There was a period in Mexico’s history when buying property as a foreigner was out of reach. Having appeared on shows like “House Hunters,” Macdonald has been a licensed real estate sales advisor in the Riviera Maya for 13 years. But the good news is, once you buy a property, the maintenance costs and property taxes are usually low. It’s worth keeping in mind the next time you browse your favorite real estate site online. “For example, the acquisition cost of buying property in Tulum is the highest at 4%.