7 Pre-Construction Contract Clauses You Must Review in Mexico | Episode 17

A "standard contract" is not the same as a balanced or risk-free one. Foreign buyers purchasing pre-construction real estate in Mexico often receive a polished brochure and a confident sales presentation, but what the contract actually says about your property, your money, and your rights is what matters. In Episode 17 of *The Foreign Buyer's Guide to Mexico*, Nancy Valiente, real estate advisor, attorney, and economist, walks through seven critical areas every buyer should review before signing. The seven areas Nancy covers: **1. The property and everything included.** What exactly are you buying? Finishes, fixtures, common areas, parking, if it isn't in the contract, it isn't a commitment. **2. Price, currency, and payment schedule.** Is the price in pesos or dollars? When are payments due, and what triggers them? **3. Delivery date and permitted extensions.** Developers routinely build extension clauses into contracts. Know how many, and under what conditions. **4. Changes to the project.** Can the developer alter floor plans, materials, or amenities after you've signed? This clause defines the answer. **5. Default, penalties, and remedies.** What happens if the developer defaults, and what happens if you do? These terms are rarely symmetric. **6. Assignment, resale, and use restrictions.** Can you sell or rent the unit before closing? Some contracts restrict this entirely. **7. Delivery, inspection, warranties, and closing.** What rights do you have at handover, and what warranty protections follow? Nancy also introduces a practical green-yellow-red method for organizing your contract review, a straightforward way to flag what's acceptable, what needs clarification, and what must be resolved before you commit. The episode closes with an important reminder: verbal promises and sales presentations carry no legal weight. If it isn't written into the contract or a properly incorporated attachment, it doesn't exist as an obligation. This episode is part of a continuing series for home buyers considering real estate in Puerto Vallarta, Bahía de Banderas, and beyond. The next episode covers what happens between signing and receiving legal title. If you're reviewing a pre-construction contract and want guidance on the legal, financial, and practical risks involved, reach out to Nancy before you sign.