· Addis Fortune
Document Service Processes Br 938.6b in Property, Loan Deals
Topics:Market
Summary of the Addis Fortune report
The Documents Authentication & Registration Service reported handling transactions valued at about 938.6 billion Br during the 2025/26 fiscal year, with house sales accounting for the largest share. House sales were valued at about 543.8 billion Br, followed by loan-related services at 264.3 billion Br and car sales at 130.6 billion Br.
Key points
- DARS handled transactions worth about 938.6 billion Br in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
- House sales made up the largest share at about 543.8 billion Br.
- About 81 percent of cases went through the online system.
- The Service collected about 4.55 billion Br in revenue against a four billion Br target.
Real.et analysis
Addis Fortune reports that the Documents Authentication and Registration Service (DARS) handled transactions worth about 938.6 billion Br in the 2025/26 fiscal year. House sales made up the largest share, at about 543.8 billion Br, ahead of loan-related services and car sales.
What this means for buyers
These figures give a rough sense of how much money moves through formal property deals. House sales were worth more than half of all transactions that DARS recorded. Loan-related services reached 264.3 billion Br. Banks often take a house as collateral, so part of that figure may relate to property. The report does not break it down.
Two points need care:
- This is not a price index. The total combines all registered house sales. It does not show average prices, the number of homes sold or their location.
- Declared values can differ from real prices. District land offices now apply benchmark values when a declared price is lower, so the declared price matters less for transfer charges.
DARS is where most private sale agreements in Addis Ababa are authenticated. About 81 percent of cases now go through the online system, which can shorten waiting times. But DARS is not the end of the process. You still need to transfer the lease and title into your own name at the land administration office.
Practical steps:
- Use the online system where you can. It handled 854,148 cases in the year.
- Bring complete documents. A seller who acts through an agent needs a valid power of attorney. Check it before you sign.
- Finish the transfer. After DARS, go to the land office and pay the transfer charges. Our article on the city's title deed deadline shows the risk of stopping halfway.
What this means for investors
The value of registered house sales suggests an active market for formal deals. But a single total says little about returns in a given area. To judge prices by neighbourhood, compare current listings and recent sale prices instead.
Our guide on how to buy a house in Addis Ababa explains each step. Our house prices guide gives prices by area, and you can browse houses for sale.