How to buy, finance and live in Mexico. Notes from each destination.
Buying in Mexico
Buying pre-construction in Mexico: land title, permits, the developer's record, deposit protection, payment plans, contract clauses and the final balance.
October 20, 2026 · 8 min read
Destinations
Buying property in Costa Rica as an American: titled land vs the 200 m maritime zone, closing costs, 0.25% property tax, corporations and residency.
Huatulco real estate in 2026: the bays and areas, flights, the fideicomiso, Santa María Huatulco's 2.5% to 4.75% acquisition tax and what to check first.
October 20, 2026 · 7 min read
Puerto Escondido real estate in 2026: the new highway and US flights, Zicatela to El Puertecito, the fideicomiso, the 2.1% transfer tax, water and storms.
Financing
A mortgage in Mexico for Americans: HELOCs, cash-out refis, US-dollar loans, Mexican banks and developer plans compared, with October 2026 rates and rules.
The cost of buying property in Mexico in 2026: acquisition tax by town, notary, registry, trust fees and yearly costs, with a USD 500,000 worked example.
San Miguel de Allende
The cost of living in San Miguel de Allende for a couple in October 2026: rent, groceries, help, utilities and healthcare, in pesos and dollars.
Fideicomiso Mexico guide: how the bank trust works on the coast, the 50-year term, SRE permit, bank fees, beneficiaries, selling and the IRS view.
How to buy property in Mexico as an American, step by step: direct title or fideicomiso, the notary, closing costs by town and the 2026 cash limit.
October 20, 2026 · 9 min read
How to wire money to buy property in Mexico: notary accounts vs escrow, wire fraud checks, the cash limit, exchange rates, the 1% remittance tax and FBAR.
Investing
Investing in Mexico real estate in 2026: what drives value in San Miguel and on the Oaxaca coast, the real risks (peso, resale time, storms) and the taxes.
Living in Mexico
Mexico residency by buying property: the 2026 threshold (about USD 584,000), the income and savings routes, consulate figures and the path to permanent.
Mexico mortgage rates 2026: peso loans at 9.15%–13.25% and dollar loans at 10.0%–12.4%, vs. 7.40% in the US. Why, the currency risk and a worked example.
Ten mistakes buying property in Mexico, from ejido land and liens to cash limits, wire fraud and wills, with what to do instead and the papers to request.
Moving to San Miguel de Allende in 2026: flights via BJX and QRO, hospitals, residency, water, altitude, Spanish and the current State Department advisory.
Airbnb rules and taxes in Mexico for 2026: what platforms withhold, state lodging taxes in Oaxaca and Guanajuato, HOA limits and what the IRS expects.
Retiring in Mexico in 2026: residency income tests, Social Security after Directo a México closes, Medicare limits, IMSS costs and driving a US car.
San Miguel de Allende real estate prices in 2026: median sale price, days on market, buyer origin, inventory and asking ranges by neighborhood.
San Miguel de Allende neighborhoods compared: Centro, Guadiana, San Antonio, La Lejona and more, with walkability, buyers and October 2026 asking prices.
Mexico property taxes for Americans in 2026: predial, rental income tax and platform withholding, tax on a sale, and what goes on your US return.
Using a HELOC to buy property in Mexico vs a cash-out refi or home-equity loan: October 2026 rates, the 80% limit, the Fed hike and the 3% mortgage math.
Where do Americans live in Mexico? State Department and INEGI counts, then 10 places from Ajijic to Tulum with airports, climate and residency data.
Stories
Nine bays, an international airport and a coast that still feels like its own. That's how we arrived to the Oaxaca coast.
August 15, 2026 · 1 min read
Huatulco, the Oaxaca Coast, San Miguel de Allende, La Ventana and Amealco. A selection of destinations that in 2026 offer real infrastructure, an active market and a life beyond the resort.
July 31, 2026 · 5 min read
Amealco is not a trending destination. It's a cold, quiet, real forest. That's exactly what we liked about it.
July 28, 2026 · 1 min read
Everyone knows the parish church. We went for the vineyards, the horses and the streets where life still moves slowly.
July 10, 2026 · 1 min read
On the Nicoya peninsula there are no boardwalks or towers. There's jungle, surf, and a different way of understanding the land.
June 20, 2026 · 1 min read
