Buying Property in Malta: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Buying property in Malta is a defined journey, not a single transaction. From working out what you can afford to collecting the keys, there is a clear sequence of steps — financial, practical and legal — that protect both buyer and seller along the way. This guide walks the whole path, with the legal steps explained by notary Dr. Michael Laferla, and points you to the Yitaku tools and deeper guides for each stage.

Before you start: budget, grants and your deposit

Two foundations come before any paperwork: knowing what you can comfortably afford, and being confident in the property itself. Start by working out your borrowing capacity and the real cash you'll need — which is well above the deposit alone once you add stamp duty, notary fees and insurance. Plan it with the Home Loan Calculator.

Before you fix a budget, check what you're entitled to — it can change what you can afford. Maltese buyers may qualify for first-time and second-time buyer stamp duty relief, Gozo and Urban Conservation Area incentives, and government grants. (A dedicated walk-through of grants and schemes is coming with our Yitaku Asks series on the topic.)

Then set your deposit aside. The customary deposit is 10% of the price, paid when you sign the Promise of Sale — and a home loan typically covers up to 90%, so the 10% is your own cash to have ready.

Find the right home

With a budget in mind, start the search. View properties more than once where you can, at different times of day, and look past the staging at what matters long-term. Search thousands of listings from owners, agents and developers in one place, and set alerts so you don't miss a match.

Make an offer and engage your notary

Once you've found the right home and the seller accepts in principle, engage a notary. In Malta the buyer chooses the notary — and engaging them before you sign anything lets them review the property and the seller's documents first.

Sign the Konvenju (Promise of Sale)

The Konvenju is the binding preliminary agreement. You pay the deposit (held by the notary in their client account), the 1% provisional stamp duty is registered within 21 days, the property comes off the market, and a clock of typically six to eight months starts toward the final deed. Know the protective clauses your Konvenju should contain:

Just signed? Our detailed first-week checklist walks what to do next (chapter coming soon). For the full legal mechanics end-to-end, see the complete legal process guide.

Apply for your home loan

If you're financing, apply after the Konvenju is signed — the sooner the better, as the bank's process is the main reason the timeline runs to the longer end. Your bank issues a sanction letter once its checks are done, and your "subject to sanction of loan" clause protects you if the loan is refused. You can request life and buildings insurance quotes in the Yitaku app — both are usually required for loan approval.

Due diligence and the final deed

During the months before the final deed, your notary does the protective work: searching title, checking for debts or hypothecs, and verifying that planning permits are in order. When everything is satisfied, you sign the final deed, the balance is paid, the deed is registered at the Public Registry — and the property is legally yours. (A dedicated due-diligence guide is coming with that reel series.)

House to home

With the keys in hand, the last stage is making it yours — insurance, finishing and furnishing. Save on furniture and home services with Yitaku coupons.

How Yitaku helps at every step

The journey has a rhythm; the tools make it manageable — the Home Loan Calculator, property search and alerts, in-app insurance quotes, coupons, and a Knowledge Hub of expert answers. Download the Yitaku app to take it from discovery through to settled ownership.

Sources

• Dr. Michael Laferla — Yitaku Asks video series (first step, notary's role, Konvenju, Konvenju clauses) — primary expert framing
• Civil Code of Malta, Chapter 16 — Article 1357 (promise of sale, deposit on account of the price, remedies and deadlines)
• Notarial Profession and Notarial Archives Act, Chapter 55 — the notary as public officer; conveyancing formalities
• Duty on Documents and Transfers Act, Chapter 364 — stamp duty rates, first-time/second-time buyer relief, 1% provisional duty at the Konvenju
• Central Bank of Malta Directive No. 16 — loan-to-value limits underpinning the customary 10% deposit