Buying property in Paraguay comes down to six stages: reserving the unit, legal checks, signing the contract with a down payment, the construction period for an off-plan property, the key handover on delivery, and finally obtaining the property title. That title, made official by the public deed (escritura), comes later: in Paraguay it is usually issued about a year after delivery, the time the municipality needs to release it. No prior residency is required, a valid passport is enough, and the whole journey can be completed with or without being on the ground. Here is the sequence in order, with the timelines we actually see and who does what.
This guide is the practical companion to our guide to buying property in Paraguay as a foreigner, which covers the conditions, ownership rights and fees. Here we follow the timeline, from the first transfer to the key handover.
Step 1: select the property and reserve it
It all starts with choosing the unit: neighborhood, floor, exposure, surface area, and above all the fit with your goal (resale gain or rental income). This is where most of your investment's future performance is decided, far more than at the negotiation stage.
The reservation is then made by bank transfer to the developer's account, with a deposit usually around 1,000 USD, varying by developer and project. The unit is blocked as soon as the proof of transfer arrives: no one else can buy it while you finalize the checks. One important point about this deposit: if you simply change your mind, it is generally not refunded. However, if the purchase falls through because of the developer, or because the origin of your funds is rejected during the checks, the deposit is returned to you. Some developers go further and refund it even in the face of a life event (separation, death and so on), in good faith. The exact terms vary from one developer to the next: read them before you transfer.
Step 2: the checks before signing
The review of the project and the developer (land title, permits, delivery track record) is done upstream, before we even put a project in front of you. We only work with developers whose situation has already been verified, so this part is settled before your reservation and you do not have to handle it yourself. The validity of the titles is also guaranteed by the escribano publico, the Paraguayan equivalent of a notary, at the moment of the deed.
That leaves one step that concerns you directly: the anti-money-laundering check on the origin of your funds, carried out with the SEPRELAD agency. Expect one to three weeks depending on the project. It is the only mandatory step specific to Paraguay, and it is systematic.
Step 3: the purchase contract and the down payment
Once the checks are cleared, you sign the sales contract and pay a down payment, in practice around 20% of the price. The contract binds you and secures your acquisition from the moment it is signed: unit identified, price fixed, payment schedule attached. If you are not on site, this contract can be signed remotely, in digital format, without needing a proxy.
The balance then follows the developer's payment schedule, often spread across the whole construction, which avoids a bank loan. The exact terms depend on the project and deserve an article of their own.
Step 4: the construction period
For an off-plan purchase, this stage is the longest: you pay the installments set in the contract while the building goes up. Construction delays exist, here as everywhere. Some developers provide compensation per business day of delay, but this is not systematic: check what your contract says before signing.
This is also when distance makes itself felt. The developer sends you regular updates on the progress of the site, and our team stays available to answer your questions throughout the construction.
Step 5: the key handover
On delivery, you collect the keys and the property becomes usable: it can be furnished and put up for rent right away. Delivery also opens a window to raise issues: you have a set period to inspect the apartment, report any defect and require the necessary corrections, as long as they are consistent with the committed plans and the level of finish set in the contract. This is the moment to check that what is delivered matches what was sold, and if you are not on site, we can carry out this inspection for you.
The possible rental strategies and the returns that go with them are detailed in our Paraguay investment guide.
Step 6: the public deed and the property title
The public deed (escritura), which legally formalizes the transfer of ownership before the escribano, takes place after delivery. In Paraguay, the property title is usually issued about a year after the key handover: this is the standard administrative timeline at the municipality. If you do not have a Paraguayan cedula, this is not a problem: the notary records your passport details directly in the deed.
On the budget side, plan for closing costs of about 3% of the price: notary fees on the progressive scale set by Ley 1307/87 (0.75 to 2% of the declared price), plus roughly 1 to 2% in registration and transfer fees. The final title is entered in the public registry at the end of this process.
Who does what at each stage
The table below sums up how roles are split, the way we handle it with our clients.
The real timelines to remember
- Reservation: the unit is blocked as soon as the transfer proof arrives.
- SEPRELAD check: one to three weeks depending on the project.
- Contract and down payment: the reservation usually stays valid for a month at most, so the contract is signed within that window.
- Construction: depends on the size of the project. For a new launch, expect 3 to 5 years in general, 3 years being the most common. A building already near completion takes much less.
- Key handover: on delivery of the property.
- Public deed and final title: usually about a year after delivery, depending on the municipality's timelines.
Exact timelines and terms depend on the developer and are confirmed case by case with the notary. Be wary of anyone who promises you dates to the day.
Why work with a real estate agency in Paraguay?
Our support is free for you: we are paid by the developer, not by the buyer. So you benefit from all our work at no extra cost.
Above all, buying in Paraguay does not work the way it does in Europe. The standards are not the same, some processes take time, and local contacts are not always used to the pace or the level of communication a foreign buyer expects. That is where our experience changes everything: we liaise with the developer, smooth the exchanges and handle the back-and-forth to make your life simpler, from first contact to the key handover.
Let's talk about your project
Every transaction has its specifics: type of property, developer's schedule, the buyer's personal situation. Our support covers the full journey described here, from selecting the property to the key handover. Write to us: we are an international team based in Asuncion.
This article is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Fees, timelines and requirements may change: always confirm the current conditions with a licensed Paraguayan notary before making any commitment.