Real estate

In the Republic of Moldova, real estate is governed through a unified cadastral system administered by the Public Services Agency (ASP). All real rights over immovable property must be registered in the Real Estate Register, and the entries benefit from a presumption of authenticity and accuracy until proven otherwise.

The Real Estate Cadastre Law No. 1543/1998 and the Civil Code set out the rules for acquiring, transferring, and protecting property rights. Ownership is effectively transferred to the buyer only upon registration of the legal act in the Real Estate Register, regardless of the date when the contract was signed.

Moldovan law also imposes a special regime for agricultural land, which cannot be owned by foreign citizens, foreign legal entities, or Moldovan companies with foreign investment. Such entities may only use agricultural land through lease, concession, or similar non-ownership arrangements.

The real estate market is currently undergoing significant legislative modernization. In 2025, a draft law was introduced to regulate, for the first time, the activity of real estate agents and agencies, providing for:
– mandatory professional certification;
– written intermediary service contracts;
– an official electronic register of real estate agents;
– enhanced transparency rules and sanctions for abusive practices.

The draft law is still under parliamentary examination and, once adopted, is expected to strengthen consumer protection and increase the professionalism and transparency of the Moldovan real estate sector.