Colombia real estate agent fees: split in equal parts by default.
// Short answer
Colombia's Commercial Code sets no commission rate: the broker earns the agreed fee, failing that the usual one, failing that one set by experts. Unless the contract says otherwise, buyer and seller pay it in equal parts, once the deal is concluded. There is no national licence for sales brokers. IVA at 19% applies.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much does a Colombian real estate agent charge?
The agreed fee; without an agreement, the usual one; failing that, a fee set by experts (Commercial Code article 1341).
Every other cost of buying, and who pays it: Colombia property buying costs.
Who pays the estate agent in Colombia, buyer or seller?
By default, both, in equal parts, unless the contract says otherwise. The fee is due once the deal is concluded.
So a buyer who signs nothing about the split can owe half.
Is IVA charged on agent fees in Colombia?
Yes, at the general rate of 19%.
Taxes once you own: Colombia property tax for foreigners.
Colombia agent guide
Choosing an agent in Colombia? The questions to ask first
Sign nothing about the fee and the law splits it between you and the seller. The 12 questions, expenses you can owe without buying, arras that let either side walk away, a first-call script and a worksheet in pesos.
Do Colombian real estate agents need a licence?
Not for sales: we found no national licence for sales brokers. A registration (matricula) is required only for rental intermediaries under Law 820 of 2003.
The title record to check before you pay anything: the certificado de tradicion explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the real estate agent in Colombia?
What is the real estate commission in Colombia?
Do real estate agents need a licence in Colombia?
Header photo: User: (WT-shared) CONOCER at wts wikivoyage, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.