real estate ownership

Is it required to have an FM3 Visa in order to buy
a house in Mexico?
Can one do this on an FMT and upgrade later?
Thanks,
William

One does not need an FM3 for home ownership. As a matter of fact I know a fellow here who has owned a home for many years and still comes to Mx on a FMT. Unless you plan on being here longer than 6 months a year there is really no advantage. I understand when you sell property you get a tax break if you have an FM3 but I don't know this for sure.

By the way, welcome to Alamos. It's a neat, friendly town. We have lived here 8 years.

Thanks! I am re-assured about the ownership part,
but can you get utilities hook-up on an FM2?
What does it take for electricity, gas, etc.?
William

Originally Posted by Grossflute

Thanks! I am re-assured about the ownership part,
but can you get utilities hook-up on an FM2?
What does it take for electricity, gas, etc.?
William

Re: Utilities - if you are buying a home it will probably have electric service connected. You will need to show proof of ownership and your FMT or FM3 to get the service transferred into your name. More than likely there will be a fee involved.

Telephone service - again, there will probably be phone service to the casa, requiring the same documentation to get the service into your name. Last year we added a new service to a RV parking spot on our property and there was a charge of 1,300 pesos to obtain the new line/new number. Telmex is the phone company for Mexico, they provide Prodigy internet service to Alamos for 189. pesos per month.

As for gas. No natural gas, Alamos uses propane. So that is obtained from a vendor who can be called when gas is needed. Everyone has their own tanks.

Sewer, water - the City is busy installing new meters all over town. Where the service is metered you get charged according to usage. We are on a flat rate, (just increased this month) to 93 pesos. We expect a meter in the near future. Just for your information - Are you aware that Alamos has a long standing water shortage? The Mexicans tell us Alamos has always had a shortage of water.

I am preparing to buy a house myself in Mexico. I believe that there has been a change in the law about being able to buy a house on an FM2. According to the Mexican Consulate web page available from the Houston consulate the requirements state an FM3 is required. It looks like this information comes from the Washihngton DC consulate. This is indeed a change from everything I have read previously, and is of great importance in your planning.

I just checked my source, the Mexican Embassy web page in Houston. I was incorrect and I apologize: You can buy a house on an FM2. What I don't know about is that do you need to apply for an FM2 when you go down to buy the house, or can you do that on a tourist visa. I have been told by a realtor in San Miguel Allende that the current government official will not allow a person applying for the FM3 to leave the country one time while waiting for it to process, and that it takes 4-5 weeks! The realtor said that after you have a contract on the house, you can go home and get the FM3 from your local embassy and return to finish the paperwork. Supposedly it takes a short time in Houston if you have your paperwork in order. I got this information 2-3 weeks ago. It is best to ask lots of people where you are planning to buy. Not everyone interprets the la
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