Uncertified Real Estate Sales in Bacalar Raise Fraud Concerns

Bacalar, Quintana Roo — Authorities in southern Quintana Roo have issued a high alert over the sale of uncertified properties without legal certainty, citing a surge in real estate fraud. Many transactions involve unlicensed advisors who lack the official certification required under the state’s Real Estate Services Law.

The situation is particularly prevalent in Bacalar, where a saturation of individuals entering real estate sales has raised concerns. Marco Antonio del Valle Meneses, president of the Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI), warned that this informal activity jeopardizes both the real estate sector and investors.

“The real estate market in Bacalar is saturated, but the most concerning issue is that not all sellers are properly certified,” del Valle said. “Anyone can come and say they want to sell land. Although Sedetus began the certification and licensing process two years ago as a security measure for all real estate professionals to ensure compliance with regulations, not everyone has met this requirement. We cannot stop people from buying and selling properties because it’s their livelihood, but they should be regulated.”

The AMPI representative in the Pueblo Mágico noted that the association currently has 18 members who prioritize ongoing training to strengthen their operations. They plan to lobby authorities for stricter regulation to curb informal growth and protect Bacalar’s environment by enforcing norms.

However, the sector also faces rising land and property costs. Del Valle said they will seek to establish working groups to analyze fees and create a pricing structure to attract more investors.

“There is concern about the increasing cost of land and properties in Bacalar,” he explained. “We believe it’s necessary to implement working groups to set fees based on concrete criteria. So far, we haven’t had real cost regulation, and it’s vital to do so to ensure market stability that allows investors to come to the area. We’re at a point of growth where we’re going to take off like other places such as Tulum, and we want to avoid the negative impacts that occurred there due to property price increases.”

Bacalar is undergoing rapid transformation driven by tourism and residential investment, especially in areas facing the Laguna de los Siete Colores, where prices are rising the fastest. The town has established itself as a high-profile investment destination, with annual value increases reaching 15% to 20%. Del Valle argued that fixed rates should be implemented to manage this growth.