Buying a new build (off-plan)
How payment plans work and what to check about the developer.
How it works
You reserve a unit from plans or during construction and pay in stages. Prices are usually lower than for a finished home, and you can sometimes choose the finishes. The risk is that delivery takes longer than planned, so read what the contract says about delays.
What to check
- Earlier projects of the developer: were they delivered on time and as promised?
- The construction permits and the title of the land.
- Whether payments go into a trust (fideicomiso, Law 189-11), which protects your money.
- What is included: kitchen, air conditioning, finishes, parking, storage.
- Whether the project has CONFOTUR approval if it is in a tourism area.
Images and reality
Many photos of new builds are artist impressions. Casariba marks them, so you can see which images are real photos and which are drawings.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and amounts can change; always have your own lawyer check your purchase. Most prices are in US dollars; amounts in other currencies are indicative and depend on the exchange rate on the day you pay.