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Real estate exchange

In what does a real estate exchange consist? As the name implies, it is a property exchange without buying or selling. But of course it isn’t so linear, there are a few points you should be aware of.

 

 

Like everything, there are advantages and disadvantages to a real estate swap. Everything depends on your situation and some luck as well. There may be several reasons for deciding to exchange your home, either because you have changed jobs, or because you want to move from town to country, or even because your home has become too big.

 

Barter contract advantages:

 

  • In a real estate exchange, you save time, and everything else becomes more comfortable, you do not need to look for a house or a buyer.

 

The negotiations, when exchanging your home, tend to be faster and simpler, unlike a purchase or sale of a property.

 

Another advantage, perhaps the most relevant, is in tax terms. If you sell or buy a house, you will have to pay taxes on that transaction. Therefore, you will have to pay the registration, the valuation of the property, as well as the sale or purchase of the property itself. In a barter, you may not pay any tax other than the IMT if the values of the real estate differ. That is, if property A is charged 150 thousand euros, and 100 thousand to property B, the IMT will be taxed only for the difference of 50 thousand euros.

 

  • Another advantage over IMT may apply. If the purpose of the exchange is for housing, you may be exempt or have a reduction in this tax.

 

Barter contract disadvantages:

 

  • One of the main ones and perhaps the most difficult to circumvent will be conflicts of interest. The truth is, it will be hard to find a house with the same asset value as yours. The house characteristics or property location are the main reasons that make the values differ. This search wouldn’t be impossible since there are already online platforms designed to find someone to exchange your ideal house with.

 

  • Another unfavourable point will be the difference between the asset values of a rural area to an urban area. Having a 3-bedroom house in a rural area can mean an equivalent equity value to a 1-bedroom in an urban area. If this is your intention, to move from a rural to an urban area, prepare yourself to receive proposals for houses with fewer rooms.

 

  • The emotional element that the owners impose on their property may also be a problem. It is natural to give sentimental value to some aspects of the house, and not to find them in the house up for exchange.

 

 

Besides the traditional real estate exchange between two stakeholders, there exists the technical real estate exchange, which requires three stakeholders, the property A's owner, the buyer, and the builder. If the owner of property A has an interest in a new home that still belongs to the builder, to make the exchange, he should promptly have a buyer for his home. This way, the builder will be the one with the most advantages because of how fast the deal will be.

Another possible exchange in order to equalize the values of real estate will be the exchange of two properties for one. You can, for example, exchange a property and land for a larger property and in this way the values are eventually equated.

 

Be aware that this is a type of business not very common in our country, but it can bring many benefits to both parties. In Casas do Barlavento, we are entirely available to find your dream house, and who knows, help you with your real estate exchange.