Georgia (Tbilisi, Batumi) Mortgages for Non-Resident Buyers

Foreign individuals and companies can register apartments, houses and commercial property in their own names through the Public Service Hall, in a matter of days. Agricultural land is reserved for citizens and Georgian entities, although legal structures exist.

The largest lenders are TBC Bank, Bank of Georgia and Liberty Bank, with Basisbank and others active. Their strongest products are for residents with salaries paid into their accounts. A non-resident applicant is usually offered a lower loan, a shorter term and more scrutiny of source of funds.

Banks in Tbilisi sometimes lend more readily to foreigners who have a residence permit or who own a local company with audited accounts.

National Bank of Georgia rules have limited foreign-currency loans to individuals below a size threshold, nudging borrowers toward lari. Lari interest rates have been well above euro or dollar rates, and the exchange rate has moved noticeably, so the real cost of a loan is hard to forecast. Larger loans may be available in dollars.

Expect an LTV of 50% to 70% for non-residents, with a term up to about 20 years. Use the mortgage calculator to test the effect of a 10% currency move on payments.

Banks ask for notarised translations in Georgian or English.

The process is fast and mostly digital, which cuts both ways.

1. Choose the property and request the registry extract from the seller.
2. Sign a preliminary agreement and pay a reservation deposit.
3. Apply for a loan and order the bank's valuation.
4. Sign the sale contract before a notary or at the Public Service Hall.
5. Pay the balance and register ownership, normally within a day or a few days.
6. Pick up the registry certificate showing you as owner.

A large share of new-build sales in Batumi and Tbilisi use interest-free or low-cost instalments paid to the developer over one to three years. These can look cheap but depend on the developer finishing the building, so check permits, track record and whether payments go to an escrow account.

The Georgian market is seen as a cash market. Browse the cheap properties and under 100k listings to understand the entry level.

Georgia has few transaction taxes, which helps.

Many foreigners buy to rent in Batumi and Tbilisi, and banks know it. Lenders discount short-let income, because tourist demand is seasonal. If you intend to cover payments from rent, keep a buffer. A local property manager can handle guests, though you should check the service contract.

Owning property above a set value can help support a residence application, subject to current rules, and the country offers a special status for some foreign freelancers. These rules are changed from time to time, so ask a Georgian lawyer to confirm what applies to you before you rely on them.

Tbilisi offers year-round demand from students, professionals and relocated remote workers, and banks value central flats with more confidence. Batumi is a seaside market with heavy new-build supply and a strong seasonal pattern, so lenders probe the building's completion status. Smaller towns have little mortgage activity at all. If you need a loan, favour completed buildings with registered ownership over unfinished towers.

Georgian banks require property insurance during the loan term, and the bank's valuer sets the loan base, often below the contract price in a hot market. Commission an independent technical survey of the structure, particularly in older Soviet-era blocks where wiring, plumbing and seismic strength differ from new developments.

Check building permits and ask for the registry history. Read the Georgia consultation guide and compare price patterns on the market page.