Authored by the expert who managed and guided the team behind the Argentina Property Pack
Yes, the analysis of Buenos Aires' property market is included in our pack
Buenos Aires welcomes foreign buyers with open arms, and yes, you can legally own property in your own name here.
This guide walks you through what you can buy, what paperwork you need, and what costs to expect when purchasing residential property in Buenos Aires in 2026.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest rules, taxes, and market conditions in Buenos Aires.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Buenos Aires.
Insights
- Foreigners in Buenos Aires can buy apartments, houses, and PH units in their own name with the same ownership rights as Argentine citizens, which is more open than many Latin American countries.
- The CDI (tax identification key) is the single document that blocks more foreign purchases in Buenos Aires than any visa or residency issue, yet many buyers only learn about it at closing.
- Total closing costs in Buenos Aires in 2026 typically run between 6% and 10% of the purchase price, with stamp tax alone accounting for 2.70% to 3.50% depending on property value.
- Argentina's new citizenship-by-investment framework (Decreto 524/2025) is separate from simply buying a home, so purchasing an apartment in Palermo does not automatically fast-track your passport.
- Most Argentine banks require local residency, a DNI, and provable Argentine income before lending to foreigners, making cash purchases the norm for non-residents.
- Annual property taxes in Buenos Aires (ABL) typically work out to roughly 0.1% to 0.4% of market value, which is lower than many North American and European cities.
- The biggest ownership mistake foreigners make in Buenos Aires is paying large deposits on a boleto (private contract) without first confirming the seller can deliver a clean title and registered escritura.
- UVA-indexed mortgages are the standard product in Buenos Aires in 2026, with real interest rates ranging from about 6% to 10% on top of inflation indexation.
- Security zone restrictions that limit foreign land ownership rarely apply inside Buenos Aires city limits, but become relevant if you expand your search to border provinces.
- Buyer broker commissions in Buenos Aires commonly run 3% to 4% of the purchase price, a cost that many foreigners underestimate when budgeting.
What can I legally buy and truly own as a foreigner in Buenos Aires?
What property types can foreigners legally buy in Buenos Aires right now?
In January 2026, a foreign individual can generally buy and own residential property in Buenos Aires, including apartments (departamentos), PH units, houses (casas), and duplexes, in their own name with the same core ownership right as an Argentine citizen.
The main condition that changes for foreigners is not the property type itself, but the paperwork: you will almost always need a CDI (Clave de Identificacion), which is Argentina's tax identification key for people without a local CUIT or CUIL.
Banks, notaries, and real estate agents in Buenos Aires will also apply stricter anti-money-laundering and "source of funds" checks if you are a non-resident, so be prepared to document where your money comes from.
Beyond that, the process is largely the same as for locals: you negotiate a price, sign a reservation, complete due diligence, sign the boleto de compraventa, and then close with a public deed (escritura) before a notary.
Finally, please note that our pack about the property market in Buenos Aires is specifically tailored to foreigners.
Can I own land in my own name in Buenos Aires right now?
Yes, foreigners can own land in their own name in Buenos Aires, and if you buy a house you will own the land parcel outright, while buying an apartment or PH unit means you own a percentage share of the land and common areas through Argentina's propiedad horizontal system.
The main land restrictions that affect foreigners in Argentina apply outside Buenos Aires city, particularly in security or border zones (zonas de seguridad de fronteras) where special government authorization is required, but this is rarely relevant for purchases inside CABA.
If you later decide to buy rural land or property in border provinces like Misiones or Tierra del Fuego, you should check whether the parcel falls within a restricted zone that requires "previa conformidad" from the Interior Ministry.
As of 2026, what other key foreign-ownership rules or limits should I know in Buenos Aires?
As of early 2026, the main extra constraints for foreigners in Buenos Aires are practical and compliance-based rather than outright prohibitions: you need a valid CDI or CUIT, your funds must pass anti-money-laundering checks, and you must be ready to provide certified translations of foreign documents.
There is no foreign-ownership quota for apartments or condos in Buenos Aires, so you do not need to worry about buildings being "full" of foreign owners or needing special approval from the building consortium.
One key registration requirement is that your purchase must be formalized through a public deed (escritura publica) before an escribano and then registered with the CABA Property Registry; without this registration, your ownership is not fully opposable to third parties.
A notable recent change is Argentina's Decreto 524/2025, which created a formal citizenship-by-investment pathway, but this is a separate regime from simply buying a home and requires meeting specific investment thresholds defined in the decree.
What's the biggest ownership mistake foreigners make in Buenos Aires right now?
The single biggest ownership mistake foreigners make in Buenos Aires is paying a large deposit on a boleto de compraventa (private purchase contract) before confirming that the seller can actually deliver a clean title and complete the escritura registration.
If you make this mistake, you may find yourself stuck with a property that has liens, embargos, inheritance disputes, or other title defects that prevent you from ever registering your ownership, leaving you with a piece of paper instead of real legal protection.
Other classic pitfalls in Buenos Aires include underestimating closing costs (especially broker commissions), not getting a CDI sorted before you need it, and assuming that a signed reservation or boleto gives you the same security as a registered escritura.
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Argentina. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
Which visa or residency status changes what I can do in Buenos Aires?
Do I need a specific visa to buy property in Buenos Aires right now?
In January 2026, you generally do not need a specific visa or residency permit to buy residential property in Buenos Aires, and many foreigners successfully purchase while visiting on a tourist visa or even a visa-free entry.
The most common administrative requirement that blocks non-resident buyers in Buenos Aires is not having a CDI (tax identification key), which you need to appear in the deed and complete the purchase, so getting this sorted early is essential.
Yes, you need a local tax ID before buying property in Buenos Aires: if you do not have an Argentine CUIT or CUIL, the standard path is to apply for a CDI through the tax authority (ARCA, formerly AFIP) using your passport and proof of address.
A typical document set for foreign buyers in Buenos Aires includes your valid passport, CDI certificate, proof of funds origin, and any power of attorney if you cannot attend the signing in person.
Does buying property help me get residency and citizenship in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, buying a home in Buenos Aires does not automatically grant you residency or citizenship; property ownership and immigration status are handled through completely separate legal frameworks in Argentina.
Argentina does have a citizenship-by-investment pathway established through Decreto 524/2025, but this requires meeting specific investment thresholds and procedures defined in the decree, which is different from simply purchasing an apartment for personal use.
If you want residency without the investment pathway, common alternatives include the rentista visa (for people with passive income), the pensionado visa (for retirees), or employment-based permits, each with their own documentary requirements and renewal terms.
We give you all the details you need about the different pathways to get residency and citizenship in Buenos Aires here.
Can I legally rent out property on my visa in Buenos Aires right now?
Your visa status in Buenos Aires does not generally prevent you from renting out property you own, because owning real estate and earning rental income are treated as separate matters from your immigration status.
You do not need to live in Argentina to rent out your Buenos Aires property, and many foreign owners manage their rentals from abroad through local property managers or agencies who handle tenant relations and maintenance.
The key things foreigners must know when renting out in Buenos Aires are tax compliance (non-residents are taxed on Argentina-source income), having a local representative for paperwork, and understanding that short-term rentals may have additional city regulations.
We cover everything there is to know about buying and renting out in Buenos Aires here.
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How does the buying process actually work step-by-step in Buenos Aires?
What are the exact steps to buy property in Buenos Aires right now?
The standard sequence to buy property in Buenos Aires goes like this: make an offer, sign a reservation (reserva) with a small deposit, conduct due diligence on title and liens, sign the boleto de compraventa with a larger deposit, then close with the escritura publica before a notary and register your ownership.
You do not have to be physically present for every step in Buenos Aires, as many actions can be done through a power of attorney (poder), but most foreigners choose to attend the final escritura signing to simplify identification and last-minute logistics.
The step that typically makes the deal legally binding for both buyer and seller in Buenos Aires is the boleto de compraventa, which creates enforceable obligations and usually involves a deposit of around 30% of the purchase price.
From accepted offer to final registration in Buenos Aires, expect a timeline of roughly 30 to 90 days depending on how quickly due diligence clears, whether financing is involved, and how fast the notary can schedule the closing.
We have a document entirely dedicated to the whole buying process our pack about properties in Buenos Aires.
Is it mandatory to get a lawyer or a notary to buy a property in Buenos Aires right now?
A notary (escribano) is effectively mandatory in Buenos Aires because the escritura publica that transfers ownership must be executed before a licensed escribano, and this is the standard instrument recognized by the property registry.
The key difference is that the notary in Buenos Aires handles the formal deed, registry filings, and tax payments, while a lawyer (abogado) reviews contracts, negotiates terms, and provides independent legal advice to protect your interests specifically.
One key item to include in your lawyer or notary engagement scope is a full title search and lien check before you sign the boleto, so you know exactly what you are buying before committing significant funds.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Argentina versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What checks should I run so I don't buy a problem property in Buenos Aires?
How do I verify title and ownership history in Buenos Aires right now?
The official registry you should use to verify title and ownership history in Buenos Aires is the Registro de la Propiedad Inmueble de Capital Federal (CABA Property Registry), which holds the authoritative records of who owns what and what encumbrances exist.
The key document to request is a certificado de dominio e inhibiciones, which shows the current registered owner, the chain of ownership, and whether any legal restrictions prevent the seller from transferring the property.
A realistic look-back period for ownership history checks in Buenos Aires is typically 20 years, which helps uncover any inheritance disputes, broken chains of title, or historical liens that could resurface.
A clear red flag that should stop or pause your purchase is finding that the property has an unresolved embargo (attachment), an active mortgage not being discharged at closing, or a seller who is under inhibicion (legally restricted from disposing of assets).
You will find here the list of classic mistakes people make when buying a property in Buenos Aires.
How do I confirm there are no liens in Buenos Aires right now?
The standard way to confirm there are no liens or encumbrances on a property in Buenos Aires is to request an informe de dominio from the CABA Property Registry, which your notary will typically order as part of the closing package.
One common type of lien buyers should specifically ask about in Buenos Aires is an embargo (judicial attachment), which can be placed on a property due to unpaid debts, lawsuits, or tax obligations of the current or previous owner.
The single best form of written proof that shows lien status in Buenos Aires is the certificado de dominio con inhibiciones issued by the Property Registry, which provides an official snapshot of all registered encumbrances at a specific date.
How do I check zoning and permitted use in Buenos Aires right now?
The authority you should use to check zoning and permitted use for a property in Buenos Aires is the City Government's Urban Development office, which publishes the Codigo Urbanistico and related annexes that define what you can and cannot do with a property.
The document that typically confirms the zoning classification in Buenos Aires is the plancheta or zoning certificate, which identifies the district, permitted uses, building heights, and any special overlays like heritage protection that apply to your specific parcel.
A common zoning pitfall foreign buyers miss in Buenos Aires is assuming they can convert a residential unit into a short-term rental or professional office without checking whether the zoning district and building regulations actually permit that use.
Buying real estate in Buenos Aires can be risky
An increasing number of foreign investors are showing interest. However, 90% of them will make mistakes. Avoid the pitfalls with our comprehensive guide.
Can I get a mortgage as a foreigner in Buenos Aires, and on what terms?
Do banks lend to foreigners for homes in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, some Argentine banks do offer mortgages to foreigners, but most require you to have legal residency (DNI), provable Argentine income, and an established local banking relationship, which means non-residents typically buy with cash.
Foreigners who do qualify for mortgages in Buenos Aires commonly see loan-to-value ratios in the range of 50% to 75%, meaning you will need a substantial down payment even if you meet all eligibility criteria.
The single most common eligibility requirement that determines whether a foreigner qualifies for a mortgage in Buenos Aires is having verifiable Argentine income, such as a salary deposited into the lending bank, because lenders want to see local repayment capacity.
You can also read our latest update about mortgage and interest rates in Argentina.
Which banks are most foreigner-friendly in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, the banks most commonly cited as foreigner-friendly for mortgages in Buenos Aires are Santander Argentina, BBVA Argentina, and Banco Hipotecario, all of which have active retail mortgage products and processes that can work for foreign residents.
The feature that makes these banks more foreigner-friendly is that they have established procedures for clients with DNI who may have non-Argentine documentation, and their UVA mortgage products are openly marketed to retail customers.
The general rule is that these banks will lend to foreigners who have obtained legal residency and a DNI, but lending to true non-residents (people without Argentine residency) remains extremely rare and typically requires special arrangements.
We actually have a specific document about how to get a mortgage as a foreigner in our pack covering real estate in Buenos Aires.
What mortgage rates are foreigners offered in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreigners who qualify for mortgages in Buenos Aires can expect UVA-indexed loans with real interest rates ranging from about 6% to 10% per year on top of the inflation adjustment, depending on the bank and your credit profile.
Argentina's mortgage market in 2026 is dominated by UVA (inflation-indexed) products rather than traditional fixed-rate loans, so the distinction is less about fixed versus variable and more about which bank offers the lowest real rate margin above the UVA index.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Argentina compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
What will taxes, fees, and ongoing costs look like in Buenos Aires?
What are the total closing costs as a percent in Buenos Aires in 2026?
In 2026, total buyer-side closing costs in Buenos Aires typically run between 6% and 10% of the purchase price, depending on the property value, whether you pay a buyer broker commission, and how complex the transaction is.
The realistic low-to-high range that covers most standard transactions in Buenos Aires is 6% to 8% if you are under the stamp tax threshold and negotiate broker fees, or 8% to 10% if you pay full rates on everything.
The specific fee categories that make up total closing costs in Buenos Aires include stamp tax (Impuesto de Sellos), broker commission, notary fees, property registry costs, and certificate fees for title and lien searches.
The single biggest contributor to closing costs in Buenos Aires is typically the stamp tax, which runs 3.50% of the transaction value in 2026, or 2.70% if the property value is at or below 226 million ARS according to the CABA tax annex.
If you want to go into more details, we also have a blog article detailing all the property taxes and fees in Buenos Aires.
What annual property tax should I budget in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, annual property taxes (ABL) in Buenos Aires for a typical apartment work out to roughly 0.1% to 0.4% of market value per year, which translates to somewhere between 500 and 3,000 USD (or 450 to 2,800 EUR) annually for most mid-range properties, though the exact amount depends heavily on the fiscal valuation.
Annual property tax in Buenos Aires is assessed based on the Valuacion Fiscal Homogenea (VFH), which is the city's standardized fiscal valuation of your property, and this figure is often much lower than the actual market price you paid.
How is rental income taxed for foreigners in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, non-resident foreigners earning rental income from Buenos Aires property are generally subject to Argentine income tax on that Argentina-source income, with effective rates that can vary based on how you structure the rental and whether tax treaties apply.
The basic requirement is that foreign owners must either register with the tax authority (ARCA) and file locally, or arrange for a local withholding agent to handle tax obligations, and keeping clean records of income and deductible expenses is essential for compliance.
What insurance is common and how much in Buenos Aires in 2026?
As of early 2026, annual insurance premiums for a standard home policy in Buenos Aires typically range from about 50,000 to 200,000 ARS per year (roughly 50 to 200 USD or 45 to 180 EUR at current rates), depending on coverage limits and property type.
The most common type of property insurance coverage that owners carry in Buenos Aires is fire (incendio) plus related perils, often bundled with liability coverage, and for apartments the building consortium may already have a master policy for common areas.
The biggest factor that makes insurance premiums higher or lower for the same property type in Buenos Aires is the coverage limit you choose and whether you are insuring just contents and liability or also adding coverage for the building structure itself.
Get the full checklist for your due diligence in Buenos Aires
Don't repeat the same mistakes others have made before you. Make sure everything is in order before signing your sales contract.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Buenos Aires, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can ... and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina.gob.ar - CDI | Official government page for the tax ID foreigners need for registrable purchases. | We used it to confirm CDI requirements and accepted documents. We also used it to explain why CDI matters for non-residents. |
| DNM RADEX | Official online platform for Argentine residency applications. | We used it to explain how residency is applied for in practice. We used it to separate property buying rules from immigration rules. |
| CABA Property Registry | Government registry for property rights in Buenos Aires city. | We used it to explain what real ownership means in Argentina. We used it to anchor due diligence checks for title and liens. |
| RPI CABA Online Services | Registry's official description of available certificate services. | We used it to describe the concrete documents used in practice. We used it to keep the checks section practical and specific. |
| Boletin Oficial - Decreto 524/2025 | Official gazette publication of the citizenship investment decree. | We used it to explain what citizenship by investment means procedurally. We used it to clarify this is separate from simply buying a home. |
| InfoLEG | Government's official legal information system with primary legal texts. | We used it to confirm the legal framework for investment-linked naturalization. We used it to avoid overstating what buying property does for citizenship. |
| GCBA Codigo Urbanistico | City's official code library for zoning and building rules. | We used it to explain where permitted use and zoning constraints come from. We used it to define what buyers should verify before purchasing. |
| Decreto-ley 15.385/44 | Primary legal source on border and security zones. | We used it to flag land restrictions that can affect foreigners outside CABA. We used it to separate Buenos Aires city reality from edge cases. |
| Colegio de Escribanos CABA | Notaries' professional body linking to official tax law publications. | We used it to locate the 2026 tax law annex for stamp tax rates. We used it to extract exact closing cost percentages. |
| CABA 2026 Ley Impositiva Annex | Primary legal annex containing actual 2026 stamp tax rates. | We used it to quantify the real stamp tax rate of 3.50% and reduced rate of 2.70%. We used it as the numeric anchor for closing costs. |
| CABA Boletin Oficial - VFH | City's official gazette entry on fiscal valuation methodology. | We used it to explain what property taxes are based on in Buenos Aires. We used it to avoid rules of thumb that ignore actual calculation methods. |
| BCRA Statistics Portal | Argentina's central bank and authoritative source for credit statistics. | We used it to ground the mortgage section in official system-wide data. We used it to triangulate bank marketing against macro reality. |
| Santander Argentina | Major bank's primary source for live mortgage product constraints. | We used it to show how mortgages are positioned in practice. We used it to explain why most foreigners need residency and local income to qualify. |
| BBVA Argentina | Major bank's primary source for mortgage availability. | We used it as a second bank cross-check that mortgages are offered. We used it to support discussion of foreigner-friendly banks. |
| La Nacion - Commissions | Major national newspaper citing the city's legal framework for commissions. | We used it to triangulate typical buyer broker commission ranges. We used it to quantify a major hidden cost foreigners often underestimate. |
| Bancor Insurance Pricing | Published insurer pricing tables showing real premium schedules. | We used it to sanity-check insurance cost estimates. We used it to express costs as a percentage range tied to coverage limits. |
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Argentina. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
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