How to choose a real estate agent in Latvia

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Check that the agent is in the intermediaries register

Since 1 August 2020 Latvia has had a Real Estate Transaction Intermediaries Act. Only a person entered in the register of real estate transaction intermediaries may provide brokerage services. Since 19 August 2026 the register has been kept by the Latvian Real Estate Association (LANĪDA), under the supervision of the Ministry of Economics.

To be entered in the register and to stay there, an agent has to meet several requirements:

• professional liability insurance of at least €50,000 a year
• at least 40 academic hours of professional training every year
• an internal control system against money laundering
• no conviction for certain intentional crimes, such as property and economic crimes

The register is public: you can look up an agent or agency in the register of real estate transaction intermediaries (also linked from the LANĪDA website). If the name is not there, ask the agent to explain before you sign anything. LANĪDA also keeps a voluntary list of certified agents and runs a dispute commission.

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Ask several agents for a proposal

Don't settle for the first offer. Contact two or three agents and compare their approach, valuation and terms.

Questions for the first meeting

Ask every agent the same questions and the answers are easy to compare. Leave out what you do not need.

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Pay attention to the marketing plan

A good agent doesn't just put up a listing but gets the home ready for sale. Ask about quality photos, a floor plan, a proper description, the right portals (ss.lv, city24.lv) and a network of buyers.

• Quality photosWide, bright photos in daylight. Ask who takes them and whether they are included in the fee.
• Floor planA floor plan helps buyers picture the rooms and cuts down on wasted viewings.
• A proper descriptionFacts first: floor area, floor, monthly maintenance charge, and the year the building and the flat were renovated.
• The right portalsWhere the listing appears (ss.lv, city24.lv), how long it stays up and whether it is promoted.
• A network of buyersWhether the agent has buyers looking for a home in your area.

How to get the home ready for photos and viewings is covered in the apartment selling guide.

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Read the agency agreement carefully

The law requires the agency agreement to be made in writing. Before signing, make sure you understand the commission, the contract term and what happens if you want to end it. An exclusive contract can be reasonable, but the term should be reasonable too.

In Latvia the commission is a matter of agreement: it is often a few per cent of the sale price, and if the agent is VAT-registered, 21% PVN is added on top. It is usually paid by the seller who hired the agent. By law the agent must give you and the buyer complete and truthful information about the property, including its defects and encumbrances.

Agency agreement: what to check before signing

1. 1.In writingThe law requires a written contract. A verbal agreement or a text message is not a contract.
2. 2.CommissionThe amount or percentage, whether it includes PVN (VAT), when it is paid and what it covers. You agree the amount with the agent yourself.
3. 3.TermHow long the contract runs and whether it renews automatically.
4. 4.Ending itHow and with what notice you can withdraw from the contract, and whether you then have to pay anything.
5. 5.ExclusivityWhether another agent, or you yourself, may sell the home at the same time.

What the sale will cost in total, with the notary, the Land Register and tax, is covered in the guide to the cost of selling an apartment.

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Red flags to watch for

A few signs suggest an agent may not be acting in your interest:

• Red flag 1

  Promises a much higher price than others to win the listing, then pressures you to cut it later.

  Check your home’s valuation yourself →
• Red flag 2

  Can't explain how they reached the price or show comparable sales.

  Ask for comparable sales →
• Red flag 3

  Pushes a long exclusive contract with no clear marketing plan.

  What to check in the contract →
• Red flag 4

  Has few active listings in your area: check this on the area page.

  Agents by area →
• Red flag 5

  Cannot be found in the intermediaries register, or avoids signing a written contract.

  How to check the register →

Decision

Compare the agents’ proposals

After the meetings, put the proposals side by side. Give each agent one to five points on four criteria, mark whether you found them in the intermediaries register, and add their valuation of your home and the commission as it stands in their proposal. The data stays in your browser only.

The most points does not always mean the best choice. If the valuations differ widely, ask each agent for comparable sales.