Barbados' roundtrip transaction costs are now moderate

How high are realtors´ and lawyers´ fees in Barbados? What about other property purchase costs?

Transaction Costs

Who Pays?
Legal Fees 1% - 2%
1% - 2%
buyer
seller
Real Estate Agent´s Fee 5% seller
Transfer Tax 2.5% seler
Stamp Duty 1% seller
Costs paid by buyer 1.18% - 2.35%
Costs paid by seller 10.55% - 11.73%
ROUNDTRIP TRANSACTION COSTS 11.73% - 14.08%
See Footnotes
Source: Global Property Guide

Barbados beachfront luxury homesHow difficult is the property purchase process in Barbados?

Generally there are no restrictions on foreign ownership except for one formality: nonresidents must obtain permission from Barbados´ Central Bank if they want to buy property. This is pro forma, but failing to do so will void your purchase.

The Central Bank of Barbados requires registration of all money brought into the country. It is best to hire a lawyer to help with the Central Bank and purchase transaction.

Once a price agreement has been reached, the purchaser and vendor sign a contract prepared by the vendor´s attorney. At this time a 10% deposit is paid by the purchaser which the vendor´s lawyer will hold in escrow until completion, when the balance of the purchase price is paid and the title passes to the purchaser by way of the conveyance.

In Barbados property passes by conveyance of title, evidenced by the recording of title deeds and certified survey plans at the registry of title. A purchaser will need a registered Barbadian attorney to search the register and establish title to the property prior to the completion of a sale. Between the time of executing the contract and the completion of the sale, the legal representative of the purchaser will search the title, and ensure that there are no encumbrances, charges, encroachments, or other impediments to the sale. This normally takes two to three months.

The final step is for the vendor to pay for the transfer taxes and the government stamp duty.




Footnotes to Transaction Costs Table


The round trip transaction costs include all costs of buying and then re-selling a property - lawyers´ fees, notaries´ fees, registration fees, taxes, agents´ fees, etc.

Currency:
Barbados uses Barbadian Dollar (BBD), which is pegged to the US dollar at US$1:BBD2. Property value is BBD500,000.

Transfer Tax:
Transfer Tax has been reduced to 2.5% in 2008 from its previous rate of 7.5%. For purchase of house and land, the first BBD125,000 (US$62,500) is tax exempt.

Stamp Duty:
Stamp Duty is 1% purchase price.

Legal Fees:
Legal fees are around 1% to 2%, plus 17.5% VAT. Each party pays for their own lawyer.

LEGAL FEE

Property Value, BDD (US$) Fee
Up to 25,000 (US$12,500) 1,000 (US$500)
25,000 - 100,000 (US$50,000) 2.50%
100,000 - 200,000 (US$100,000) 1.50%
200,000 - 500,000 (US$250,000) 1.25%
Over 500,000 (US$250,000) 1%
Source: Global Property Guide

Real Estate Agent´s Fee:
Real estate agent´s commission is negotiable, typically at 5% plus 17.5% VAT.