Buying property in Paraguay, step by step.

From search to handover

1. Brief: agree location, use, budget and decision criteria.
2. Shortlist: compare candidates and visit the ones that fit.
3. Review: appoint independent advisers and agree the checks before commitments.
4. Decision: resolve material questions and review proposed terms with your advisers.
5. Completion: coordinate the responsible professionals and the agreed handover.

The sequence depends on the transaction. We organize the agreed practical work; the relevant professionals remain responsible for their advice and checks.

Before an offer or deposit

Ask your lawyer to identify the seller, establish their authority to sell and review the proposed documents before you sign or pay. Agree which checks must be completed, the conditions attached to any payment and what happens if a problem is found. Do not assume a reservation document is informal or automatically refundable.

The legal review

The scope should be set by your Paraguayan lawyer for the specific transaction. Topics to discuss include ownership records, liens or other encumbrances, co-owners, powers of attorney, boundaries, cadastral consistency, taxes or charges outstanding and any restrictions relevant to the buyer or property. Apartments, land and developments can require different additional checks.

The physical review

An independent technical inspection can assess issues such as structure, moisture, roofing, drainage, electrical installations, water supply and the condition of common areas. Define the inspection scope and request a written report. A broker’s viewing is not a building survey, and an inspection cannot guarantee the absence of hidden defects.

For apartments and new developments

Request the applicable building rules, common charges, management arrangements, maintenance history and information about planned major works. For off-plan purchases, ask independent advisers to review permits, contractual milestones, payment protection, delivery terms and remedies for delay. Marketing renderings are not evidence of completed work.

Make the full transaction budget visible

Ask for a written breakdown of the property price, professional fees, applicable taxes and registration charges, translations, inspections, payment costs and any brokerage remuneration. Confirm who pays each item and whether estimates may change. We do not publish a universal closing-cost percentage because the transaction and professional scope matter.

Completion and handover

Coordinate the signing schedule with the responsible professionals, check payment instructions through a trusted channel and clarify registration follow-up. At handover, document keys, access devices, inventory, meter readings, defects and agreed outstanding work. Confirm utilities and building contacts before occupation.