Buying Property in Mexico: 5 Reasons to Think Twice
Photo © Daena Crosby
I get it. Mexico is a beautiful and generous place!
The people are warm, the landscapes are breathtaking, and the cultural richness is unmatched.
I understand the pull. But, loving Mexico doesn’t mean you should own it.
Many foreigners fall in love with Mexico and want to stay longer, put down roots, or even start a new life here (🙋🏻♀️). And for some, that means buying property in Mexico or launching a business.
But here’s the thing: It’s because I love Mexico that I choose to remain a guest. I don’t own property or run a business. And, I don’t plan to.
I’ve seen the impacts of foreign ownership firsthand: Airbnbs pushing out local renters, beach towns where businesses cater only to tourists, and rising costs that local people simply can’t keep up with.
This post isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness, reflection, and real relationships and responsibility — for anyone who isn’t Mexican and is considering “investing” here.
Let’s get into the 5 reasons to think twice about buying property or starting a business in Mexico.
Quick Travel Resources
🛫 WISE – Multi-Currency Debit Card
🛫 REMITLY – International Money Transfer
1. We Are Not Local – And That’s Okay
Living in Mexico for months, even years, doesn’t make us “local” (I said it).
We don’t fully understand the culture, the history, the complexities of daily life here.
That’s not a judgment – it’s a reminder that respect begins with humility.
Foreigners who talk about “giving back” or “becoming part of the community” through buying property or starting a business in Mexico often miss the point.
True connection isn’t built through ownership.
It’s built through relationships, consistency, and listening.
We don’t need to buy something to belong (Capitalism lies to us!).
We can be a welcomed guest and supportive without taking up space that was never ours to begin with.
2. We Could Be Contributing to Gentrification
Let’s be honest: foreign money changes neighbourhoods.
Whether it’s a beach town or a cultural hub, the arrival of outsiders with higher spending power often leads to rising property values, higher rents, and a shift in who businesses are serving.
That taco stand becomes a boutique brunch spot.
That family-run shop closes, replaced by a smoothie bar or a micro brewery with prices in CAD or USD.
Locals are pushed out and priced out of their homes, or economically forced to change their way of life to cater to tourists.
What looks like “development” to some is often displacement to locals.
When foreigners buy property or open a business without understanding these impacts, they may unintentionally become part of the problem.
3. It’s Not as Simple (or Secure) as You Think
Buying property in Mexico as a foreigner isn’t straightforward.
In coastal and border areas, the Constitution prohibits direct foreign ownership.
Instead, foreigners must purchase through a trust (fideicomiso) held by a Mexican bank. It’s legal, but it’s also complex – and can be risky without proper legal support.
Starting a business also comes with hurdles.
You’ll need permits, tax registration, and may face limitations on what kind of business you can legally operate.
Without strong Spanish skills and a deep understanding of Mexican bureaucracy, you could end up in legal trouble – or exploited.
Owning something in Mexico doesn’t always mean you own it in the way you might expect.
4. Cultural Misunderstandings Can Do Real Harm
Many foreign-run businesses replicate what works “back home,” assuming locals want the same or catering solely to other foreigners.
This leads to cafes, yoga studios, and shops that prioritize English-speaking clientele and erase local aesthetics.
Suddenly, parts of Mexico feel more like Southern California than Mexico. (Fun fact: California was part of Mexico from 1821 to 1848!)
Cultural disconnects also show up in pricing, marketing, and space-making – offering services that ignore local customs, spiritual beliefs, and affordability.
Intentions aren’t enough.
Without cultural fluency and community collaboration, foreign businesses risk doing harm instead of good.
5. There Are Better Ways to Invest in Mexico
If you want to contribute to the places you love, there are other ways – ways that respect sovereignty and community leadership:
- Support Mexican-owned businesses every time you eat, shop, or book a tour
- Amplify local voices by leaving reviews, promoting artisans, and sharing their work
- Partner with locals if you have a skill or resource to share – but only when it’s mutually beneficial and transparent
- Donate or volunteer with local nonprofits already doing great work
- Rent, don’t buy – and live simply so you don’t drive up prices or displace others
You can show your love for Mexico without owning a piece of it.
Be a Guest, Not a Gentrifier
There is so much beauty in being a guest. It means arriving with humility, staying with respect, and leaving with gratitude.
It means recognizing the power (and privilege) we hold as foreigners – economically, socially, culturally – and choosing to use that power responsibly.
I’ll say it again: I love Mexico. But that love doesn’t mean we need to “claim it.” Let’s choose to keep learning, listening, and connecting – not consuming or owning.
Because what if our legacy in Mexico wasn’t what we built, bought, or branded – but how we showed up, how we honoured the land, and how we left things better than we found them?
That’s the kind of traveler I want to be.
And I hope you do too.
✨Keep Exploring Mexico Magic✨
Gentrification in Mexico: A Guide to Responsible Travel
Responsible Travel in Mexico: Beyond Tourism to Meaningful Connections
Is Mexico Safe For Solo Female Travelers?