Why Renting Is Better Than Buying in Mexico (For Most Expats)

The Real Estate Traps No One Talks About

You’ve seen the YouTube videos, the Instagram influencers sipping margaritas by their private pools, and the real estate agents promising "the deal of a lifetime." Buying property in Mexico is often sold as a foolproof investment—an easy way to secure paradise, build wealth, and maybe even retire early.

But here’s the reality: many expats who buy in Mexico regret it.

No one talks about the bureaucratic, legal, and financial nightmares that often pop up.

It’s not even just foreigners, even locals often face overpriced markets, predatory real estate scams, and legal loopholes that can leave you fighting for years just to keep the property they thought they owned.

This article will talk about why renting is often the smarter choice for most expats.

Here’s what I’ll cover:

• The issues of buying property in Mexico

• How Mexican property laws make buying riskier than you think

• Why the rental market is more favorable to expats

• The cost (and pains) of trying to sell a property in Mexico

• How to mitigate risks if you’re dead set on buying

• When buying might actually make sense