PRI Deputies Propose to Allow Foreigners to Own Coastal Property Mexidata.info
go to original April 14, 2013

Representatives of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in the the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress, are proposing a constitutional reform that would allow foreigners to own property along the country's coasts, which has been banned based on the argument that this protects national territory.*

The coordinator of the PRI deputies, Manlio Fabio Beltrones, said the constitutional reform will end feigning, subterfuges and even acts of name lending (prestanombres) used by citizens of other countries in order to acquire a beach area residence.

Beltrones said that the goal is to amend Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution in order to give [foreigners] legal certainty, insofar as it is an evident and known fact that foreigners legally purchase properties through trusts [fideicomisos] or corporations/partnerships because they cannot own them as individuals.

The Sonoran politician said that the reform would only allow the acquisition of properties for family use.

This would encourage investment, he said, and municipalities would benefit additionally from the collection of property taxes.

Beltrones said that currently a foreigner can buy a residence in Puebla, in central Mexico, or next to the National Palace, but he/she cannot own an apartment at beaches such as those in Huatulco, Veracruz, Sinaloa or Guerrero.

"This just seeks to legalize what [is now being] done, insofar as it is obvious [and] because we must not close our eyes. Not effecting this reform is to legitimize a means, through trusts or corporations, that does not give legal certainty," Beltrones explained at a press conference.

* MEXIDATA.INFO NOTE: Article 27 of the Mexican Constitution, in the concluding sentence under point I, states: "In a zone of 100 kilometers [inland] the length of the [nation's] borders, and 50 kilometers on the coasts, under no circumstances may foreigners acquire direct control/ownership of lands or waters."

The proposed amendment thereon, as just submitted in the Chamber of Deputies, reads: "In a zone of 100 kilometers [inland] the length of the [nation's] borders, and 50 kilometers on the coasts, under no circumstances may foreigners acquire direct control/ownership of waters. In the case of lands, they may be acquired when they are exclusively for non-commercial residency use."

This latest initiative is cosponsored by deputies of the PRI and PAN (National Action Party), including Manlio Fabio Beltrones (who has long been a highly important player and influence in Mexican politics and The System). For both reasons, it would seem to up-the-odds that this decree, and constitutional reform, could be ratified.

Terra Networks México, Apr. 4, 2013; edited translation by MexiData.info

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