Blog

Quintana Roo's tourism land in 2026: a new levy in Cancún, a roadmap to 2050 and vacation rental data

Cancún's hotel zone moved from Fonatur to the state, and a public works levy on its owners is now law. The 2050 tourism plan puts carrying capacity at the center. And the official vacation rental count falls far below private estimates.

Reference Real Estate Team

October 8, 2026

Playa del Carmen's Quinta Avenida: how it grew section by section and what that means for buyers

Quinta Avenida became pedestrian in stages: the first blocks in 1997, up to the CTM in 2013 and up to Calle 110 in 2018. DENUE data from 2010 to 2026 shows which sections keep growing and which have seen recent declines.

Reference Real Estate Team

October 4, 2026

The Dock: the Cozumel crossing and downtown Playa del Carmen

The Cozumel ferry dock has been in the same spot for over fifty years. In 2017 the route moved 4,575,269 passengers, the highest since 2000. Every expansion confirms it stays there, and that has a direct reading for anyone buying downtown.

Reference Real Estate Team

October 3, 2026

Three Decades of Hotels in Playacar and Puerto Aventuras: The Same Buildings, Different Operators

In 1994 Playacar had three hotels. In 2026 Marriott announced its entry to the corridor with three Reef properties. The buildings changed names several times in between. Almost none disappeared.

Reference Real Estate Team

October 1, 2026

What to Review Before Buying in a Gated Development with a Marina

According to its founder, a lot on the marina in Puerto Aventuras sells for 800 per meter and one on the golf course for 200. That difference is the result of who controls what. Before buying in a gated development, understand that structure.

Reference Real Estate Team

September 28, 2026

Who Lives in Playa del Carmen and Where They Choose to Live

64% of those living in the municipality of Playa del Carmen were born outside Quintana Roo. Its origin diversity index is 0.83, above Los Cabos (0.77) and Tijuana (0.73). Who lives here and where they choose to live, to help pick an area before buying.

Nat Vázquez

September 27, 2026

How the Riviera Maya Brand Was Born: The Documented Story Behind the Name

In the mid-nineties, this coast was called the Cancún-Tulum Tourist Corridor and had 1,470 hotel rooms. Today it exceeds 66,000. The story of the name that changed everything has an exact date, a file at the IMPI and a note from Mallorca with 10,500 rooms.

Reference Real Estate Team

September 26, 2026

Playacar: History, Legal Certainty and Daily Life in Playa del Carmen's Most Established Development

Playacar has 47 years of history, the Riviera Maya's first 18-hole golf course, Maya ruins inside the development and the lowest real estate irregularity rate in Quintana Roo. It also has seasonal sargassum and documented coastal erosion.

Nat Vázquez

September 23, 2026

We Documented 25 Years of People Saying Playa Isn't What It Was

Playa went from 17 thousand residents in 1995 to 44 thousand in 2000: the real change happened before the internet recorded it. We reviewed twenty five years of how the town has been described, and every generation calls "the old Playa" the one it found.

Equipo Reference Real Estate

September 1, 2026

Fideicomiso for foreign buyers in Quintana Roo: what it really costs in 2026

The 1,500 dollar figure that circulates for setting up a fideicomiso no longer covers it. The federal permit alone costs close to 1,300. Here is the full breakdown with verified ranges, and what to ask before you sign.

Nat Vázquez

August 24, 2026

Eleven municipalities, three rates: the property acquisition tax in Quintana Roo, one by one

Almost everything published says the property acquisition tax in Quintana Roo is 2%. That figure comes from a state law still in force, but which governs only two of the eleven municipalities. Here is the real rate for each one, with its basis.

Nat Vázquez

August 24, 2026

Cancún Financial District: what the decree says and what it does not

The decree creating the Distrito Financiero y Tecnológico de Cancún draws a polígono with a 5 km radius and grants subsidies of up to 100% on several state taxes. None of it applies automatically for being nearby. Here is what it establishes.

Equipo Reference Real Estate

August 4, 2026

Playa del Carmen Has the Lowest Recorded Real Estate Irregularity Rate in Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen has the lowest recorded irregularity rate in Quintana Roo, and Isla Mujeres sits at the opposite extreme. The two SEDETUS registries crossed municipality by municipality, and what it means for buyers.

Reference Real Estate Team

July 27, 2026

Senior Living on the Riviera Maya: The Niche the Industry Recognizes and Nobody Is Serving Well

65% of real estate experts in Mexico say Senior Living supply is scarce. 46% say demand is sufficient. On the Riviera Maya, that gap between supply and demand is even more visible, and has direct consequences for those coming to retire here.

Nat Vázquez

July 24, 2026

Branded Residences in Mexico in 2026: What the Industry Says and What We See in Playa del Carmen

38% of real estate experts in Mexico say Branded Residences are in growth mode in 2026. 45% say the market is in maturation. That's not a contradiction, it's the description of a very specific moment in a product's cycle.

Nat Vázquez

July 24, 2026

Sargassum and Your Property Value: What Caribbean Data Actually Shows

Punta Cana received more than double the Riviera Maya sargassum in June 2026, and grew 10.6%. If sargassum caused the market decline, it should be falling harder. It isn't. That changes the conversation for anyone evaluating a purchase here.

Nat Vázquez

July 23, 2026

Why Playa del Carmen in 2026 Is a Good Time to Buy If You're Coming to Live

There's a buyer profile that rarely appears in real estate materials: the one who comes to live. For that buyer, Playa del Carmen in 2026 has very solid arguments. Here they are.

Nat Vázquez

July 20, 2026

Lessons from Málaga's Economic Diversification: Success Story or Case Study?

In 1992 Málaga inaugurated a technology park with 8 companies and 130 employees. Thirty years later it has 700 companies and 29,000 employees. And unaffordable housing is today its number one political problem. Success story or case study?

Reference Real Estate Team

July 14, 2026

Lots, Apartments or Houses on the Riviera Maya: Which One Makes Sense for Each Buyer Profile

The question isn't which one is better. It's which one corresponds to what you're actually looking for, with what time horizon and with what risk tolerance. After nine years in the market, this is what I explain to every client.

Nat Vázquez

July 5, 2026

The 7 Documents You Need to Request Before Signing a Presale in Mexico

Most buyers sign a presale without having seen these documents. Not because they don't exist, but because nobody told them they needed to ask for them. Here are the seven.

Nat Vázquez

June 28, 2026

The Riviera Maya in 2026: Which Areas Are Moving Forward and Which Are Waiting

The Riviera Maya in 2026 is not a single market. Playacar is up 9-10%. Puerto Morelos is up 8-9%. Other areas are on pause. The data tells you exactly where you stand depending on where you buy.

Nat Vázquez

June 27, 2026

Growth for What: A Question Missing from the Riviera Maya Conversation

In every business and government meeting on the Riviera Maya, the same word appears: growth. Nobody asks what for. Nobody asks at what cost. We've been here nine years and we believe that question can no longer wait.

Reference Real Estate Team

June 22, 2026

Is Vacation Rental Still Profitable in Playa del Carmen in 2026?

The short answer is yes. The useful answer is: it depends on which property, in which area, with what management and with what real costs. Here are the numbers.

Nat Vázquez

June 21, 2026

Retiring on the Riviera Maya

More and more people are choosing the Riviera Maya for retirement. It's not just the weather or the beach: you can live well here, with real services, an established community and a more accessible cost of living. With verified 2026 data.

Nat Vázquez

June 14, 2026

Playacar, North PDC or Tulum: How to Choose the Right Area Based on What You Actually Want

There's no zone that's better than the others. There's a zone that makes more sense depending on who you are and what you're looking for. After nine years on the Riviera Maya, this is what I ask every client before recommending where to buy.

Nat Vázquez

June 14, 2026

Daily Life in One of the Most Multicultural Cities in the World

A city under 40 years old, 60% migrant population, 15,000 to 25,000 foreigners from dozens of countries and a median age of 28. Playa del Carmen has no rulebook for coexistence because no one founded it with one.

Nat Vázquez

May 24, 2026

Branded Residences on the Riviera Maya: What Viceroy's Arrival in Playa del Carmen Really Means

When an international hospitality brand puts its name on a residential project, it has a lot to lose if something goes wrong. That changes the conversation about certainty in the Riviera Maya real estate market.

Nat Vázquez

May 16, 2026

Guias

Golf Courses on the Riviera Maya 2026: Updated Guide for Residents and Investors

Real green fees, updated reviews and distances from Playa del Carmen. Everything you need to know about the 5 Riviera Maya golf courses in 2026.

Nat Vázquez

May 9, 2026

Sargassum Needs More Than Ideas: An Economy That Pays to Remove It

The sargassum problem isn't a lack of ideas. It's the lack of an economy that pays to remove it. Private incentives, value chains and environmental limits for the Riviera Maya.

Reference Real Estate Team

May 8, 2026

Puerto Aventuras 2026: The Private Community Where You Find a Marina, Golf and Beach in One Place

A private marina with 143 slips, a 9-hole golf course, controlled access, its own school and 1 Gbps fiber. Puerto Aventuras doesn't compete on volume — it competes on a lifestyle package that few developments in Mexico can replicate.

Nat Vázquez

April 24, 2026

What Does a Property in Puerto Aventuras Really Yield? Real Vacation Rental Data for 2026

700 vacation rentals. 48% occupancy. US$282 average nightly rate. US$21,800 annual revenue. Before buying in Puerto Aventuras with rental income in mind, these are the numbers you need to know.

Nat Vázquez

April 24, 2026

Puerto Morelos 2026: The Fastest-Growing Area on the Riviera Maya and What You Need to Know Before Buying

Puerto Morelos has 17 vertical projects. Cancún has 201. Playa del Carmen has 184. That difference tells you everything about why this area is worth watching closely in 2026.

Nat Vázquez

April 19, 2026

Why You Need an Independent Lawyer Before Signing a Presale in Mexico

In the Riviera Maya it's common to sign presale contracts without your own legal counsel. Here's why that's a risk not worth taking.

Nat Vázquez

April 19, 2026

Construction Permit, Environmental Impact Authorization and Land Use: What They Mean and Why They Matter Before You Buy

Three documents most buyers never ask for that can determine whether your investment in the Riviera Maya is protected or at risk.

Nat Vázquez

April 18, 2026

How to Verify if a Real Estate Project in Quintana Roo is Legal: A Step-by-Step Guide

In 2025 and early 2026, SEDETUS shut down 116 irregular developments in Quintana Roo. Here's how to verify a project before it's too late.

Reference Real Estate

April 15, 2026

Playa del Carmen 2026: Volume, Consistency and Criteria for Smart Investment

The data on Playa del Carmen's market in 2026 tells a useful story for any investor. Here it is, straight.

Nat Vázquez

April 13, 2026

Mayakoba in 2026: Three Ways to Invest in the Riviera Maya's Most Resilient Name

Mayakoba is a layered ecosystem. Depending on your budget and goals, there's a different entry point. Here's how to think about it.

Nat Vázquez

April 12, 2026

What to Do If Your Developer Doesn't Deliver Your Property in Playa del Carmen

Delayed delivery on presale properties is one of the most common problems in the Riviera Maya. Here's what you can do if it happens to you.

Nat Vázquez

April 12, 2026

How to Verify a Real Estate Development in Quintana Roo Before You Buy

You've been searching for months and finally found the right property in the Riviera Maya. Before you sign anything, here's what's worth doing first.

Nat Vázquez

April 2, 2026

Playa del Carmen 2026: Which Neighborhoods Are Growing and Which Ones to Watch

Eight years living in Playa del Carmen have taught me that not every part of the city grows the same way. Here's what's happening neighborhood by neighborhood in 2026.

Nat Vázquez

April 2, 2026

Foreigner's Guide: Buying Property in Mexico Without the Hassle

Every week I speak with people from the US, Canada and Europe who want to buy in the Riviera Maya but have questions about the legal process. Here's how it works, step by step.

Nat Vázquez

April 2, 2026

Recommended Coworking Spaces in Playa del Carmen 2026

Playa del Carmen has a solid selection of coworking spaces for every profile. Here are our recommendations, starting with our own favorite.

Reference Real Estate

April 2, 2026