Country-by-Country Buying Notes
A snapshot of how property purchase works in popular destinations — costs, restrictions, and quirks to know before you start looking.
Each country runs its property market differently. The summaries below are not legal advice — they are starting points for research. Always confirm details with a local lawyer.
United States
Open to foreign buyers in most states with few federal restrictions. Closing costs typically 2–5%, plus annual property tax that varies dramatically by state. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages are the norm — but harder to get without US credit history.
United Kingdom
Open to foreign buyers, but expect Stamp Duty Land Tax with a non-resident surcharge. Most mortgages are short fixed terms (2 or 5 years) followed by re-fixing. Leasehold vs freehold matters a great deal — read it carefully.
Spain & Portugal
Both popular with foreign buyers. Expect transaction costs of around 10–15% including transfer tax, notary, registration, and legal fees. Get an NIE (Spain) or NIF (Portugal) tax number early — nothing happens without it.
France
Notary fees plus transfer tax typically add up to around 7–8% on existing property, less on new builds. The notary represents the transaction, not you — hire your own lawyer if anything is complicated.
Germany
High transaction costs (often 10%+ once you include grunderwerbsteuer, notary, and agent fees). Mortgages favour buyers with large deposits. Strong tenant protections mean buying a tenanted property is very different from buying an empty one.
Australia & New Zealand
Both have introduced foreign-buyer restrictions and surcharges. Australia requires Foreign Investment Review Board approval for most non-resident buyers; New Zealand effectively bans most non-resident purchases of existing homes.
Mexico
Friendly to foreign buyers, but coastal and border zones require a fideicomiso bank trust. Closing costs typically 4–7%. Title insurance, common in the US, is rare and worth paying for here.
United Arab Emirates
Foreigners can buy freehold in designated zones. Transaction costs are relatively low (around 4–7%). Service charges on apartments can be substantial — check the building's history and reserve fund.
Continue reading
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