Investor Reference
Foreign buyer rules — side by side
Ownership restrictions, closing costs, annual property tax, residency-by-investment thresholds, and FX exposure across 7 LATAM real estate markets. Sourced from each country immigration law and central bank publications. Not legal advice — every purchase still requires a local attorney.
Ownership
Direct
10 km restricted zone
Closing costs
3.5%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.0–1.0%
IBI (Impuesto Bienes Inmuebles)
Mortgage rate (avg)
6.5%
Residency by investment
USD $200,000
Friendly Nations Visa
FX risk
USD (balboa 1:1, sin riesgo)
Ownership
Direct
25 km restricted zone
Closing costs
5.5%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.0–0.5%
Impuesto al Patrimonio
Mortgage rate (avg)
8.0%
Residency by investment
USD $1,000,000
Adopt El Salvador (Citizenship-by-Investment)
FX risk
USD (no FX risk)
Ownership
Direct
Closing costs
7.0%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
1.0–1.5%
Property Tax
Mortgage rate (avg)
9.5%
Residency by investment
Pensionado/Rentista
Qualified Retired Persons (QRP)
FX risk
BZD fijo 2:1 USD desde 1976
Ownership
Direct
Closing costs
4.0%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.25–0.25%
Bienes Inmuebles
Mortgage rate (avg)
7.5%
Residency by investment
USD $150,000
Inversionista
FX risk
CRC flota; ~500-540 CRC/USD volátil
Ownership
Direct
40 km restricted zone
Closing costs
5.0%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.3–0.4%
Bienes Inmuebles
Mortgage rate (avg)
11.5%
Residency by investment
Pensionado/Rentista
Pensionado
FX risk
HNL flota dentro de banda controlada vs USD (~24-25 HNL/USD)
Ownership
Direct
Closing costs
5.5%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.0–1.0%
IPI (Impuesto Patrimonio Inmobiliario)
Mortgage rate (avg)
11.5%
Residency by investment
USD $200,000
Residencia por Inversión
FX risk
DOP devaluación gradual ~3-5%/año vs USD
Ownership
Direct
Closing costs
6.5%
transfer + notary + registry
Annual property tax
0.2–0.9%
IUSI
Mortgage rate (avg)
8.5%
Residency by investment
Pensionado/Rentista
Residencia Permanente
FX risk
GTQ históricamente estable (7.7-7.9 vs USD)
Information compiled from public sources (immigration ministries, central banks, AREBB / SBP / BCRD bulletins, May 2026). Mortgage rate is country-level weighted average — actual quote depends on bank, term, and buyer profile. This page is reference, not legal advice.