![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/63cdbdb028ce4e12438cb7d5/8702549b-ce0f-4de2-afff-a9f4120cc23d/Buying+property+in+Cerritos+Beach%2C+Baja.jpg)
Buying Real Estate In
Cerritos Beach, BCS, Mexico
Buying real estate in Cerritos Beach, Mexico is probably a bit different than buying real estate in your home country. Luckily, many have come before you in purchasing property here, and the Mexican government has put in place a system for foreigners to buy land in Cerritos Beach and throughout Baja.
While there are online real estate listing in the Cerritos Beach area, not all available properties are listed online. If you are local to the area for a while, one of the best ways to find a hidden gem is to drive around the dirt roads and look for Se Vende (For Sale) signs. While local real estate agents might know about most of these as well, there is no guarantee that every agent will know about every sign.
If you are ever in a conversation with someone that lives locally (either a local or an expat), ask if they know of any land or homes for sale. It can be a great way to get a lead on an unlisted property.
How To Buy Real Estate in Cerritos Beach
Real estate and legal speak can be quite boring and confusing, so we met up with a local surf dude lawyer to give us the deets on buying property in Cerritos Beach. Enjoy!
FAQs
-
Absolutely, dude! If you're thinking about scoring some sweet beachfront property in Cerritos Beach, you don't gotta be a Mexican resident to make it happen.
Foreign investors can totally own property outside the restricted zone with a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And for property within the restricted zone (which covers a 30-mile stretch of coastline, including Cerritos Beach / El Pescadero), you can use a fideicomiso.
So, you can totally catch some gnarly waves at Cerritos Beach while also owning a piece of paradise, even if you're not a local.
-
Great question, bro! If you're looking to buy some property in the restricted zone of Mexico's gnarly Baja California, no sweat, foreign investors can totally do it!
All you gotta do is snag a fideicomiso, which is basically a trust that lasts for 50 years and can be renewed. Your trustee will be a Mexican bank that you choose, and as the beneficiary of the trust, you'll have the same sick rights over the property as if you owned it straight up, dude.
You can remodel, rent it out, or just hang there and catch some epic sunsets. Oh, and if you're a foreign-owned Mexican company, you can even score some commercial property in the zone. Rad!
-
Dude! Did you say party??
If you're buying or selling property in Mexico, it's not just you, the seller, and the notary public who are getting in on the action. If you're setting up a fresh trust with a new bank, the banks of both the buyer and the seller are getting involved too, man.
And if you're feeling a bit lost in the process, it's not a bummer to get some help from a local real estate agent, ya know? These gnarly dudes can guide you through all the local laws and rules, show you what's what in the area, and help you lock in that deal.
They're not a must-have, but they can totally make the whole process go way smoother.
-
If you're a dude (or dudet) buying property in Mexico, you gotta know about the notario público, man. These righteous dudes have a totally different role than notary publics in the United States, ya know?
In Mexico, notary publics are legal eagles acting on behalf of both the state and federal governments for transactions, and when it comes to buying property, it all goes down at the notario's office, dude.
Now, when it comes to trust stuff, the foreign owner can totally pass their beneficial interest over to the buyer, who can then create a fresh bank trust where they're the main beneficiary. All of this is done with the help of the notario público, who essentially seals the deal and makes sure everything's legit.
-
If you're buying or selling property in Mexico, you gotta be ready to pay up some closing costs, man. These bad boys can range from 2 to 6 percent of the value of the property, and they're all on the buyer, dude.
The costs usually cover an acquisition tax, a city appraisal fee, fees for any foreign permits, bank-trust setup and administration fee, escrow fee, and notary fees. Gnarly, right?
Now, when it comes to the seller, they gotta be up on their game too. They gotta pay the capital gains tax, and they better be all caught up on their trust bank fees, property taxes, and any other payments and fees related to the property.
So, when it's all said and done, it's not just the buyer who's gotta bring the cash, ya know?
-
If you're buying or selling property in Mexico, you gotta know that the closing process can take some time, ya know? Let’s put it this way…you can eat a gnarly amount of tacos and catch a ton of waves in the time it takes to close on your new surf camp.
Generally, it takes around 60 days or less, but if there are some gnarly factors involved, it can take a year or more, bro.
But don't worry, you don't gotta be chilling in Mexico the whole time, dude. Your attorney or real estate agent will totally handle everything and keep you up to date on all the new steps in the process.
And if you're really looking to speed things up, it's best to hit up an established realtor, ya know? These dudes have connections with all the federal and state agencies, as well as a bank and a notary public, so they can totally help you secure the trust and close the deal as fast as possible. That's the way to do it, dude!
-
If you're buying property in Mexico, you totally should buy title insurance, ya know? Even though the state doesn't specifically guarantee the title, you can still get title insurance as both a buyer and a lender, dude.
The Mexican title insurance companies are totally legit and are regulated under the Insurance Companies Law. Most of their clients are U.S. companies and their Mexican subsidiaries. So, make sure to get that title insurance, dude, and keep your investment safe!
-
Hey, bro! Mortgages may not be as common in Mexico as they are in the States, but financing is still totally possible for many properties, especially new developments, ya know?
Whether you're paying in cash or getting financing from a Mexican bank or international company, it's always a good idea to use an independent escrow company to handle your finances and communications with the closing agent. That way, everything stays super organized and secure, ya know?
If you need financing, you can totally look into international loans, dude. You could get up to 60 percent of the property value and the interest rates start as low as 7 percent. That's so gnarly, bro!
It's a killer way to get some Cabo property without droppin' a ton of cash up front.
-
Bro, we TOTALLY recommend that you get a home inspection before you buy your dream property, just like you would if you were buying in the US of A or The Rad White North
You don't want to end up with gnarly structural problems, toxic materials, or a plumbing and electrical nightmare that'll cost you a fortune in the future, dude. It's better to be safe than sorry, bro.
-
Dude, just like the rest of North America, if you wanna catch some sweet waves in Cerritos Beach, the BEST way is to hire a local real estate agent who knows the ins and outs of buying property in Mexico.
You need someone who totally gets the local market and can guide you through the whole process without a wipeout.
But I will say this, if you're gonna hang out in the area for a bit, it is possible to cruise around the dirt roads and keep an eye out for those Se Vende (For Sale) signs. You can hit up the owners or sales agent directly.
If you go this route, make sure you have your own Real Estate attorney to cover your back in the buying process, dude.
-
No way bro! You don't need to hook up with a real estate agent to score some sweet property in Cerritos Beach.
But if you're new to the area or don't have the hookups, it's good to find a solid agent who knows the local scene and can help you get connected with a reputable attorney and notario público to take care of everything for you.
They can also hook you up with their own connections and make sure the whole process goes down like a smooth wave, bro.