Methodology and glossary

Scope

The Suriname Property Monitor measures the Greater Paramaribo market each quarter, divided into six zones. The framework is the DiPasquale and Wheaton four-quadrant model: we measure the space market, the asset market, the construction market and the stock side by side, with the exchange rate as a fifth variable. The design is set out in report PAM-SI-2026-03; the indicators per quadrant are in the data card.

The first edition is a baseline for the fourth quarter of 2026. Valuations follow the International Valuation Standards (IVS) only.

Sources

We combine public series with our own observations.

• Public: General Bureau of Statistics (CPI, building price index, census), Central Bank of Suriname (exchange rates, interest, credit), the IMF and other international institutions.
• Own observations: PAM valuation files, survey files with a deed, and our own listings monitor of asking prices and rents.
• Currency: prices and rents are recorded in the currency of the contract or listing. Comparisons are shown on several yardsticks: nominal in SRD, in dollars, after correction for the CPI and after correction for the building price index.

Series that are not publicly available are added only once the data become available.

Checking observations

• Deed prevails: a survey file counts as an observation only after it has been checked against the deed or the mortgage register extract. Where they differ, the deed applies.
• One property, one observation per quarter: duplicate observations of the same parcel are merged; the PerceelsID is the key.
• Outliers: observations that differ strongly from their zone and segment are reviewed and excluded where necessary; the share excluded is reported.
• Separate prices: asking prices, transaction prices and appraised values are never mixed in one series.

Publication rules

• Ratios: from our own files we publish only index numbers, percentages and ratios, never counts or amounts.
• Minimum size: a cell (zone × segment × quarter) is published only if it holds enough observations that no individual property can be identified; otherwise it is merged into a higher level.
• Provisional and revised: figures for the latest quarter are provisional and may be revised in the next edition. Revisions are reported.
• Reference date: every figure carries a reference date; each report uses only data known on its publication date.

The six zones

A resort outside all zones counts as "outside Greater Paramaribo" and is reported separately.

Glossary

Appraised value

Market value under the International Valuation Standards (IVS) at the valuation date, as set in a valuation report.

Asking price

The price at which a property is offered. Recorded in the currency of the listing and kept separate from transaction prices and appraised values.

Baseline

The first measurement in a series; the starting point against which later editions are compared.

Capitalisation rate

The required return used to convert a rental stream into a value (value = rent / capitalisation rate). In Suriname it differs by currency.

Deed and mortgage register extract

The notarial deed and the extract from the public registers. Where a deed or extract differs from another document, the deed prevails.

Freehold

Full ownership of the land, registered in the public registers.

Gross initial yield

Annual rent at the start divided by the purchase or appraised price, before costs and taxes, as a percentage.

Index

A series that sets the level in a base period at 100. From our own case files we publish only index numbers and ratios, never counts or amounts.

Land lease (grondhuur)

A real right granted by the State to a user on state land, for a fixed term and against an annual ground rent. The end date and the renewal terms help determine value.

PerceelsID

The unique identification number of a parcel in the MI-GLIS cadastre, with recorded boundaries and coordinates.

Quadrant

One of the four sub-markets in the DiPasquale and Wheaton model: 1 space market (rent), 2 asset market (valuation), 3 construction market (new building), 4 stock.

Real change

A price change after correction for the consumer price index (CPI) of the ABS. We also show the change in SRD and in dollars.

Reference date

The date a figure refers to. Every figure in the data library and the monitor carries a reference date.

RVB (survey report)

The surveyor's report of what was found on site. In the monitor an RVB counts as an observation only after checking against the deed.

Time on market

The number of days between first listing and the listing disappearing. We report the share listed for more than 90 days.

Vacancy

The share of space not in use and offered on the market at the reference date. Measured per segment and zone.

Zone

One of the six geographic units of Greater Paramaribo in which the monitor measures; each zone consists of whole resorts.

Publication calendar

The monitor is published each quarter within six weeks of quarter end. The first edition appears before quarter end as a baseline.

Citation and report IDs

Every report has a fixed report ID: PAM-SI for Strategic Insights, PAM-VM for the Property Monitor, followed by year and sequence number or quarter. Cite as follows:

PAM Research & Analytics (2026). How the Surinamese property market works (PAM-SI-2026-03). Paramaribo: PAM N.V. https://pamnv.com/insights/hoe-de-surinaamse-vastgoedmarkt-werkt-vier-markten-een-kringloop/

Figures and tables from the data library are free to use with attribution. Questions about the methodology: research@pamnv.com.