Permanent property exchange, ownership exchange, trade, or barter means simultaneously selling and buying real estate. The objective of swapping is exchanging ownership of real estate at similar values without using money. If you cannot sell your property for whatever reason and you want to buy another property instead, swapping is the solution for you.
With a permanent property swap, you use your property to pay for the other, and vice versa. There is no cash or down payment needed. The only fees you will need to pay are local transfer taxes and legal advisor fees.
Propertyswap.net is the Global Marketplace for Permanent Property Exchange. Members can publish their real estate on our website, and the property will be displayed for other swap-searchers to find. Please note that your property will be listed for swap, not for sale. By joining Propertyswap, you will be able to chat with other members and enjoy the full experience of our growing platform.
A significant aspect of Propertyswap is the possibility to connect to legal swap advisors. You can search for and contact lawyers, notaries, and tax advisors who will advise and assist you during the swapping process. Your legal swap advisor will ensure there are no pitfalls and everything is done legally, fairly, and securely. If you cannot find a legal swap advisor in your location, please let us know, and we will find one for you.
The Propertyswap team is always proactively improving all aspects of our website and swapping process. We want our members to have a safe, successful swap that makes them feel at ease.
Property owners, investors, traders, real estate agents, lawyers, notaries, tax advisors, financial advisors, and expat relocation agents can become members and advertisers. At Propertyswap.net, we want as many swappable properties in our portfolio as possible so that members have a better chance of finding a compatible match. We collect the best national and international advice on legal and tax matters with the help of our legal advisors. As a member, you will receive personalized advice and property swap matches. Our members and advertisers can create their own informative blogs filled with useful tips and tricks for other members to read.
Chat with our sales & marketing team if you have questions about becoming a member or advertiser. We also have an FAQ that may provide the answers you are looking for.
Need help and can't find the answer? Chat with us. Use the chat box on the right bottom 
There are three types of swaps if the regards the property values:
1. One-on-One; The property exchange happens at the same value; No cash is necessary for the swap transaction.
2. Upgrade; You wish to upgrade from your property to a larger and/or higher valued property; You will pay extra to the other swapper. The other swapper will downgrade and will receive cash from you.
3. Downgrade: You wish to downgrade from your property to a smaller and/or lower-valued property; You will receive cash from the other swapper. The other swapper will upgrade and will pay cash to you.
Apart from selecting between several swap values, you can choose between different desired locations, and desired property types.
The first and mandatory desired property profile will be based on the One-on-One swap.
Following the first profile, you can create several other desired property profiles.
In your Dashboard and the Swap portfolio, you will find matches that belong to the different desired property profiles.
Both property owners (swappers) and legal advisors can use the website for free during the first month. During this trial period, you won't be able to chat with other swappers. Only if you become a paid member, you will be able to do so. Your property or company advertisement will always be visible, but as a non-paid member, you will not receive messages. Go to Membership and upgrade to the paid membership.
You must fill in the property details and the financial data accurately and truly for a successful swap. If each swapper fills in these property details properly, there may be a bigger chance for property owners to swap successfully.
To explain how to fill in the financial data, we use a price example to visualize how the property value is established.
In the example, you don’t have a mortgage and you are desperate to swap your property.
1. Maximum price (Asking price in a normal situation): This is the original asking price at the beginning of your sales activity. The price was appraised at the time by your local real estate agent.
Example: In 2017 your asking price was: € 500.000.
2. Minimum price (Lowest price you would sell for): Not in your worst nightmare you would sell (for actual money) for lower than this price.
Example: Your current asking price (in 2020, so 3 years without selling) is € 300.000. In the worst-case scenario, you would still consider lowering the price to a minimum of € 250.000. So the Minimum price is € 250.000.
Example:
Maximum price: € 500.000
Lowest price: € 250.000
Both property owners (swappers) and legal advisors can use the website for free during the first month. During this trial period, you won't be able to chat with other swappers. Only if you become a paid member, you will be able to do so. Your property or company advertisement will always be visible, but as a non-paid member, you will not receive messages. Go to Membership and upgrade to the paid membership.
Swap Value Range: The Swap Value Range is the price range between your original asking price (1) and the minimum price (2) you would ever ask for your property. This price range you will find on the Swap Portfolio and also in the Desired Property profile(s).
We use a price example to visualize how the value is established. In the example, you don’t have a mortgage and are desperate to swap your property.
1. Maximum price (Asking price in a normal situation): This is the original asking price at the beginning of your sales activity. The price was appraised at the time by your local real estate agent.
Example: In 2017 your asking price was: € 500.000
2. Minimum price (Lowest price you would sell for): Not in your worst nightmare you would sell (for actual money) for lower than this price.
Example: Your current asking price (in 2020, so 3 years no-selling) is € 300.000, and in the worst-case scenario, you would still consider lowering the price to a minimum of € 250.000.
Example:
(1) Maximum price: € 500.000
(2) Lowest price: € 250.000
The Propertyswap search engine will look for a matching property with a matching swap value range.
Mirror Effect: It is the natural tendency for the property owners to have their own property valued at a higher price than the one they are interested to swap with. Similarly, the owner with whom you intend to swap will also raise the property value. This is like a mirror where your reflection is the other property owner whom you are dealing with. It is important for both property owners to agree upon a specific price. If one of the properties is valued more than 20% than the other, then the difference should be paid in cash to the other owner. Why do we use the 20% margin? To make sure that we have enough swap matches for you.
Cash Profit: Traditionally a barter system does not involve any money. Similarly, Propertyswap.net functions on the notion that basic swapping will eliminate the use of money. Therefore, it is not possible to earn any cash profit, while swapping. Furthermore, if you would like to have a profit, you should be able to sell the property, which is not the issue.
Requirement of Cash: Although the process of property swap requires no cash,
there are some supplementary fees that need to be paid. These mainly include legal fees, taxes, and stamp duty. The aforementioned charges are levied on each property. The amount of tax is determined on the location of the property, its swap value, and the domestic tax laws.
Existing Mortgage: If you want to swap locally, you may be able to swap with a mortgage, if only the other swapper would have a mortgage with the same financier. If it concerns an international swap it is will be more difficult, or even impossible.
1. Difficulties in selling your property: Selling a property can be tedious, especially when the market conditions are not well suited. Putting your property on sale for years, without getting any success is a good reason to think of an alternative of selling. There might be emotional reasons preventing the sale of your property.
2. You’re not using the property
What is the use of owning a house if it is not For example, you are living in London. You also own a villa in Barbados. You are neither able to visit the villa in Barbados due to large travel times not able to put it up as a rental property. Unused properties are just like frozen assets. Would you rather prefer a holiday house in Spain which will be more frequently visited? Propertyswap.net allows you to swap your villa in Barbados with a holiday house in Spain.
A property can be a house, or for example an office, and even an island. And depending on legal, tax, and political situations, you can swap internationally. So, for example, you can swap your UK country house with a villa in Spain. Or you can swap your hotel in the Alps with a resort in Thailand. As long as the values are approximately the same, and they are mortgages.
You can swap the following types of real estate:
* residential property (e.g. houses, apartments, villas, castles)
* complete buildings (e.g. condominiums)
* commercial property (e.g. offices, hotels, resorts, restaurants)
* agricultural and construction land
* non-build land (protected nature)
* private islands
Some property owners even include movable items, such as cars, furniture or a business, to increase the total value of their property.
You can swap your property with another property within your city, region, or country. But you can also swap your property with a property in another country. However, certain countries are excluded due to political and economic instability. Depending on the location of the other property, it is possible or not possible to realize a property swap. You should consult a legal advisor on both your own and the other jurisdiction about the legal possibilities. So be prepared and make sure you have all your legal documents together.
In an economic crisis such as the Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis, it's even more difficult to sell your property. But here at Propertyswap we think positive, and we look at alternatives.
Like in each real estate transactions, you need to do two actions:
1. You and the other swapper need to see the other properties first online. Make sure you produce high quality photos and a video of your property. Hire a professional photographer or use a good camera and video yourself (for example a GoPro). If you need a professional photographer, please contact us.
Show the property to the other swapper using WhatsApp video or FaceTime video.
2. Legally you have to realize the swap.
You would need lawyers, notaries, and the land register to process the legal documents.
So basically, if these two actions can are feasible, even in a crisis, you can do a real estate transaction.
What if you can't visit the other property due to travel restrictions? Or what if you can't find the right property to swap? Well, in the meantime, you can wait and communicate with the other swapper. And you can prepare the swap legally.
Use good photos & a Video to promote your property.
If you need a professional photographer to shoot photos and a video, let the Propertyswap.net team know. We can get you in contact with a local photographer. He can apart from photographs, a video (drone if it’s a country estate), and floor plans.
Propertyswap.net is a new website, and for that reason, we need to build up both our property portfolio and legal swap advisors portfolio.
For the first 200 Property Owners / Swapper and the first 50 Legal Swap Advisors, the memberships are free of charge.
All these 'Early Bird' members will have full access to the website. Swappers can communicate with other Swappers and Legal Swap Advisors. And Legal Swap Advisors can communicate with Swappers and their colleague Legal Swap Advisors.
According to the general conditions, Propertyswap will monitor the conversations between the members. Propertyswap will always try to improve the services of the website. If members misbehave, actions will be taken by Propertyswap, to protect the members.
Our goal and expectation are, to have as many as possible properties available in the property portfolio, so swappers have a bigger chance to find the right swap match.
And we goal on having a large portfolio of legal swap advisors, so our swappers have the best legal support to realize a permanent property exchange.
To improve the website, please share your opinion on the online survey by clicking the below link:
It's only a matter of time that more and more are properties listed. If you want to swap your property, here's what to do: 1. Create a membership account 2. List your property; only if you have listed your property, you can move forward to a potential swap 3. Communicate with other swappers A membership account is free of charge. So, I'm looking forward to seeing your swap property listed. Kind regards, Alwin Oei
Some people signed up for a membership on Propertyswap.net, but have not published their property yet.
First of all, after signing up, you must have received a confirmation email. Open and click the email to verify your email. If you didn't do this, you cannot continue and create a profile.
Why haven't you published your property yet?
To give an answer, please fill in the survey about the usage of the website.
Click HERE to continue to the Mailchimp survey (a new window will open).
Discover the international market developments on these local real estate websites.
USA: https://www.zillow.com
UK: https://www.primelocation.com/
Spain: https://www.idealista.com/en/
Netherlands: https://www.funda.nl/en
Italy: https://www.immobiliare.it/en
Greece: https://en.spitogatos.gr/
Germany: https://www.immobilien.de/
Ireland: https://www.myhome.ie/
China: https://www1.fang.com/
China: https://www.juwai.com/
Australia: https://www.realestate.com.au/buy
New Zealand: https://www.realestate.co.nz/residential/sale
If you can't find a legal or tax advisor in your country, district, or jurisdiction, please let the Propertyswap.net team know. We can find your advisors.
If your firm is a member of an (international) branch organization, with connecting fellow law or notary firms, you may want to share your swap knowledge with the other members. You could combine forces in preparing yourselves for successful (international) property swaps.
A swap legal advisor not only specializes in buy-sale transactions in his jurisdiction, but also looks at other jurisdictions. He will connect with another legal advisor to double check not only your property, but also the other property, you wish to swap with.
The legal advisor will for example do the following controls:
- control of legal ownership of the other property
- control of any illegal money laundering practices
Go to Dashboard -> My Profile
Next to Contact Person Details, click on + Add More Legal Advisors
You can now choose the number of Legal Advisors you want to add. After the payment, you must complete the individual Legal Advisor profiles, including emails, passwords, and separate descriptions. Each advisor will be able to individually access the website, manage the personal dashboard and chat with swappers.
A mortgage is a loan. You need cash to pay back the loan. Basically you won’t receive cash when you swap a property. So, you can’t swap with a mortgage.
If you haven't tried to sell your property before, and you're willing to swap it, ask your local real estate agent for the current market price of your property.
A question to the property owner: Why wouldn't you consider selling the house first?
Possible answer: Another property is only offered for swap, and it's not for sale officially. Both house owners don't want to sell with all brokerage expenses and possible losses.
Please contact Propertyswap.net to discuss this value issue.
Just like buying a house or other property, depending on the jurisdiction, you will have to pay a transfer tax or duty stamps. In each jurisdiction, the tax is named differently and has different rates and rules.
So before you swap, do investigate which taxes have to be paid and if you're capable of paying them. After all, you don't receive money for your property.
You can communicate with another property owner using the chat function on the right of your screen in property details. Only paid members are able to use this chat function. You can upgrade to a paid membership by visiting the membership page.
Trial membership: First of all, you sign-up for the free 3-months trial. Now you can publish your property. Make sure that you use good photos, so people get a good impression of your property. A video may also help. And give a thorough possible description.
Dashboard: The comprehensive dashboard is made for you to create a detailed property profile.
After creating your property profile, you can define the property you are looking for in exchange for your own property (desired property). You can determine to swap one-on-one, to up- or downgrade. You can create several desired property profiles. Once your profile is complete, you can browse on the Swap Portfolio for other properties. On the dashboard, you will also find swap matches proposed by our platform.
Legal advisors: You can look for legal advisors who can advise you on the legal side of permanent property swap.
Become a paid member! The membership period is a 3-monthly automatic recurring payment. You can cancel your membership at all time, and you will be able to use the website till the end of the membership period. Check your dashboard under Membership.
Chat: You will be able to communicate with other property owners around the world. Talk to legal advisors who can assist you in a smooth property swap process. Can’t find an advisor in your jurisdiction (country or area)? Let Propertyswap know, and we will look for an advisor for you.
You will receive newsletters and updates in your dashboard message board.
Swap process: Once you have found a property to swap with, you will have to conduct the swap process yourself. This process, you will have to do outside the Propertyswap.net platform. Use the expertise of a legal advisor you can find on our platform. Once you have successfully executed a swap, we want to know about this fantastic swap operation.
You have completed your property profile, And you have completed the desired property profile. So, you're ready to publish the property for swap.
In 'Dashboard' go to 'My Property", Click Action, select 'Activate'.
If some essential data is missing, you will read notifications, so you can still complete your profile. Once completed, you can Activate your property.
Questions? Chat or mail with Propertyswap Support.
Go to the Dashboard -> My Membership -> Select "Delete Profile"
After confirming the deletion of your profile, your profile and all data will be removed.
You won't be able to reactivate, recover any data, or regain access the account. You'll need to set up a new account if you want to use Propertyswap.net again.