After purchase and registration, you'll receive keys and take possession. Next steps include transferring utilities to your name, setting up building management payments if it's an apartment, getting home insurance, and—if you're renting it out—registering for tourist tax and obtaining any required permits. Your lawyer or agent can guide you through the administrative bits.

Rental income is taxed at 15% on gross receipts if you're renting short-term (tourist rentals), or you can opt for taxation on net income after expenses for long-term rentals. You'll also pay municipal tourist tax (€1 per night per guest in high season, €0.50 in low season) and need to register your rental with the tax authorities and tourism directorate.

Annual property tax is quite low—just 0.25% of the property's assessed value per year. The assessed value is typically well below market value, so you might pay €200-500 annually on a coastal apartment worth €200,000. It's collected by your local municipality and is one of Montenegro's more affordable ongoing costs.

Notary fees are set by official tariff and scale with your purchase price. For most residential properties, expect €350-€1,000 plus 21% VAT—so roughly €423-€1,210 total. A €250,000 property runs about €532 in base fees. There are also small charges for document copies and administrative filing, so your final notary bill might be slightly higher.

For resale properties, you'll pay 3% Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) on the purchase price. New builds from developers are zero-rated for RETT but include 21% VAT in the price—though developers can usually reclaim this VAT. Either way, budget around 3% of the purchase price for transfer taxes unless it's a new build where VAT is already included.

The notary doesn't receive or hold the money directly. Instead, the seller must confirm in writing to the notary that they've received the full purchase price. Only after the notary receives this written confirmation (and verifies tax obligations are met) will they issue the Clausula Intabulandi. Some transactions use bank confirmations for added security.

Yes, if you're married or in a registered partnership, you typically need your spouse's or partner's written consent to sell property in Montenegro, even if the property is registered solely in your name. This protects both parties' interests under matrimonial property rules. Your notary will confirm the specific requirements for your situation.

The Clausula Intabulandi is the notary's official confirmation that all legal and financial obligations have been met, allowing the property to be registered in your name. The notary issues it only after verifying you've paid the full price and all taxes. It's your green light for cadastre registration—without it, you can't become the legal owner.

Every property and owner has specific numbers that appear on contracts: your JMBG (personal ID), the seller's JMBG or company registration, and the property's cadastral parcel number (katastarska parcela/čestica). These link everything in the official registries and are essential for registration and tax purposes.

No, Montenegro doesn't have a title insurance system like the US or UK. Instead, buyers rely on comprehensive legal due diligence—your lawyer or notary checks the cadastre, ownership history, encumbrances, and permits before you commit. It's a different system, but with proper checks it's just as secure.

It depends on where your documents were issued. If you're from a Hague Convention country (which includes most Western countries), you need an apostille. If not, your documents need consular legalisation. Either way, they'll also need certified translation by a sworn court translator in Montenegro.

Your lawyer requests an official extract (List nepokretnosti) from the Real Estate Cadastre, which shows current ownership, any mortgages or liens, property boundaries, and legal description. The notary also verifies the seller's identity and legal capacity. This due diligence typically takes a few days and costs around €18-25 for the cadastre extract.

You obtain a JMBG through the local Police Directorate (MUP) by presenting your passport, proof of property ownership, and completing a simple application. The process typically takes a few days, and you'll need this number for tax declarations and property registration—even without residency.

Yes, buying property can be a route to temporary residency in Montenegro, but the rules are stricter than they used to be.

In most cases, possession transfers to the buyer after the full purchase price has been paid and the parties agree that the buyer can take over the property.

There is no single mandatory rule in law, but best practice for significant transactions is that the deposit is held by a neutral party, usually the notary.

For a straightforward resale apartment with clean paperwork, the buying process can often be completed within 3-6 weeks. More complex transactions, new builds, or mortgage-financed purchases can take longer.

Some banks do lend to foreigners, but conditions are tighter—lower loan-to-value ratios and stricter income requirements. Many foreign buyers finance through their home country or pay cash.

Officially, everything is in euros. You can convert from your home currency before sending, or in some cases settle using cryptocurrency if both parties and the notary agree—but the contract price and taxes are always euro-based.

Beyond the purchase price and transfer tax, budget for notary fees, translation, legal fees, and potentially agency commission—together, these typically add 2-4% to your total cost.

No. Most foreign buyers use a Power of Attorney to authorize someone here—your lawyer, NT Realty, or another trusted representative—to sign on your behalf.

A Power of Attorney is a legal document by which you authorize another person to act on your behalf. In property transactions, it allows your representative to handle everything from signing contracts to managing post-completion steps.

Significantly lower in most categories—especially dining out, groceries, and utilities—though imported goods and private healthcare can narrow the gap. Overall, expect to live comfortably on 30-50% less than you'd spend in London, Munich, or major US cities.

In coastal towns and tourist areas, English is widely spoken—shops, restaurants, real estate agents, and many service providers communicate comfortably in English. Inland and in smaller villages, you'll need more Montenegrin or patience with translation apps.

Very safe. Violent crime is rare, and most expats—including families and solo women—report feeling more relaxed here than in larger Western cities.

It takes effort, but it's very doable. The expat community is welcoming and growing, and if you put yourself out there—coworking spaces, sports clubs, school networks—you'll build connections fairly quickly.

Life here is noticeably slower, warmer, and more outdoors-focused than in most Western cities. Expect strong coffee, long lunches, genuine hospitality, and a rhythm that takes some adjustment—but most people find it refreshing once they settle in.

By convention, the buyer usually pays both the notary fees and the sworn court translator fees, though this can be negotiated between parties.

Yes, and it's more straightforward than most people expect. Montenegro welcomes foreign buyers—both EU and non-EU—and you can own property in your own name without needing residency or a local company in most cases.