Croatia real estate agent fees: capped by the agency's own price list.
// Short answer
Croatia's new Real Estate Brokerage Act, in force since 7 July 2026, sets no percentage: the fee is set in the brokerage contract. The old 6% cap was abolished in 2012. The Act caps the fee only when one agency has a contract with both sides: the two fees together cannot exceed the highest fee in its price list, and if only one side pays, that side pays at most half. An agency cannot charge a buyer who signed no contract, or take fees in advance. VAT is 25%.
Rules and rates as of October 2026.
On this page
How much does a Croatian estate agent charge?
Whatever the brokerage contract says. The law sets no rate (article 28). The only cap is for an agency with contracts with both buyer and seller: the two fees together cannot exceed the highest fee in its own price list, and if only one of them pays, that one pays at most half (article 30).
Both parties must be told the fees in writing beforehand. Every other cost of buying: Croatia property buying costs.
Who pays the estate agent in Croatia, buyer or seller?
Whoever signed a brokerage contract. An agency may charge both only with a separate contract with each, may not charge a buyer who signed no contract, and may not take fees in advance.
So a request for a fee before you have signed anything is not allowed.
Is VAT charged on agent fees in Croatia?
Yes, at Croatia's standard rate of 25%.
Taxes once you own: Croatia property tax for foreigners.
Croatia agent guide
Choosing an agent in Croatia? The questions to ask first
Croatia rewrote its agency law in July 2026: no fee in advance, no charge to a buyer who signed nothing, and a viewing never conditional on a signature. The 12 questions, the register check, the kapara, a first-call script and a worksheet in euros.
How do I check a Croatian estate agent?
The Croatian Chamber of Economy keeps the register of brokerage firms, which is public and online, and the directory of licensed agents, from which you can ask for an extract. Ask for the agency's register entry before you sign. Every agency must carry liability insurance of at least EUR 100,000 per claim and EUR 300,000 a year.
The record to check before you pay anything: the Croatian land registry extract explained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the estate agent commission in Croatia?
Can a Croatian agent charge both buyer and seller?
Can a Croatian agent ask for a fee in advance?
Is there VAT on estate agent fees in Croatia?
Header photo: Ryan Matzner and Rachel Pestik, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. All credits: image credits.