Real Estate Advisory Services in Azerbaijan

Alliance Law Center’s (ALC) Real Estate Transaction and Advisory Group guides you through all the phases of real estate transactions, whether you buy or sell.

We provide accuracy, clarity and foresight throughout real estate due diligence.

Our services include:

1. Real estate M&A advisory (buy-side and sell-side);
2. Legal expertise before the sale of land plots, hotels, factories, industrial enterprises and other properties;
3. Technical/environmental due diligence;
4. Investor solicitation/auction and bid management;
5. Data room/document management;
6. Fairness and solvency opinions;
7. Sale-leaseback advisory;
8. Advice to foreigners on the purchase and sale of real estate; 
9. Advice on rental and lease contracts, including built to suit transaction;

The real estate market in Azerbaijani has undergone numerous regulatory changes that require a professional approach to all transactions on property transfer. Nowadays, both businesses and individuals seek proper documentation of property transactions to exclude further risks of ownership and eliminate any financial loss.

Purchase of property in Azerbaijan

Our property lawyers are well experienced to represent you on all the stages of purchase of property, particularly when expatriates buy real estate or land in Azerbaijan. 

Our real estate lawyers based in Baku are ready to help you in the initial inspection of real estate, its property documents, ownership status and provide consultancy on the transfer of ownership and obtaining of title documents over the property.

Buying land in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani law prohibits the purchase of land by foreign citizens. But in practice and real-life business situations, buying land in Azerbaijan is vital to own and control the land, either directly or indirectly. Under the law, any involuntary ownership of land, ownership as a result of inheritance or gift or any other similar type of ownership by a foreign citizen shall be annulled and the land shall be disposed within 1 year. Our property lawyers are well experienced in providing legitimate alternative solutions for the purchase of land by foreigners tailored for their needs and business interests. 

With the skillful assistance of our lawyers and consultants, buying land in Azerbaijan is now possible. We ensure that you own and benefit from land via best alternatives. Our solutions, which are fully legal and meet your desired needs, also consider potential sale of your land in a flexible and cost-efficient way. 

Our Real Estate Lawyer Services in Baku

Due to its attractive real estate market, interest in the property in Azerbaijan, particularly Baku, has greatly increased. Many foreigners buy property in Azerbaijan in order to reside, to rent out and generate income or to qualify for residency (immigration) on the basis of property purchase.

ALC acts in real estate matters, advising  you on all legal steps towards buying, selling, renting and leasing properties. We protect your properties and property rights by ensuring that your property possesses all certificates and necessary documents and your rights over the property are duly registered.

Legal and consultancy support for purchase of property in Azerbaijan includes: 

• Preparation, review and negotiation of all legal documents of real estate interests;
• Regulation of real estate documentation;
• Registration of real estate rights and obtaining of extracts from the registry of real estate (title document);
• Asset management for corporate M&As;
• Foreclosure and lien consultation for businesses;
• Bankruptcy and liquidation involving asset management;
• Acquisition and registration of land and real property transactions;
• Real estate taxation;
• Property management agreements.

One of the questions we are often asked is whether foreigners can buy property in Azerbaijan and whether the type of visa matters for such purposes. The short answer to the question of “Can foreigners buy property in Azerbaijan” is “Yes, they can”. However, the above exception regarding purchase of land shall be considered. The type of visa is irrelevant for such purposes and the foreigner is not required to obtain a certain type visa for entering Azerbaijan, nor are foreigners obliged to obtain residence before or after buying property in Azerbaijan. 

The steps and recommendations when buying real estate and land in Baku (Azerbaijan) are as follows:

1. While negotiating a property deal, it is important to check the documentation status of the property and the proper registration of the property rights of the seller; 
2. Real estate transaction tax (income tax of the seller) shall be calculated in advance, and considered while negotiating the price of the property; 
3. Before signing the purchase agreement, the real estate (apartment, villa, commercial property etc.), must be inspected with experts for technical standards and actual conditions; 
4. It must be ensured there are no third-party rights or claims over the property, neither is any charge, mortgage or any form of lien over the property before proceeding to purchase; 
5. There shall be no registration of person over the property from the seller’s side and any registered person at the property (address) in question shall be removed before registration, or during a determined period after the registration. Until final fulfillment of this obligation, a certain amount of payment shall be retained; 
6. After a notary approved sales transaction, ownership rights over the property shall be registered via notary online.