Escrow: your money protected until the purchase is safe.
Escrow is a safe way to handle money when buying or selling property. Instead of paying the seller directly, the funds are protected with a neutral third party — an escrow account or a bank guarantee trust (fideicomiso de garantía) — and released only when everything is in order. I am Anahí Prieto Graniel, an attorney in Chetumal (cédula 11346399), and I design and supervise that payment structure so no one takes a risk. Service available in English.
What is escrow?
Imagine you are buying a house. You have the money; the seller has the property. Neither wants to hand theirs over first, afraid of ending up with nothing. Escrow solves that: the money is deposited with a trusted neutral third party — a bank or an escrow account — that holds it and only gives it to the seller once it is confirmed that the property is clean and your purchase is protected.
That neutral third party is like a referee for the money: it does not play for either side, it just makes sure the rules are met before the payment is released. My job as your attorney is to build that structure properly and watch over every step.
How it works, step by step.
1 · Clear agreement
We set the conditions in writing: how much is deposited, what must be met and when the money is released.
2 · Deposit in a neutral account
The buyer deposits the funds into the escrow account or bank trust — not into the seller’s hands — where they are kept separate and reserved only for that transaction.
3 · Legal review
I verify the property is free of debt and that the documents and process are in order before any payment is authorized.
4 · Safe release
When everything checks out, the payment is released to the seller and the buyer gets a protected property. If something fails, the money returns to the buyer.
The most expensive mistake when buying.
In Mexico, escrow is not a single, mandatory legal figure, so it is built to measure using tools that do exist, such as the bank guarantee trust. The most common — and most dangerous — move is to pay the seller before the process is complete. If a debt, a paperwork problem or a vanishing seller appears afterward, getting your money back is very hard. A proper payment structure closes that door: your money is safe until your purchase is.
Buying property in Mexico as a foreigner → · Leer en español →
Frequently asked questions.
What is escrow, simply?
A way to protect the money: a neutral third party (an escrow account or a bank trust) holds it and only releases it to the seller once your purchase is protected.
Does it exist under Mexican law?
Not as a single, mandatory figure. It is built with tools that do exist, mainly a bank guarantee trust or a specialized escrow account.
Who holds my money?
A neutral third party — an escrow account or bank trust — not the seller and not me. As your attorney, I design and supervise that structure and the release of the payment.
When is the seller paid?
Only when the property is debt-free, the papers are in order and your purchase is protected. If something fails, the money returns to you.
Does it work with a fideicomiso?
Yes — ideal for foreign buyers: it protects your money during the weeks the trust and deed take.
How is it charged?
My fee for designing and supervising the structure is agreed in writing before we start; the bank or escrow company charges its commission separately. No surprises.
Buying or selling a property?
Before you hand over a single peso, tell me about your transaction. I will review your case and explain how to protect your money from start to finish.