The State Department classified Merida as the 2nd safest city in the American Continent and the safest in Mexico. It has been awarded as “World’s Best Small City” and “Best Meeting Destination” by international media specializing in Tourism.

Mérida, the Spanish-influenced capital of Mexico’s Yucatán state, is a city rich in history, culture, and architectural jewels. Known as the “White City,” Mérida is a maze of leafy plazas, colorful streets, stately 19th-century mansions, and an iconic main avenue (Paseo de Montejo) that was modeled after the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

But beyond its ancient Mayan history, Spanish cathedrals, modern boutiques, and gourmet scene lies a different paradise just a short drive away: some of the most beautiful and tranquil beaches in Mexico.

Yucatán’s northern shoreline borders the blue-green Gulf of Mexico, where coastal communities offer serene escapes from the city’s notorious humidity, and soft sand, gentle waves, and fiery sunsets are the norm.

Brace yourself for bone-white coastline, toes-in-the-sand restaurants, milky blue-green waters, and pops of neon from the thousands of flamingos that live within the biosphere reserves to help keep this part of Mexico protected.

It is home to approximately 25,000 expats from the US and Canada (50/50). Merida has a wide cultural, historic, entertaining and culinary offer. The city is vibrant where you can appreciate a great variety of colonial buildings dating back circa 1900, museums, galleries, theaters, outdoor coffee shops, bars, hotels and restaurants. Let’s not forget a dozen upscale shopping centers.

The city was founded in 1542 and built over the ancient Mayan City of Thó. Merida is the Capital of the Yucatan Peninsula with a population close to 900,000, surrounded by Haciendas, Cenotes, archeological sites, ritual centers with dazzling buildings with flowless architecture without forgetting the famous Mayan pyramids, located less than an hour drive from Merida.

If you planning to retire, Merida is the place to choose; you will discover what the city has to offer:
Affordable housing
Affordable Health Care and Medical Services
Affordable Transportation
Affordable Living in general Unmatched security

Under Mexican law, foreigners cannot own the property outright within the restricted zone. The restricted zone is defined as 50 km from the coastline and 100 km from a border. Due to its location, Mérida falls in the restricted zone.  For a foreigner to legally own a property within the restricted zone, the Mexican government created a trust called a fideicomiso; however, an attorney might recommend either fideicomiso or create a company. We can arrange free consultation with a law firm. 

Created for the benefit of a foreign buyer, the fideicomiso trust agreement is executed between a Mexican bank and the seller of property in the restricted zone. This type of trust is like trusts set up in the United States. However, in this type of trust, a Mexican bank must be designated as the trustee and, as such, has title to the property and is the owner of a record.

The bank, as trustee, buys the property for the foreigner with the fiduciary obligation to follow instructions given by the foreigner who is the trust beneficiary. The trust beneficiary retains and enjoys all the rights of ownership while the bank holds the title to the property. The trust entitles the foreigner to use, enjoy, and even sell or will the property that is held in trust.

Currently you have the option to get a mortgage in Merida at a competitive rate. Please contact us and we will put you in touch with a Mortgage/loan officer.

Mérida offers world-class medical services because of its superior infrastructure of facilities and professionals. Hospitals and clinics in Mérida provide a range of specialties comparable to Europe, US and Canada. Doctors, consultants, highly trained staff, surgery facilities, recovery rooms, clinical analysis laboratories, and additional dedicated treatment facilities are generally quite affordable compared to many other countries.

Highly recommended is the emergency room of Faro del Mayab in North Mérida. Ask for someone that speaks English and they will help you. This hospital is more like what we are accustomed in the US & Canada to and by using this hospital it gives a sense of familiarity.

The answer is yes BUT Intercam is the only bank in Mérida where you can open an account on Tourist Visa. There are other banks where you can open an account on a tourist visa however you will also have to have a Mexican utility or cell phone bill in your name. This is where you will find the unique difference between Intercam and other banks.

For me and for many people, having a local bank in Mérida is a necessity.                

You’ll need a Mexican bank account:

• when setting up utilities
• making transfers to pay for goods and services
• for a backup in case something happens to your primary card