What to know before you choose
What a good leasehold includes
- A lease of up to 30 years registered on a Chanote (the strongest land title).
- Ownership of the house, or a registered superficies over it.
- Succession: the lease passes to your heirs or named persons for the remaining term.
- Assignment: you can transfer the lease to a buyer without the landowner's further consent or fee.
- Clear wording on renewal, treated as a bonus, not a right.
What it costs
Lease registration is about 1% of the total rent for the term plus 0.1% stamp duty; if the house is transferred separately, a 2% transfer fee applies to its appraised value. See taxes and fees.
Why not 'freehold' through a company?
Company structures often depend on nominee shareholders, which the authorities are actively investigating in 2026. A registered lease avoids the issue; see our company guide.
Resale
Value tracks the remaining term. A villa bought with 30 years and sold after 10 offers 20. Plan for it, and price accordingly. More in freehold vs leasehold.
