Frequently Asked Questions

According to Serbian law, payments exceeding €10,000 must be made via bank transfer to the seller's account. Therefore, you will need to open a bank account in Serbia before the day of the deal.

In Serbia, real estate transactions must be formalized through a notarial deed (a process called ‘solemnizacija’). Contracts not completed in the legally prescribed form are not legally binding. Therefore, if the seller offers you to conclude a contract ‘in a simple written form’ bypassing the notary - run away from him!

Any notary serving the area where the property is located can be contacted.

For your convenience, on the website of the Ministry of Justice you’ll find a directory of notaries, helping you identify the relevant jurisdiction for a specific property. If no state notary is assigned to a specific location, the transaction can be notarized in the first-instance court of that location.

1.⁠ Notary fees for certifying the sale contract. The cost depends on the value of the property, the number of parties involved, and the number of copies of the contract. For small, low budget properties, the average fee is €300–400.

2.⁠ Bank transfer fees. The fees vary by bank, with commissions potentially reaching up to €500. Usually, the seller opens an account in the same bank as the buyer, minimizing this expense.

3.⁠ State fee for registering the new owner in the Real Estate Cadastre. In Belgrade, this is typically around €50.

4.⁠ Transfer tax (“porez na prenos apsolutnih prava”), which is 2.5% of the value stated in the purchase contract.

There are two main types of taxes:

1.⁠ Transfer tax (“porez na prenos apsolutnih prava”): 2.5% of the property value, as stated in the purchase contract or the average market catalog price. At the time of the notarial transaction, the buyer completes a tax declaration, and the notary sends all documents to the tax office. The tax decision specifying the amount owed is mailed by regular post within 2-3 weeks in small towns and up to 3 months in Belgrade. The new owner must pay the specified amount within 15 days of receiving the envelope with the decision.

2.⁠ Property tax: This ranges from 0.3% to 2%, depending on the living area, the average price per square meter i the area where the property is located and the depreciation coefficient. The tax can be paid quarterly.

You can pay taxes in cash or with a Dina card (without commission) at any branch of the Treasury Administration.

Alternatively, you can pay at any post office or bank, though a commission may apply.

In Serbia, real estate brokerage is subject to mandatory licensing. Therefore, the first step is to ensure that the agency is registered with the Ministry of Trade. Then, check if the real estate agent has a valid license and is listed in the Rgistry.

Our agency operates legally on the Serbian market, and all our agents have passed qualification exams and obtained appropriate licenses.