FEUDO Group
Market Pulse|400+signals·48%PDC·Intel →

FAQ

THE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ASKING.
ANSWERED DIRECTLY.

STARTING WITH THE ONES MOST AGENTS HOPE YOU DON'T.

BEFORE YOU TRUST US

Fair question — it's the one most agents hope you don't ask. FEUDO earns a commission from the developer's commercial structure, which is standard in Mexico. What's not standard is that our filter runs first: we evaluate every project on legal, financial, and structural grounds before any commercial relationship exists. We only engage commercially with developments that already passed that filter. The agreement is formalized per NOM 247. Ask every agent you talk to: 'Have you ever declined to represent a project that didn't pass your due diligence — not just because it wasn't worth a commission?' If they pause, that's your data point.

INVERSTARTER SAPI DE CV, constituted under Mexican law. You'll find it in our privacy notice. If you're putting serious capital into Mexican real estate, the most basic step is verifying the legal name against the public commercial registry. We encourage you to do it.

Yes — but not as in-house brokers. We have commercial participation agreements with select developments that have already passed our filter, including Cocay Tulum and Soul Tulum, among others. That participation is temporary and tied to our commercial alignment model: if a project stops meeting our criteria, we stop representing it. We can and do identify off-market options outside any commercial agreement. Ask any agent: 'Are there projects you can't recommend because you earn nothing from them?'

83 operations since 2021. From a working sample of 1,000+ evaluated options across Quintana Roo — in a market of approximately 30,000 active listings — we typically surface between 3 and 15 real options per client profile after filtering. In Tulum alone, that means going through roughly 300 projects and around 12,000–14,000 units to find what actually fits a given buyer's criteria, budget, and legal structure.

In consultation — yes. We don't publish individual rejections by name because those developers haven't been legally adjudicated, and that's not our role. What we can share: the three most common rejection triggers in our filter are (1) unclear title chain or ownership structure, (2) environmental permit that doesn't match the construction scope, and (3) financial solvency signals that don't support the stated delivery timeline. We walk through actual cases in the first consultation. Ask any agent you've spoken with: 'What was the last project you declined to represent, and why?' No answer is also an answer.

MARKET REALITY 2026

The market is not dead — it's correcting. Industry estimates point to 3–4 years of oversupply. Demand has dropped significantly since 2024, and prices are flat or slightly declining in some segments. That's not a collapse. That's a buyer's market. Anyone who says 'Tulum is done' is reading at the same resolution as anyone who said 'Tulum is the next Cancún' in 2021. The question is never whether Tulum is good or bad as a whole. It's which units, in which microzones, under which legal structure, make sense for your specific profile — and how many of those survive filtering.

No — not without a full audit. RETUR-Q (Registro Estatal de Turistas de Quintana Roo) became mandatory in 2026. Operating a rental property without it is illegal and exposes you to fines up to MXN $100,000. Beyond regulation: there are now thousands of comparable units competing for the same guests in Tulum, putting real pressure on occupancy rates. If your investment model was built on a developer's projected occupancy from 2022, that number no longer holds. We run scenario models that include operating costs, RETUR-Q compliance burden, and realistic competitive occupancy — not the developer's projections.

It's real, and it varies significantly by microzone and developer profile. The security situation in Quintana Roo affects some areas and operating structures more than others. Our filter includes an assessment of each developer's operational track record and the specific geographic location involved. Of the approximately 300 active projects in Tulum, those with the highest operational risk exposure tend to share identifiable patterns — irregular commercial practices, inconsistent delivery history, or compliance gaps. We don't name individual developments publicly, but we discuss them directly in consultation.

That question misframes the decision. We don't time the market — we evaluate specific opportunities against specific buyer profiles. What is true in 2026: buyers have more negotiating leverage than at any point since 2021. Oversupply is real, some developers need sales, and there are legitimate opportunities that weren't accessible before. That creates conditions for a disciplined buyer — not a blanket opportunity for anyone. If you don't have clear criteria yet, that's where we start.

Both are legitimate options and the comparison deserves an honest answer. Mexico is stronger when: entry price for comparable square footage in premium locations is lower, developer financing doesn't require Mexican credit history, and dollarized pricing protects USD buyers from peso exposure. Mexico is weaker when: peso mortgage rates run 8–11% (vs 5–7% on USD credit), closing costs add 6–10% to your purchase price, and legal protections for buyers in disputes are less transparent. The decision depends on your capital structure, intended use, and willingness to navigate the process. We walk through both scenarios in the first consultation.

Closing costs in Mexico typically add 6–10% to the purchase price. Main components: ISAI (property acquisition tax) at roughly 3–4% of the declared value, notary fees at 1–2%, fideicomiso setup for foreigners in the restricted zone (approximately USD $1,500–2,500 setup plus USD $500–800 in annual fees), and legal representation. Some developer financing programs absorb part of these costs — always read the fine print. We build a total-cost model for every transaction before you commit.

HOW WE WORK

The logic is backwards from what most buyers expect. Instead of starting from what you want — which is genuinely hard to define when you've never bought in this market — we start from what you cannot tolerate. Unacceptable legal risk. Developer profiles you'd walk away from immediately. Zones that don't fit your actual use case. Price floors and ceilings that make certain structures irrelevant. You may not know exactly what you want, but you almost always know what you'll say no to. The filter builds from that. What survives the elimination is your real shortlist — and it's usually much shorter than you expected.

A 10-minute call to see if there's a real fit. If there is, we move. If not — no follow-ups, no hard feelings, no funnel.

By interest, readiness, and mindset. We don't work with tire kickers — not because we judge curiosity, but because our process only delivers value when both sides are committed. Someone who arrives to 'see what's out there' without a budget, timeline, or objective won't get far in the process, and that's by design. The people who get the most from FEUDO arrive knowing what they cannot tolerate, even if they don't yet know exactly what they want.

Yes — but not the way most buyers expect. A property tour in this market means active construction sites, Quintana Roo humidity and heat, concrete floors, no air conditioning, potentially three or four properties in a day. It is not comfortable. We do everything we can to make it efficient — but it requires advance commitment, a confirmed profile, and a qualified decision framework before we schedule anything. We don't do casual walk-throughs for people who haven't been through our process. If you want to 'just see a few things,' that's not how we work. If you're ready to evaluate specific options for a real decision, we'll make it worth your time.

Our market is not primary housing. We work with buyers deploying discretionary capital — investment, lifestyle, or second-home purposes with a clear financial objective. If you're buying your first and only home because you need somewhere to live, this is probably not the right conversation. If you're allocating a portion of your capital to a real asset in one of the most active tourism markets in Latin America and want someone who will pressure-test that decision with you — it might be.

Because a diplomatic voice doesn't help you when a developer is six months late on delivery or a contract clause is working against your interests. Our clients hire us to advocate for them — not to manage relationships and keep everyone comfortable. That means you'll hear things clearly, even when they're not what you hoped for. Our tone reflects our commitment to your outcome, not a personality style.

No. We build your criteria, then we find what matches. The difference matters: an agent who sells properties earns more from volume. An advisor who filters for you earns more from accuracy.

We're a buyer-rep firm — our mandate sits permanently with the buyer, not the seller. We don't list properties or represent sellers. If your property meets our criteria and a client's profile, it may surface through our off-market network. But representation stays with the buyer.

A few things that aren't common in this market: the filter runs before any commercial relationship exists — we don't recommend what we haven't screened first. We speak directly, because a soft voice doesn't help you negotiate against a developer. And we're building technology for the buyer — not for agents or developers, which is where almost all real estate tech investment in Mexico is concentrated. Most platforms optimize for lead capture. We optimize for buyer clarity. Coming soon: visitor and resident guides for property owners and their renters — hospitals, services, delivery, local resources.

No. We work across Quintana Roo and have professional network coverage across Mexico. We go where the data supports a recommendation.

Yes, if they're serious. A first-time investor can still have a clear objective. We help you build criteria before you build a portfolio.

That's the starting point. We don't move anyone toward a decision they're not ready for. Education is part of the process — not a sales funnel in disguise.

LEGAL & STRUCTURE

Yes. In the restricted zone (50km from the coast and 100km from a border), foreigners buy through a fideicomiso (bank trust) or a Mexican entity. Outside the restricted zone, foreigners can hold title directly. It's not complicated — but it must be structured correctly from the start.

A bank trust that holds title to your property on your behalf. The bank is the legal titleholder; you are the beneficiary with full rights to use, rent, sell, or transfer. Setup cost: approximately USD $1,500–2,500. Annual fee: approximately USD $500–800. It's standard practice, not a workaround.

Depends on your structure. For investors with multiple properties or rental income, a Mexican entity (SAPI, SA de CV) can offer fiscal efficiency. For individual buyers with a single property, a fideicomiso is usually simpler. We help you evaluate which structure fits your specific volume and tax situation.

Don't buy from influencer-backed launches, random WhatsApp groups, or anyone who creates urgency before they explain the legal structure. We verify: title deed chain, urban development license, environmental permits, developer financial solvency, and compliance record — before any recommendation goes forward.

Some, yes. Many, no. We only work commercially with developers who have a demonstrated delivery track record, environmental compliance, and financial solvency signals that support completion. The market has had real failures, and some current projects carry construction delays driven by insufficient sales and a damaged market reputation. We're transparent about that.

Start with: (1) Confirm the título de propiedad covers the land the development sits on — verifiable at the Registro Público de la Propiedad. (2) Confirm the developer holds a Licencia de Construcción, not just a project presentation. (3) Ask for the MIA (Manifestación de Impacto Ambiental) if environmental credentials are claimed. (4) Request references from a completed prior project and visit it. If the developer hesitates on any of these, you have your answer.

From reservation to deed: 2 to 6 months depending on the project and legal structure. Developer financing transactions tend to close faster. Fideicomiso setup with a bank adds time. We map every step before you commit so there are no surprises.

Depends entirely on what you're buying. Developments with valid environmental permits, correct zoning classifications, and an MIA on file are defensible. Developments that greenwash — bamboo shower, solar panels, 'eco-friendly' marketing with no environmental permit — are another story. We read the documentation, not the render.

Yes. Operations we structure operate within the PROFECO framework — Mexico's Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor, the federal consumer protection agency for real estate transactions. A PROFECO-registered contract means buyers have recourse through an independent federal agency, not just through the private parties to the transaction. It creates accountability that a standard private contract alone doesn't. Ask any developer or agent you're evaluating: 'Is this contract registered with PROFECO?' If they don't know what that means, you know where you stand.

Yes, and it's documented. There is psychological evidence that non-native speakers are more susceptible to high-pressure sales tactics, contractual imbalances, and outright fraud — specifically because they can't process what they're being told or signing at the speed of a real estate conversation. In a market where the agent controls all information flow and documentation is in Spanish, a language barrier isn't just an inconvenience. It's a structural vulnerability. We work with international buyers with this in mind: every contract we review, we explain. Every clause we flag, we explain why. If you're not sure what you signed, we treat that as urgent.

FINANCING

Yes, through three channels: Mexican bank mortgages (require Mexican credit history and RFC — complex for recent arrivals), developer financing (most common for pre-construction; doesn't require Mexican credit, structured over the construction period), and international lenders with Mexico exposure (limited options). Most foreign buyers at the pre-construction stage use developer financing.

For peso-denominated mortgages: 8–11% annually depending on the bank and your profile. That's significantly higher than US rates. If you have strong USD credit, it's often more efficient to leverage a US credit line and purchase cash in Mexico than to finance through a Mexican bank. We model both scenarios.

Always. It's not about proving you can buy — it's about knowing what kind of move you can actually make. Without that clarity, any recommendation is just a catalog.

Pre-construction entry points in some zones of Quintana Roo start below MXN $3 million. But capital isn't the only variable. We help you understand your leverage, your financing options, and the risk-adjusted entry points that make sense for what you can actually move — not what looks impressive on a brochure.

Next step

READY TO CUT
THROUGH THE NOISE?

You've read the questions. Now let's build your answer. A 10-minute call is enough to know if we're aligned.