Real Estate Transactions in Uruguay: Public Notary Guide
The sale and purchase of real estate in Uruguay — whether a house, apartment, or land — is one of the most important notarial procedures. The public notary chosen by the buyer verifies the chain of titles for the last 30 years and certifies the absence of liens before executing the deed.
Typical stages of a real estate transaction
- Reservation receipt (optional).
- Purchase agreement with a 30-60 day term.
- Title search by the public notary.
- Request for registry and cadastral certificates.
- Signing of the public deed of sale at the notary office or bank.
- Registration with the Property Registry.
Real estate purchase with a mortgage loan
When the purchase is financed with a mortgage loan, the notary coordinates with the bank the simultaneous signing of the sale deed and the mortgage deed. We work with all banks in Uruguay: BROU (Banco República), Santander, Itaú, HSBC, Scotiabank, BBVA, Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay (BHU), Heritage, Citibank, and credit unions such as FUCAC and ACAC.
Required documents
- Identity documents of buyer and seller.
- Property title deed.
- Updated cadastral certificate.
- Registry certificates (liens, restrictions).
- Certificate of property tax and municipal tax payments up to date.
- Approved survey plan.
- Bank approval (if financed through BROU, Santander, Itaú, etc.).
Costs of a real estate deed
Costs include: public notary fees, professional stamps, contributions to the Notary Association, registration with the Property Registry, and ITP (Property Transfer Tax) of 2% borne by each party. When the transaction includes a bank mortgage, appraisal fees from the bank may also apply.
Related articles
- Mortgages in Uruguay: the notary's role
- Deeds with banks in Uruguay: BROU, Santander, Itaú, and more
- Property donations in Uruguay
- Probate in Uruguay