The purchase of land requires a thorough verification of the condition of the land and compliance with the law. The more the land is worth the more you should invest in having it thoroughly inspected. Here is the usual procedure when buying land:
1. Verification of the ownership, legal and factual status of the land
- Check who is registered as the owner of the land (parcel) in the land register,
- Check that there are no encumbrances on the land, e.g. foreclosures, easements, liens or pre-emption rights, etc.
- Verify the actual condition – ground water levels, environmental loads, conduct a site visit, etc.
2. Verification of spatial planning information
- Check what activities can be carried out on the land according to the zoning plan.
- Find out if there are any protection zones on the land (e.g. water, energy, nature reserves).
3. Checking the access road and utilities
- The land should have legally secured access, both in law and in fact.
- Check the availability of utilities – electricity, water, sewerage, gas, or internet.
- You can get the available data for points 1 – 3 more quickly by obtaining a land certificate.
4. Pre-contractual preparation
- Request all relevant documents from the seller – e.g. purchase contracts, inheritance decisions, building permits.
- Have a legal analysis done – ideally by a lawyer who specializes in real estate.
- Negotiate the purchase price and secure payment terms – often notarial escrow or bank collection is used.
5. Signature of the Purchase Contract
- The contract of sale must include:
- the exact specification of the land (parcel number, cadastral area, etc.),
- the price and method of payment,
- the seller’s obligation to hand over the property and the buyer’s obligation to pay,
- the method of handing over the land,
- a declaration by the seller that there are no latent legal defects in the land.
- Treat energy override and other contract terms.
- The seller’s signatures must be notarized.
6. Proposal for entry into the cadastre
- After signing the contract of sale, it is necessary to file a petition for the registration of the ownership right at the cadastre (the basic rate of the fee is 100 euros).
- You become the owner of the land by registering it in the land register.
The purchase of land is one of the most challenging in terms of expertise, especially due to the large number of factors that affect the price and usability of the land. Invest in an expert.
