What to Check Before Reserving a Property

A practical guide to verifying the seller, the property, the documents, and the terms of a real estate listing before paying, including the difference between buying a property and acquiring rights of possession.

There comes a point in the search for a property when emotion starts to speak louder than reason.

The house feels right. The lot seems like a great opportunity. The price is still within your budget. And then the message arrives:

“There’s another interested buyer. If you want me to hold it for you, put down a deposit today.”

Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it’s just pressure. The problem is that, once the money leaves your account, the conversation changes.

A deposit doesn’t guarantee a deal. It just shows that you’ve already handed over money.

Before transferring any funds, you need to know what you’re paying for, who’s eligible to receive it, what property is behind the listing, and what will happen if the sale doesn’t go through.

1. Ask what you’re paying for

“Deposit,” “advance payment,” and “down payment” are often used as if they were the same thing. They aren’t necessarily the same.

More important than the name is what the agreement stipulates:

what the money is for;
whether it will be deducted from the final price;
how long the property will be reserved;
what conditions must be met;
under what circumstances it will be refunded.

If the answer is “we’ll draw up the contract later,” you still don’t have an answer.

The description on a money transfer does not resolve an ambiguous agreement.

Ask for a document that identifies the parties, the property, the amount, the purpose of the payment, and the refund policy. Do not sign blank forms or rely solely on phone calls or voice messages for important terms.

2. Verify who is asking you for the money

The person showing you a property isn’t necessarily the owner or authorized to make commitments on its behalf.

Confirm the identity of the seller and check what documentation they provide to prove their connection to the property. If a representative, family member, or advisor is involved, ask what authorization they have to negotiate, sign, or receive money.

Pay special attention if the bank account belongs to someone else, the name doesn’t match the documentation, they refuse to show identification, or the supposed representative cannot verify their authority.

None of these things alone proves fraud. But they do require a verifiable explanation.

If you already use a method to search for a property without getting lost in the listings, use it here as well: keep names, prices, documents, and conversations in a single file.

3. Confirm that everyone is referring to the same property

A transaction may proceed with different square footage, boundaries, addresses, or prices depending on the document being consulted.

Before making a reservation, compare:

location and address;
square footage, measurements, and boundaries;
registry or land records;
total price and what it includes;
structures, furnishings, or included units.

For privately owned properties, the review may include the title deed, information from the Public Registry, liens, co-owners, and pending inheritances. The specific documents required vary depending on the property and the state; an online list is no substitute for a notary’s review.

Profeco also recommends verifying the documents proving ownership and checking for liens before signing a purchase agreement with a real estate agent.

4. In Oaxaca, ask what you’re actually purchasing

Here lies one of the market’s most costly misunderstandings: buying a property is not the same as acquiring parcel rights, communal rights, or rights of possession.

This is not a local peculiarity. Communal land accounts for 50.8% of Mexico’s mainland area and, in Oaxaca, about 80%. These percentages describe land area, not the number of listings or transactions; even so, they explain why the distinction matters so much.

In general terms:

Private property: There is a title that can be transferred under common law and registered in the Public Property Registry.
Ejido parcel: Parcel rights are initially transferred under the Agrarian Law. The law restricts who can acquire them and requires certain formalities and registration with the National Agrarian Registry (RAN).
Full ownership: A parcel ceases to be ejidal only after the corresponding procedure, the issuance of a title by the RAN, and its registration in the Public Registry.
Communal land: It belongs to the communal body and enjoys special protection. A communal member’s rights do not equate to the sale of private property.
Possession: It may have legal recognition and validity, but it does not automatically constitute ownership. A certificate or deed of possession is not the same as a title deed.

A private contract can document what the parties agreed upon. It does not, by itself, convert possession into private property.

This does not mean that every transaction involving communal land is invalid. It means you need to know what right you would receive, whether the person can transfer it, what authorization is required, and where it must be registered.

Our guide to the Oaxaca Metropolitan Area explains why neighboring properties may fall under different municipalities, services, and legal regimes.

5. Outline what will happen if something goes wrong

A good section doesn’t just describe the scenario where everything goes smoothly.

It should answer:

When does it expire?;
What documentation must the seller provide?;
What happens if a lien or discrepancy arises?;
What happens if the right being offered cannot be proven?;
How much will be refunded, and by when?;
What happens if a party decides to withdraw?;
Does payment depend on financing or legal review?

Don’t accept “non-refundable” without understanding what actions trigger that consequence.

A refund shouldn’t depend on someone “seeing what they can do.” There must be a rule.

6. Recognize when haste is no longer normal

There are legitimate deals that move quickly. Speed isn’t the problem.

The problem is combining urgency with a lack of transparency: an unusually low price, missing documents, pressure to pay before visiting, changing beneficiaries, contradictory information, or the promise that “the paperwork will be sorted out later.”

It’s also a red flag if someone refuses to involve a notary or real estate specialist.

An opportunity that can’t withstand basic verification probably wasn’t a good opportunity for you.

So, what should you check before making a deposit?

Before handing over any money, you must answer five questions:

What am I paying for?
Who is entitled to receive the payment?
What property or right is being offered?
What still needs to be verified?
What will happen if the transaction doesn’t go through?

If any answer relies solely on trust, you haven’t finished your due diligence yet.

How Bonimmo Can Help You

In the Bonimmo catalog, you can keep a clear record of the listing, identify the person responsible for handling it, and compare the details before moving forward. You can also request a tour without relying on screenshots or forwarded listings.

Bonimmo was created because real estate information is often scattered, contradictory, and lacks a clear source. We want to make it increasingly clear who listed a property, what information they provided, and when it was updated.

Disclaimer: The fact that a property appears on Bonimmo does not mean that we have verified its ownership, legal status, liens, or the authority of the person receiving payment. Bonimmo does not process reservations or replace notarial, legal, or agricultural reviews.

Reserving a property should be the moment when the transaction begins to become clearer.

Not the moment when you stop asking questions.

Browse properties and request a tour through Bonimmo.

Sources consulted

Inquiry made in August 2026.