What closing costs to expect
Budget about 3.5-4.5% of the price as a buyer, including your own attorney. Here's what makes up that figure, with worked examples and seller costs.
3 min read ยท Updated November 2026
As a buyer, budget about 3.5-4.5% of the price on top of what you pay the seller, including your own attorney. As a cross-check, the World Bank put total registration cost at 4.6% of value in 2020, counting a 1% attorney fee for each side.
What the buyer pays
The law doesn't say who pays duty and fees. By custom it's the buyer, though your agreement of sale can say otherwise. These rates are as read in November 2026. A transport is the private ownership deed, and a Certificate of Title is the other title system.
| Cost | Transport | Certificate of Title |
|---|---|---|
| Duty | 2% of value | 2% of value |
| Registry fee | 0.5% general fee | 0.25% |
| Assurance Fund | None | 0.1% |
| Certificate fee | None | G$30 |
| Registering a mortgage, on the loan | 0.2% plus G$1.20 per G$1,000 | 0.1% plus 0.12% plus G$10 |
You may hear that stamp duty is 4-5%. The Tax Act says 2%, and both registries agree. The Registrar may accept the stated price or require a sworn valuation. A few transfers are exempt, including sales by a licensed auctioneer at public auction and estate transfers to those entitled.
Your attorney. The World Bank reported that the law states 0.8% and that lawyers round up to 1% for each side. Others quote 1-2% or 1.5-2%. We couldn't find the provision itself, so get a written quote. One guide says 14% VAT applies to the fee. We couldn't confirm that, so ask.
Valuation. About 0.1%, or a small state-valuer charge, in 2020.
Buying new from a developer? Ask whether the price includes VAT. Guyana Revenue Authority policy says new houses built and sold as private residences by VAT-registered businesses attract VAT, while housing connected with the Central Housing and Planning Authority under G$6.5M is exempt. It doesn't address used homes. Ask a tax adviser.
Worked examples
Registry charges here mean duty and fees. These figures leave out any VAT on the attorney's fee, valuation and mortgage costs.
| Price | Transport | Certificate of Title |
|---|---|---|
| G$10M, registry charges | G$250,000 | G$235,030 |
| G$10M, with 1% attorney | G$350,000 | G$335,030 |
| G$30M, registry charges | G$750,000 | G$705,030 |
| G$30M, with 1% attorney | G$1,050,000 | G$1,005,030 |
| G$60M, registry charges | G$1,500,000 | G$1,410,030 |
| G$60M, with 1% attorney | G$2,100,000 | G$2,010,030 |
If you borrow G$24M, registering the mortgage adds G$76,800 on a transport or G$52,810 on a Certificate of Title. Run your own figures on the calculators.
Yearly costs after you buy
Individuals no longer pay annual property tax. It was abolished from year of assessment 2026, though you may still see rates of 0.5-0.75% quoted online. Companies still pay.
You do pay council rates. In Georgetown they're a percentage of assessed value, not market value, and the last assessment was in 1997. We found no typical bill anywhere, so ask the seller for their last one.
What the seller pays
- Their own attorney: about 1%, on the World Bank's figure.
- Agent commission, if they use an agent: guides say 3-5%. Treat that as indicative, because we found no official schedule.
- Capital gains tax: 20% of the net gain, not the 25% some sites quote. Exemptions are in selling your property.
- Certificates: in 2020 a rates certificate cost G$1,500 and the tax compliance certificate was free.
These figures are general information, not legal or tax advice. Ask a Guyanese attorney to confirm them for your purchase.