How to Buy an Apartment in Batumi Remotely, Step by Step

By WSE.AM editorial team, edited by Mark Muzyka · Updated 12 October 2026

Power of attorney, reservation, contract, payment and Public Registry registration: who does what, how long it takes, and where buyers really go wrong.

How to Buy an Apartment in Batumi Remotely, Step by Step

Can you buy an apartment in Batumi remotely, without traveling?

The short answer: yes, a property deal in Georgia can be done entirely at a distance. It is a standard procedure used by a large share of foreign buyers. Here is the order. First the goal, then the property: an apartment to rent out, one for your own visits and one to resell before completion are three different options in different buildings. At this same step, ask for two figures that sellers are reluctant to name: the service charge rate and the management company's terms. Next comes the reservation: the apartment you choose is taken off the market for an agreed period against a small deposit, which locks in the price, since prices in buildings under construction are revised regularly. The third step is the contract, which you read before making any payment. Look at the completion date and the developer's liability for missing it, the payment schedule and the penalty for your own late payment, the termination terms and how much is withheld if you change your mind, and from what point an assignment of rights is possible.

A real estate deal in Georgia can be done entirely remotely. This is not a gray scheme or an exception: the procedure is standard and is used by a large share of foreign buyers. Below is how it works, step by step.

Step 1. Choosing the property

The key here is to get the order right. First the goal, then the property.

Renting it out, coming yourself, reselling before completion: these are three different apartments in three different buildings. We start by asking about your goal and budget, and only then send a selection with the units actually available. You can see the overall picture yourself: all Batumi projects with prices.

At this same step, ask the seller for two figures they are reluctant to name: the service charge rate and the management company's terms.

Step 2. Reservation

The apartment you choose is taken off the market for an agreed period against a small deposit. The reservation locks in the price: in buildings under construction, the price list is revised regularly, and the difference between "I'll think for a week" and "I'll think for a month" can be several thousand dollars.

Step 3. The contract: read it before paying

We send you the draft contract before any payment and go through it with you. What to look at first:

the completion date and what the developer is liable for if it is missed;
the payment schedule and the penalty for late payment on your side;
the termination terms: how much is withheld if you change your mind;
from what point an assignment of rights to a third party is possible;
the right to register as the future owner and after which payment it arises.

A typical imbalance in Georgian contracts: the buyer's penalty is spelled out in detail, while the developer's liability for missing the deadline is a general phrase. This is no reason to walk away from the deal, but you need to know it in advance, not find out two years later.

Step 4. Power of attorney

You go to a notary in your own country and issue a power of attorney to a representative in Georgia. The document is translated into Georgian and apostilled: an apostille is required because Georgia is a party to the Hague Convention.

We provide a ready-made text of the power of attorney with the necessary powers: without some of them, the representative will not be able to sign the contract or submit documents for registration, and everything will have to be redone.

Step 5. Payment

The first installment and subsequent payments go to the developer's account by bank transfer. Important details:

pay from an account opened in your own name: Georgian banks take longer to check transfers from third parties;
the payment reference must match the contract, otherwise the payment will get stuck;
there is no escrow in Georgia, and the money goes directly to the developer. This is a key difference from Russian or European practice.

Step 6. Registration

The contract is registered in the Public Registry of Georgia. Once half the price has been paid, the buyer is, as a rule, entitled to register as the future owner of a specific apartment, and from that moment it cannot be sold to anyone else. Full ownership arises after full payment and registration of the main contract, usually after the building is put into operation.

You receive the registry extract electronically and can check it yourself on the Public Registry portal.

How long it takes

From the first conversation to a signed contract usually takes one to two weeks, if the documents are ready. The longest part is not the deal but the choice: people compare floors and views for weeks, and that is normal.

Where buyers really go wrong

1. They issue a power of attorney without the necessary powers. Redoing it takes another week and a second trip to the notary. 2. They pay before reading the contract. After that, getting a refund depends on the developer's goodwill. 3. They calculate the yield without the service charge. The gap between the calculation and reality is tens of percent. 4. They take a "cheaper" apartment in the building that will be completed last. The saving at entry turns into extra years of waiting.

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Ready to start? Message us on Telegram at @WSEManager or leave a request in the Batumi new builds section. We will send you the current price list with available units and a draft contract to review.

_Photo: Sosotedrd, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons. Image resized._

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a power of attorney to buy an apartment in Batumi remotely? Yes. A power of attorney for a representative in Georgia is issued at a notary in your own country, then translated into Georgian and apostilled. It is important to include all the necessary powers from the start, otherwise the document will have to be redone.

Is there escrow when buying a new build in Georgia? No, there is no escrow in Georgia: the first installment and payments go by bank transfer directly to the developer's account. It is best to pay from your own account, and the payment reference must match the contract.

When can a buyer in Batumi register as the future owner? As a rule, once half the price has been paid, the buyer is entitled to register in the Public Registry as the future owner of a specific apartment, and from that moment it cannot be sold to anyone else. Full ownership arises after full payment, usually after the building is put into operation.

How long does it take to buy an apartment in Batumi remotely? From the first conversation to a signed contract usually takes one to two weeks, if the documents are ready. The longest part is not the deal but choosing the apartment: comparing floors and views can take weeks.