The Dark Side of Selling Real Estate in Puerto Aventuras

2025-08-04 by My Casa

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What U.S. and Canadian Sellers Must Know to Protect Their Property and Maximize Their Sale


When selling your home or condo in Puerto Aventuras, the single most important factor for a successful sale is getting your property in front of the largest possible number of qualified buyers.


However, due to a broken and unregulated local market, many agents intentionally limit your property’s exposure to keep the entire commission for themselves. This guide explains the common unethical tactics that can hurt your sale and shows how to ensure your property gets the visibility it deserves.


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The Problem: An Unregulated and Broken Market

In the absence of a functioning MLS and industry-wide enforcement, many agents in the Riviera Maya, especially in Puerto Aventuras, engage in practices that harm both sellers and buyers. Instead of collaborating to sell your property fast and for top dollar, some agents are prioritizing personal gain over professional ethics.


Common Unethical Tactics to Watch For


  • Limiting Exposure: Some agents intentionally keep listings "off-market" by not sharing them, blocking outside agents, or avoiding commission sharing. They do this hoping to represent both the buyer and the seller to pocket both sides of the deal. This means fewer buyers ever see your property, and you lose significant negotiating leverage.


  • Lack of Marketing: Many agents do little to no real marketing—and some don’t even know how. As a result, properties sit unseen while sellers are left in the dark, thinking their home is being actively promoted when it’s not.


“I’ve seen sellers lose six months of marketing time just because their agent wouldn’t cooperate with others,” says Raul Morales, former Vice President of Communications and Marketing for AMPI (Mexican Association of Realtors), Certified International Property Specialist, and CEO of MyCasa Real Estate.


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How These Tactics Impact Sellers Like You


If your agent is hiding your property from the wider market, the consequences are direct and damaging. Whether you're a retiree cashing out or an investor repositioning your portfolio, this dysfunction is not what you deserve.


  • You miss out on serious buyers. A hidden listing is invisible to agents and their clients who could be your perfect match.


  • You risk selling for less than your home is worth. With a smaller pool of buyers, there is no competition to drive up the price.


  • Your property sits stale on the market. A property that lingers for months loses momentum and appeal.


  • Your trust in the system is eroded. A bad experience can sour future deals and investments.



The Solution: What Ethical Real Estate Should Look Like


At MyCasa, we believe there’s a better way to sell real estate in the Riviera Maya—one rooted in transparency, collaboration, and results.


Our Commitment to Sellers

  • We promote your property to all agents and agencies in the region, not just our own buyers.

  • We share commissions fairly to create cooperation, not conflict, among agents.

  • We use professional video walkthroughs, drone footage, and SEO marketing to achieve maximum visibility.

  • We invest in paid advertisements to make sure all interested buyers are reached.

  • We communicate honestly, giving you real-time updates and direct feedback.



Open vs. Exclusive Listings: Which Gets Better Results?

Many sellers ask us: “Should I go with multiple agents or give one agent an exclusive listing?” Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision.


Open Listing (Non-Exclusive)

An open listing allows you to list your property with multiple agents simultaneously. While it seems like this would create more exposure, it often has the opposite effect.


  • Pros:

    • There’s no long-term commitment to a single agent.


  • Cons:

    • No real investment: No agent is willing to invest real time, money, or effort into marketing your property (e.g., professional photos, videos, advertising) when another agent could make the sale, causing a total loss on their investment.


    • Minimal marketing: Agencies typically do the bare minimum, resulting in generic, cookie-cutter marketing that gets lost in a competitive market.


    • No accountability: No single agent takes full responsibility for coordinating showings or ensuring your property gets maximum exposure.


    • Leads to confusion: This approach often results in duplicated listings online (sometimes at different prices), creating confusion for buyers and making the property look unprofessional.


Exclusive Listing (with a Trusted Agent)

An exclusive listing means you commit to one dedicated agency that acts as your primary representative.


  • Pros:

    • Full accountability: One team manages all marketing, showings, and follow-ups, providing a single point of contact.


    • Maximum exposure: The property is professionally marketed and promoted to all agents and buyers in the Riviera Maya.


    • Strategic marketing investment: We invest our own resources in high-quality photos, video walkthroughs, drone shots, and global online exposure because we are fully committed to the sale.


    • Consistent strategy: You get one clear pricing and marketing strategy, eliminating market confusion.


  • Cons:

    • You’re committed to one agency—but this is only a problem if you choose the wrong one.

With an exclusive listing, we at MyCasa have the tools, network, and motivation to get you the highest price in the shortest time possible.



Final Thoughts: You Deserve a Better Selling Experience

If you're a U.S. or Canadian seller in Puerto Aventuras, don’t let outdated practices or unethical agents hold you back. You deserve a professional team that works for you, not just for the commission. We’re not just agents—we’re advocates for honest real estate.



Ready to Sell with Confidence?

Contact MyCasa today for a free, no-obligation property evaluation.


We’ll show you how to:

  • Maximize your sale price

  • Avoid shady tactics

  • Get real exposure to real buyers


Serving Puerto Aventuras, Playa del Carmen, and all of the Riviera Maya.


Updated 8/16/25

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