Real estate in Malawi

Malawi is a small but rapidly developing country in East Africa that has been attracting increasing attention from foreign investors and real estate buyers in recent years. With its picturesque nature, rich cultural heritage and favorable tropical climate, Malawi is becoming a popular destination for relocating and buying a second home.

The purchase of residential property in Malawi is governed by the Land Act 2016 and the Malawi Constitution. These pieces of legislation define the rights and restrictions for Malawi citizens and foreigners when purchasing a residential property.

Malawi citizens have every right to buy, sell, rent and own any residential property in Malawi without restriction. They can freely purchase houses, apartments, land plots for individual housing construction.

There are certain restrictions for foreign citizens. Malawi law divides them into two categories: non-citizens and non-residents.

Non-citizens who have a residence permit in Malawi are equal in rights to citizens of the country. They can buy a home under the same conditions as citizens, with no additional requirements.

Non-resident foreigners without a residence permit face a number of restrictions. They can only purchase residential property with the authorization of the Minister of Lands of Malawi. Such authorization is granted on a case-by-case basis and comes with certain conditions.

Even with authorization, non-resident foreigners cannot become owners of customary land. This is land owned by local communities by tradition. Only Malawi citizens have the right to own and use such land.

Thus, Malawi citizens are free to buy any housing in Malawi. Foreigners, however, face a number of restrictions and can purchase residential real estate only under certain conditions stipulated in the legislation.

Real estate search: buyers can use a variety of sources to find a home, including online platforms, listings and real estate agents. Agents help find suitable options and guide clients through the entire buying journey.

Viewing and Negotiating: after finding a suitable property, buyers view it and then begin the process of negotiating with the seller through an agent. This stage may involve several rounds of offers and counter-offers.

Inspections and documentation: once an agreement is reached, the buyer conducts thorough inspections of the property with the help of home inspectors and other professionals. He then arranges financing and prepares all the necessary paperwork.

Payment of fees: buyers are required to pay stamp duty and registration fees in accordance with Malawi law. Stamp duty is 3-4% of the value of the property. Registration fee for the execution of documents, about 1% of the value. These fees cover the cost of registering the property and other administrative costs.

Property registration: the last step is to register the title of the property with the Land Office. To do this, you need to submit all the necessary documents and pay the relevant fees.

Finalizing the transaction: once the registration is complete, the buyer becomes the legal owner of the home in Malawi and can pick up the keys to their new home.

Apartments. Apartments are the most common type of housing in Malawi's cities, especially in the capital Lilongwe and the large city of Blantyre. Here you can find both small studio apartments and spacious three-four-room apartments with an area of up to 200 square meters. m. Apartments are usually located in multi-storey complexes with modern infrastructure - parking, swimming pool, gym. New complexes are characterized by high quality finishes and the presence of additional amenities.

Houses and villas. In the suburbs and rural areas of Malawi are widely represented individual houses and villas. These range from traditional small clay houses to modern, spacious villas made of brick and stone. Houses and villas are valued for their privacy and tranquility, as well as the opportunity to enjoy scenic views of lakes, rivers and mountains.

Townhouses and duplexes. Townhouses are also popular in cities - two-family homes similar to apartments, but with a separate entrance and a small plot. They allow you to get urban housing at a more affordable price. Duplexes are two-story houses, where each floor has one apartment. This format is in demand among families due to the simplicity and privacy.

Land plots. In Malawi you can buy vacant plots of land for building in the city or suburbs. This allows you to build a house or buildings on an individual project.

Although the Malawi real estate market is not among the large and highly developed, it has its own price characteristics in different regions of the country.

In the capital Lilongwe and the major city of Blantyre, housing prices are traditionally higher than in other regions. This is due to the high demand in the country's economic centers.

In Lilongwe, the average cost of an apartment or house on the secondary market is 30-150 million kwacha (about 26,000 - 130,000 dollars). The price depends on area, location, quality of finishes and other factors.

In Blantyre, prices are slightly lower, averaging 20-100 million kwacha ($17,000-$85,000) for typical housing. However, prices can be higher in upscale neighborhoods.

A more affordable price level is observed in the north of Malawi, in particular, in the city of Mzuzu. Here, the average cost of an apartment or house is 15-70 million kwacha ($13,000-$60,000).

In rural areas, prices are generally lower. For example, a small house can cost about 3-10 million kwacha (2,500-8,500 dollars).