REAL ESTATE LAW
Our firm will offer guidance throughout the negotiation of the agreement terms to be subscribed, management of the transaction and administration documents.
Quijano & Associates’ professional team has extensive experience in providing legal advice to customers in real estate transactions (both, commercial and residential projects), hotels and horizontal ownership; offering an agile, efficient and comprehensive service that includes, among other services: the structuring of project financing, securitization of assets and mortgages, acquisitions and disposals of land (previously providing a due diligence report), the incorporation of horizontal ownership, preparation of co-ownership regulations; as well as in more common real estate transactions, such as purchases, sales and leases.
Throughout our trajectory, we have been the allied business partner of our customers, providing them with complete satisfaction, and above all, the legal certainty they need in their projects, through the rendering of a wide range of legal services, such as:
REAL ESTATE:
- Representation of investors, developers and builders of residential and commercial projects.
- Comprehensive advice on purchase and sale transactions to various clients.
- Preparation of real estate purchase and sale agreements and leasing contracts
- Cadastral updates, land titling and processing of possessory rights.
- Advisory on acquisition and development for institutional investors
- Zoning and easement related procedures
- Processing of legal exemptions and tax incentives
- Investigation and due diligence of real estate properties
- Declaration of improvements
HORIZONTAL PROPERTY
- Legal advice in relation to the application and interpretation of the Horizontal Ownership Law and its regulations.
- Incorporation and disincorporation of horizontal property regimes.
- Drafting and updating of co-ownership and use regulations.
- Restructuring of Project or Incorporation of new stages
- Declaration of Improvements
- Legal advice on the meetings’ requests and Meetings of the Board of Directors and Owners' Meetings
- Elaboration and/or Review of all types of Contracts (Suppliers, Contractors, Labor, etc).
- Representation in the collection of common expenses and coexistence problems.
In addition to our legal services, we generate an added value to our customers by having "an in-house notary service" and the Telematics service of the Public Registry of Panama, which allows us to optimize the time in the preparation of minutes and deeds which require notarization and registration at the Public Registry of Panama.
Important Aspects
Panama has a public system where all matters related to real estate are registered, including title, any improvement to the property, burdens, impediments and limitations to ownership.
- When a real estate property is registered, it is assigned with a parcel number, which will be used to identify the specific property, as it will include information such as the name of the owner(s), its registered value, measures of its areas, borderlines and any boundaries which have been registered on the specific property.
- Any person (foreign or national, natural or legal entity) can hold real estate title in the Republic of Panama. To proceed with the acquisition of a real estate, the buyer will register the title under his/her/its name, with the registration of a Public Deed at a Public Notary office, which includes the Purchase & Sale Contract, and by paying the correspondent taxes to the Panamanian Tax Authority.
- The registration of this public deed at the Public Registry is obligatory for the transfer to be executed.
The following is intended to provide basic information about taxes related to the most common real estate transactions, and any tax liabilities enquiries should be handled on a case by case basis.
- Property Tax (Impuesto de Inmueble)
Real estate in Panama, whether in urban or rural areas, is subject to property taxes.
- All properties registered at a value of $30,000 or less, including improvements of land, for instance, construction.
- Land occupied exclusively for agricultural purposes like farming, and registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Development at no more than $150,000.
The real estate tax basis should be understood as being the combination of the value of land and the improvements of the property, which includes any construction on the land, as appraised by Land Commission (Oficina de Catastro). Real estate transactions at prices surpassing the appraisal value are automatically registered with the new, higher value, and thus becomes the new basis for taxation.
Real Property Transfer Tax
When a property is sold, the Real Property Transfer Tax is assessed and calculated on the greater of the total value, whether the sale price or the registered value, plus the value of the improvements. The tax rate is 2% of the greater of these two values, plus 5% for each year since owning the property.
- Real estate taxes season in Panama occurs three times every year, at the end of April, August, and December.
- Local or Foreign Banks and/or Lenders are usually used to acquire / buy real estate in Panama, which secure the buying through a mortgage agreement with the buyer. Mortgages must be granted in the form of a public deed before a Notary Public in Panama and registered at the Public Registry to perfect the security interest.
- Panamanian Civil Code regulates Leasing in Panama, which are divided in two categories: the first covers residential leases with a monthly rental fee up to US$150, and the second category covers residential leases with a monthly rental fee of US$150 or more, as well as leases of premises for commercial, professional, industrial or educational use (regardless of the amount of the rental fee).
- A leasing agreement must include: The right of the lessee (in residential leases) to waive the minimum lease term, and terminate the lease agreement at any time (with a written notice sent at least 30 days prior to the termination date), the right to sub-lease, the obligation to deposit with the Ministry of Housing a sum equal to the agreed rental fee, the right of the lessee (in residential leases) to exercise his/her profession inside the leased property, unless it interrupts the peaceful enjoyment of the property or violates the law. Lease agreements must be registered at the Ministry of Housing; and also as a public deed at a Notary Public (when its term exceeds six years) – being 20 years the maximum time period a lease agreement is permitted. Nevertheless, both categories of leasing could be registered at the Public Registry to inform potentially interested third parties.
- In order to build in Panama, prior to the beginning of construction, the necessary plans must be accordingly signed by a professional who is duly licensed by the Technical Board of Engineers and Architects of the Ministry of Public Works; and then approved by the Directorate of Municipal Works and Constructions.
- After the construction is finished, an application for an occupancy permit must be submitted to the Directorate of Municipal Works and Constructions. In order to be granted with the occupancy permit, the builder must already have the construction permit, the permit issued by the Security Office of the Fire Department, an electricity permit and a permit for installation of air conditioners (when applicable).
- Panama's condominium law is called the “horizontal property regime” which regulates owners' rights when owning an apartment in a building built on commonly used land; and divides property into common and private areas and establishes the rights, obligations and the limitations that each unit owner has with respect to these areas.