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For the diaspora

# Buy Property in Rwanda From Abroad

Most of our clients complete their purchase without setting foot in Rwanda until they collect the keys. Here's exactly how that works.

- Title verified
- Escrow-friendly process
- Virtual viewings
- Power of attorney supported

Buying property from London, Toronto, Brussels, Amsterdam, Melbourne, Nairobi or Dubai while the property sits in Kigali is a genuinely different transaction from a local, in-person purchase — not because the legal steps are different, but because you can't personally verify anything on the ground. This service exists specifically to close that gap.

## What's different about buying remotely

Step | Local buyer | Diaspora buyer
--- | --- | ---
Viewing | In person | Live video call or recorded walkthrough
Verification | Can visit the site personally | We verify on your behalf, with photo/video evidence
Signing | In person at a notary | Notarised power of attorney authorises someone to sign for you
Payment | Can be handled locally, in person | International transfer against a written milestone schedule
Handover | Collect keys directly | Keys held or handed to a nominated representative until you arrive

## Power of attorney, explained simply

A power of attorney (POA) is the legal instrument that lets someone else act on your behalf in Rwanda — signing the sale agreement, appearing at the notary, and registering the transferred title in your name. For most diaspora clients, this is prepared and notarised either at a Rwandan embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or through a local notary with the document subsequently legalised for use in Rwanda. We'll tell you which route applies in your country and can recommend where to start, though the notarisation itself is a legal step outside what we directly provide.

A properly drafted POA should specify exactly what the holder can and cannot do — limiting it to a single, named transaction rather than granting broad, indefinite authority is standard good practice, and something we'll flag if a draft you're given looks too open-ended.

## Virtual viewings that actually tell you something

A single video call walking past a building's exterior tells you very little. Our virtual viewings are structured to cover what actually matters for a purchase decision: room-by-room video with commentary, water and electricity connection points, boundary walls and access roads, and — where relevant — the surrounding street and neighbourhood context, not just the property itself.

## Payment without being present

We structure payment in stages tied to specific, verifiable milestones — signed sale agreement, confirmed title transfer application, registered transfer — rather than asking for the full amount upfront. This isn't a licensed escrow account in the formal sense some buyers may be used to from other markets, and we're upfront about that distinction; it is, however, a significant improvement over paying in full before any documentation is confirmed, which remains common practice with less careful sellers.

## Currency and pricing

Every property we list shows the RWF asking price with an indicative USD equivalent beneath it, so you can budget without a separate currency conversion. The RWF figure is what the transaction is actually priced in; the USD figure moves with the exchange rate and is shown for guidance only.

## Common mistakes we see diaspora buyers make

1. Sending money before seeing the title documents. Documentation should come before payment, not after.
2. Granting an overly broad power of attorney. Limit it to the specific transaction.
3. Relying on family members for verification instead of an independent check. Well-meaning relatives are not a substitute for formal title verification.
4. Accepting a higher price without knowing it. Ask directly whether the price quoted matches what a local buyer would be quoted for the same property.

## Where to start

Browse current properties for sale, read our title verification guide to understand what protects you, or go straight to contact us with your budget, timeline and preferred area — we'll take it from there.

FAQ

## Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to travel to Rwanda to complete a purchase?

No. Viewings, negotiation, due diligence and signing can all be completed remotely using video calls and a notarised power of attorney. Many clients do visit before or shortly after purchase, but it isn't required to complete the transaction.

What is power of attorney and do I need a lawyer in Rwanda to arrange it?

A power of attorney is a notarised legal document authorising someone in Rwanda to act on your behalf — signing documents, collecting title, completing transfer. It can typically be prepared at a Rwandan embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or notarised locally and legalised for use in Rwanda. We can point you to the correct process for your specific country.

How do I pay for a property without being in Rwanda?

Via international bank transfer, against a written, milestone-based payment schedule agreed before you send any funds. We do not ask for full payment before you've seen the sale agreement and verified title documentation.

Can you show me a property over video call?

Yes — live video walkthroughs are standard for diaspora buyers, and we can also provide recorded video tours if a live call doesn't fit your schedule.

What if something goes wrong after I've purchased remotely?

The same title verification and sale agreement review we do for local buyers applies to remote purchases — the goal is to catch problems before you pay, not after. If you have concerns about a property you're already committed to, we also offer standalone due diligence — see request due diligence.

## Buying from the UK, US, Canada or elsewhere?

Tell us your timezone and what you're looking for — we'll schedule everything around you, not the other way round.

Contact Our Team