The Tulum Collapse: How a Foreign Investor Nearly Lost Everything — And How We Turned It Around

When a promise contract is the only thing standing between you and losing everything.

A Canadian client came to me after investing in a residential project in Tulum. He had signed a promesa de compraventa with a developer who - like many in Tulum - did not own the land, operated through someone else’s trust, and was already shutting down offices in Monterrey.

The development was incomplete, sales had collapsed, and the developer was on the verge of disappearing.

On paper, my client had nothing but a contract with no real guarantees, and a clause stating that in case of breach, the developer could simply refund the money without interest.

But the property was now worth far more than what he had paid. Tulum’s appreciation had skyrocketed - and the contract did not recognize any of it. In fact, the developer had every incentive to return the money and resell the property at nearly double the original price.

It was the perfect scenario to lose everything.

For weeks, we held tense meetings, complex negotiations, and strategic pressure sessions to prevent the developer from declaring insolvency or simply vanishing - something that has happened to many investors in Tulum.

And then, what seemed impossible happened.

My client was able to obtain the title deed.

The loss was minimal. What remained unfinished was insignificant compared to the risk of never obtaining the property and being left with a worthless contract.

Today, as Tulum faces multiple abandoned projects, irregular permits, and developers who vanished with investors’ money, this case makes one thing very clear:

In Mexico, the difference between losing everything and protecting your investment is having someone who understands the system, the risks, and the legal strategies needed when everything is falling apart.

If you’re a foreign investor in Mexico - or if you already invested and something feels wrong - I can help you assess your situation and protect your investment before it’s too late.