Cross-border lenders: financing options for international buyers in the Riviera Maya Understanding the financing landscape in Mexico
For many international buyers and investors, purchasing property in Mexico — particularly in the Riviera Maya — is an exciting prospect. However, one of the first challenges encountered is the lack of access to traditional financing.
The Mexican real estate market is largely cash-based. This is primarily due to the difficulty non-Mexican residents face in securing loans from local banks. When available, mortgages issued by Mexican financial institutions often carry interest rates of 15–20%, making them unattractive to most foreign buyers.
As a result, many turn to assets and credit in their home countries — drawing from equity, savings, or retirement accounts — to fund their purchases in Mexico. But for those who want to preserve liquidity or prefer not to pay entirely in cash, cross-border lenders offer a potential solution.
What are cross-border lenders?
Cross-border lenders are financial institutions that provide real estate financing for buyers acquiring property outside their country of residence. These lenders structure loans under U.S. or Canadian regulations, making the process more familiar to international buyers while removing the need to qualify under Mexican banking requirements.
Some of the advantages include:
Loans issued in USD or CAD
No need for a Mexican credit history
Competitive interest rates (often well below local options)
Terms aligned with international lending standards
Potential to roll closing costs into the loan
Institutions to explore
While BuyPlaya Real Estate Advisors does not endorse, recommend, or receive compensation from any lender, here are several institutions that have worked with international buyers in Mexico:
CAF Mexico – www.cafmexico.mx
MexLend – www.mexlend.com
CrossBorder Investment – crossborderinvestment.com
Conficasa Mortgage International – conficasamortgageinternational.com
Veltra Capital – veltracapital.com
MoXi (Global Mortgage) – globalmortgage.mx
Disclaimer: This list is provided for informational purposes only. BuyPlaya Real Estate Advisors is not affiliated with and does not endorse or validate the terms, practices, or outcomes of any of these institutions. Buyers should conduct their own due diligence and consult with qualified legal or financial advisors before entering any financing agreement.
Final thoughts
Navigating financing options in a foreign country can be challenging, but it's far from impossible. While Mexican banks are rarely the answer for non-Mexican residents, cross-border lending offers a viable and increasingly common path to ownership in destinations like Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Akumal, and Puerto Aventuras.
At BuyPlaya Real Estate Advisors, we specialize in helping international clients purchase safely and confidently. If you're exploring your financing options or have questions about purchasing property in the Riviera Maya, contact us and we’ll connect you with professionals who can help you make informed decisions.
Aarón is a born and raised "chilango". After finishing his university studies, what started as a social service trip became his new home and where he started a family in Playa del Carmen. He enjoys the delicious food and culture of the Yucatan peninsula with his wife, daughter, and son. As a professional, he has made a career as a specialist in social networks and electronic media, helping the companies he has worked for to efficiently achieve all their objectives in the medium.