Last Updated on February 13, 2025
In Bolivia, you have several options for finding houses for sale across the country’s cities and regions. Some are reliable and safe, comparable to those in developed countries, but many are quite risky, with scammers often lurking behind the listings. However, these riskier avenues can also present excellent deals.
To find a house for sale in Bolivia, you can search the listings of major banks, ReMax and Century 21 listings, reputable local realtors’ listings, Facebook Marketplace, Bolivian newspapers, online directories, and by physically searching for properties.
As Bolivian real estate experts who assist many people in our country with their real estate projects (check out our Bolivian real estate website), we know the best ways to find houses for sale, along with the pros and cons of each. We’ll cover all these details below.
The 6 Main Ways to Find Houses for Sale in Bolivia
As mentioned, there are six primary ways to find houses for sale in Bolivia. We’ve ranked them *from best to worst*, considering both *the opportunity to find the best deals* and safety. These methods are:
- Through real estate newspapers and online directories.
- Using Facebook Marketplace.
- By searching foreclosure listings of Bolivian banks.
- Through international, well-known real estate companies operating in Bolivia.
- Through reputable local real estate agents.
- By physically searching for houses for sale.
| Search Option | Listing Volume | Purchase Safety |
| Newspapers | Average | Risky |
| Ultracasas & InfoCasas | Average | Risky |
| Facebook Marketplace | Extensive | Dangerous |
| Bank Foreclosures | Limited | Excellent |
| Remax & Century 21 | Average | Good |
| Top Local Realtors | Limited | Risky |
| Other Local Realtors | Very Limited | Dangerous |
| Physical Search | Very Limited | Risky |
1) Through Bolivian Newspapers and Online Directories
This is the traditional way to find houses for sale in Bolivia, *but also a risky one*, as you may encounter numerous scammers. Whether the listing is in an online real estate directory or a newspaper, you risk encountering scams, unfavorable deals, houses with legal issues, or those lacking proper documentation.
Therefore, exercise caution. Homes and properties found in online directories and newspapers carry a purchase risk. Only buy these houses *if you’re thoroughly familiar with the process* and know how to avoid real estate scams in Bolivia.
Online Directory Listings
Only two significant real estate directories operate in Bolivia (similar to Zillow, but with lower quality, less inventory, and higher risk): Ultracasas and Infocasas. Anyone can list houses on these directories; there are no restrictions, *though it’s typically real estate agents who do so*. Therefore, you’ll find listings from reputable Bolivian real estate companies, *as well as potentially fraudulent ones*.
Furthermore, these two directories primarily feature houses *from Bolivia’s best and most exclusive neighborhoods*, as well as the most commercial ones. Average houses and properties for sale in the country *are typically not listed here*. For those, newspapers and Facebook Marketplace might be better options.
You can find all of Ultracasas’ listings at:
- https://www.ultracasas.com/ (Translated: Link).
You can find all of Infocasas’ listings at:
- https://www.infocasas.com.bo/ (Translated: Link).
It’s also worth noting that these two directories almost exclusively feature listings from real estate agents (both legitimate and fraudulent), *rather than individuals selling “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO)*.
Newspaper Listings
Each major city in Bolivia has its main newspaper, *where hundreds of houses for sale are listed* on a daily or weekly basis.
Nearly all FSBO sellers and most Bolivian homeowners list homes for sale and rent in newspapers *as a primary advertising method* (though Facebook Marketplace has become increasingly popular). A significant portion of the homes-for-sale market in Bolivia is still advertised in newspapers. However, numerous risks and scammers are present, *so proceed with extreme caution*!
For Santa Cruz, you can find listings in the main newspaper, El Deber:
- https://clasificados.eldeber.com.bo/llave-en-mano (Translated: Link).
For La Paz, you can find listings in the main newspaper, El Diario:
- https://pub.eldiario.net/movil/?gc=2#c1 (Translated: Link).
For Cochabamba, you can find listings in the main newspaper, Los Tiempos:
- https://clasificados.lostiempos.com/inmuebles (Translated: Link).
You genuinely need to understand the process when purchasing from sources other than major banks and ReMax or Century 21 in Bolivia. You can find comprehensive details about the home-buying process in this country in our dedicated guide: How to buy a house in Bolivia? All the details.
2) Using Facebook Marketplace
In recent years, Facebook Marketplace has overtaken major newspapers *to become the listing platform with the most extensive inventory of homes for sale* in Bolivia. This inventory is significantly larger – for every listing you find in a Bolivian newspaper, you’ll likely find around ten on Facebook Marketplace (a *10:1 ratio*).
Currently, Bolivians prefer Facebook Marketplace for advertising their homes *because it’s free and user-friendly*, unlike newspapers, which require payment for listings. However, Facebook is also *a major hub for real estate scammers*, **so exercise extreme caution with these listings**!
To access Facebook Marketplace listings for houses for sale in Bolivia, follow these simple steps:
- Open the Facebook app or website on your device:
- https://facebook.com/marketplace/.
- Alternatively, you can simply type “Marketplace” in the Facebook app search bar.
- Navigate to the real estate “for sale” section.
- Use the location filter to select Bolivia and its cities.
- Apply additional filters to refine your search for homes within the country.
- That’s it.
You’ll discover thousands of homes for sale, along with other property types, on this social network. However, keep in mind that most listers are everyday Bolivians who may not be able to communicate with you in English and often provide limited information about their properties. Be vigilant about scammers lurking within these listings!
3) By Searching Foreclosure Listings of Bolivian Banks
In Bolivia, the home-buying process is considerably riskier than in developed countries. Numerous threats exist, including scammers, corruption, unethical lawyers, incomplete property paperwork, and the absence of warranties, all of which can lead to serious problems.
Despite this, and contrary to what many foreigners believe, *once you have legal ownership* of a property, the Bolivian legal system *effectively protects your rights as the owner*, making it very difficult for someone to illegally seize it.
Therefore, our strongest recommendation *for ensuring maximum security and obtaining favorable deals* (potentially with a 20% discount) is to purchase directly from Bolivia’s major banks through home auctions and foreclosure processes.
You have two primary ways to find houses for sale through Bolivian banks:
- Searching banks’ foreclosure and house auction lists. These houses are being sold due to the owners’ failure to pay their mortgages, and they can be discounted by up to 20% of the appraised value, according to Bolivian law.
- Searching banks’ adjudicated house lists. These are properties that banks were unable to sell during the foreclosure process, resulting in the bank becoming the owner. Banks typically want to sell these properties to recoup their losses.
Purchasing a house from a Bolivian bank provides strong assurances that the entire process will be secure and efficient. You also have the potential to secure a 20% discount. *The main challenge you might encounter is language and communication with the bank*.
Bank Lists for House Auctions and Homes for Sale
Below are the most important bank lists for auctions and homes for sale (links in Spanish, with Google translations where available):
- Official Government Home Auction List (Thor System). This list *contains all currently active home auctions in Bolivia*, encompassing foreclosures from all banks, as well as auctions arising from other lawsuits and legal disputes:
- https://thor.organojudicial.gob.bo/ (Translated: Link).
- Banco Económico’s Auction List:
- Banco Unión’s Auction List:
- https://www.bancounion.com.bo/GrupoUnion/RematesJudiciales (Translated: Link).
- Banco BNB’s Homes for Sale List (*not an auction list*):
- https://www.bnb.com.bo/PortalBNB/Servicios/BienesAdjudicadosIndex/8289 (Translated: Doesn’t work).
- Banco BCP’s Homes for Sale List (*not an auction list*):
- https://www.bcp.com.bo/BienesAdjudicados (Translated: Link).
- Banco Union’s Homes for Sale List (*not an auction list, includes other assets*):
- https://www.bisa.com/pdf/ofertaDeBienesAdjudicados.pdf (Translated: PDF document, not available).
- Bolivian Banking Regulatory Entity (ASFI) List. This is the official aggregated list for auctions from all major Bolivian banks (*though it’s often not up-to-date*):
The above listings *do not represent all available options*. You should contact major banks in Bolivia directly to obtain their detailed auction lists and available deals.
To acquire one of these houses, you’ll need to contact the bank, ideally with the assistance of a translator. Bank employees will generally do their best to assist you. *We strongly recommend visiting Bolivia in person* to finalize the purchase process.
4) Through International, Well-Known Real Estate Companies Operating in Bolivia
The fourth most viable way to find a house for sale in Bolivia is by exploring listings from internationally recognized, reputable real estate companies that also operate in the country. These companies are ReMax and Century 21.
ReMax has a significant presence in Bolivia, with over 25 franchise offices across seven major cities (including La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz), typically listing an average of 2,000 to 3,000 homes for sale.
You can find all of ReMax Bolivia’s house-for-sale listings at:
Century 21, on the other hand, has a presence with more than 25 franchise offices across four major Bolivian cities (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Sucre), with a majority in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. This company has an average of 600 total listings nationwide.
You can find all of Century 21’s house-for-sale listings at:
Both companies have agents who can communicate effectively in English and can assist you as if you were in your home country. These two companies also operate *under the same quality standards* they adhere to in other countries, including developed nations. Therefore, don’t hesitate to contact them.
5) Through Reputable Local Real Estate Agents
Additionally, you have the option of contacting the most prominent *local real estate agents* and companies in Bolivia. However, you should exercise greater caution, as they are considerably riskier than ReMax and Century 21.
Over 95% of the approximately 2,500 currently operating Bolivian real estate companies *are illegal and informal*. These companies are not authorized to operate by the central and local Bolivian governments (they are not formal businesses). Nevertheless, they continue to provide services to Bolivians, but these companies pose significant risks, especially for foreigners.
Only contact the companies listed below, as we’ve conducted a thorough review of the best real estate companies in our country. *You can read our review in Spanish at the following* link (also, translated by Google: link).
Top Local Real Estate Company in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
- UNO Corporación’s Homes for Sale Listing. This company has over 500 total listings in Santa Cruz city and more than 20 years of experience in the field:
- https://www.uno.com.bo/ (Translated: Link).
Top Local Real Estate Company in La Paz, Bolivia
- Firma Propiedades’ Homes for Sale Listing. This company boasts over 700 total listings for La Paz city, more than 5 years of experience, and approximately 35 in-house real estate agents:
- https://firmacasas.com/inicio (Translated: Link).
Top Local Real Estate Company in Cochabamba, Bolivia
- Inmobiliaria Servial’s Homes for Sale Listing. In our view, this is the best real estate company in Cochabamba City, with around 300 home listings and over 20 years of experience.
- http://www.inmobiliariaservial.com/ (Translated: Link).
6) By Physically Searching for Houses for Sale
Occasionally, homeowners in Bolivia will advertise their properties solely with a “For Sale” or “Casa en Venta” sign on the property’s facade. You might find good deals this way. If you’re visiting our country, consider taking a walk through some neighborhoods to see if you can spot any promising offers.
However, *we don’t generally recommend* this method unless you’re very familiar with the country and know *which areas of the city are desirable and which are less so* for living or investment. There are significant differences in the quality of life and the potential for scams across different neighborhoods in Bolivia’s major cities.
Furthermore, this approach is quite unusual, *and you might attract the attention of thieves who target tourists*. Exercise extreme caution if you choose this method.
Don’t forget to have *a qualified professional appraise* the home you’re considering purchasing to ensure the asking price is fair.
Comparing the Different Ways to Find Houses for Sale in Bolivia
In our opinion, the safest and most convenient way for a foreigner (particularly those not from South America or Spanish-speaking countries) to buy a house in Bolivia is *through the major banks*, via house auctions, foreclosures, and bank-owned property listings.
This is because the bank *handles all the purchasing tasks*, including paperwork, appraisal, and all other details. The bank also verifies that the house is legally sound and free of potential future issues, significantly reducing the risk of scams.
The second most secure and reliable method is through international real estate companies like ReMax and Century 21. These companies operate in Bolivia *under the same standards they maintain in other countries*, including the United States and European nations. Together, both companies have nearly 1,000 real estate agents working across various Bolivian cities.
The third option, in terms of security and opportunity, is to work with local real estate companies, *but only the most reputable ones*. Otherwise, you expose yourself to a high risk of scams and could potentially lose all your money in the home-buying process.
The High Risk of Scams Needs Careful Consideration
We strongly advise against purchasing a house from listings in newspapers, real estate directories, or Facebook Marketplace *unless you have a deep understanding of the Bolivian real estate market*. Scams are prevalent in these venues, and it can be difficult to distinguish between legitimate sellers and fraudsters. Bolivians themselves take this risk very seriously.
Similarly, we don’t recommend simply walking around different neighborhoods and zones in Bolivia looking for “For Sale” signs. This is inefficient, *and you’ll rarely find* available properties this way. The primary risk is that you could become a target for robbers who might follow you, steal from you, or worse.
In summary, to mitigate risks while still finding good deals, it’s best to focus your search on houses for sale (and purchase them) from major Bolivian banks, ReMax, Century 21, and the most reputable local realtors. Avoid purchasing from FSBO sellers, newspapers, directories, or Facebook Marketplace *unless you have extensive knowledge of the local market*!
Conclusions
In this guide, you’ve learned about the six primary methods for finding houses for sale in Bolivia. Three are considered safe and reliable, while three carry significant risks and potential for scams. The safe options are through bank foreclosures, ReMax, Century 21, and the most reputable local realtors. The risky methods are using newspapers and online directories, Facebook Marketplace, and physically searching for properties.
You’ve also discovered that it’s possible to find excellent deals when buying from a major bank through house auctions, potentially securing a discount of up to 20% off the appraised value. These banks handle all the paperwork involved in the purchase, minimizing the chance of scams. Remember to have a qualified professional appraise the property before you buy.
Buying a house in Bolivia is a complex and risky undertaking; you need to be well-informed. You can refer to our comprehensive guide on navigating this process and avoiding associated risks here: How to buy a house in Bolivia? A complete guide.
CasasenBolivia.com, information on living, working, investing, and traveling in Bolivia.
