Broker / Agente Inmobiliario (Real Estate Agent/Broker)BROH-ker / ah-HEN-tay een-moh-bee-lee-AH-ree-oh
A broker or agente inmobiliario is a professional who represents buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. Mexico has no federal licensing law for brokers; 19 states regulate the profession to some degree, while others have no requirement.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 7 November 2026
How it works
In Mexico, broker and agent titles are used interchangeably and carry no automatic licensing standard. Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, Mexico City, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Sonora and Sinaloa require state registration or certification; most other states have no requirement. The voluntary professional association AMPI (Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios) sets ethical standards and requires 100 hours of continuing education for members, but membership is optional. Brokers typically charge 5 to 6 percent commission on residential sales, paid by the seller, plus 16 percent IVA on the commission, for a total of 5.8 to 6.96 percent. When two brokers cooperate, the total commission is often split equally. Unlike in the United States, the Mexican notario público—not the broker—verifies the legality of the transaction and holds fiduciary duty for both parties. Foreign buyers should verify a broker's track record, AMPI membership, local market knowledge and references rather than relying on a title alone.