Buying an Apartment in Brazil — Attorney-Led Purchase

About Apartment Purchases in Brazil

Foreign individuals — both resident and non-resident — may purchase urban residential apartments in Brazil. Apartment purchases sit under the Brazilian Civil Code (Lei nº 10.406/2002) and the registration framework of the Lei nº 6.015/1973 (public-records law). For non-resident buyers, the FX inflow must be registered with the Banco Central under the Lei nº 14.286/2021 regime (RDE-IED for capital registration).

The buyer-side workflow has three legal pillars: (i) title due diligence on the property's matrícula and on the seller's tax/judicial position; (ii) contract negotiation, normally a promessa de compra e venda followed by an escritura pública (public deed); and (iii) closing — payment of ITBI (the municipal real-estate transfer tax), execution of the deed at a Cartório de Notas, and registration at the Cartório de Registro de Imóveis covering the property's location.

Real-estate agents in Brazil represent the seller. A buyer-side attorney coordinates due diligence, contract terms, FX-inflow structuring (for non-residents), notary scheduling, and post-closing compliance such as IPTU re-registration and condominium notification. We work with foreign buyers on cash and financed purchases across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and the broader Brazilian residential market.

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