Mexico City, May 18 – The construction of affordable housing in Mexico City remains at a standstill, despite promises from the capital’s government to boost this segment through administrative facilities and streamlined procedures for projects developed under Norma 26.
32,000 Homes Stalled
According to Jorge Gordon Ramos, president of the National Chamber of the Housing Development and Promotion Industry (Canadevi) Valle de México, out of more than 32,000 homes projected by private developers, only a few hundred have managed to advance with licenses and permits.
“Housing development in Mexico City is stuck. We had more than 32,000 planned homes, of which only between 300 and 400 are under construction by private initiative. The interest exists, the land is already formed, but things are not happening,” Gordon commented in an interview.
This slowdown occurs in a context where the average price of housing in the Mexican capital reached 4,397,976 pesos during the first quarter of 2026, making it the most expensive entity in the country, according to data from the Federal Mortgage Society (SHF).
The figure contrasts with the limits established in Norma 26, an urban instrument that sets a maximum price of 17,314 UMAS (Unit of Measurement and Update), equivalent to approximately 2 million pesos.
Single Window Without Impact
In February 2025, the capital government enabled the Single Real Estate Window with the aim of accelerating processes related to housing construction. Months later, in June of the same year, the head of government, Clara Brugada Molina, called on the private sector to invest in accessible housing projects.
“They must be confident that the doors are open for investment that guarantees the right to the city and produces affordable housing for the population, that respects the law, where it can and where it cannot,” she declared during a meeting with the Association of Real Estate Developers.
However, concern is growing among real estate developers who opted for this type of project. Gordon stressed that there is no articulation between the dependencies of the capital government to activate the administrative facilities agreement.
“I still have hope that it will happen. The government has shown that it has the intention, but they have not discerned between discourse and execution. The city needs housing and to move economically; if we don’t, we will sink,” Gordon assured.
Despite the Single Window, it has not been reflected in concrete projects. According to the Unique Housing Registry (RUV), between January and April 2026, only 183 homes were produced in the city, a decrease compared to the 527 reported in the same period of the previous year.
Planning and Neighborhood Consensus
For Canadevi Valle de México, the reactivation of affordable housing requires political will, updating urban planning instruments, and building neighborhood consensus.
The president of the organization explained that Norma 26 not only remains stagnant but also presents restrictions that limit its scope in areas with high housing demand.
Currently, this instrument does not apply in central neighborhoods of the city nor does it allow the development of housing on land that previously functioned as industrial warehouses, which reduces the possibility of reusing disused properties located in strategic areas.
Given this scenario, Gordon considered it essential to update Norma 26 and move towards a General Development Plan built through agreements between authorities, private initiative, and society.
“We have to agree, because of course there is an impact with the construction of new projects, but there are also many benefits. The rules of the game must be updated for the good of all, not for the developer,” Gordon said.
Source: https://es-us.noticias.yahoo.com/tr%C3%A1mites-frenan-construcci%C3%B3n-32-000-153042071.html
