Buying property in Mexico remotely: power of attorney and remote closing
Buying remotely, with the right protections
Buyers from the United States and Canada purchase in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit every year without traveling to every signing. The process rests on three pieces: a well-drafted power of attorney, protected deposits and remote document verification.
The power of attorney (carta de poder)
Before a Mexican notary, or at a Mexican consulate in your city, you grant a power specific to this purchase: identification, maximum amount and a defined property. A broad open-ended power is unnecessary and risky: always ask for one scoped to this transaction.
The typical remote process
- Video calls and video walkthroughs of shortlisted properties, including the neighborhood.
- Title and lien verification before any deposit (see the due diligence guide).
- Earnest money held in escrow or trust, never a personal transfer.
- You sign the POA and your attorney-in-fact or the notary completes closing.
- The recorded deed and scanned copies land in your inbox.
What does not get skipped
The appraisal, the no-lien certificate and the HOA-debt check happen remotely too. My role is to put the entire transaction in writing before you move a peso.
Can I buy a house in Puerto Vallarta without traveling there?
Yes: with a power of attorney scoped to the transaction, escrow deposits and remote document verification, your attorney-in-fact or the notary completes closing. The POA is granted before a Mexican notary or at a Mexican consulate in your city.
How do I protect my deposit when buying remotely?
Earnest money goes to a neutral escrow or trust account, never to a seller's or agent's personal account. The contract defines release and refund conditions: review it before wiring.
What is a power of attorney and how much does it cost?
It is the authorization for someone to sign the purchase on your behalf, with limits on amount and the specific property. Granted before a notary or Mexican consulate it typically costs a few hundred dollars: a fraction of an avoided trip.
Real estate advisor in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit since 2014. AMPI Riviera Nayarit member, law degree, bilingual ES/EN.
Reviewed: October 2026 · About me