Buying a pre-construction property means choosing a home before it is delivered. To make an informed decision, review the development, payments, documentation and agreed dates, as well as the price and renderings.
This guide brings together the essential points for comparing developments in Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas and knowing what to ask before reserving a unit.
What does buying pre-construction mean?
It means buying a property while the development is being planned, built or prepared for delivery. Your decision may be based on floor plans, specifications, sales information and a contract setting out each party’s commitments.
A single development may have towers or phases with different schedules. Always ask about the specific unit: what has been built, what remains to be completed and when delivery is expected.
Benefits and risks to understand
Certain pre-construction phases may offer more choices of layout, floor or orientation, along with different payment plans or purchase terms. Buying earlier does not guarantee the best price or future appreciation.
- Schedule: construction and delivery may be delayed.
- Features: compare renderings against the agreed plans and specifications.
- Money: you will need to make the payments and settle the balance on the agreed dates.
- Cancellation: refunds and penalties depend on the contract and applicable rules.
Budget and payment plans
The down payment is not the total cost. Before choosing, calculate what you can pay initially, which payments fall due during construction and how you will settle the balance.
Example: a $3,000,000 MXN property
Two possible ways to divide the same price.
- Initial payment (10%)
- $300,000
- Balance (90%)
- $2,700,000
- Initial payment (30%)
- $900,000
- Balance (70%)
- $2,100,000
Illustrative example, excluding additional costs. Schedules, discounts, reservation deposits and payment terms depend on each development and contract.
If a reservation deposit is requested, ask whether it is credited toward the price, when it is due and under which conditions it can be refunded. For example, a $50,000 deposit credited toward a $300,000 initial payment would leave $250,000 to pay, but reservation deposits do not all work the same way.
Also consider taxes, title transfer, notarial fees, financing costs and any other applicable expenses. If you need a mortgage to pay the balance, check its feasibility early: prequalification does not guarantee final approval.
Documents and contract: what to verify
Identify the seller’s legal name and request information about ownership and the legal status of the land, the relevant permits, architectural plans and your unit’s specifications. NOM-247-SE-2021 sets out sales information requirements for housing transactions within its scope.
Before signing, check that the contract identifies the unit, price and currency, payments, agreed features, delivery, title transfer, warranties and cancellation terms.
How to check Profeco’s register
- Request the seller’s legal name and the contract registration number, where applicable.
- Look up the provider in the Public Register of Adhesion Contracts.
- Compare the registered model with the document and attachments you received.
- Ask about any differences or terms you do not understand before signing.
A registered contract does not, by itself, certify the construction, permits or legal status of the land. For an independent review of the transaction, consult a notary or lawyer experienced in real estate.
If you are buying as a foreign national: special rules may apply in the restricted coastal zone, including a bank trust for residential property. Review your circumstances with a notary and consult the SRE’s official information.
Delivery, floor areas and amenities
Distinguish between construction completion, physical handover and title transfer: they do not necessarily happen on the same day. Ask which dates and consequences of delay are set out in the contract, especially when the development has several phases.
When comparing apartments, check whether the advertised area refers to interior space or total area. A terrace may be included in the total even though it is not interior living space.
Example: an apartment with 90 m² of total area
Illustrative example, not a specific development. Always compare areas defined in the same way.
Confirm which amenities will be ready when you receive your home and which belong to future phases. Also review actual access, nearby services and travel conditions: the distance shown on a map does not always reflect the everyday journey.
How to compare developments clearly
To avoid misleading comparisons, use equivalent criteria: total price, interior area, layout, payment plan, location, construction phase and delivery terms. Always confirm each unit’s current availability and promotions.
At PreventasPVR, we combine development information with personal guidance so you can compare your options using clear criteria.
- Review actual differences between unit types, floor areas and delivery phases.
- Request confirmation of pricing, availability and purchase terms from the developer.
- Guide you through selection and purchase coordination, while preserving the need for independent legal, tax or financial review.
Checklist before reserving
Before making a payment, use this checklist to identify what you still need to confirm:
Your selections are stored only in this browser, where supported; they are not sent to PreventasPVR.
The best pre-construction property is not necessarily the cheapest: it is the one that fits your needs, your budget and terms you can understand and meet. Compare first, confirm current information and request guidance when you need it.
Official references
- NOM-247-SE-2021 · Housing sales information
- Profeco · Public Register of Adhesion Contracts
- SRE · Trusts in the restricted zone
Informational content. It does not replace individual legal, tax or financial advice.
Explore pre-construction developments
Explore property details and compare the features of available developments. Our team can help clarify the sales information.
Explore developments →