What to check before you buy a house
- Clean title in the public registry, with no liens, and a survey that matches the boundaries on the ground.
- Construction permits and the certificate of completion for the house and any later additions.
- Water: city supply, storage tanks and pressure, especially on hillsides and outside the city.
- Road access in the rainy season, slopes and retaining walls.
- A full inspection of the roof, waterproofing, electrical system and anything exposed to salt air.
Gated community or private street?
Gated communities in Marina Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta and the Punta Mita area add security, shared amenities and rules, paid for through HOA fees. Homes on public streets, common in the hills and in the beach towns, give you more freedom and often more character, but you manage security and maintenance yourself.
Running a home from abroad
If you live in the US or Canada part of the year, plan for someone to look after the house: a property manager, a housekeeper or a gardener, and a person you trust to deal with repairs. I can introduce you to the people my clients use.
