How to Buy an Apartment in Casablanca Step by Step: Checklist and Timeline
This is the short, practical version: a checklist you can print and follow, with the documents and the timing of each step. For the full background on the market, read our complete guide to buying an apartment in Casablanca.
Typical Timeline
| Stage | Usual duration |
|---|---|
| Search and visits | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Offer and negotiation | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Sale promise (compromis) and deposit | 1 week |
| Bank loan approval | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Final deed at the notary | 1 to 3 months after the promise |
| Registration and new title | A few weeks after signing |
Step 1: Set a Realistic Budget
Add about 6% to 7% to the price for registration duty (usually 4%), land registry fees (about 1.5%), notary fees and VAT. If you need a mortgage, banks keep total monthly repayments under roughly 40% of net income.
Step 2: Choose Two or Three Neighborhoods
Compare lifestyle and prices with our Casablanca neighborhood guide before visiting.
Step 3: Visit With a Checklist
- Orientation, light and noise
- Elevator, parking and storage
- Building condition and monthly syndic (co-ownership) fees
- Water pressure, humidity, electrical panel
- Distance to schools, tram or busway
Step 4: Check the Title Deed
Ask for the reference of the titre foncier and obtain a recent certificat de propriété from the Conservation Foncière. It shows the registered owner, the surface and any mortgage or seizure. Never pay a deposit on a property without a clean title, or on a property sold only with an unregistered deed, unless a notary has checked the situation.
Step 5: Ask for the Key Documents
- Seller’s national ID card or passport
- Certificat de propriété (less than one month old)
- Co-ownership rules and receipt showing syndic fees are paid
- Receipts for local taxes (taxe d’habitation and taxe de services communaux)
- Habitation permit (permis d’habiter) for recent buildings
Step 6: Make an Offer
Base your offer on recent sales in the same building or street. Negotiation margins of a few percent are common on resale apartments; new developments negotiate less but may offer parking or finishes.
Step 7: Sign the Sale Promise
The compromis de vente fixes the price, the conditions (such as obtaining a loan) and the signing date. A deposit, often around 10% of the price, is paid into the notary’s account, not to the seller directly.
Step 8: Secure Your Financing
Send your file to several banks. Moroccan residents, Moroccans abroad and foreigners all have access to mortgages, with different down payments. See mortgage in Morocco for foreign buyers.
Step 9: Sign the Final Deed
On signing day, the balance and the purchase costs are paid to the notary. You receive the keys once the deed is signed, unless agreed otherwise.
Step 10: Registration and New Title
The notary registers the deed with the tax administration and the Conservation Foncière. A few weeks later you can request a certificat de propriété in your name. Keep all receipts: you will need them when you sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to buy an apartment in Casablanca?
Usually two to four months from the accepted offer to the final deed, longer if a bank loan or a pending title is involved.
Who chooses the notary?
Either party can propose one. Many buyers choose their own notary, especially for large purchases.
Is a real estate agent mandatory?
No. Buyers can deal directly with owners or developers, but a good local agent saves time on search and negotiation.
Buying, selling or renting in Casablanca? Contact Casablanca Estate to list your property or ask about a neighborhood.