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How do I get a property valued in Lebanon, and what does it cost?

6 min read15 sourcesReviewed by Tatyana Alwan, lawyer, 18 Oct 2026
On this page
  1. Key facts
  2. Three different "values" for the same property
  3. A sworn valuer or an agency report
  4. The official estimated value used for fees
  5. The bank's valuation for a BDH loan
  6. How to get a property valued, step by step
  7. It depends on
  8. Common questions
  9. Sources

Short answer

According to one Lebanese agency, you order a report from a sworn valuer accepted by Lebanese courts or from an agency, priced differently[1]. We found no published fee or official list of sworn valuers. For built property, the Land Registry charges fees on the higher of the estimated value and the declared price[2,3]; the base for unbuilt land is not confirmed[4,5]. BDH lends on its own technical valuation[6,7].

Also asked as: “Who values a property in Lebanon?” · “How much does a sworn valuer charge in Lebanon?” · “Property valuation report in Lebanon” · “Sworn real estate valuer in Lebanon”

Key facts

Who values
A sworn valuer accepted by Lebanese courts, or an agency, according to JSK Real Estate[1]
What it costs
Not published; JSK says the two report types are priced differently[1]
What the valuer does
Visits the property and reviews its legal documents, according to JSK[1]
How long a report is valid
No fixed validity, according to JSK[1]
Base for registration fees (built property)
the higher of the estimated value and the declared price[2,3]
Official estimate, built property
rental value × 30, if higher than the declared price[4,5]
BDH loan (February 2026)
at least 20% down; loan at most 80%[6,7], on the bank's own technical valuation

Three different "values" for the same property

A property in Lebanon can carry three numbers. The first is the market price, what a buyer actually pays. That is not the asking price: several sources say advertised and recorded sale prices are not the same number[8,9,10]. The second is the official estimated value, set in the Ministry of Finance clearance document and used as the floor for fees on built property[2,3]. The third is a bank's own technical valuation, used for a loan[6,7].

National and district figures cannot price one flat. As LeBusiness put it in October 2026, Land Registry statistics describe a district. They say nothing about a floor, a view, a broken lift or a deed shared between heirs[8]. More on this in why advertised prices differ from Land Registry prices and estimated value versus market price.

A sworn valuer or an agency report

The only source we found on private valuations is JSK Real Estate, an agency that sells them. In September 2023 it described two main report types, one by a sworn valuer accepted by Lebanese courts and one by an agency. It said they are priced differently but gave no fees[1]. JSK says a valuation means a physical visit and a review of the property's legal documents. It also says a report has no fixed validity because the market moves, so you may need a recent one to buy or sell.

We found no published fee for a valuation and no official list of sworn valuers. We also found no body named as accrediting them, and no rule on when a bank, notary, court or the Land Registry requires a sworn valuation. For a court case, ask the court registry how its experts are appointed. For a loan, ask the bank. The Order of Engineers and Architects may be able to point you to a qualified valuer, but you will need to ask them yourself.

The official estimated value used for fees

Under Art. 76 of Law 10/2022, the transfer fee on built property is charged on the built rental value multiplied by 30. The regional finance offices estimate that figure, or in Beirut the built-property tax department[4,5]. The Land Registry applies the estimate when it is higher than the declared price, and its officer may set a higher value at his discretion[2,3]. LeBusiness (May 2026) adds that declaring a low price to save fees will not always work. The fee itself is 3% of the value for Lebanese buyers, 5% for non-Lebanese[11]. See how much the registration fee is and whether fees use the contract price or the estimated value.

This rule is written for built property. The fee base for unbuilt land is not confirmed[4,5]. We found no official page that explains how the estimate is set or updated, or how to challenge it. Ask the regional finance office or a lawyer.

The bank's valuation for a BDH loan

Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) sets its terms on its own technical valuation, not on the price you agree with the seller. Its February 2026 Key Fact Statement requires at least 20% down; loan at most 80%[6,7]. If the bank values the home below the price, you pay the difference in cash. BDH lends up to USD 100,000 (minimum USD 20,000) to buy or build. As of autumn 2026, the press reports that commercial banks are still not writing home mortgages[12,13]. See the conditions for a BDH loan.

How to get a property valued, step by step

  1. Get a recent Land Registry extract. It shows the owner, charges, mortgages and restrictions on the plot[14,15]. Give it to the valuer together with the plot number and real estate district. Here is how to get the extract and what it costs.
  2. Decide what the valuation is for. It might be for a court, a bank, or your own decision to buy or sell. Ask whoever will rely on it which type of report they accept, because we found no published rule.
  3. Ask for a written quote and scope. No fee is published. Get the price, what the report covers and the delivery time in writing before you agree.
  4. Arrange the visit and the papers. According to JSK, expect a physical visit and a review of the legal documents[1]. If you are abroad, ask someone you trust to let the valuer in, and ask for the report in writing.
  5. Check the report against the market. Compare it with recorded prices, not only asking prices[8,9,10]. Read the date too: JSK says a report has no fixed validity[1].

It depends on

  • What the valuation is for. A bank such as BDH uses its own technical valuation[6,7]. For a court, ask the court registry how experts are chosen.
  • Built property or land. The rental value × 30 rule for fees is written for built property. For unbuilt land, ask the regional finance office or a lawyer[4,5].
  • Where the property is. In Beirut the built-property tax department sets the estimate. Elsewhere the regional finance office does[4,5].
  • Who is buying. The registration fee is 3% of the value for Lebanese buyers, 5% for non-Lebanese[11]. For built property it is applied to the higher of the estimate and the price[2,3].
  • How you pay. With a BDH loan, a low bank valuation means you pay more in cash[6,7]. A cash buyer does not face this step.

Common questions

How much does a property valuation cost in Lebanon?

We found no published fee. JSK Real Estate, an agency, says reports by a sworn valuer and by an agency are priced differently but gives no figures[1], so ask for a written quote.

Is the Ministry of Finance estimated value the same as market value?

No. For built property it is the rental value multiplied by 30 and serves as the floor for registration fees. It does not measure what a buyer would pay[4,5].

Does BDH accept my own valuation report?

BDH sets the minimum down payment on the bank's own technical valuation, not the agreed price[6,7]. Ask BDH whether it looks at an outside report at all.

How long is a valuation report valid?

According to JSK Real Estate, a report has no fixed validity because market conditions change, so you may need a recent one to buy or sell[1].

Sources

Checked against these sources. The numbers in the text point here.

  1. 1.
    JSK: Valuation of a property in Lebanon

    JSK Real Estate · 15 Sept 2023 · read 17 Oct 2026

  2. 2.
    Real Estate Transactions in Lebanon

    Obeid & Medawar Law Firm · 12 Dec 2023 · read 17 Oct 2026

  3. 3.
    How to Register Property in Lebanon: Steps and Cost

    LeBusiness · 31 May 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026

  4. 4.
    Law 10/2022 (General Budget Law for 2022), consolidated text with amendments

    Lebanese University Legal Informatics Center (legallaw.ul.edu.lb) · 15 Nov 2022 · read 17 Oct 2026

  5. 5.
    Real estate fees calculator

    Kallas Law Firm · 24 May 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026

  6. 6.
    BDH USD Purchase Loan Key Fact Statement (BDH - CPU - KFS - Feb 26)

    Banque de l'Habitat (BDH) · February 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026

  7. 7.
    Banque de l'Habitat - Purchase loan details

    Banque de l'Habitat S.A.L. (BDH) · undated · read 17 Oct 2026

  8. 8.
  9. 9.
    The rebound is real but housing finance is still short in Beirut

    An-Nahar · 23 Sept 2026 · read 17 Oct 2026

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