Buying a home for yourself
We check the selected apartment or house, restrictions on foreign buyers and the seller's documents. We help agree payment, key handover and title registration.
RICS CONSULTING
PROPERTY IN SERBIA
Property in Serbia
we check your transaction
We check the property and documents, agree payment arrangements and support the purchase or sale. Costs are explained in advance.
We communicate in English and provide support in Serbian.
10 yearsof our experts’ experience
2000+client cases
across all service areas
across all service areas
The scope and price of our services are fixed in the contract
Where we begin
What transaction are you planning?
We help you complete a transaction with clear documents, payments and responsibilities. Before the deposit, we check the owner, cadastral record, restrictions and eligibility to buy for your citizenship. With a specialist lawyer, notary and bank, we agree the path from contract to payment and registration. You will know what you are paying for, when you receive the keys and what expenses follow the purchase.
Buying for investment or business
We start with the property's legal status, designation and permitted use. For commercial property, land and company purchases, we identify the additional checks required.
Selling property
We help gather documents, prepare for the buyer's questions and agree payment terms. We check the sequence of receiving funds, handing over the property and completing documents.
Documents, timeframes and costs
Different properties need different checks
Resale apartments, new builds and commercial properties involve different documents and costs. Open the relevant option to see what we focus on.
A resale apartment or house
You have chosen a property to live in or invest in. We check who owns it, whether the documents match the actual property and what could prevent title transfer.
Main documents
- Buyer's passport and citizenship; documents of the seller and representatives.
- Cadastral details, the seller's acquisition document and available property documents.
- Draft contract, deposit terms and supporting documents for bank payment.
Application process
- We check title, shares, encumbrances and annotations; separately, restrictions on foreign buyers.
- We agree the deposit, payment terms, discharge of any mortgage and key handover.
- We arrange notarisation, translation and monitoring of title registration.
Timeframes
Preparation of a straightforward transaction with complete documents starts from 10 days. We agree the signing date separately; removing encumbrances and registration may extend the total timeline.
RICS servicesFrom 1% of the transaction value for the agreed support. We confirm the scope of checks and stages before starting.
Government feesIf the transaction is subject to tax on the transfer of absolute rights, the rate is 2.5% of the taxable base. We check whether the tax applies, available relief and the parties' payment arrangements.
Other costsNotary, registration, translator and bank fees; agency and technical inspection costs where applicable. These are not automatically included in RICS fees.
A new build from a developer
Price and layout are only part of the decision. We check the developer's and project's documents, completion stage and handover obligations, so payment terms reflect the property's status.
Main documents
- Developer details, land documents and permits relevant to the construction stage.
- Draft contract, apartment and finish specifications, and payment schedule.
- Details of parking, storage, handover and registration dates.
Application process
- With specialists, we check the project, developer's rights and restrictions.
- We agree milestone-based payments, consequences of delay and the defects rectification process.
- We separate the apartment and additional property prices, notarisation and acceptance inspection.
Timeframes
We plan checks and contract preparation separately from construction completion. Key handover depends on the property's readiness and the developer contract's terms.
RICS servicesFrom 1% of the transaction value. Checks on a property under construction and specialist involvement are included in a personal quote.
Government feesThe first VAT-taxable transfer of new housing is subject to 10% VAT; garages and commercial premises to 20%. We check whether tax is included in the advertised price to avoid counting it twice.
Other costsNotary, registration, translations and bank fees; technical acceptance inspection where needed. Parking, storage, finishes and utility connections are checked as separate contract items.
Commercial property or a company purchase
You need an office, shop, production premises or property for an investment project. We start with permitted use and the ownership structure, then agree documents and payments.
Main documents
- Company registration details, signatory authority and acquisition purpose.
- Cadastral details, property documents and designated use.
- Financing source, intended use and conversion requirements.
Application process
- We check eligibility to acquire the property and use it for your activity.
- We involve a lawyer, accountant and technical specialists according to the project's scope.
- We agree the transaction's tax treatment, bank documents and handover procedure.
Timeframes
The plan depends on the property, buyer structure and special approvals. We confirm our timeline after reviewing the initial documents and identify external stages separately.
RICS servicesFrom 1% of the transaction value. Purchase structuring, company formation and additional checks are quoted separately.
Government feesTax treatment depends on the seller, buyer and property: we determine whether VAT or transfer tax applies before agreeing the budget.
Other costsNotary, registration, bank, translations, valuation and technical survey where needed. Reconstruction and business launch costs are calculated separately.
Selling your property
We prepare documents and payment arrangements so that handover, receipt of funds and registration steps are coordinated.
Main documents
- Passport, acquisition document and cadastral details.
- Details of co-owners, marital status, representatives and encumbrances.
- Buyer's terms, payment details and information about any existing lease.
Application process
- We check document readiness and whether consents or discharge of encumbrances are needed.
- We agree the deposit, payment deadlines, key handover and bank documents.
- We support signing and identify post-transaction tax steps.
Timeframes
Preparation of a straightforward transaction starts from 10 days with complete documents and a buyer already found. Finding a buyer and correcting cadastral records are outside this estimate.
RICS servicesFrom 1% of the transaction value for the agreed support. Finding a buyer with partners is a separate task.
Government feesWe check transfer tax and potential obligations on income from the sale. We do not treat the property price as your net proceeds until the applicable tax treatment has been reviewed.
Other costsNotary, translations, bank and any agency costs follow the agreed allocation between the parties.
Practical help
What we do for your transaction
Checks before the deposit
We arrange analysis of ownership, encumbrances, annotations and property documents. If a problem is found, we explain its effect on the transaction and identify what must be corrected before commitments and payments.
Terms that protect your position
With a specialist lawyer, we work through the transaction's subject, deposit, deadlines, payment arrangements and consequences of either party withdrawing. For new builds, we separately check developer documents and handover terms.
Notary, translator and payments
We agree documents and the notary appointment, arranging a court-certified interpreter where needed. We clarify bank transfer documents and the contractual payment sequence in advance.
Handover and title registration
We help document property handover, monitor the registration documents and the outcome. We separately explain subsequent tax, utility and address-related steps.
Prepare the documents
Documents we start with
You provide
- Passport, citizenship and buyer or seller details; for a company, its registration details.
- Property address, cadastral details, listing and seller's documents, if already available.
- Any draft contract, deposit agreement or preliminary arrangements.
- Intended payment method and available proof of source of funds for the bank.
We prepare and arrange
- We compile a document and check list for your property and the parties involved.
- We arrange legal due diligence with a specialist and explain the results.
- We prepare a plan for agreeing the contract, notarial steps and payments.
- We combine support fees and related expenses in a separate estimate.
Sequence and timeframes
How the support works
Define the transaction terms
We discuss the property, goals, parties' citizenship and payment method. We agree the scope of checks and support, process and price.
Check documents and risks
With specialists, we examine rights to the property and restrictions. You receive a list of matters to resolve before paying a deposit or signing.
Prepare the contract and payments
We agree the parties' terms, notary and bank documents, and any need for translation or a power of attorney. We check that everyone is ready for the scheduled date.
Support the transaction and handover
We arrange the agreed notarial steps, property handover and registration monitoring. We provide your documents and a list of further obligations.
Preparation from 10 days
An estimate for a straightforward transaction with a selected property and complete documents. Removing encumbrances, powers of attorney and additional approvals extend the timeline.
Signing after checks
We agree the date with the notary, parties, interpreter and bank. Before that date, contract terms and availability of funds for payment must be clear.
Document submission within 24 hours
After certification, the notary sends the document electronically for registration within 24 hours. This is the submission deadline, not completed title registration: we monitor the cadastral case separately.
The total timeline depends on document readiness, the property's legal status and payments. We plan preparation, signing and title registration as separate stages.
A clear scope of support
Support fees and transaction expenses
Buying and selling property in Serbia
from 1%
of the transaction value for the agreed support
A personal quote depends on the property, parties and work required: document review, drafting terms, transaction coordination and registration support. We confirm which stages are included before work begins.
Additional costs, if required
- Property price and the contractual deposit.
- Transfer tax of 2.5% of the taxable base, where applicable. For the taxable first transfer of new housing, VAT is 10%; for garages and commercial premises, 20%.
- Notary, cadastral fees, court-certified interpreter, translations and powers of attorney.
- Bank fees, independent valuation, technical survey and agency commission, where required.
The quote separates RICS services from the property price and third-party payments. We agree additional tasks before carrying them out. Property purchase and residence applications are separate services.
Before work begins
Questions before buying or selling
Can a foreign national buy an apartment in Serbia?
In many cases, yes. Before the transaction, we check acquisition conditions for your citizenship, reciprocity and the property type. Land, commercial property and purchase through a foreign company require separate analysis. These checks come before the deposit.
Why are checks needed if the contract will be certified by a notary anyway?
Notarisation is a mandatory transaction stage, but your task starts earlier: choosing a property, assessing terms and deciding whether to pay a deposit. We arrange checks before these commitments and help formulate agreements with the other party.
What if the apartment has a mortgage or another encumbrance?
We first establish which restriction is registered and its effect on the transaction. With a specialist lawyer and, where needed, the bank, we determine repayment and discharge conditions. Payments and obligations are agreed around that procedure.
Can I buy property remotely?
Some steps can be arranged under a power of attorney. We check its feasibility and form with the notary and bank in advance: requirements depend on the transaction, the country where documents are executed and the payment method. We then plan where your personal presence is actually needed.
Does buying an apartment automatically grant residence?
No. A residence application is a separate procedure. If you intend to live in your own property, we check before purchase whether this basis applies to your situation and review the housing documents. Residence support is quoted separately at your request.
How can I estimate costs beyond the apartment price?
First we determine the tax treatment. For example, if the taxable base of a resale apartment is equivalent to €120,000, tax at 2.5% is equivalent to €3,000 before any relief. RICS services, notary, registration, translations, bank and any agency fees are separate. For a VAT-taxable new build, we check whether tax is already included in the seller's price. This is a calculation example, not a fixed transaction budget.
Who pays the 2.5% tax — seller or buyer?
By law, the seller is the taxpayer in an ordinary property sale. The buyer may contractually agree to bear the payment cost. We check the wording and allocation of obligations, and reflect them in your estimate. The rate applies to the taxable base, which may differ from the price stated by the parties.
Do you support a sale if I already own the property?
Yes. We check document readiness and help agree the contract, payments and handover. If you need a buyer found, we involve specialist partners and agree separate terms for that work in advance.
Typical situations
What we check in your transaction
Typical situations show how we connect property checks, the parties' documents and a safe payment sequence.
Typical situationBuying an apartment from its ownerThe property is selected. Before the deposit, the seller, property details, restrictions and future contract terms need checking.See the action plan
What we will do
- We check cadastral details and property documents
- We review the seller's authority and risks before payment
- We agree the contract, payments and completion sequence
What you receiveA list of checked documents and transaction questions, with an agreed signing and payment procedure.
Get a plan for my task Typical situationSelling property and preparing the transaction in advanceYou need to gather documents, agree payments with the buyer and understand expenses, so formalities do not hold up the transaction.See the action plan
What we will do
- We check readiness of the owner's and property's documents
- We agree the contract and property handover terms
- We plan notarisation and post-signing steps
What you receiveA sale preparation file and transaction plan with a separate list of related expenses.
Get a plan for my task RICS in practice
Client case studies
Each case includes the task, the team's work and supporting material.
Stories: 3
Property-based residence
Preparing a property-based residence application and choosing an insurer
TaskPrepare a residence permit application based on property ownership and choose an insurance company.
Outcome described in the reviewAngelina praised the clear consultation, document support and time saved when choosing an insurer.
АнгелинаGoogle Maps review
Residence after relocation
Residence after an urgent move: documents, authorities and a bank
TaskApply for residence permits after an urgent move, without knowing Serbian or the local procedures.
Outcome described in the reviewIrina reported that the applicants received their residence cards about two months after moving.
Irina AndronovaGoogle Maps review
Residence and sole trader
Residence, sole trader registration and banking after relocation
TaskOrganise residence, business registration and banking services in a new country.
Outcome described in the reviewSergey reported receiving help with all these tasks and said the support significantly reduced the burden during relocation.
Сергей ОщепковGoogle Maps review
Next step
Get a plan and quote
for your circumstances
Send the property details or describe your task. We will identify the checks, transaction sequence, indicative timeline and support fee.
Personal planScope and price of servicesIn EnglishEstimated timeframes