Closing on a Medellín Property Over the December Holidays: Dates, Documents and Delays to Plan For

If you're hoping to close on a Medellín property in December or early January, plan for a slower system. Colombia's year-end holidays affect every office involved in a purchase: notaries, the registry office, banks, the building's administration and the people you depend on, from lawyers to sellers. Closings do happen in December, but the safest approach is to have documents ready early, build in buffer days, and make sure your contract dates don't depend on everything going perfectly.

This guide is for buyers trying to close before the end of the year, or arranging a purchase while visiting Medellín over the holidays. It covers which dates to watch, what slows down, what to prepare in November, and how to write your promesa de compraventa (purchase agreement) so the calendar doesn't put you in breach. Laws and office schedules change, so confirm specific dates with your lawyer and notary.

Why December closings are different

Several things stack up at once at the end of the year.

• Holidays. December 8 is a national holiday, and Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on Fridays this season. January 6 is the Epiphany holiday, which Colombia moves to the following Monday, January 11, in 2027.
• Notary schedules. In past years the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro has allowed notaries to opt into special hours or close on days like December 24 and 31. Each notary decides, so ask yours directly.
• People's schedules. Sellers, lawyers, brokers and bank staff take vacations. Many families travel from mid-December to after the Epiphany holiday.
• Bank cutoffs. Banks often have reduced hours on December 24 and 31, and international transfers may take longer around holidays in both countries.

The key dates for 2026–27

Confirm the official holiday list for 2027 before you set dates. Our closing costs guide explains what you'll pay at each step, so you can have funds ready.

What you can do in November

Most December delays are document delays. The earlier you request certificates and confirmations, the less the holidays matter.

1. Get a fresh certificado de tradición y libertad. Review it with your lawyer, and plan to get another one close to the signing. Our certificado de tradición guide explains what to look for.
2. Request the seller's paz y salvo documents. The administration's paz y salvo (confirmation that administración fees are paid) and the predial paz y salvo are normally needed by the notary. Ask early, since the person who issues them may be on vacation.
3. Book the notary. Agree on which notary will handle the deed (escritura) and send them the documents ahead of time so the draft can be prepared.
4. Confirm the money path. Talk to your bank in both countries about transfer timing, holiday cutoffs and the foreign investment registration requirements your lawyer recommends. Our guide to wiring money for a property covers the steps.
5. Prepare your power of attorney. If you won't be in Colombia on signing day, the power of attorney needs to be prepared, apostilled if signed abroad, and in your representative's hands well before the date.

Unpaid administración and predial: why it matters at year end

Under Law 675 of 2001, the previous and new owners are jointly responsible for unpaid common expenses (expensas comunes) when ownership changes. That's why notaries ask for the administration's paz y salvo. At the end of the year, buildings are also preparing new budgets, which can change the monthly fee from January.

Ask for these in writing before you sign:

• Current administración statement and paz y salvo
• Any special assessment (cuota extraordinaria) approved or proposed
• The date of the next ordinary assembly, where the budget will be approved
• Paid predial receipt for the current year and the seller's paz y salvo
• Agreement in the promesa on how administración and predial will be split for the closing month

Medellín's predial is an annual tax, and the city has offered an early-payment discount for owners with no prior-year debts who pay by the deadline. For 2026, that discount was 5% for payments made by March 27. The 2027 terms will be announced by the city, so check the Alcaldía's announcements. Our guide to the avalúo catastral explains how the tax base works.

Writing the promesa around the holidays

The promesa de compraventa sets the date and place for signing the deed. If that date lands during the holidays and something closes unexpectedly, someone could be in breach. A few simple drafting choices protect both sides. Our promesa red flags guide covers the contract more broadly.

After signing: registration takes time

Signing the deed isn't the last step. The deed must be registered with the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos, and taxes and fees related to registration must be paid. Until registration is complete, the property isn't fully in your name in the public records.

Registration may take longer around the holidays. Your lawyer or the notary usually manages it. Ask for an updated certificado de tradición y libertad after registration to confirm the property shows you as owner. Our post-closing checklist covers utilities, the building's records and the rest.

If something slips anyway

Even with good planning, a document can arrive late or a signatory can get sick. What matters is how you handle it.

• Tell the other side in writing as soon as you know about a delay, with the reason
• Agree on a new date in a signed addendum (otrosí) to the promesa, rather than by phone
• Check whether any payment deadlines also need to move
• Confirm that your power of attorney or bank arrangements still cover the new date
• Ask your lawyer whether a missed date triggers the penalty clause, and how to avoid it

Most sellers would rather move a date by a week than lose a buyer. A calm, documented change protects everyone.

Visiting over the holidays to look at property

Many buyers combine a December visit with property viewings. That can work well, with a few adjustments.

• Viewings are easier than closings. Brokers and owners are often happy to show property in early December.
• Holiday atmosphere affects your impression. Lights, crowds and fireworks change how a neighborhood feels. Visit again on an ordinary weekday if you can.
• Use the time for due diligence. Meet a lawyer, open a bank account if your plan requires it, and start your document file. Our broker vetting guide helps you choose who to work with.

Hoping to buy in Medellín this season? Tell us your timeline and we'll help you work out what's realistic before the holidays.

Frequently asked questions

Can I close on a property in Colombia in December?

Yes, closings happen in December, but offices run on holiday schedules and many people are on vacation. Prepare documents in November and avoid scheduling the signing between roughly December 23 and the Epiphany holiday.

Are notaries open on December 24 and 31?

It depends on the notary. In past years the Superintendencia de Notariado y Registro has allowed notaries to opt into special hours or close on those days. Ask your notary for its schedule in writing.

Why does the notary need a paz y salvo from the building?

Under Law 675 of 2001, the previous and new owners are jointly responsible for unpaid common expenses when ownership changes. The administration's paz y salvo shows the account is current.

Who pays predial in the year of a sale?

It's negotiable. The promesa should state how predial, administración and utilities are split up to the delivery date. Ask for paid receipts and the seller's paz y salvo.

When is the property officially mine?

After the deed is signed and registered with the Oficina de Registro de Instrumentos Públicos. Get an updated certificado de tradición y libertad to confirm you appear as owner.