T
he state of Quintana Roo is taking steps to combat real estate fraud, with Secretary Cristina Torres Gómez announcing the creation of programs aimed at curbing corruption in the sector. One such program involves validated appraisers and appraisals, designed to prevent property costs from being altered for tax purposes.

    Torres Gómez explained that the state's program ensures that appraisals are accurate, construction permits are obtained lawfully, and land is not used for fraudulent activities. The declared value of real estate must comply with current tax regulations, and fines will be imposed if it's discovered that an appraisal has been altered or conducted by an unregistered appraiser.

    To validate an appraisal, real estate appraisers must meet established requirements and be registered. Torres Gómez noted that cases of rigged appraisals have been detected in several northern municipalities, prompting the state to create a local validation program mirroring existing federal regulations.

    In Quintana Roo, real estate appraisals for tax purposes are verified by the Tax Administration Service (SATQ) to ensure compliance with current regulations. Torres Gómez revealed that over a dozen notaries are currently under investigation for allegedly collaborating on altered appraisals to reduce tax liabilities. If found guilty, they will face consequences.

    Additionally, between 8-10% of state notaries have accusations against them for malpractice and risk losing their licenses.