STEP-BY-STEP ROUTE · PROPERTY
Check a property before buying
Check the property, seller, ownership record and any recorded restrictions before paying a deposit.
Free step-by-step guide
This guide is based on official sources. Requirements, forms and local procedures may change, so open the link in the relevant step and check the current version before filing.
Open a step to see the action and its relevant official link. Required documents may depend on your case; check the list for your grounds before filing.
My step checklist and print guide
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01Get the property and seller details.
What to do
Before choosing a property, confirm whether a citizen of your country may acquire that type of real estate; rules for foreign buyers depend on the applicable requirements and the specific situation. Then ask the seller for the exact address, cadastral number, registered owner's name and a current property record. Do not send a deposit before checking.
Where to go
Seller and Ministry of Justice: property identification and foreign acquisition conditions.
What to prepare
- Address, cadastral reference, seller record and current property folio
First identify your route
- Check the property record and registered owner.
- Check recorded restrictions and consistency of the documents.
- Prepare questions for a notary before signing.
02Check the available registry records and documents.
What to do
Find the property in eKatastar by address or cadastral parcel number and compare the registered holder and basic details with the seller's documents. Ask the seller to explain discrepancies. Public search helps check the record but is not a full legal review of the transaction.
Where to go
eKatastar/RGZ: check the entry by address or cadastral reference.
What to prepare
- Seller records and public cadastral entry to compare
03List risks and questions.
What to do
List anything inconsistent or still unknown: registered holder, property description, ownership shares, recorded restrictions and the seller's authority. Request missing documents and explanations. If the property is under construction or the record contains a pre-registration/notice, ask a professional to explain the consequences; a search with no warning does not rule out every risk.
Where to go
Seller for written explanations; independent specialist for legal issues.
What to prepare
- Mismatch, restriction and missing-evidence list
04Ask a notary or lawyer to review legal issues.
What to do
Before signing or transferring money, ask an independent Serbian lawyer or notary to review the package. Ask them to check the seller's authority, required consents or powers of attorney, restrictions and draft contract. Serbia 360 does not provide a legal opinion on a particular property.
Where to go
Serbian lawyer or notary before signing or paying a deposit.
What to prepare
- Property records, contract draft and questions
05Agree on the transaction only after the checks.
What to do
Only after review, agree on the contract, current taxes and fees, payment and filing for ownership registration. Ask the notary which originals, translations and consents are required, who files the documents and how you will receive proof of registration. Check the cadastral record after registration and keep the contract and payment records.
Where to go
Transaction parties and the professional reviewing the terms.
What to prepare
- Reviewed records, agreed terms and written answers to material questions
Translation and filing
Translation and certification
Before translating a foreign-issued record, ask the receiving institution whether it needs a Serbian translation by a court-certified translator (sudski tumač), whether an apostille/legalization is required, and in which order. Requirements differ by country and document. An ordinary or automatic translation is not a certified translation when certification is required.
What happens next
File only through the confirmed method. Keep a copy of the submission, case/application number and proof of receipt. Ask how to check status, when to expect a reply and what to do if more information is requested.
Message to the institution
Fill in your details and send this through an official channel shown above. This asks how to proceed; it is not a government form or a completed application. Do not attach originals or sensitive personal data to ordinary email until the institution confirms a safe way to send them.
Hello, I would like to follow the “Check a property before buying” procedure myself. My situation: [citizenship and current status in Serbia], [municipality], [brief circumstances and goal]. Could you please confirm: 1. Which department handles my case and where should I file? 2. Must I use an online service or prescribed form? If so, please send the current link and instructions. 3. Which documents apply to my case; are originals, copies or additional evidence needed? 4. For foreign-issued records, is apostille/legalization and a Serbian translation by a court-certified translator (sudski tumač) required? In which order? 5. How should I file, obtain proof of receipt and check status? Thank you. [Name] · [reply contact]
If an authority requires a prescribed form, use only its current official version.
Document overview and case variants
What may be required
- Property record and identifying details
- Seller's documents
- Draft purchase agreement
- Proof of authority and required consents, if applicable
Compare this list with the documents in each step and the chosen authority's requirements. You can read the guide and prepare the package yourself without submitting a request.
Common variants
- Check the property record and registered owner.
- Check recorded restrictions and consistency of the documents.
- Prepare questions for a notary before signing.
The correct variant can only be confirmed after checking your status, documents and the authority's requirements.
What Serbia 360 can prepare — result preview
RESULT PREVIEW
What you receive if you order preparation
Before paying, you can see what the paid work actually delivers. The free guidance remains available whether or not you order anything.
Route, official sources, preliminary document list and a clear next step.
Work completed in the specimen case:
- Prepared: Completed apartment document discrepancy report
- Prepared: Completed apartment seller document request
- Prepared: Completed lawyer or notary review brief
- Obtain legal review from a lawyer or notary.
- Decide on the transaction after the identified issues are explained.
Open the full specimen, copy its text or download the document. Required authority forms follow that institution’s rules; certification is performed by an authorised professional.
Package contents and review sheet · How to use the prepared output
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The free guide above is available without a request. For a free situation review, describe your case and provide an email address; attaching documents is optional. During testing, do not upload real documents or sensitive information. Paid services and payments are currently disabled.
Serbia 360 helps organize documents and administrative steps. We do not make decisions for public authorities and do not replace a lawyer, notary, doctor or consulate where professional involvement is required.