Turks & Caicos Is.: Guide to Buying Costs and Procedures
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Buying costs are high in Turks & Caicos
How high are realtors' and lawyers' fees in Turks & Caicos Is.? What about other property purchase costs?
Transaction Costs |
||
| Who Pays? | ||
| Stamp Duty | 5.00% - 9.75% | buyer |
| Legal Fees | 0.85% - 2.00% 0.85% - 2.00% |
buyer seller |
| Real Estate Agent's Commission | 6.0% - 10.0% | seller |
| Costs paid by buyer | 5.85% - 11.75% | |
| Costs paid by seller | 6.85% - 12.00% | |
| ROUNDTRIP TRANSACTION COSTS | 12.70% - 23.75% | |
| See Footnotes Source: Global Property Guide |
||
How difficult is the property purchase process in Turks & Caicos Is.?
There are no restrictions on foreign ownership. Foreigners wishing to buy property in Turks and Caicos need not ask permission from the Government.
It is very helpful to have an agent and a lawyer when entering into a real estate transaction in Turks and Caicos. When a property has been chosen and a price has been settled, a sales agreement is normally signed by both parties. This requires the buyer to provide a 10% deposit to secure the transaction. The transaction is expected to close within 30 days from the date of the agreement.
The seller's lawyer usually provides the buyer's lawyer with the transfer document in exchange for the outstanding balance in the sale price in trust. The buyer's lawyer then submits the document for registration, where the property's value is assessed (may be different from the sale price) and the Stamp Duty is determined and paid. Once registered, the balance is released to the seller.
Likewise, the real estate agent's commission depends on the type of property. If it is an undeveloped land, commission is at 10%. If the property is developed, commission is at 6%.
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:
The Turks and Caicos Islands uses the US Dollar (USD).
Property is located in Providenciales, also known as Provo.
Stamp Duty on Conveyance:
Stamp duty or transfer tax is higher in Providenciales (at 6.5% or 9.75% depending upon the property value) compared to less developed islands (5%). Properties worth US$25,000 or below are exempt from stamp duty. It typically paid by the buyer.
STAMP DUTY TAX |
|
| PROPERTY VALUE, US$ | STAMP DUTY |
| Less than US$25,000 | nil |
| US$25,000 - US$75,000 | 6.5% on Providenciales 5% on other islands |
| Over US$75,000 | 9.75% on Providenciales 5% on other islands |
Legal Fees:
Legal fees are generally negotiable, however, the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Association recommends the following scale.
LEGAL FEES |
|
| PROPERTY VALUE, US$ | LEGAL FEES |
| First US$100,000 | 2.00% |
| Over US$100,000 | 1.50% |
Some lawyers are offer legal fees of 1% for properties worth US$700,000 and above, and 0.85% for values above US$1 million. Some lawyers charge a minimum amount of US$1,250. Each party pays for their own lawyer.
Real Estate Agent's Fee:
Real estate agent commission is 10% on undeveloped land 6% on developed land and condominiums. It is typically paid by the seller.
Turks & Caicos Is. - more data and information
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