Key takeaways
- The most common structure for two partners is a single escritura naming both owners with a defined ownership percentage each, known as pro-indiviso ownership.
- Pro-indiviso ownership gets complicated the moment partners disagree, since Colombian law generally allows any co-owner to force a sale of the whole property (acción de división) if the partners can't resolve a dispute themselves, which is a real risk without a clear written agreement governing exits.
- An SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada) holds the property in the company's name instead of the partners' individual names, with each partner owning shares of the company rather than a percentage of the deed.
- Whether you go pro-indiviso or SAS, a written agreement between partners, separate from the deed or the company's bylaws, should spell out how expenses get split and collected, who decides on maintenance versus major renovations, what happens if one partner wants to sell and the others don't, and how usage is scheduled if the property is meant for personal use by multiple families rather than pure investment.
- A partner who can't be physically present for signing can grant a poder especial, the same power of attorney mechanism used by any remote buyer, authorizing someone to sign the promesa and escritura on their behalf.
Buying a Guatapé property with partners generally works through one of two structures: co-ownership on a single deed with defined percentages (pro-indiviso), simple and cheap for two aligned partners, or an SAS holding company once you have three or more partners, plan a rental business, or want liability separated from your personal assets.
Co-ownership on a single deed: the simple path
The most common structure for two partners is a single escritura naming both owners with a defined ownership percentage each, known as pro-indiviso ownership. It's the cheapest and fastest option, no company to form, no separate corporate tax return, and it works fine for straightforward cases where both partners agree on the basics and trust each other's intentions for the property long term.
When co-ownership starts to strain
Pro-indiviso ownership gets complicated the moment partners disagree, since Colombian law generally allows any co-owner to force a sale of the whole property (acción de división) if the partners can't resolve a dispute themselves, which is a real risk without a clear written agreement governing exits. It also becomes unwieldy past two or three partners, since every co-owner needs to sign off on major decisions and every future sale or refinance needs everyone's signature.
The SAS alternative: shares instead of deed percentages
An SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada) holds the property in the company's name instead of the partners' individual names, with each partner owning shares of the company rather than a percentage of the deed. This separates each partner's personal liability from the property, since a claim against the property generally stays with the company rather than reaching each partner's other personal assets, and it makes adding, buying out, or replacing a partner a matter of transferring shares rather than re-doing a deed.
| Structure | Best fit | Key tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Co-ownership (pro-indiviso) | Two aligned partners, personal use property | Any co-owner can force a sale without a written agreement |
| SAS holding company | Three or more partners, or a rental business | Setup cost, 35% corporate tax, ongoing accounting |
Calculator · True cost to close
What does it really cost to close?
Notarial, registration and beneficencia on your price, in USD and COP. No account, no email.
Your result shows once you add Guatapé Properties as a preferred source on Google. One click, no account, no email.
Enter a price to calculate.
- Notarial fee0.27%, buyer's customary half
- Registration tax0.67%
- Beneficencia1.00%
- Stamp tax (timbre)Marginal, only on the slice above COP 1,047,480,000; negotiated at the notary
- Total in COP
Your lawyer's fee for title review isn't included here, that figure is theirs to give you.
Google · Preferred source
Your closing costs are ready.
Add Guatapé Properties as a preferred source on Google and they show right here, line by line, with a printable version. One click, no account, no email. Google shows more of our Guatapé coverage in your Top Stories.
General comparison. Which structure fits best depends on partner count, whether the property will generate rental income, and each partner's risk tolerance.
What a partnership agreement needs to cover, whatever the structure
Whether you go pro-indiviso or SAS, a written agreement between partners, separate from the deed or the company's bylaws, should spell out how expenses get split and collected, who decides on maintenance versus major renovations, what happens if one partner wants to sell and the others don't, and how usage is scheduled if the property is meant for personal use by multiple families rather than pure investment.
| Agreement clause | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Exit and buyout terms | Defines how a partner leaves without forcing a sale of the whole property |
| Expense splitting and collection | Prevents disputes over unpaid maintenance, taxes, or utilities |
| Decision authority thresholds | Clarifies what one partner can decide alone versus what needs unanimous agreement |
| Usage scheduling | Relevant when the property is for personal use rather than a rental business |
A written agreement is not legally required for co-ownership, but skipping it is one of the most common sources of partner disputes down the line.
Buying with a partner who lives abroad
A partner who can't be physically present for signing can grant a poder especial, the same power of attorney mechanism used by any remote buyer, authorizing someone to sign the promesa and escritura on their behalf. This works identically whether the property is being titled to individual co-owners or into an SAS, since the poder simply authorizes the specific acts required, not a particular ownership structure.
What it costs to set up an SAS
Setting up an SAS with a lawyer typically runs a few hundred to around $1,500 USD, plus registration fees at the Cámara de Comercio, on top of the ongoing accounting needed to file the company's 35% corporate income tax return each year. For a single vacation property split between two people, that overhead usually isn't worth it; for three or more partners, or a genuine rental operation, it often is. Our SAS structuring guide covers the full tax comparison in detail.
How we knowFigures as of October 17, 2026. Prices: active listings we verified ourselves; USD rate: TRM 3,174.67 COP per US$1, valid October 17, 2026 (Banco de la República, via datos.gov.co).
Frequently asked questions
What's the simplest structure for two partners buying together?
Co-ownership on a single deed with defined percentages (pro-indiviso), provided you also sign a separate written agreement.
Can one co-owner force a sale of a shared property?
Generally yes, under Colombian law, if partners can't resolve a dispute themselves, which is why a written agreement matters.
When does an SAS make more sense than co-ownership?
With three or more partners, or when the property will run as a rental business generating regular income.
Next step
If you're weighing a partnership purchase in Guatapé, get a free Guatapé market analysis, no obligation, before choosing a structure.
Who wrote this
Real estate broker · writes for the network · Real estate broker, Guatapé and eastern Antioquia. Specializing in Guatapé and El Peñol, Antioquia, Colombia. Founder of Mike Zapata Real Estate and the guide behind the Guatapé Properties and Guatapé Finca Raíz portals.