What you need to know when buying a private house in Ukraine

Buying a private house in Ukraine entails significant costs. In this regard, the issue of purchasing real estate and land plot should be approached especially carefully. In this article we will consider the most important points when buying a house. We tell you what to pay attention to when choosing an object, what documents the seller and the buyer must have, how the transaction takes place and other necessary information.

What to pay attention to when buying

Choosing a house is more difficult than an apartment, because you need to assess not only the interior decoration, but also the condition of the building itself, communications, land, etc. In order not to miss anything important, it is best to go to the inspection with a realtor. An experienced specialist knows exactly what to pay attention to and will be able to point out the disadvantages or advantages of the object.

So, what you need to evaluate when buying a house:

• Location. Consider how convenient it will be to get from the country house to work or to the necessary infrastructure (school, kindergarten, stores, etc.). It doesn't hurt to find out if there is a public transportation stop nearby. It is also worth checking the condition of the roads and the availability of street lighting.
• Plot. When buying a house, you should definitely consider what size plot of land will suit you. If a garage is built on the plot, this can be recorded as an advantage. The presence of a garden will also be a plus.
• Technical condition. The house should be evaluated especially closely, as the quality of the walls, roof, foundation determines the comfort and safety of living in it. Thick walls will warm in winter and cool in summer. The foundation should not be too low, it is good if it is insulated. The attic and basement should be dry, without traces of mold. When checking the windows, make sure that there is no moisture in the double-glazed windows and that there is no blowing from the gaps.
• Communications. When inspecting the house, you should ask the owner to turn on the gas, water and heating. Make sure that everything is working properly and that it is working as it should. The water pressure should be good, and the water itself should drain quickly. If the house is not connected to the central sewerage system, but a cesspool is provided, it should not be too full, otherwise it indicates poor drainage.
• Layout. Make sure there is enough room for the family, that the kitchen is not small and that there is a corner for everyone. If the house is too big but the layout is not well thought out, it will be expensive to heat and uncomfortable to live in.
• Investment appeal. Even if you plan to buy a house for yourself and there is no thought of selling it, you should still assess the liquidity of the object. Circumstances may arise that you may want to buy another property, so it is important that the house is attractive to potential buyers.

When looking at a house, you can also try to imagine that you have already moved in. What emotions do you feel - positive or negative? Is there a feeling that this house is your home? Guided by your feelings and a thorough inspection of the building and site, you can make the right decision about whether or not to buy the property.

What documents the owner must have

The owner of a private house must prepare a fairly large package of documents, since not only the living space is sold, but also a plot of land. If you plan to sell the property in the shortest possible time, you need to collect all the necessary papers in advance.

What documents are needed to sell a private house:

• A document of ownership of the house;
• technical passport;
• extract from the register of ownership or extract from the BTI;
• passport, identification code of the owner (if there are several owners, then documents for each);
• marriage certificate or divorce certificate or death certificate of the spouse;
• permission of the guardianship council of the executive committee (only if one of the owners is under the age of majority);
• state act for the land plot (if the land is privatized) or certificate of cadastral number assignment;
• expert valuation of the house and land;
• certificate of absence of encumbrances on the plot from the cadastral bureau;
• notarized refusal of neighbors to buy a share (if the house is divided into two owners and is in common share ownership);
• a certificate of the number of registered persons.

Also, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future, it is worth asking the seller to provide a certificate of no debts for utilities and a certificate from the tax office that there are no debts for land tax.

What documents are required for a purchase

Unlike the seller, the buyer's list of documents is much smaller. The buyer only needs a passport, registration certificate and identification number. If the buyer is married, he/she will need a written consent for the purchase of real estate from the spouse. The spouse must also provide their passport and identification code.

If the house is bought through a representative, because the buyer cannot attend the transaction in person, the representative must have with him/her the passport and identification code of the principal, as well as a notarized power of attorney.

How the sale and purchase transaction takes place

The process of buying and selling a private house with a land plot is quite complex and includes several stages. To roughly understand what awaits the buyer and seller, you can be guided by the following hints:

1. The seller should make sure that all the documents for the house and land are ready and properly executed. The land plot must have a cadastral number, the house must be put into operation and also have its own document.
2. If the house is jointly owned, the consent of the other party to the alienation of the real estate will be required. This can be either a notarized consent or a personal presence at a notary.
3. Both the seller and the buyer can choose the notary. It is important that the notary is certified and has the appropriate certificate with a number, which can be checked in the Unified Register of Notaries.
4. Before concluding the transaction, it does not hurt to agree in advance on the value of the house, as well as on who and what expenses are paid.
5. For a contract for the sale and purchase of a house and land, you will need to order an appraisal from an independent appraiser. There is an electronic system where appraisers enter information on the valuation of the real estate object. Such an appraisal is valid for 6 months. It is not worth rushing to get an appraisal if it is still unknown when the house will be sold.
6. If there are encumbrances on the property (mortgage, pledge), the notary will not be able to conduct the transaction.
7. Registration of the contract of sale and purchase of a house at the notary takes place in the presence of both parties or their representatives in the presence of their powers of attorney. In advance, the notary will take a package of documents for study, prepare the form of the sale and purchase agreement and provide it to the seller and the buyer for familiarization.
8. The transaction of sale and purchase of a house is carried out at the location of the object or at the place of residence of the parties.

Registration of the transaction may take different time: it all depends on the complexity of a particular situation. About 80% of transactions are completed in 1 day, another 15% - up to 5 days. Only the most complex situations need to be resolved within 1 month or more.

What expenses are borne by the buyer

When concluding a contract of sale and purchase of a house in Ukraine, it is necessary to pay several mandatory payments. These include state duty, personal income tax (PIT), military and pension fees. You also have to pay for the services of a notary, an appraiser and a realtor.

Personal income tax, military duty and state duty are paid by the seller, and the buyer pays the Pension Fund fee. Such payments must be made from the above mentioned payers, and who gives money for what is an internal agreement between the parties. Depending on these agreements, the buyer may pay the taxes and state duty in full or pay them in half with the seller.

Why you need a realtor

Buyers do not always realize the importance of a realtor when buying real estate. At the same time, an experienced agent can be an important assistant in a matter such as buying a private home with a plot of land.

Here are some of the main reasons why you should contact a realtor to buy a house:

• finding a suitable object - since the realtor knows the market and has access to the database of houses that are for sale, he will be able to find a suitable option that will suit the buyer much faster;
• organizing viewings - the specialist will make a convenient chain of viewings, so that the buyer can for a limited time to see a maximum of the proposals that meet his requirements, as well as indicate what to pay close attention to when inspecting the house;
• negotiating - the realtor knows how to bargain in favor of the client, as well as always prompt when the object is really profitable and it should not be missed;
• checking documents - a realtor, working in a team with lawyers, will check all the seller's documents and make sure that the object is definitely not problematic;
• solution of organizational issues - the realtor knows exactly how to quickly solve any issues, whether it is a search for a notary, obtaining a certificate, applying to various authorities, etc.

To avoid difficulties in buying a private house, it is worth using the help of specialists who know everything about buying a home. The real estate agency "Mayak" has realtors, lawyers and a notary. Contact professionals to become the owner of a house in Kyiv or Kyiv region without nerves and unnecessary waste of time.