Buyers Allege Fraud, Construction Flaws in Puerto Aventuras Condos

Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo — Nine buyers of a residential complex in this tourist destination have reported waiting over a year for the property deeds to their apartments, despite having paid the full cost of the units.

The development, identified as Casa Cobá and marketed by the company Land & Life, is at the center of a dispute that combines alleged breaches of contract, construction flaws, and a lack of attention from the developer.

The affected parties — four Mexicans, three Canadians, and two Americans — recounted that they purchased units valued at $304,000 with the expectation of starting a new life in the Caribbean. However, upon arriving in February 2024, they found unfinished apartments and multiple hidden defects. Some of the buyers had sold their properties in North America to retire in Mexico.

They repeatedly mentioned damages such as leaks, humidity, incomplete installations, and electrical systems they considered dangerous. One of the most alarming cases involved a water heater installed without adequate ventilation, a situation that could have led to carbon monoxide poisoning. The company only provided them with two months of temporary rent while working on repairs, but the problems persisted.

In addition to internal flaws, the residents indicated that their electricity consumption may have been used to power a neighboring construction site belonging to the same group, without authorization or compensation. They also reported that their apartments are not properly connected to the stormwater drainage system, causing frequent flooding during rains.

The buyers stated that, since April 2025, they have stopped receiving any response from those responsible for Land & Life — Alfonso Serrano Gómez, Santiago Serrano Gómez, and Rubén Cortés Alcocer — despite persistent attempts at communication. This lack of contact has increased distrust, especially because some members of the company are part of the Puerto Aventuras Neighborhood Council, an entity that could intervene but, according to the neighbors, has not acted.

Faced with the lack of progress, the owners sought legal advice, but one of the lawyers hired disappeared after receiving an advance payment, leaving them once again without legal support and in a vulnerable situation.

Today, the affected parties warn that they are willing to file a criminal complaint with the State Attorney General’s Office for alleged fraud if the developer continues to fail to offer a solution. The uncertainty they face has become another example of the risks foreign buyers face in the Riviera Maya due to the lack of mechanisms that guarantee the formal delivery of properties and compliance with real estate contracts.