A small step toward cosmopolitan efficiency and away from nationalism (Mexican law about beach homes)

Morgan Warstler points me to this article:

Mexican congressmen voted on Tuesday to change a law that makes it difficult for foreigners to own beach homes in Mexico.

The law prevents any foreigner from directly owning a home that is located within 50 kilometers of Mexico’s coasts. Foreigners in Mexico are also banned from owning homes that are located within 100 kilometers of the country’s international borders.

Congressmen from Mexico’s house of representatives argued that the law was “outdated,” that it hampers investment in the country, creates unnecessary bureaucracy and no longer matches reality.

They pointed out that thousands of Americans and Canadians already own beach homes in Mexico anyways, and many more are interested in buying.

But currently, foreigners who want to have coastal properties in Mexico need to acquire these assets through Mexican companies or real estate trusts in which a local bank buys a property and then “leases” it to its foreign occupant for an annual fee. A report that was compiled by the Mexican congressmen who support this legal shift said that, between 2000 and 2012, about 49,000 foreigners bought homes in “restricted areas,” by going through these legal loopholes.

But do note:

The Mexican Senate, and the President of Mexico must now vote on this proposal for it to pass. Because this proposal would strike down a law that is part of Mexico’s constitution, it must also be approved by a majority of Mexico’s state legislatures.