Buying an apartment in Morocco in 2026: a step-by-step guide

Buying an apartment in Morocco is one of life’s big projects, whether you plan to live in it, invest or prepare a return home. The market is rich but fragmented between developers, agencies and private sellers. The best way to avoid bad surprises is to move step by step, starting from your needs rather than from listings.

1. Define your project before browsing listings

Main home, rental investment or holiday home: each goal changes the criteria. Write down the city and neighbourhood, number of bedrooms, floor area, floor level, outdoor space, parking, and distance to schools and work. Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. That is exactly what ABRAJ does: you describe your project and an advisor searches for matching properties, instead of you sorting through hundreds of listings.

2. Set a realistic budget

Your overall budget includes the price, purchase costs (about 6 to 7.5% for a new build), furnishing and a contingency. If you need a mortgage, estimate your monthly payment and borrowing capacity with our Morocco mortgage calculator. Moroccan banks usually cap loan repayments at 40% of net income.

• Property price (VAT included for new builds)
• Purchase costs: registration, land registry, notary — see notary fees in detail
• Loan arrangement fees and insurance
• Furniture, equipment, possible works

3. Choose the city and the neighbourhood

Prices vary widely between cities and neighbourhoods. In Casablanca, a new apartment can cost from MAD 8,000 to over 30,000 per m² depending on the area: see our analysis of property prices in Casablanca. Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier and Agadir each have their own logic: commute, schools, sea views, rental demand. Our pages on new homes in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech give benchmarks by neighbourhood.

4. New build or resale?

New builds offer modern specifications, secure residences and sometimes developer payment plans. They are often sold off-plan: check the building permit, the land title, the delivery schedule and the guarantees. Resale lets you visit an existing property and negotiate, but requires checking its condition, the co-ownership and its legal status.

5. Finance the purchase

Cash, mortgage or both: compare several banks and negotiate the rate and insurance. Fixed rates observed in 2026 are around 4.25 to 5.5%. For a first new home at a moderate price, check your eligibility for the Daam Sakane housing aid, worth up to MAD 100,000. Everything about financing is in our Morocco mortgage guide.

6. Check before signing

• The land title and a recent ownership certificate (land registry)
• No mortgage or seizure on the property
• For new builds: building permit, specifications, payment schedule
• For resale: co-ownership rules and charges, local tax clearances

7. Sign and take possession

The preliminary agreement (or reservation contract for new builds) sets the price and conditions. The final deed is signed at the notary’s office, who registers the sale with the land registry. You then receive your ownership certificate in your name.

Save time: start from your request

Instead of scrolling through hundreds of irrelevant listings, describe what you want — for example “a 2-bedroom flat in Hay Riad, up to MAD 1.6M, ready in 2027”. ABRAJ qualifies your project and an advisor only suggests properties that match your criteria.