ILN: BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE - AN INTERNATIONAL GUIDE

[BUYING AND SELLING REAL ESTATE IN MEXICO] 171

to comply, among others, with the following requirements: (i) to be executed pursuant to Mexican laws and with a Mexican trustee. (ii) to have as its main purpose the acquisition or construction of real estate in Mexico that may be destined for lease, or the right to obtain income from the real estate.

way can it be a vehicle that can be settled by a foreigner to invest, use and enjoy real estate property in Mexico. Preparatory, Promissory and Purchase Agreements

IV.

Once the buyer has decided in what capacity she/he will acquire title over the real estate, whether directly or through a Mexican Corporation or through a Mexican trust, the transfer of ownership will take place through the execution of a definitive agreement. It is customary and sometimes recommended, before closing of the definitive agreement, to undertake a thorough due diligence and seek proper legal advice before engaging in any transaction. The following are the agreements typically used to formalize the real estate property acquisition in Mexico: (a) Preparatory, Promissory Agreement ( contrato de promesa ) A promissory purchase agreement is a very common way to agree with a seller about the acquisition of a real estate property, without executing at that point the final purchase agreement itself. Through a promissory purchase agreement both parties reciprocally agree or promise, one to sell and the other to purchase real estate property at a stated price, as well as to enter into a definitive purchase agreement within a certain period of time, having agreed upon the essential terms thereof. This type of agreement is different from a “letter of intent” since, under Mexican law, a promissory agreement is binding on its parties and may be judicially enforced, in order to oblige the promisors to execute the final agreement. Meanwhile, a letter of intent is largely used merely to express a

(iii)

that the real estate built or acquired by the FIBRA be destined to lease (or equivalent) and not be sold within a period of 4 years following the date the construction of the real estate was completed or as of the date of the acquisition of the real estate, as applicable. that the trustee of the FIBRA issues trust certificates to represent the assets allocated in the FIBRA so that such certificates may be placed through a public offering in the Mexican Stock Exchange and registered before the National Securities and Intermediaries Registry ( Registro Nacional de Valores ); and that the trustee of the FIBRA distributes to the holders of the relevant trust certificates issued through the public offer, at least once a year and no later than March 15th of each year, at least ninety- five percent (95%) of the total taxable income accrued during the immediately preceding fiscal year. Please be aware that a FIBRA is a way for investors to invest in securities in a stock market of a special vehicle trust backed by leased real estate property but in no

(iv)

(v)

ILN Real Estate Group – Buying and Selling Real Estate Series

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