Roo. And just like back home, the seller pays the buyer’s agent commission.
That means either the seller’s agent or the developer’s sales team will collect that commission, or your dedicated buyer’s agent will. So, who would you rather have earn that commission? Someone looking out for you, guiding you through the process, helping you settle into your new home (and is your realtor for life)? Or the developer’s sales team, whose job is to sell you (whatever they have and at the highest price)—whether it’s a good investment or not?
A great buyer’s agent will also connect you with the right attorneys, immigration specialists, interior designers, and other professionals to make your investment easy and completely headache-free.
(The worst thing you can do is try to do this alone in a foreign country where it’s easy to get fooled). Work with one of Mycasa's Licensed Agents and let us take the worry out of the process
Step 2: Educate Yourself About the Buying Process
Before you buy, you need to understand a few key things, like:
- Can U.S. and Canadian citizens legally own real estate in Mexico? Yes
- Is financing available in Mexico for foreigners? Not really
- What’s the step-by-step buying process?
- What are the costs of living, healthcare, and taxes for expats?
- Do you need legal residency to own property or retire in Mexico?
The best way to get answers to all of these questions is to download our two free guides:
The first is all about investing in real estate in Riviera Maya.
The second is about relocating and retiring here and living like a local.
These guides give you a quick summary of everything you need to know, plus links to detailed blog articles for a deeper dive.
Or if you’re more of a visual learner, we’ve got video versions, too. And if you want answers fast, just book a quick 7-minute call with one of our real estate buyer’s agents and relocation specialists. Finding properties in Mexico can be tricky because there’s no MLS system like in the U.S. and Canada. That makes it hard to see what’s for sale, compare prices, and get accurate information. But there’s a workaround. If you Google “Zillow alternatives in Mexico,” you’ll see that, MyCasa.mx, ranks 1st—alongside a few classified sites, most of which are only in Spanish. What makes MyCasa.mx different? - Mycasa has over 800 listings with full video walkthroughs so you can tour the properties from the comfort of your screen. -mycasa shows you all listings—not just our own—whether they’re fully furnished resales, new construction, or pre-construction. - You can filter by city, budget, number of bedrooms, and property type, making it easy to see what’s on the market. Now, what’s the absolute worst way to search for properties? Platforms like Viva Anuncios, Realtor.com, and Inmuebles24 are mostly in spanish and might seem helpful, but they tend to have a lot of duplicate listings, fake pricing strategies, and unlicensed agents who just want your contact info. These sites are frustrating, unreliable, and full of clickbait, and the people posting these listings are working for the seller—not you. That means they have zero obligation to protect your interests. Once you’ve found a property, the next step is making sure your purchase is legally protected. That’s where your real estate attorney comes in. A great real estate attorney will: - Conduct due diligence to ensure the property is legally sound. - Review all contracts to make sure your interests are protected. - Ensure the title transfer is done correctly so you actually own the property at the end of the process. Your dedicated buyer’s agent should be able to recommend a reputable attorney. Here are a few of the best firms in the region: - Lighthouse Real Estate &Legal Services - MexLaw Now, what’s the absolute worst mistake you could make? Using the developer’s or seller’s attorney. That’s the number one way people get scammed out of their money. And even if it’s not an outright scam, you can bet that the contract will be written in the seller’s favor, not yours. It’s common for contracts to shift all the risk onto the buyer, so if anything goes wrong, you’re the one holding the bag. Download Your Free Guide & Book a Call with a licensed buyer’s agent and relocation specialist So, if you’re serious about investing and/or relocating to the Riviera Maya,be a smart buyer and Download your FREE Real Estate & Relocation Guides by Clicking the link below. or Book a FREE 7-Minute Consultation and Get expert advice from a licensed Buyer’s Agent. Would you like to chat now?* Call or WhatsApp us at +52 1 984 116 3959 Don’t make costly mistakes—buy real estate in Mexico the right way and let’s be neighbours soon!
Step 3: Finding Properties – Avoid Fake Listings & Clickbait Prices
Step 4: Work With the Right Real Estate Attorney (Not the Seller’s Lawyer!)
Other Articles About Relocating to the Riviera Maya
Is it Safe for Americans to Buy Real Estate in Mexico
Why U.S. Expats Choose Mexico: Real Estate Insights 2024
Retire in Paradise: Top 10 Best Places for Expats 2024
Relocation Guide 2024 (part 9): 10 Warning Signs
Relocation Guide 2024 (part 8): How much Does it Cost to Build
What Are Clients Saying About Mycasa Real Estate?
"We have been beyond pleased...we felt in good hands the entire process." Jodi Ribar. Google Review
"...and within 5 minutes, she called me." Leanne Knox. Google Review
"He is incredibly knowledgeable about the area, knows all the details about the property..." Claudia Ruiz. Google Review
"She listened to every single detail of what I was looking for in a property..." Kendra Mangana-Adams. Google Review
Ready to book a trip and shop for your dream home, plan your trip with Google Travel
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