property
Buenos Aires Offers First-Time Buyers Grants, Reduced Stamp Duty
First-time buyers in Buenos Aires qualify for city grants and reduced stamp duty on properties under 120 square metres until the end of the year.
How we reported this
Buenos Aires city hall opened applications this week for direct grants of up to 35,000 USD and full stamp duty waivers for first-time buyers who close before 31 December 2026.
The measures target households earning less than 2,800 USD a month and apply only to units priced below 180,000 USD. Officials extended the window after transaction volumes in the capital fell 14 percent in the second quarter compared with the same period last year.
Where the incentives apply
Properties on Calle Honduras in Palermo and along Avenida Cabildo in Belgrano already show listings that fit the price cap. The city’s housing office lists both neighbourhoods among the 12 districts where buyers can combine the new grant with an existing municipal loan program run through the Instituto de la Vivienda de la Ciudad. Villa Crespo blocks near Avenida Scalabrini Ortiz have also drawn early interest because average asking prices there sit at 2,150 USD per square metre.
Transactions remain almost entirely in dollars, so the stamp duty saving of 3.6 percent on a 150,000 USD apartment equals roughly 5,400 USD at closing. Buyers must prove they have not owned property in Argentina in the past five years and present a pre-approved mortgage or cash proof at the time of application.
Numbers that matter
The average asking price across Buenos Aires stands at 2,500 USD per square metre, according to July listings compiled by the Colegio de Escribanos. In Recoleta the figure reaches 3,400 USD per square metre, pushing most stock outside the grant threshold. City records show 1,240 first-time buyer deeds registered in the first half of 2026, up from 980 in the same months of 2025 after an earlier round of concessions.
Applications close at the Dirección General de Vivienda on Avenida de Mayo 560 on 15 December. Staff advise buyers to bring income statements, a signed purchase offer and proof of residency in the capital before the queue forms ahead of the final month.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.