Lucian Homes Realty

Buyer's Expenses

When purchasing property in St. Lucia, buyers should budget for several key expenses in addition to the purchase price. These costs can vary depending on the value of the property, the buyer’s residency status, and whether the property is purchased under the Citizenship by Investment Program.

Main Buyer Expenses

Expense	Typical Rate/Amount	Notes
Stamp Duty	2% of purchase price	Standard for most buyers; sometimes 1% in specific cases.
Legal Fees	0.5% – 2.5% of purchase price	Sliding scale based on property value; minimum flat fee applies.
VAT on Legal Fees	12.5% – 17.5%	Applied to legal fees[1].
Alien Landholding License (for non-citizens)	0.5% – 1% of purchase price or EC$5,000–10,020	Mandatory for non-citizens; cost depends on property size.
Certificate of Eligibility (for non-citizens)	Application fee (varies)	Required before applying for the Alien Landholding License.
Property Registration Fees	Included in legal fees or as a separate minor fee	Handled by attorney.
Property Taxes (annual)	0.25% of market value	Ongoing annual cost[9].
Other Fees (bank, admin, etc.)	Varies	May include bank charges, postal fees, etc.

Special Cases

Citizenship by Investment Program: Buyers under this program are exempt from stamp duty and the Alien Landholding License fee, but must pay administration, processing, due diligence, and passport fees. These can total tens of thousands of USD depending on family size.
Maintenance Costs: After purchase, owners pay annual property tax (0.25% of value) and, if renting out, management fees (can be 40–50% of rental income for managed properties).

Summary:

Expect buyer transaction costs (excluding ongoing taxes) to total approximately 3%–5.5% of the purchase price for standard purchases[5].
Non-citizens should budget for the Alien Landholding License and related legal processes.
Annual property tax is low compared to many other jurisdictions.