Answers to the most common questions about commission, costs, taxes and the process of buying and selling property in Serbia — from the practice of the KADENA Sotheby's International Realty team.
KADENA Sotheby's International Realty's standard commission is 2.5% of the achieved sale price. It covers the indicative valuation, professional property presentation, advertising, viewing arrangements, negotiations and guidance through the entire legal process up to handover.
In Serbia the commission is generally paid by the party that engaged the agency. In a sale that is usually the seller; a buyer who engages an agency to search and represent them pays a commission as agreed, defined in the brokerage contract before the cooperation begins.
In addition to the purchase price, a buyer normally covers notary certification fees, cadastre registration and any agency commission if engaged for the search. The 2.5% absolute-rights transfer tax is by law payable by the seller, but is most often shifted to the buyer by contract — check how your preliminary agreement handles it. On new builds, VAT at 10% applies instead of that tax and is already included in the price. First-home buyers may reclaim that VAT, but only for up to 40 m² plus 15 m² per household member, and only if they are adult Serbian citizens resident in Serbia.
A deposit is an amount the buyer gives the seller when the preliminary contract is concluded, as a sign that the contract is made — most often 10% of the purchase price, certified before a notary. The deposit alone does not create a right to walk away: unless the contract expressly grants a right of withdrawal, the buyer cannot withdraw by leaving the deposit, nor the seller by returning double. If one side fails to perform, the other chooses — to demand performance or damages, or to keep the deposit, or to claim double the deposit where the seller is at fault. The familiar "forfeit it, or return double" rule applies where a right of withdrawal was agreed alongside the deposit.
The average selling time depends on location, price and the condition of the property. Realistically priced properties in attractive Belgrade locations sell within 30 to 90 days, while the luxury segment may take longer due to a narrower pool of buyers. We give a more precise estimate after inspecting the specific property.
An indicative valuation is an expert estimate of a property's market value based on comparable transactions, current supply and the property's characteristics. It is not an official court appraisal, but it provides a realistic framework for setting the asking price. KADENA Sotheby's prepares an indicative valuation free of charge for clients selling through us.
The basic documentation: proof of ownership (the cadastre title deed), the basis of acquisition (a purchase contract, inheritance ruling or other act), the owner's personal documents and proof of settled obligations to utility companies. Our team checks that the documentation is complete before listing.
The realistic price is determined by analysing comparable sales in the same building and neighbourhood, current competing supply, the condition and floor of the property, and demand trends. KADENA Sotheby's uses its own market data on prices per building in New Belgrade and Belgrade Waterfront, enabling a more precise estimate than the market average.
Yes. Foreign nationals who do not conduct business activity in Serbia may acquire ownership of apartments and residential buildings, subject to reciprocity — that Serbian citizens have the same right in their country. Whether reciprocity exists with a given country is confirmed by the Ministry of Justice, and we verify this before every transaction. Separate rules apply to commercial premises and land. KADENA Sotheby's regularly guides international buyers through the entire process, including legal support in English.
KADENA Sotheby's International Realty is the only agency in Serbia with access to the global Sotheby's network, giving our clients' properties international visibility and access to buyers from around the world. We specialise in the luxury residential segment and the finest new developments in Belgrade, backed by our own market analyses and data.
Both are possible. KADENA Sotheby's is the exclusive sales agent for several Belgrade projects, which means buyers purchase directly from the developer at the same prices, with added expert support and contract review — at no extra cost to the buyer.
Yes. Viewings of properties from our portfolio are free and arranged at a time that suits the buyer, subject to prior registration. For exclusive properties, viewings are arranged individually.
Looking for more detail? Read our step-by-step guides to buying and selling property: Guides