Czech Republic - Buyer`s Guide |
Follow these simple steps and that ideal property in the Czech Republic will be yours. 1. Research the market Before you fly out to the Czech Republic, spend plenty of time researching the market online. Go through all of the information in the Czech section of this site and then start looking for developers, agents or individual properties that look as if they might be interesting. The Czech Listings section of the site is probably the best place to start your search, but also check out the advertising in this section, and look at the Directory to get some more contacts. If you are looking for a bargain, then think about subscribing to our weekly newsletter that gives details of selected properties that we think represent good value – these listings aren’t usually advertised to foreigners. Click here for more information on subscribing.
2. Arrange Your Financing (Optional) Although it is possible to arrange financing in the Czech Republic through a Czech bank, you will probably find it a lot easier to obtain financing in your home country, perhaps by re-mortgaging your current property or properties. Another option is to discuss the possibilities with a mortgage broker who is based in your home country and has experience of arranging mortgages on property overseas. It is advisable to do this before heading out to the Czech Republic so that you have a firm idea as to what your maximum budget is going to be. If you spend all your time over there looking at properties around EUR150,000 and then come back and find that the maximum amount you are able to finance is EUR100,000, your time will have been wasted. Also, it’s recommended that you talk to an accountant about the best way of purchasing an overseas property in advance so that you minimize your tax liability. | |
You can find details of potential sources of finance in your home country in the International Directory section of the site. 3. View the Properties Use the Budget Flights Tool to work out the most affordable way of getting to the Czech Republic and then head out there to look at those properties that look most interesting for you. Check the properties, or the locations if you are looking at an off-plan property. Don’t just check the properties themselves; check out the areas that they are located in as they will all be new to you. Ask plenty of questions. What kind of tenants are you expecting to work with? If you are looking for short-term tenants (i.e. tourists), then you are going to need something very close to the centre. Are there some good hotels close to the property? If so, you’re looking in the right place. If you are looking for long-term rentals, then make sure that it is in a desirable part of the city, if not the centre. Ask yourself the question, “would I like to live here?” If the answer is no, then chances are that the up-market tenants you are planning on renting the property will also not be so keen. If you are buying an older apartment rather than a newly built or off-plan property, you need to find out whether the apartment is sold as ‘OV’ (privately owned) or ‘DV’ (owned as part of a co-operative). If it is ‘DV’, then make sure that your lawyer explains exactly what rights and obligations you have under this kind of ownership in order to avoid any problems further down the line. Take your time making a final decision as to which property to go for – get as many independent opinions as you can. Remember that agents and developers are all going to be trying to sell you hard on what they have available, so don’t expect an unbiased opinion from them. 4. Obtain Residency (Optional) Currently, the Czech Republic is one of the few countries inside the EU where all EU residents don’t automatically have the right to buy property. Until 2009, only foreigners with a Czech residency permit are allowed to buy property. It is possible to obtain residency in the Czech Republic even if you’re not planning on living there permanently yourself. If you are planning on living in the Czech Republic, then you’re going to have to go through this process sooner or later anyway, so you might as well start it now. But if you are looking to buy property as an investment only, then you are probably going to be better off forming a Czech limited company (SRO). For details of how to obtain Czech residency, check with your local Czech Embassy, details of which can be found at their official website. 5. Hire A Lawyer Across much of Eastern Europe, hiring a lawyer to oversee the purchasing process is ‘recommended but not obligatory’ because it is notaries that do most of the work in terms of checking title deeds and arranging the transfer of ownership. In the Czech Republic, however, this is not the case – only lawyers create the contracts. This means that there is no real way around the situation – you are going to need a lawyer. As was mentioned above, the easiest way to own property in the Czech Republic is through ownership of a Czech limited company (SRO). It also has the advantage of your having limited liability up to the value of the assets of the company and there are also some tax advantages. Your lawyer will be able to advise you of all of the advantages and disadvantages of owning property through a company and will be able to establish the company for you. As it is vital that you find a lawyer who is representing your interests and your interests alone, don’t ask the real estate agent or developer to recommend one – it’s better to choose one yourself. You can find details of Czech Lawyers in the directory section. One other advantage of using a lawyer is that, by giving them ‘Power of Attorney’, they will be able to sign legal documents on your behalf. This can offset some of the costs if it means your having to make one less trip to the Czech Republic in order to complete the buying process. You can reckon on paying around 1.5-2% of the total purchase price in lawyer’s fees. If you want him to establish a company for you, then this will cost around EUR2,150 for an off-the-shelf company, plus another EUR540 per year for tax, accounting and administration charges. 6. Finalize The Deal Whereas in markets such as the UK, the initial price is known as an ‘asking price’, with both the buyer and seller expecting the final sale price to be somewhat lower than this, don’t expect the same in the Czech Republic. There’s no harm in trying to negotiate a reduced price, but sellers here usually expect to get the full amount. Make sure you know exactly what costs are covered in the final selling price to avoid any nasty surprises further down the line. Typically, the seller should be responsible for paying 5% VAT, another 5% in Real Estate Transfer Tax and perhaps the estate agent’s commission (which is probably going to be in the region of 5% of the total). Sometimes, however, the seller will try and split the commission, however, so you really do need to check this first. You, as buyer, will be responsible for all of the other buying costs as detailed below. 7. Arrange Local Financing (Optional) If you haven’t already arranged financing in your home country, you need to arrange it locally. If you’re going to be buying off-plan, then check with the developers to see if they can recommend a local bank. If not, you’re on your own. Check out the links to Czech Banks in the directory section. The process of obtaining a mortgage in the Czech Republic from a bank is going to be similar to that in your home country. They are going to see some proof of income before committing to a loan, so make sure that you bring all of your important documents with you to a meeting with a bank. Expect to have to wait for a minimum of a week or two in order to get a final decision from the bank, perhaps longer. 8. Sign An Initial Contract If you’re buying an off-plan property, then perhaps the developer will require you to sign a reservation agreement before you get to this stage and ask for a small deposit (in the region of 0.5%), but the main document is an initial contract that will be drawn up by your lawyer on your behalf. This is a formal, legally-binding contract which contains all of the key information about the agreed deal including the details of the property, the total amount payable, the deposit, penalty clauses, etc. As with all contracts in the Czech Republic, this will need to be signed in front of a notary. Typically, your lawyer will have up to three months to complete property checks before preparation and signature of the final contract. Immediately that the agreement is signed, the buyer will pay a deposit – usually around 10-20% to the seller. 9. Inspection Period While your lawyer is checking the status of the property, you will now have a certain amount of time to inspect the property. It is not so common in the Czech Republic to request for a surveyor to make a full structural report on a property. If the property has been built recently, then a survey should not be necessary as the building will be under guarantee from the builders. Check the property out yourself. Chances are that it will be OK, but if you see anything that could cause you sleepless nights, then perhaps it is worth the money to get the property checked out first. You can find details of Czech Surveyors in the directory section. During this time, you should also be arranging the final financing deal with your bank or mortgage broker so that all of the funds are available at the time of completion. 10. Completion The final contract is signed once your lawyer has carried out all of the necessary checks and searches by checking the Kadastral Register (Land Registry Office) which shows the ownership of all property in the country and the seller has provided all of the relevant title documents, permissions for use and information on any mortgages and loans outstanding. Your lawyer should also ensure that the seller is going to be paying the 5% Real Estate Transfer Tax (the equivalent of Stamp Duty in the UK) because, if the seller doesn’t pay it, then you will become liable for it. As always, your signatures will have to be notarized. In total, you can reckon on paying around EUR300-400 in notary and translation fees. And naturally you are also going to have to pay the balance of the cost of the property itself. Usually this is paid via your lawyer who keeps the money in an escrow account until you are officially listed on the Kadastral Register, a process that can take several months. Congratulations! You’ve just bought yourself a property in the Czech Republic! That wasn’t so difficult now, was it?!
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