What it’s really like to own a home in Morocco

Think owning a home in Morocco is a hashish-infused pipe dream? Marrakech investor Anis Chity says it’s actually affordable. Just watch out for the adouls.

How he got started: “My focus was simple: small apartments in areas with practical rental demand,” says Chity, who owns four rentals. After fielding the same questions over and over from foreigners (Can foreigners buy property in Morocco? Is Airbnb allowed? How do I avoid scams?), he founded Buy Property Morocco to help new buyers navigate his country’s real estate customs and quirks.

His market’s pros: “Marrakech has a strong mix of tourists, digital nomads, Moroccan diaspora buyers, European retirees, and foreign lifestyle buyers,” Chity explains. “For investors, that can create opportunities in both long- and short-term rentals.” Another perk? Foreigners can own property in Morocco and can sometimes find entry-level apartments for as little as $50,000 to $85,000.

The cons: “The market is not as transparent as the US, and carries serious due diligence risks outsiders underestimate,” Chity warns. One of the biggest blind spots is knowing the difference between “titled” and “traditional” properties. Titled properties are registered with Morocco’s land registry, which records the mortgage, liens, easements, and other rights—all of which makes financing and resale easier. Traditional ownership, or Melkia, relies on documents prepared by adouls, legal professionals with roots in Islamic law. “My wife’s parents are trying to sell, and the main complication is the Melkia, which makes it more difficult to confirm boundaries, previous transfers, heirs and co-owners,” he explains.

His advice: “For a new foreign investor, I’d say pay more for a clean titled property rather than chase a Melkia bargain,” Chity says. And since Morocco does not have a single transparent Zillow-style database of verified recent sale prices, you’ll need to confirm values through on-the-ground comps. “Asking prices can be emotional, inflated, or based on what the seller hopes a foreigner will pay,” he warns. “Never skip the notary process. Do not try to be too clever on your first deal. A cheap property can become expensive if you don’t prepare.”

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