As a foreigner, can I buy real estate in Nicaragua?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
The constitution of Nicaragua guarantees equal protection under the law for Americans buying real estate in Nicaragua. Title issues remain a problem so it is critical to have a title opinion from a major law firm here before buying a property. First American Title used to provide policies here, but they have closed their offices here. Some developments have a master policy on their property. While you won’t get a title policy by buying in a master planned...
The constitution of Nicaragua guarantees equal protection under the law for Americans buying real estate in Nicaragua. Title issues remain a problem so it is critical to have a title opinion from a major law firm here before buying a property. First American Title used to provide policies here, but they have closed their offices here. Some developments have a master policy on their property. While you won’t get a title policy by buying in a master planned community, you can feel comfortable with the title of the master property and hence your lot, home, or condo. That said, you should still obtain your own title review.
Posted January 19, 2014
Sergio Corrales - E. CASTILLO ADVISORS
Foreigners can buy land in Nicaragua with the same rights as nationals, with only one exception. A recently approved "Border Law" prohibits foreigners to acquire real estate properties in a five kilometer strip from both borders (Honduras and Costa Rica). You can own land as individuals (in your personal names), in a foreign entity like a corporation, a non profit association, a Trust, IRAs, etc.
Be aware that we have a different legal system (civil...
Foreigners can buy land in Nicaragua with the same rights as nationals, with only one exception. A recently approved "Border Law" prohibits foreigners to acquire real estate properties in a five kilometer strip from both borders (Honduras and Costa Rica). You can own land as individuals (in your personal names), in a foreign entity like a corporation, a non profit association, a Trust, IRAs, etc.
Be aware that we have a different legal system (civil law) that what you may be accustomed to (common law), so some things may work differently from what you expect, so getting legal advice from an attorney that not only speaks your language, but can also understand your expectations is key.
Posted February 19, 2014
Brett DeGreen - Century Twenty One Gold Coast Realty Nicaragua
As a foreigner you are welcome to purchase land in Nicaragua under your name. Many clients chose to purchase the property under a Nicaraguan LLC called an S.A. or C.L. The S.A. or C.L. offer some financial protection, and it also makes the transfer of the property in the future easier.
As a foreigner you are welcome to purchase land in Nicaragua under your name. Many clients chose to purchase the property under a Nicaraguan LLC called an S.A. or C.L. The S.A. or C.L. offer some financial protection, and it also makes the transfer of the property in the future easier.
Posted June 16, 2014
Daniel Snider - Snider's Realty Nicaragua
Under the Nicaraguan constitution, foreigners
have the same property rights as citizens.
have the same property rights as citizens. Having had thousands of clients over the past 19 years, I would say about 98% of the real estate we sold has been to foreigners, mostly American or Canadian. Over the past few years a greater number of "internationals" have been buying; mainly Europeans and South Americans, setting trends and making Nicaragua a popular destination for all sorts of foreigners.
Under the Nicaraguan constitution, foreigners have the same property rights as citizens.
have the same property rights as citizens. Having had thousands of clients over the past 19 years, I would say about 98% of the real estate we sold has been to foreigners, mostly American or Canadian. Over the past few years a greater number of "internationals" have been buying; mainly Europeans and South Americans, setting trends and making Nicaragua a popular destination for all sorts of foreigners.
Posted July 25, 2014
David Smith - Farmland Assets
As a foreigner, you can buy fee simple 
title and it’s in your name.
title and it’s in your name. Furthermore, you can buy property in Nicaragua without being a resident.
As a foreigner, you can buy fee simple title and it’s in your name.
title and it’s in your name. Furthermore, you can buy property in Nicaragua without being a resident.
Posted August 9, 2014
Gabriel Sánchez - PRONicaragua
As a foreigner, you can definitely buy real estate in Nicaragua, either commercial or residential. There are equal rights for foreigners and locals in land purchases.
All you would have to do is make sure that every process of registering the land is done correctly and your paperwork is in order.
As a foreigner, you can definitely buy real estate in Nicaragua, either commercial or residential. There are equal rights for foreigners and locals in land purchases.
All you would have to do is make sure that every process of registering the land is done correctly and your paperwork is in order.
Posted November 13, 2014
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
You can buy real estate in Nicaragua, even as a foreigner. In fact, 90% of my buyers are from other countries. There are no restrictions for any citizen of the world to come to Nicaragua and buy a property. You don’t even have to live here full time. You just have to bring your passport, review the title, you can send the money and we’ll buy the property in your name, register the property in your name, and you start paying taxes in your name. Then that property actually...You can buy real estate in Nicaragua, even as a foreigner. In fact, 90% of my buyers are from other countries. There are no restrictions for any citizen of the world to come to Nicaragua and buy a property. You don’t even have to live here full time. You just have to bring your passport, review the title, you can send the money and we’ll buy the property in your name, register the property in your name, and you start paying taxes in your name. Then that property actually becomes your residence here in Nicaragua, which is good. If you buy a property that costs $30,000 or more that is a good thing to use once you are applying for a residency here in Nicaragua. The minimum investment that you have to prove in Nicaragua is $30,000 to get a certain type of permanent resident visa. If you are married and you are applying for a residency in Nicaragua, you don’t have to buy an investment of $30,000 for each spouse. You, your spouse, and your kids can use the same property as your minimum investment requirement. The minimum investment requirement is $30,000 per person or for the whole family.
Posted December 16, 2014
Eddy Marin-Ruiz - The Mortgage Store Nicaragua
Yes, foreigners can buy real estate in Nicaragua. When you buy property in Nicaragua, it is a fee simple title so you own it outright; it’s not a lease like in Mexico. One of the biggest misconceptions in buying property in Nicaragua and I believe it’s true for most Latin America is that Nicaragua has the same property rights as in Mexico, which allows you to only lease the property up to 99 years if you are not a Mexican citizen. In Nicaragua, you can own a property and...Yes, foreigners can buy real estate in Nicaragua. When you buy property in Nicaragua, it is a fee simple title so you own it outright; it’s not a lease like in Mexico. One of the biggest misconceptions in buying property in Nicaragua and I believe it’s true for most Latin America is that Nicaragua has the same property rights as in Mexico, which allows you to only lease the property up to 99 years if you are not a Mexican citizen. In Nicaragua, you can own a property and you will have a fee simple title, which means you own it outright as a foreigner. You don’t have to hold citizenship in Nicaragua to own property. You don’t have to be a legal resident to own property in Nicaragua. You can be a total foreigner and buy. You also have the same rights as any Nicaraguan. There have been several laws here in Nicaragua implemented by the government that protects foreigners. I would argue that foreigners have more rights than locals, which to me is an indication that the government is promoting at growth as far as foreigners buying properties. As an example, expedited resolution laws have been passed through Congress here in Nicaragua recently. We have tax benefits and tax breaks for incomes earned in Nicaragua up to 10 years if you are investing and you have 30% or 40% of it reinvested in Nicaragua, they will provide you with several more years of tax benefits. There are definitely more and more laws being passed protecting foreigners than locals.
(Seaside bluff near San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Posted July 22, 2015