How Much Does It Cost to Sell Property in Chile? Complete Breakdown

How much does it cost to sell a property in Chile?

Selling property in Chile costs the seller approximately 3% to 3.2% of the sale price when using a real estate agent. The largest expense is the agent commission at 2% plus IVA (effectively 2.38%). Notary fees, certificates, and lawyer fees make up the remaining 0.6% to 0.8%. Capital gains tax is zero for most individual sellers under the 8,000 UF lifetime exemption. Without an agent, total costs drop to approximately 0.6% to 0.8%. These percentages apply whether you are selling a house in Coyhaique or land in the Aysen Region.

This guide breaks down every cost with exact figures and includes a worked example on a CLP $100 million (approximately USD $100,000) property.

What is UF and why do Chilean fees use it?

UF (Unidad de Fomento) is Chile’s inflation-indexed unit of account, used for mortgages, legal fees, and real estate transactions. As of March 2026, 1 UF equals approximately CLP $38,000 (roughly USD $38). The value adjusts daily based on the Consumer Price Index. All fee ranges in this guide are expressed in both UF and approximate CLP/USD equivalents.

For a detailed explanation, see our guide to UF.

What are the individual costs?

Real estate agent commission

The largest single cost for most sellers. The standard commission in Chile is 2% of the sale price plus 19% IVA, making the effective rate 2.38%.

Detail	Amount
Standard seller commission	2% of sale price
IVA on commission	19% (applied to the 2%)
Effective rate for seller	2.38% of sale price
Buyer also pays	2% + IVA (separate cost)
Total transaction commission	4% + IVA (split between parties)

Negotiation: For high-value properties above 10,000 UF (approximately CLP $380 million or USD $380,000), the commission rate is often negotiable. Some agents will accept 1.5% or even 1% for premium listings.

When it is paid: Commission is typically paid at the notary when signing the deed, or after inscription at the Conservador de Bienes Raices (CBR).

For more on whether you need an agent, see our agent vs. selling independently guide.

Notary fees

The notary authenticates the deed of sale (escritura de compraventa) and verifies identities. Notary fees in Chile are not regulated at fixed rates, so they vary by notary and transaction complexity.

Service	Cost (UF)	Cost (CLP)	Cost (USD)
Deed of sale (escritura)	3-5 UF	CLP $114,000-$190,000	USD $114-$190
Promise of sale (promesa)	1-2 UF	CLP $38,000-$76,000	USD $38-$76
Document authentication (protocolizacion)	0.5-1 UF each	CLP $19,000-$38,000	USD $19-$38

Conservador de Bienes Raices (Property Registry) fees

The CBR registers the ownership transfer. This fee is typically paid by the buyer, but it is useful to understand it since it affects the total transaction cost.

Detail	Amount
Inscription fee	0.2% of the sale price
Maximum fee cap	CLP $264,200
Processing time	Approximately 20 business days

Note: In the Aysen Region, the CBR de Coyhaique handles most property registrations. Processing times may be slightly longer than Santiago.

Certificates

You need approximately 14 documents to sell property in Chile. Most certificates cost between CLP $5,000 and CLP $15,000 each. Some are free online.

Certificate	Cost (CLP)	Notes
Dominio vigente (ownership)	$5,000-$10,000	From CBR
Hipotecas y gravamenes (liens)	$5,000-$10,000	From CBR
Prohibiciones (prohibitions)	$5,000-$10,000	From CBR
Avaluo fiscal (tax appraisal)	Free	Online at sii.cl
Deuda de contribuciones (tax debt)	Free	Online at tgr.cl
No expropiacion	$5,000-$10,000	From SERVIU
Numero municipal (address)	$5,000-$15,000	From municipality
Carpeta estudio de titulos (title folder)	$30,000-$50,000	From CBR, 10-year history
Matrimonio/estado civil	$2,000-$5,000	From Registro Civil
Total certificates	$70,000-$130,000	Approximately USD $70-$130

For the full document checklist, see our documents guide.

Lawyer fees

A lawyer handles the title study (estudio de titulos) and may also draft the deed of sale. Lawyer fees are not regulated in Chile and vary based on complexity.

Service	Cost (UF)	Cost (CLP)	Cost (USD)
Title study	5-15 UF	CLP $190,000-$570,000	USD $190-$570
Deed drafting (if separate)	2-5 UF	CLP $76,000-$190,000	USD $76-$190
Full legal representation	10-30 UF	CLP $380,000-$1,140,000	USD $380-$1,140

Rural properties with complex titles (common in Patagonia) tend toward the higher end. Urban apartments with clean titles cost less.

Capital gains tax

Most individual sellers owe zero capital gains tax under the 8,000 UF lifetime exemption (approximately USD $300,000 in gains). If you exceed the threshold, you choose from three options: progressive rate (0-40%), average rate, or flat 10%.

For full details, see our capital gains tax guide.

Worked example: selling a CLP $100 million property

Here is a realistic cost breakdown for selling a CLP $100 million (approximately USD $100,000) property with an agent.

Cost Item	Amount (CLP)	Amount (USD)	% of Sale Price
Agent commission (2% + IVA)	$2,380,000	$2,380	2.38%
Notary fees	$150,000	$150	0.15%
Certificates	$80,000	$80	0.08%
Lawyer (title study + deed)	$400,000	$400	0.40%
Capital gains tax	$0	$0	0%
Total seller costs	$3,010,000	$3,010	3.01%

The buyer separately pays the CBR inscription (CLP $200,000, or 0.2%) and their own agent commission (2% + IVA).

Without an agent, seller costs drop to approximately CLP $630,000 (0.63%). However, you still need a lawyer, and you handle all marketing, showings, and negotiations yourself.

How do costs differ by property type?

Property Type	Typical Extra Costs	Notes
Houses	Standard costs only	Most straightforward
Apartments/condos	Common expense certificate, bylaws	Small additional certificate costs
Rural land/farms	SAG certification, water rights transfer, surveyor	Add CLP $100,000-$300,000
Properties with mortgage	Bank cancellation (alzamiento)	10-15 business days, usually no fee

For rural land specifics, see our guide to selling rural land in Patagonia.

How does the UF 8,000 capital gains exemption work?

For the vast majority of individual sellers, capital gains tax is zero, but it helps to understand why. Article 17 N 8 of Chile’s Income Tax Law exempts gains of up to UF 8,000 (approximately CLP $304,000,000 or USD $304,000 at UF $38,000) accumulated over the seller’s lifetime. The cap applies to the gain, meaning the difference between the sale price and the inflation-adjusted acquisition cost, not to the total sale price.

Five conditions must be met to use the exemption:

Be a natural person: companies and corporations pay tax under the general regime.
Not be a habitual seller: the SII treats a pattern of frequent buying and selling for profit as a taxable business activity.
Minimum holding period: more than 1 year between purchase and sale (4 years for lots coming from a subdivision or floors of a building built to sell).
No sales to related parties: selling to a spouse, close relatives, or companies you own a stake in does not qualify.
Lifetime cap: the UF 8,000 accumulates across every sale in the taxpayer’s life, not per transaction.

If the gain exceeds the cap, only the excess is taxed, and the seller chooses between three options: the progressive global complementary tax (0% to 40%), averaging the gain over the years of ownership, or a flat substitute tax of 10%. Properties acquired before January 1, 2004 fall under the old rules and remain exempt without a cap.

Example: you bought a house in Coyhaique for CLP $80,000,000 (adjusted cost) and sell it for CLP $180,000,000. The gain is CLP $100,000,000, roughly UF 2,632, far below the UF 8,000 cap. Tax due: $0. The sale must still be reported in your annual tax return.

What extra costs apply when selling rural land?

Selling lots or farms in the Aysen Region involves costs that do not exist in an urban sale:

SAG subdivision certificate: if the lot comes from a subdivision under DL 3516 (minimum lot size 0.5 hectares), the buyer will ask for a copy of the plan and the resolution from the Servicio Agricola y Ganadero (SAG). Certified copies are cheap, but if the subdivision was never regularized, the full process requires a surveyor and SAG approval, with months of waiting and several hundred thousand pesos in cost.
Water rights: if the property has usage rights registered with the Direccion General de Aguas, they must be transferred in the same deed or a separate one, with their own inscription in the CBR water registry. Add 1-2 UF in notary fees plus the corresponding inscription fee.
Plans and boundaries: when boundaries are unclear, which is common on older Patagonian farms, an updated topographic survey may be needed, with cost depending on surface area and access.

In a straightforward rural sale, the typical extra costs (SAG certificates, water rights transfer) add CLP $100,000 to $300,000. Regularizing a pending subdivision or commissioning new plans can easily exceed that range, so it pays to get the paperwork in order before listing.

Do costs change when selling to a foreign buyer?

For the seller, practically not at all. Chile imposes no additional taxes or fees for selling to a foreigner, and notary costs, certificates, and commission are identical. The differences are operational:

Buyer’s RUT: a foreigner needs a Chilean tax ID (RUT) to register the property. That step is the buyer’s responsibility and free at the SII, but it can add days or weeks to the timeline if they do not already have one.
Remote signing: if the buyer signs through a power of attorney granted abroad, the document must be apostilled and formalized in Chile. The cost falls on whoever grants the power, but the seller should plan for the extra time.
Payment and currency exchange: payment is usually made with a bank-issued vale vista in Chilean pesos. Currency conversion and international transfer fees are the buyer’s cost.
Deed in Spanish: the deed is executed in Spanish. Any translation is informational only and paid by whoever requests it.

In border zones there are restrictions for citizens of neighboring countries (DL 1939), which is relevant in parts of the Aysen Region. The title study catches this situation in time.

What costs does the buyer pay?

Understanding the buyer’s costs helps you price your property competitively.

Buyer Cost	Amount
Agent commission	2% + IVA (2.38%)
CBR inscription	0.2% (max CLP $264,200)
Title study (lawyer)	5-15 UF
Notary (their share)	1-3 UF
Total buyer costs	Approximately 3%

Combined seller and buyer costs total approximately 6% of the sale price when both parties use agents.

Can I reduce my selling costs?

Several strategies can lower your expenses:

Sell without an agent: Saves 2.38%. Works best for in-demand locations or when you have direct buyer contacts. See our agent vs. independent selling guide
Negotiate commission on high-value properties: Above 10,000 UF (~CLP $380 million), agents often accept 1-1.5%
Gather certificates yourself: Some sellers hire a tramitador (document processor) for CLP $30,000-$50,000 rather than paying lawyer rates for certificate gathering
Shop notary fees: Fees vary between notaries. In smaller towns like Coyhaique, fees tend to be lower than Santiago
Use the 8,000 UF tax exemption: Ensure you meet all five conditions to avoid capital gains tax entirely

Frequently asked questions

Who pays the notary fees, the buyer or the seller?

There is no legal rule: it is a matter of agreement between the parties. The most common practice in Chile is to split the deed costs in half, while the promise of sale is normally paid by the buyer and the CBR inscription is also the buyer’s cost. The seller should budget at least 3-5 UF (CLP $114,000 to $190,000) for their share of notary fees. It is best to put the cost split in writing in the promise of sale to avoid disputes at signing.

How much does a real estate agent charge in Chile?

The standard commission is 2% of the sale price plus IVA, an effective 2.38%, and each party pays it: the seller pays 2% + IVA and the buyer pays another 2% + IVA. On a CLP $100,000,000 sale the seller pays CLP $2,380,000. The commission is negotiable, especially on properties above 10,000 UF (approximately CLP $380 million), where some agents accept 1.5% or even 1%. Brokerage fees are not regulated, so agree on the percentage and the payment moment in writing before signing the listing agreement.

Do I pay tax when selling my home?

In most cases, no. If you are a natural person, not a habitual seller, and held the property for more than one year, the gain is exempt up to UF 8,000 accumulated over your lifetime, equivalent to roughly CLP $304,000,000 (about USD $300,000) in gains. Only the excess above that cap is taxed, with options ranging from a flat 10% tax to the progressive rate. Properties acquired before January 2004 are exempt without a cap. In every case the sale is reported to the SII through form 2890, which the notary processes.

What certificates does the seller need to provide?

The seller gathers around 14 documents: the current ownership certificate (dominio vigente), liens and mortgages, and prohibitions (all three from the CBR, valid for 60 days), the tax appraisal and property tax debt certificate (free online), the non-expropriation certificate from SERVIU, the municipal address certificate, and the title study folder with 10 years of history. Total cost runs CLP $70,000 to $130,000. Do not request them too early: if the sale stretches past 60 days, the CBR certificates must be renewed.

How long does a property sale take in Chile?

Once the price is agreed, the formal process normally takes 30 to 60 days for a cash buyer: drafting and signing the promise of sale, gathering certificates, signing the deed at the notary, and inscription at the CBR (about 20 business days). With a mortgage, add 30 days or more for bank approval and the release of any prior mortgage. Total time including finding a buyer varies widely by area: in the Aysen Region, well-priced urban properties sell faster than remote farms.

Ready to sell your property in Patagonia?

Now that you understand the costs, list your property on Propiedades Patagonia for free and reach buyers actively searching for houses, land, and farms across Chilean Patagonia.

For the complete selling process, read our guide to selling property in Patagonia.