You’ve seen the headlines.
“AI is revolutionizing real estate.”
“Buy your next home with ChatGPT.”
“Find your dream condo with just one prompt.”
Sure.
Sounds fancy.
But does it work?
I wanted answers.
So I opened a laptop, loaded up every tool I could find, and pretended I was someone with a decent budget looking to buy a home in paradise.
Target: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Because come on—who doesn’t want ocean views, tacos, and 320 sunny days a year?
Let’s see what tech can actually do for you—and where it still falls short.
Step 1: Asking ChatGPT… the Wrong Way
Like any tech-obsessed millennial, I opened ChatGPT and typed:
“Find me a beach house in Puerto Vallarta.”
Cute idea. Terrible result.
It gave me generic advice about talking to realtors, checking legal paperwork, and “researching the area.”
Thanks, Clippy.
But then I tried this:
“Give me a checklist of things to consider when buying real estate in Puerto Vallarta as a foreigner.”
Boom.
- Title verification
- Bank trust (fideicomiso)
- Coastal zone restrictions
- Escrow options
- HOA fees
- Income tax on rentals
Way better.
Lesson:
AI doesn’t do the job for you. It makes you smarter.
Use it as a tool to sharpen your questions, not skip the process.
Step 2: Zillow, but Make It Mexico
Here’s the thing:
Sites like Zillow don’t work in Mexico.
There’s no unified MLS. No national database. It’s chaos—sunny, tequila-soaked chaos.
Instead, you get dozens of individual agency websites.
Some have beautiful layouts and filters. Others look like they were coded on Windows 95.
I searched “Puerto Vallarta real estate” on Google and landed on a few good ones—modern, searchable, with interactive maps and price filters.
I also found ten dead links, three outdated listings, and one site that tried to sell me a property that was already demolished.
Verdict:
AI can help you analyze listings. But it can’t guarantee they’re real.
You still have to vet everything like an adult.
Step 3: Playing with Image AI (and Getting Carried Away)
I fed Midjourney and DALL·E this prompt:
“Ultra-modern oceanfront condo in Puerto Vallarta with infinity pool and floor-to-ceiling windows.”
What came back looked like something out of Architectural Digest on mushrooms.
Gorgeous. But not real.
Then I used interior shots from real listings and asked AI tools to estimate square footage.
Result? Inconsistent.
Sometimes it guessed 600 sq ft.
Other times it claimed 1,300.
So I asked myself:
Would I trust a tool that can’t tell the difference between a penthouse and a hallway?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: still no.
Step 4: Price Prediction Tools… or Magic 8-Balls?
Some PropTech startups now offer price estimators powered by machine learning.
Upload the listing, enter the zip code, and voilà—suggested price.
I tried it with a listing in the Marina district.
One tool said it was underpriced by $40K.
Another said overpriced by $25K.
Both claimed 85% accuracy.
Which… mathematically makes no sense.
The truth?
These tools are built for markets like the U.S. or Canada.
Puerto Vallarta is a different beast. Prices can vary wildly by block, ocean view, or even building floor.
Tech doesn’t know that a taco stand 20 feet from your door adds $30K in value (for me, at least).
Step 5: Talking to a Real Human (Yes, It Still Matters)
Eventually, I did the obvious:
I reached out to a local agent via a well-reviewed real estate site.
Guess what?
They used spreadsheets, WhatsApp, and email.
No fancy app.
No virtual tours.
Just knowledge, experience, and blunt honesty.
They also gave me access to private listings and told me which neighborhoods were overhyped.
It wasn’t automated.
It wasn’t instant.
But it was real.
Final Thoughts: What AI Is Good At—and What It Absolutely Sucks At
✅ Great for:
- Making checklists
- Asking better questions
- Translating contracts
- Estimating rental yield
- Comparing neighborhoods
- Writing Airbnb descriptions (seriously, it’s weirdly good at that)
❌ Still terrible at:
- Replacing agents
- Validating listings
- Navigating legal gray areas
- Predicting human behavior
- Reading between the palm trees
So… Should You Use AI to Buy Property in Puerto Vallarta?
Yes.
But not the way Silicon Valley wants you to.
Don’t expect to buy a house with a chatbot and some filters.
Do expect to save hours by asking smarter questions, researching like a pro, and avoiding scams.
At the end of the day, your dream of owning a home by the beach is still possible.
Tech won’t do it for you, but it can definitely do it with you.
Start with research.
Ask the dumb questions.
Use the tools.
Then call a real human.
And if you’re really serious?
There’s a solid chance your best first step is typing “Puerto Vallarta real estate” into your browser and clicking on the links that don’t look like they were built in 2003.