How To Buy Property in Mauritius
The 13 Steps to the Buying Process
- Confirm how much you can borrow by speaking to one of our mortgage brokers
- Open an account with a reputable Foreign Exchange dealer (ask about our panel of FX dealers)
- A minimum of US$500 000 will need to be invested in order to purchase a property in Mauritius as a foreigner. This will give the purchaser, spouse and children(under 24 years) permanent residence for as long as they own it.
- Agree on the price of the property and sign the Reservation Agreement.
- A holding deposit of around 5 - 15% of the purchase price will need to be paid into an escrow account.
- Allow for an additional 15 - 20 % on top of the purchase price which will include hidden costs such as legal fees, transfer tax and Notary fees.
- Arrange a mortgage.
- Arrange life insurance to cover the mortgage.
- Open a Mauritian bank account.
- Arrange building insurance (existing property only - not off-plan).
- You will then sign the Sales Agreement which will specify the time frame in which the sale should complete.
- Pay the balance of the asking price within the specified time frame and the Notary will prepare the conveyance document. Once this has been signed in the presence of the Notary, the document will be submitted to the Land Registry.
- Complete – Congratulations !!
Paying your deposit
Depending on if you are buying an existing property or new build, the deposit can range anywhere from 15 to 20%. At Worldwide Property Company we always encourage our clients to pay the deposit to the Notary, and not to an estate agent. This avoids any conflict of interest if you have to withdraw from the purchase for any reason.Preliminary Purchase Agreements
When purchasing a property, you will be required to sign a preliminary promissory buying and selling contract. Prior to this, the property registration certificate and the property tax document need to be obtained by your legal representative. The preliminary agreement will outline all the details of the property, as well as the details of the seller and buyer. If you are buying with finance, it’s very important to include specific details of your mortgage within the agreement. Mauritian law will ensure both parties are protected whereby if the purchaser pulls out of the agreement he forfeits the deposit, and if the seller withdraws then the purchaser has the right to take legal action. What type of property can I get a mortgage on? We can arrange mortgages for individuals or companies to buy…- Main homes
- Second or Holiday Homes
- Rental or Investment Properties
- Off-plan / New Build Properties
- Commercial Properties
- Equity Release mortgages are available
- Bridging Finance is also available
