Can a foreigner own land in Ghana? Can a foreigner buy a house in Ghana? These are questions that are mostly asked by many foreigners moving to Ghana.
In this article, I am going to take you through everything you need to know when it comes to foreigners purchasing land in Ghana and how to buy land in Ghana as a foreigner the easiest way.
Can A Foreigner Buy A House In Ghana?
Yes, A foreigner can buy and own a house in Ghana, and there are no restrictions. However, when buying a house in Ghana as a foreigner, there are some precautions you need to take, such as doing your research to know if the house is indeed for sale and if you are also dealing with the rightful owner.
Buying a house in Ghana as a foreigner comes with small challenges since you are not living here.
Some of these challenges are buying any house you will see for sale without knowing whether it is not for sale or not and not getting the original papers of the house.
But if you have a Ghanaian who will be guiding you or when you decide to buy from reputable real estate companies in Ghana, you can peacefully buy a house in Ghana without any hassle.
Real estate in Ghana has been a popular investment for some time now, with many foreigners taking advantage of the huge potential of the property market in Ghana.
Many foreigners want to buy houses in Ghana to benefit from the high rental income that can be obtained.
There are various ways by which one can get land in Ghana.
While Ghana is growing tremendously as an emerging economy and new businesses are moving in every day, there is still some room to own a house in Ghana as a foreigner.
In Ghana, a landowner is in full control of their land. You can do whatever you want, including selling it or giving it away.
So maybe you are planning on moving to Ghana, or you are a tourist and have fallen in love with the country and want to know if you can buy and own a house in Ghana. This article is for you.
Even though there is much information online about how a foreigner can buy land in Ghana, I could not find any that answered all my questions.
So I made this guide to give you answers to all the questions you might have. I’ll cover the basics, legalities, and other things you should consider before buying property in Ghana.
When I tell people I’m a foreign real estate investor. I get one of two reactions.
The first is the question, “Why Ghana?”. The second, which came from the headline above, is that they presume you cannot own land in Ghana if you’re not a citizen or resident.
This article will let you know everything about buying a house in Ghana as a foreigner and everything you need to know when buying a house in Ghana as a foreigner.
Things To Know When Buying A House As A Foreigner In Ghana
Before buying a house in Ghana, you first have to know what to consider when buying a property in Ghana, the following are things to note when you want to buy a house in Ghana.
Know The Type Of House You Are Buying
As a foreigner looking forward to buying a house in Ghana, you first need to know the type of house you are willing to buy in Ghana.
Knowing the type of land to buy will also let you know the location to choose from. Are you looking for a house for you and your family? Or looking for a house, you can rent to people for money?
All these are factors to consider before starting the house-buying journey.
Know The Process Of Buying A House In Ghana As A Foreigner
When buying a house in Ghana, there are some processes you will have to follow. Since you are a foreigner, you need to do a lot of research so that you will be able to deal with the right house owner and buy directly from them.
After making payment for the house, the next process to follow is to register the house in your name.
If there is already a name on the land, you will have to visit the lands commission of Ghana with the owner and do a name change so that the house can fully be yours without any future problems.
Lease Periods In Ghana
Since you are a foreigner and planning on buying a house in Ghana, you should know about leasing periods in Ghana.
Now lands in Ghana can only be leased for 99 years. But as a foreigner, the land must be leased to you for 50 years.
So if you buy a house in Ghana, know that the house, the land, and the house will be yours for 50 years. After that, you will have to renew.
So to avoid your future generation, make sure the house you are buying has an agreement of renewal on the land documents.
You can read our full guide on property leasing here.
Property Tax In Ghana
In Ghana, property owners are required to pay taxes depending on their house and the location. The percentage ranges from 0.5% to 3%.
The amount of the tax you will pay is based on the property’s estimated value.
Buying From Agents And Developers
When buying a house in Ghana as a foreigner, you will have to choose between buying from individuals or buying from real estate companies.
The best way to buy a house in Ghana without getting scammed if you are not living in the country is to buy from a real estate company.
Dealing with real estate companies when it comes to buying and selling lands and houses is too transparent, and they will also take you through many things you need to know after you have bought your dream houses, such as the lease agreement, tax returns, and many more.
Mortgage Options
When you finally decide to buy from a real estate company, and you don’t have all the amount in cash, you can work with banks in Ghana that offer mortgages.
They will help you acquire your dream home and then allow you to pay based on how you can settle the loan. You can read and check out our guide on some mortgage houses for sale in Ghana.
Steps To Buying A House In Ghana
Here are the steps to follow when buying land in Ghana as a foreigner
- Determine the type of land you want to buy
- Look for the best areas selling the land
- Make inquiries about the land
- Obtain a cadastral plan
- Make payments
- Register your land
Final Words
If you are a foreigner, it is easy to buy a house in Ghana. Whether you want to live in or rent it out, buying a house in Ghana is not all that complicated.
And when you decide to buy from a real estate company, it becomes easier.
In this article, we answered the most asked question on Google: Can a foreigner buy a house in Ghana?
We did not only answer that, but we also gave the things to know when buying a house in Ghana and those tips we covered knowing the type of house you want.
