Article
Five Assumptions That Quietly Cost Foreign Buyers
Recurring beliefs that look harmless on the surface and turn expensive at closing or after.
Most expensive problems in Baja real estate do not start as fraud. They start as assumptions.
1. "The agent represents me."
In most Baja transactions, the agent is paid by the seller. Buyer representation has to be agreed in writing.
2. "The notario will catch any problems."
The notario certifies the transaction. The notario does not investigate the history of the property or the seller's representations.
3. "The fideicomiso means the property is clean."
The trust is a holding structure. It does not cure title defects, unpermitted construction, or unpaid taxes that existed before it was created.
4. "A verbal price reduction is fine."
In Mexican real estate, what matters is what is written in the promesa and the escritura. Side agreements rarely survive.
5. "We can fix it after closing."
Leverage collapses at closing. Almost every issue is cheaper to resolve before money moves than after.
---
**Sample information.** This entry is illustrative content created to show how the Information Hub will read. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Please contact a qualified Mexican attorney for current, situation-specific guidance.