What Mexican Landlords Actually Ask on the Phone

You found a great apartment on Inmuebles24. The price is right, the neighborhood is perfect. Now you need to pick up the phone and call.

In Mexico, just like in Spain, the phone call is how you get the apartment. Landlords don't check messages. They don't reply to emails. They answer the phone, ask a few questions, and decide if you're worth a viewing.

Here's exactly what Mexican landlords will ask - and what they want to hear.

"¿Quién llama?" - Who's calling?

This is your opening. Keep it short and direct:

Your name
Why you're calling (you saw the listing on Inmuebles24 / Facebook / a Se Renta sign)
That you're interested and want to know if it's still available

First impressions happen fast. If you sound confident and organized, you're already ahead.

"¿A qué se dedica?" - What do you do for work?

Landlords want to know you can pay. In Mexico, this question is really asking: do you have a stable income?

Good answers:

"Work remotely for a US/European company" - Very common in CDMX and well understood
"Employee at company" with a contract
"Business owner" with proof of income

If you work remotely, be specific. Say the company name and mention that you receive a regular salary in USD or EUR. This reassures them.

"¿Tiene fiador?" - Do you have a guarantor?

This is the big one. A fiador is someone who owns property in Mexico City (or the same state) and agrees to be your guarantor. Their property acts as collateral.

As a foreigner, your answer is almost certainly no. But don't panic - this is expected. Be ready with your alternative:

"I can pay X months in advance"
"I can offer a larger deposit"
"I'm open to using a fiador service"

Landlords hear "no tengo fiador" from foreigners all the time. What matters is that you immediately follow up with a solution. If you just say no and go quiet, the conversation dies.

"¿Cuántas personas?" - How many people?

They want to know who's living there. Be honest:

Just you
You and your partner
You and a roommate

Landlords in Mexico are generally flexible, but they want to know upfront. Some contracts specify a maximum number of occupants.

"¿Tiene mascotas?" - Do you have pets?

Pet policies vary widely in Mexico. Some buildings have strict no-pet rules. Others are fine with it.

If you have a pet, say so upfront. Don't hide it and hope they won't notice - it'll end badly. Many landlords who initially say no can be convinced if you offer a pet deposit or show that it's a small, well-behaved animal.

"¿Cuándo se quiere mudar?" - When do you want to move in?

Landlords want tenants who are ready soon. "Next month" is ideal. "In three months" means they'll keep looking.

If your timeline is flexible, say you can move in as soon as the apartment is available. This signals urgency and seriousness.

"¿Cómo se enteró del departamento?" - How did you find the listing?

This might seem like small talk, but it's useful. If you found it on Inmuebles24, they know you're browsing seriously. If someone referred you, mention the name - personal connections carry weight in Mexico.

What They're Really Evaluating

Beyond the specific questions, the landlord is assessing three things:

Can you pay? Income proof, advance rent, deposit willingness.
Will you cause problems? Number of people, pets, how long you'll stay.
Can I communicate with you? This is where language matters. If the call is painful and slow, they'll move on to the next caller.

That third point is the killer for foreigners. You might have the income, the documents, and the perfect profile. But if you can't have a fluid 3-minute phone conversation in Spanish, you lose to someone who can.

The Deposit Norms

Once the call goes well, here's what to expect:

Deposit: 1 month's rent (sometimes 2)
First month: Paid upfront
Fiador fee: If using a service, typically 1 month's rent
Contract: Usually 12 months, some landlords offer 6

Payment is usually via bank transfer (transferencia bancaria). Some landlords, especially informal ones, still prefer cash. Always get a receipt (recibo).

What If You Can't Make the Call?

If your Spanish isn't strong enough for a phone conversation, you have a few options:

Ask a Mexican friend. Works once or twice, but not scalable when you need to call 10+ landlords.
Hire a relocation service. Expensive and usually handles much more than you need.
Use LlamoYo. You find the apartment, send us the link on WhatsApp, and we make the call in fluent Spanish. We present your profile, handle the fiador question, ask your questions, and send you a full report.

The call is a 3-minute conversation. But it's the 3 minutes that decide whether you get the apartment or not.

Join the LlamoYo waitlist →