Mexico draws a steady flow of North Americans moving abroad for practical reasons: proximity, cost, climate, and a property market foreigners can genuinely participate in. This guide is built around where people actually land — a handful of distinct destinations — and the two rules that shape every purchase: the constitutional restricted zone and how you'll hold residency.
The destinations that dominate
Most relocations cluster into a few very different places. Mexico City is for people who want a world capital — culture, food, and the deepest resale market in the country. Mérida wins on safety and value. Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen are the established coastal expat hubs. Los Cabos is the luxury end, largely priced in USD. San Miguel de Allende is the heritage-town retirement classic. Each links to a full data-backed guide below.
Mexico City at a glance
Current Casza listings
481
Median asking price
$447,238
Median price / m²
$3,222
Apartments / houses
66% / 34%
Live Casza listings in Mexico City, prices in USD equivalent — a snapshot of our inventory, not whole-market statistics.
Can a foreigner own property in Mexico?
Yes — but where matters. Outside the restricted zone foreigners can hold direct title (escritura). Within it — 50 km of the coast or 100 km of a border — you buy through a bank trust instead. Some cities that feel inland, such as Mérida, fall inside the coastal band.
How coastal ownership works
On the coast you buy through a fideicomiso, a 50-year renewable bank trust that gives you full use, sale and inheritance rights. It is routine, bank-administered, and the standard path for foreign buyers on the coast.
Can I legally live there?
Most movers settle on a temporary-resident visa, first applied for at a Mexican consulate by proving financial solvency. It can be issued for up to four years and can lead to permanent residency.
Sources for ownership & residency
- Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Art. 27 fr. I — Cámara de Diputados (texto vigente) (verified 2026-09-25)
- Ley de Inversión Extranjera, Arts. 10, 10-A, 11 and 13 — Cámara de Diputados (texto vigente) (verified 2026-09-25)
- Permiso para constituir fideicomisos en zona restringida — Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) (verified 2026-09-25)
- Visa de residencia temporal — Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) (verified 2026-09-25)
- Residente temporal — Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) (verified 2026-09-25)