How to work with a real-estate agent in Paraguay

A professional real-estate agent does far more than open doors. They help set a market price using comparables, filter properties against your criteria, arrange viewings, negotiate terms and see the paperwork and the legal side through to the deed.

Their value is in the time they save you and the mistakes they spare you: overpaying, buying a property with title problems, or signing a contract with unfavourable clauses.

In Paraguay the agency commission is agreed between the parties and is usually expressed as a percentage of the sale price, typically in the order of 3 % to 5 %, plus the applicable VAT. Who pays it — buyer, seller or both — is set out in the mandate or brokerage contract.

Ask for the commission and who pays it to be in writing from the outset. A serious professional explains their fee plainly and signs it; be wary of verbal agreements, or of commissions that only surface at closing.

An exclusive mandate gives a single agent the right to market your property for a fixed period. In return, the agent usually invests more in photography, promotion and follow-up, because they know they will be paid if it sells.

It is neither good nor bad in itself: it depends on the professional and on the terms. If you sign an exclusive, agree a reasonable period, concrete marketing obligations and a clear exit clause.

A good agent knows the area, shows comparables to justify the price, is transparent with the documentation and does not pressure you into signing. Check that they work with written contracts and can explain every step of the transaction.

Be wary of anyone who promises unrealistic prices, avoids putting things in writing, or rushes the deposit without having shown you the Certificado de Condiciones de Dominio. On a purchase this size, haste almost always works against the client.