How to buy a home in Tampico, Madero or Altamira, step by step

01Before searching: your real budget

The price of the house isn't all you'll pay. Add the closing costs, the move and the repairs almost every resale home needs. If you're financing, also count the down payment and loan fees.

If you're not paying cash, get pre-approved before you search. You'll know how much you can borrow and on what terms. The most common routes are:

• Infonavit, the housing fund for private-sector employees in Mexico.
• Fovissste, the equivalent for government employees.
• Bank mortgages, whose rates and terms are worth comparing across banks.
• Cash, which is common among foreign buyers and simplifies the timeline.

02Inspect the property, not just the facade

A house looks different on the second visit. Go in daylight, take your time, and check what usually causes trouble in this area:

• Damp and saltpeter on walls and foundations: the humid coastal climate speeds them up.
• Roof and waterproofing: ask when it was last redone and look for stains on ceilings.
• Electrical system: panels, outlets and whether the service matches the home's load.
• Plumbing and water: pressure, cistern or rooftop tank, and drains that don't back up.
• Flooding: ask whether the street floods in heavy rain. Some low-lying neighborhoods flood during the rainy season.

03Check the paperwork before paying anything

This step saves the most money. Before any deposit, confirm that:

• The house has a deed recorded in the Public Property Registry (in Tamaulipas it is run by the state Registry and Cadastre Institute).
• The seller is the registered owner or holds a sufficient power of attorney. If married under joint property, the spouse usually signs too.
• Property tax (predial) and water are paid up.
• There is no mortgage, lien or attachment — or, if there is, the contract says how it will be released. The notary confirms this with a lien-free certificate.
• The measurements and location in the deed match what you're seeing.
• If it's a condominium, you know the rules and the maintenance fees.

04Hold deposit and promissory agreement

Once you decide, a small hold deposit usually takes the house off the market for a few days while documents are checked. Then the parties sign a promissory purchase agreement (contrato de promesa de compraventa) that sets the price, payment terms, the signing date before the notary, who pays which costs and the penalties if either side backs out.

05Appraisal and financing

The appraisal is done by an authorized appraiser. With a mortgage, the lender orders it, because the loan amount depends on that value. If it comes in below the agreed price, the loan covers less: you make up the difference or the price is renegotiated.

06The signing before a notary

In Mexico, a property sale is formalized in a public deed before a notary (notario público) — a senior lawyer appointed by the state, not just a witness to signatures. The notary reviews the property's history, calculates and withholds the applicable taxes and files the deed with the Public Registry.

07What closing costs include

We don't quote a fixed percentage because it varies with the value, the municipality and the notary. Ask the notary for a written estimate before signing the promissory agreement.

08The handover

• Walk through the house with the seller and sign an inventory of what stays (windows, water heater, air conditioning, kitchen).
• Receive keys, remotes and paid-up bills as of the handover date.
• Transfer property tax, water and electricity accounts to your name.