Comparing properties
You have two or three candidates. The differences that matter most are usually not the finishes — they are how each one is held, what is registered, and what each will cost you every year after closing.
Last reviewed September 2026 · Sources
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A simple table forces the comparison onto paper: ownership structure, recorded square metres, last predial amount, HOA fees, and anything flagged in the paperwork. Sellers and agents describe properties differently; the documents describe them the same way.
The price is paid once; carrying costs are paid every year you own it. A property that is cheaper to buy can be more expensive to hold. Get the actual current figures where you can — the predial receipt and the HOA statement exist and can be requested.
An unregistered addition, a lien, or a deed in an estate does not necessarily kill a deal — but it adds time and cost, and the fixing should be the seller's responsibility, agreed in writing. Knowing which candidate is clean changes what a fair price is.
Marketing emphasises finishes and views because they photograph well. Ownership structure, registered size, carrying costs and paperwork condition decide what the property costs you and how easily you can sell it later. Rank the candidates on your list, not the listing's.
Tick steps off as you go — your progress is kept on this device, nothing is sent anywhere. A finished checklist is a well-prepared file, not a verified transaction.
A lower price that reflects a title or permit problem rather than a bargain.
Presale units compared against finished homes as if the risk were the same.
Rental income projections presented as facts.
- Agents
- Notario, for questions on how each is held
- Deed and tax receipts for each candidate
- Fee and assessment statements
This guide was last reviewed in September 2026. Laws, rates, and municipal requirements change. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm anything you intend to rely on with your notario or an independent Mexican attorney.
Article 27, Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Foreign nationals cannot hold direct title inside the restricted zone; the bank trust exists because of this article.
Ley de Inversión Extranjera (1993), Title II, Chapter III
Establishes the fideicomiso route and the 50-year renewable trust term for foreign beneficiaries.
Ley del Notariado para el Estado de Baja California Sur
Defines what a notario must verify, certify, calculate, and file for a property transfer.
Fideicomiso reference, ML Realtor
Restricted-zone boundaries, trust term, and beneficiary rights.
Cabo San Lucas property taxes and fees, The Latinvestor
Annual predial rates and the buyer-side share of closing costs.
Mexico real estate closing costs 2026, Living in Cabo
Bank trust setup and annual trustee fee ranges.
Talk it through before the next step.
A session works through your actual situation: what matters at this stage, what is still unknown, and what should happen next.
Property Clarity Session · $295 · 60 minutes
If you move into a larger paid Baja Property Insider advisory engagement within 14 days, this session fee can be credited toward that engagement.
