Contrato de Compraventa (Purchase/Sale Agreement)kon-TRAH-toh deh kohm-prah-VEN-tah
The contrato de compraventa is the binding purchase-and-sale agreement between buyer and seller in a Mexican real estate transaction. Under Federal Civil Code Article 2248, one party agrees to transfer property of a thing or right and the other agrees to pay a certain price in money.
By Daniel Ortega · Last reviewed 9 November 2026
How it works
In practice, a foreign buyer signs the contrato de compraventa after negotiating terms with the seller. The contract sets the purchase price, payment schedule, closing date, property description, contingencies (such as clear title or fideicomiso approval) and penalties for breach. Buyers typically deposit earnest money of 5 to 10 percent of the purchase price when signing. The contract is legally binding between the parties but does not itself transfer title. For properties above 365 times the daily general minimum wage in force in Mexico City (not the daily UMA), Federal Civil Code Article 2320 requires that the sale be formalized in a notarized escritura pública to transfer ownership and allow registry inscription. The contrato governs the roadmap to closing, which typically takes 30 to 45 days from offer acceptance. Foreign buyers should have the contract translated and reviewed by a bilingual attorney before signing, as Mexican contracts differ from US or Canadian purchase agreements in structure, contingency terms and remedies.