Your Complete Guide to Selling a Home in the Bahía de Banderas

Selling property in Mexico involves its own process, timeline, and costs — and having the right guidance makes all the difference. Here’s exactly what to expect when you sell your home with Steve Szabo, from pricing strategy to closing day.

SELLING A HOME

AGENCY: When you’re thinking of selling a home, having a great real estate brokerage leading, guiding and protecting, makes all the difference – not only financially but also emotionally. When you buy or sell a home, you’re taking a huge financial step. Hiring a broker that is at the top of their industry means the best price and protection for you.

PRICE: Coming up with the right price for your home will be based on what similar homes are selling for in your neighborhood. It’s a figure that you and the future buyer agree accurately reflects the home’s value. We will help you evaluate the market so you can look at recent sales for comparable nearby homes to get an idea of your property’s market value. We have access to a database of recent “comparables” with this information and can give you an estimate of a reasonable price. We will also tell you how long these homes were on the market, and whether sellers had to reduce their initial prices in order to sell.

PREPARING YOUR HOME: The better your home is prepared for going on the market, the faster it will sell. We will make recommendations based on our first walkthrough, and what we believe will increase your home’s appeal.

MARKETING PLAN: We will create and present a marketing plan that details the steps we will take to find the buyer for your home.

SHOWING YOUR HOME: Once your home has been launched for sale on MLS, you will need to be prepared for viewings. We will give you as much notice as possible, and also give you tips on how to make sure your home is ‘show ready’.

OFFER TO PURCHASE: Once we have an interested buyer, an “Offer to Purchase” will be drafted and shared with you. The Offer contains all of the information in both Spanish and English. Spanish is the legal language, English is a courtesy translation. We will walk you through this clause by clause.

INSPECTION AND DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD: We always recommend that a buyer conducts an inspection of the home. In the Offer, a period of time is given for ‘due diligence’ that includes inspection, time to review report, review of documents etc. The seller provides a list of inclusions and exclusions of the home, as part of the due diligence.

NEGOTIATION: Negotiating is an important aspect of what we do for you the seller, to get a price for your home that you are happy with, and getting a price for the buyer that they can pay.

CLOSING: Once the inspection report is approved by the buyer and any due diligence is complete, an escrow account will be opened by the buyer and the 10% deposit will be sent to the escrow account. In the time leading up to the closing, there will be communication with seller, buyer, agents, escrow company, lawyers and notary. Timely responses are important.
We work with all to make this as smooth as possible, for a successful closing on your property.

SELLERS COST

These are the costs that are paid by the seller in every real estate transaction in Mexico. On average, they total 6.5% of the total sales price, and typically include:

Trust Bank Cancellation Fee
Trust Bank Annual Payment
Notification, RNIE Cancelation of Trust
Employee Liquidation
Real Estate Fee
IVA on Real Estate Fee
Capital Gains Tax
Prorations of Services

The Selling Process, Step by Step

01

Agency & Pricing

We evaluate the market and comparable sales to set the right price for your home.

02

Prepare & List

Your home is prepared, photographed, and launched for sale on MLS.

03

Marketing & Showings

A marketing plan is executed and your home is shown to qualified buyers.

04

Offer & Negotiation

An Offer to Purchase is drafted and negotiated on your behalf.

05

Due Diligence

The buyer completes inspection and due diligence within the agreed period.

06

Closing

Escrow is opened, documents are finalized, and your sale closes successfully.

Contact Steve Szabo & let him Guide you to Sale Your Home!

Selling Your Home: FAQs

Timelines vary by price point and location, but most well-priced homes in the Bahía de Banderas sell within a few months of listing. Steve Szabo can give you a realistic estimate based on comparable sales in your neighborhood.

Seller’s costs in Mexico average 6.5% of the total sales price, covering items like the trust bank cancellation fee, real estate commission, IVA, capital gains tax, and prorations of services.

Yes, capital gains tax generally applies to property sales in Mexico, though the exact amount depends on factors like your residency status, how long you’ve owned the property, and available exemptions. A notario público calculates the final amount at closing.

The Offer to Purchase outlines the agreed price, deposit, due diligence period, and closing terms. It’s provided in both Spanish, the legal language, and English as a courtesy translation, and Steve Szabo walks you through it clause by clause.

Once an offer is accepted, the buyer is given a set period to complete an inspection, review documents, and confirm the details of the sale. As the seller, you’ll provide a list of inclusions and exclusions as part of this process.

Not necessarily. Much of the selling process, including offer review, communication, and document signing, can be coordinated remotely with your agent, escrow company, and notario público.

Once the inspection is approved and due diligence is complete, the buyer’s deposit moves into escrow. In the lead-up to closing, your agent coordinates with the buyer, escrow company, lawyers, and notary to finalize the sale smoothly.
Sayulita Realtor