Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Real estate sales in the Riviera Maya have slowed significantly in 2026, with industry leaders citing geopolitical tensions and domestic uncertainty as key factors behind the downturn.
Wilberth Gutiérrez Álvarez, president of the Mexican Association of the Real Estate Industry (AMII), said that while exact figures are still being calculated, sales are well below previous years. The slowdown is most pronounced in residential tourism units, where sales have dropped by up to 15% compared to last year, when around 7,000 units were sold.
“Projects are still moving forward, new investment announcements continue, and investment hasn’t stopped. But we have to be clear: it’s been a slow year, a year where generating sales has been difficult,” Gutiérrez Álvarez said. “There are countless national and international issues affecting people’s confidence, and that has led to greater caution. The money is there — investors who have capital to develop will invest when they feel secure.”
One major source of uncertainty has been ongoing geopolitical conflicts involving U.S. President Donald Trump, not only with adversarial nations but also directly with Mexico. Nearly two years ago, around $100 million in real estate investments were stalled due to Mexico’s judicial reform, though construction of both luxury and affordable housing later resumed.
“Growth won’t stop; we’re just going through a period of greater buyer caution,” Gutiérrez Álvarez added. “Sales are low, but they haven’t stopped — that’s the most important thing. They’re just not at the pace we were used to.”
According to real estate data firm Softec, Playa del Carmen currently has 167 real estate projects totaling 13,453 units, with prices reaching up to 6.7 million pesos ($335,000). One of the most prominent projects is Jardines de Ciudad Mayakoba, which sells an average of 19.5 units per month.
