Montenegro’s real-estate brokerage sector is facing stricter regulatory requirements after figures presented at the Montenegro Real Estate Forum showed that 62% of agencies lacked a designated anti-money-laundering (AML) compliance officer.
A total of 277 real-estate agencies submitted financial statements for 2025, with most reportedly lacking the authorised personnel required to oversee AML procedures. The findings emerge as Montenegro strengthens supervision of property intermediaries and prepares a new licensing regime, with a deadline set for July 2027. The government has also established a specialised enforcement team targeting unregistered real-estate brokers.
Compliance Requirements for Property Agencies
The figures indicate that compliance gaps extend beyond informal intermediaries to registered businesses that may not yet meet all regulatory requirements.
The issue is significant because real-estate transactions account for a substantial share of Montenegro’s foreign investment flows. International buyers are particularly active in Budva, Tivat, Kotor and Podgorica, while high-value cross-border transactions expose the sector to risks involving money laundering, beneficial ownership and the origin of funds. Banks conduct their own customer checks when transactions involve payments or mortgages, but real-estate agencies also play an important role in the compliance process.
Stricter requirements could increase operating costs, particularly for smaller businesses. Agencies may need to recruit or train compliance officers, introduce transaction-monitoring procedures and maintain more extensive documentation.
Licensing Deadline and Market Changes
The new requirements could accelerate consolidation among smaller property intermediaries. For established agencies, consistent enforcement may reduce competition from businesses that avoid compliance costs, while stronger professional standards could increase international investors’ confidence in property transactions. Authorities will need to enforce the rules consistently while avoiding unnecessary administrative barriers for legitimate businesses.
The July 2027 licensing deadline gives agencies time to adapt, although the latest figures indicate that substantial compliance work remains.
As Montenegro advances towards EU membership, real-estate regulation is expected to require closer alignment with European standards, particularly in AML supervision, beneficial-ownership transparency and professional licensing. These changes will require more formal business practices across a property market that has expanded on the back of foreign demand.
