Can a US citizen on a tourist visa buy property in Mexico that is not
close to the ocean or a border?  If so must a permit be purchased from
the government and what would the cost of such a permit be based on?

Hi,
I have found some websites which may be of interest since they discuss
foreigners buying property in Mexico:
http://www.mexonline.com/propmex.htm 
http://www.majesticmexico.com/buying-real-estate-in-mexico
http://www.cancun-webs.com/buy.htm

Hope these help (didn't have enough time right now to post a full
answer - but let me know if you want me to do some more research)
Ali

To england_ali-ga:  Are you one of the researchers?  I checked out the
references you gave.  They don't help me with what I need to know.  I
know that  foreigners can buy Mexican property but I don't know
whether someone on a tourist visa can do so.  I know that the property
I'm interested in is not in a restricted zone.  I've heard that I
would need FM3 papers (not a tourist visa) to buy but I don't know. 
Also I've heard that I'd need to buy a permit   from the Mexican
government but I don't know that either.  I've found it very difficult
to pin down information about Mexico.  I've gotten different answers
to the same questions from different consulates and from different
people in the same consulate.  I really love Mexico but it challenges
me a lot, especially as my Spanish needs a lot of improvement.