Buying Guide · For US & Canadian Buyers

Buying in Puerto Vallarta as a foreigner

Yes, you can own it. Americans and Canadians have been doing exactly that for fifty years. Here is how the fideicomiso works, what it costs, and how your money stays protected — answered plainly, before you ever get on a call.

0+ yrs
Of foreign ownership in PV
0K+
US & Canadian expats in the region
$0K
Reservation — fully refundable
~$0/yr
Estimated property tax

How foreigners own here

Mexico's constitution restricts direct foreign title within 50 km of the coast — so in 1973, Mexico created the fideicomiso: a renewable bank trust designed specifically so foreigners could own coastal property with full rights. It has been the standard route ever since.

Here's what it means in practice:

  • A major Mexican bank holds title on your behalf, as trustee
  • You are the sole beneficiary with full ownership rights
  • Sell, rent, renovate, bequeath — freely, at any time
  • 50-year initial term, renewable indefinitely

More Americans own Mexican coastal property through fideicomisos than own timeshares in Hawaii. This isn't exotic. It's established.

What it costs

The numbers are smaller than most buyers expect:

  • Fideicomiso setup: $2,000–$3,500 USD, one time
  • Annual bank fee: $500–$1,000 USD
  • Property tax (predial): roughly $500 USD/yr on an Avanti residence — compare that to $6,000–$15,000 in Florida

At Avanti, purchase documents are reviewed by a US attorney as part of the standard process, and the condo regime is legally registered. See the full cost comparison →

Bottom line: the legal path is fifty years old, bank-administered, and routine. The question isn't whether foreigners can own here — it's which residence you want.

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Pre-Construction · Built-In Safeguards

Your money,
protected at every step

Pre-construction deserves scrutiny — buyers are right to ask who's behind a project and how the deal is structured. At Avanti, the answers are structural, not promises.

Meet the Developer
Six Steps, Hand Held
  • 01

    Reserve — fully refundable

    $10,000 holds your unit. Change your mind, get it back.

  • 02

    Legal review by a US attorney

    Purchase documents reviewed before you sign anything binding.

  • 03

    Due diligence

    Registered condo regime, verified construction licenses — on the table, in writing.

  • 04

    Sign the agreement

    Terms set, unit locked, fideicomiso process begins with a major bank.

  • 05

    Pay on your plan's schedule

    Staged payments tied to verified construction milestones. Final 10% due only at delivery.

  • 06

    Keys

    Your home, your trust, your name as beneficiary. First units June 2027.

For Canadian Buyers · Snowbirds

Winter is optional

Roughly one in ten Avanti buyers is Canadian — and a growing wave of snowbirds is choosing Pacific Mexico over Florida. Same trust structure, same full ownership rights, considerably better January.

The snowbird math

Canadian visitors can typically stay in Mexico up to 180 days per entry on a standard visitor permit — granted at the border, no residency paperwork required. That's a full November-to-April season in a place where winter highs average around 28°C.

You buy under exactly the same fideicomiso as American buyers: full rights to sell, rent, renovate, and pass the property on. Property taxes of roughly $500 USD a year and insurance a fraction of what hurricane-zone Florida charges — the carrying-cost story Canadians know too well from the Gulf Coast simply isn't the story here.

And when you fly home in spring, the 7-night-minimum rental program can put the residence to work until you're back.

Getting here, nonstop

Direct flights connect Puerto Vallarta with Canada's three biggest gateways:

  • Vancouver — about 4h 50m nonstop
  • Calgary — about 4h 25m nonstop
  • Toronto — about 5h 15m nonstop

The airport is a ten-minute drive from Avanti's front door. Land mid-morning, lunch on the marina boardwalk, golf by three.

You'd be joining a community, not pioneering one: the region's 100,000+ North American expats include one of the largest Canadian snowbird populations on the Pacific.

Bottom line: everything on this page applies to Canadians, dollar for dollar — and the season you escape is the one that matters most.

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Straight Answers

Every question buyers actually ask

The same questions come up on nearly every call. Here they are, answered the same way we answer them on the phone.

Can foreigners legally own property in Puerto Vallarta?

Yes. Americans and Canadians have legally owned coastal Mexican property for over 50 years through a fideicomiso — a renewable bank trust. A Mexican bank holds the title on your behalf while you, as the sole beneficiary, keep full ownership rights: sell, rent, renovate, and bequeath freely. The initial term is 50 years and it renews indefinitely.

What is a fideicomiso and what does it cost?

It's the bank trust required for foreign buyers within Mexico's coastal restricted zone. Setup typically runs $2,000–$3,500 USD one time, plus an annual bank fee of $500–$1,000 USD. More Americans own Mexican coastal property through fideicomisos than own timeshares in Hawaii — it's a routine structure, administered by major banks.

Is Puerto Vallarta safe?

Puerto Vallarta is one of Mexico's most established international destinations — not a frontier. More than 100,000 American and Canadian expats live in the region, it welcomed 1.8M+ international visitors in 2024, and foreigners have owned property here for half a century. Healthcare is world-class, with US-trained physicians and modern hospitals minutes away.

Avanti sits in Marina Vallarta, a master-planned resort enclave with 24/7 security in the building, ten minutes from the international airport.

Can Canadians buy too?

Yes — under exactly the same structure, and they already do: roughly 10% of Avanti buyers are Canadian. Canadians can typically stay up to 180 days per entry on a visitor permit, and Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto all have direct flights. See the Canadian buyer section above →

Can I rent my condo out on Airbnb?

Yes. Short-term rentals are permitted at Avanti with a 7-night minimum stay, and on-site rental management is available. Through the Turn Key delivery option your residence can arrive furnished and rental-ready from day one — the interiors team behind it has 45+ Airbnb-focused executions. See delivery options →

Is buying pre-construction safe?

It's only as safe as the developer and the deal structure — so judge both. At Avanti the safeguards are structural: a fully refundable $10,000 reservation, staged payments tied to verified construction milestones, final payment due only at delivery, a legally registered condo regime, and verified construction licenses.

The lead developer, Inmobiliaria Goytia, has operated since 2001 with 10+ major developments delivered in Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta. Meet the team →

How are payments structured?

Reserve with a fully refundable $10,000, then pick the plan that fits: the most popular is 30% down, 60% in monthly payments during construction, 10% at delivery. Larger down payments earn pre-construction discounts of 5%–10%, and financing options are available. Most buyers choose the structure that matches their comfort, not the maximum discount.

What taxes will I pay as an owner?

Annual property tax (predial) on an Avanti residence is estimated around $500 USD per year — roughly a tenth of comparable US property taxes. If you rent the unit, rental income is taxable, and cross-border treatment depends on your home country. Talk to a qualified cross-border tax advisor before you buy; we can point you to ones our buyers use.

This guide is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. Costs shown are typical ranges or developer estimates and subject to change. Always consult qualified legal and tax professionals, including advisors licensed in Mexico, before purchasing. See the full disclaimer.

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