Buying Guides
Title Insurance and Ownership Security for Overseas Property: Do You Need It?
Title insurance protects against defects in property ownership discovered after purchase — from unknown liens to planning irregularities and inheritance disputes. Whether you need it depends heavily on which market you are buying in and how robust the title investigation has been.
Read guide →Buying GuidesProperty Investment Scams: Red Flags Every Overseas Buyer Must Know
Property fraud and mis-selling cost international investors significant sums every year. Understanding the most common scams — and the protections that actually work — is essential before committing to any overseas purchase.
Read guide →Buying GuidesHow to Negotiate Overseas Property Purchases: Market-by-Market Tactics
Negotiation norms in property markets vary dramatically across cultures — what works in Spain is wrong in Thailand, and what is standard in Greece might offend in Dubai. This guide covers the tactics and expectations for each market.
Read guide →Buying GuidesInternational Property Due Diligence Checklist: 50 Checks Before You Buy
Buying property in another country carries risks that simply do not exist in your home market. This 50-point checklist covers every critical check — legal, financial, physical, and practical — before you commit.
Read guide →Buying GuidesInternational Mortgages: How to Finance Overseas Property as a Foreign Buyer
Financing overseas property is more complex than a domestic purchase, but more options exist than most buyers realise. This guide compares local mortgages, international lenders, developer payment plans, and remortgaging across the international markets we work in.
Read guide →Buying GuidesHow to Verify a Property Developer Before You Buy: 15 Essential Checks
Off-plan property purchases carry developer risk that completed properties do not. These 15 checks will help you assess whether the developer behind a project is credible, financially sound, and likely to deliver.
Read guide →Buying GuidesGolden Visa Programmes Compared 2026: Which Country Offers the Best Deal?
Golden visa programmes vary enormously in cost, speed, and what you actually receive. This guide compares every major residency-by-investment route relevant to international property buyers in 2026.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United KingdomFull Buying Costs Breakdown for UK Property: Every Fee Explained
Buying UK property as an overseas investor involves several layers of tax and professional fees that can add 3–5% or more to your purchase price. This guide breaks down every cost so you can budget with confidence.
Read guide →Buying Guides · SpainFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Spain Property: Every Fee Explained
Spain's property buying costs are among the highest in Western Europe, typically adding 9–14% to the purchase price depending on the region and whether you are buying a resale or new-build property. Understanding every fee is essential before you commit.
Read guide →Buying Guides · GreeceFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Greece Property: Every Fee Explained
Greece's property buying costs typically run to 7–12% of the purchase price — but understanding how the 'objective value' system works can materially affect your actual outlay, and the Golden Visa programme remains one of Europe's most attractive for qualifying investors.
Read guide →Buying Guides · EgyptFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Egypt Property: Every Fee Explained
Egypt's property market offers some of the lowest entry prices among international investment destinations, and buying costs of approximately 5–8% are moderate — but the registration and legal process requires careful navigation, especially for overseas buyers unfamiliar with the Egyptian property law framework.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United Arab EmiratesFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Dubai Property: Every Fee Explained
Buying property in Dubai involves a mandatory 4% DLD transfer fee plus agent commission and registration charges that typically push total acquisition costs to 6–9% of the purchase price. This guide explains every fee in detail.
Read guide →Buying Guides · CyprusFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Cyprus Property: Every Fee Explained
Cyprus offers one of the most transparent and investor-friendly property buying frameworks in the Mediterranean, with total buying costs of approximately 5–9% for resale properties — rising where new-build VAT at 19% applies, though a 5% reduced rate is available for qualifying primary residences.
Read guide →Buying Guides · Bali, IndonesiaFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Bali Property: Every Fee Explained
Buying property in Bali involves unique ownership structure considerations as foreigners cannot hold freehold land title directly — but once the right structure is in place, total transaction costs of 6–10% are competitive for Southeast Asia. This guide explains every fee and structure option.
Read guide →Buying GuidesFreehold vs Leasehold Property Around the World: An Investor's Guide
Freehold and leasehold mean different things in different countries — and in some markets, foreign buyers have no access to freehold at all. Understanding tenure before you buy could save you from a very costly mistake.
Read guide →Buying GuidesDigital Nomad Visas and Property Ownership: A Guide for Location-Independent Investors
Digital nomad visas have transformed the options available to remote workers, but property ownership, tax residency, and legal compliance on the move require careful planning. This guide covers the major markets where we work.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United KingdomCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for UK Property Buyers
For non-UK investors buying British property, GBP exchange rate movements can add or subtract tens of thousands from the effective purchase price. Understanding your FX options before you commit is essential.
Read guide →Buying Guides · SpainCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Spain Property Buyers
Post-Brexit, UK buyers face real GBP/EUR currency risk on every Spanish property purchase. With GBP/EUR having swung from 1.05 to 1.20 in recent years, a forward contract can protect tens of thousands of pounds on a mid-range purchase.
Read guide →Buying Guides · GreeceCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Greece Property Buyers
Greece uses the Euro, so UK buyers face GBP/EUR currency risk on every purchase. Greece has fully lifted its capital controls since 2019, and EUR transfers now flow freely — but Greek tax compliance, AFM registration, and bank account requirements need careful advance planning.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United Arab EmiratesCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Dubai Property Buyers
The AED's fixed peg to the US dollar eliminates one layer of currency risk for USD-based investors, but GBP and EUR buyers still face meaningful exchange rate exposure. Understanding Dubai's transfer and escrow rules is essential before committing funds.
Read guide →Buying Guides · CyprusCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Cyprus Property Buyers
Cyprus uses the Euro and imposes no capital controls, making transfers straightforward. For UK buyers the GBP/EUR rate is the key variable, while Cyprus's non-domicile tax regime creates important planning opportunities for those considering relocating alongside their investment.
Read guide →Buying Guides · Bali, IndonesiaCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Bali Property Buyers
Most Bali property transactions are denominated in USD rather than Indonesian Rupiah, which simplifies the currency picture for many buyers — but IDR management, Indonesian banking compliance, and withholding taxes on rental income all require careful planning.
Read guide →Buying GuidesCurrency Hedging for Property Buyers: How to Protect Your Investment from Exchange Rate Risk
A 5% move in the exchange rate on a £500,000 overseas property means £25,000 gained or lost before you have even picked up the keys. Currency hedging lets you lock in a rate and remove that uncertainty. This guide explains how.
Read guide →Buying GuidesCitizenship vs Residency by Investment: Understanding the Difference
Citizenship and residency by investment are often confused, but they are fundamentally different products with very different costs, benefits, and implications. This guide explains what each delivers and which markets offer which.
Read guide →Buying GuidesBank Accounts and Money Movement for Overseas Property Buyers: A Practical Guide
Almost every overseas property purchase requires a local bank account. Opening one as a non-resident is possible in most markets, but the process varies considerably. This guide covers accounts, transfers, and managing currency risk.
Read guide →Buying Guides · EgyptCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Egypt Property Buyers
Egypt's property market has been shaped by dramatic Egyptian Pound devaluations since 2022. Most developer pricing is in USD, creating a distinctive investment dynamic where local currency weakness has driven nominal EGP returns — but real USD-denominated returns require careful analysis.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United KingdomOff-Plan vs Resale Property in the UK: Which Is Right for You?
UK buyers and overseas investors face a clear choice between new-build off-plan and established resale stock. This guide covers costs, protections, risks, and the key questions to ask before you commit.
Read guide →Buying Guides · ThailandOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Thailand: Which Is Right for You?
Thailand's condo market offers both off-plan launches and a mature resale sector. Understanding the 49% foreign quota, title deed types, and developer risk is essential before you buy.
Read guide →Buying Guides · SpainOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Spain: Which Is Right for You?
Spain's property market spans brand-new coastal developments and a deep resale sector spanning everything from village fincas to city-centre apartments. The tax treatment, legal protections, and risks differ significantly between the two routes.
Read guide →Buying Guides · GreeceOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Greece: Which Is Right for You?
Greece's property market offers a reviving off-plan sector alongside established island and city resale stock. Golden Visa thresholds, VAT on new-build, and energy performance rules all affect the calculation for overseas buyers.
Read guide →Buying Guides · EgyptOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Egypt: Which Is Right for You?
Egypt's property market is dominated by off-plan taqseet sales with multi-year payment plans, particularly in the New Administrative Capital and the North Coast. This guide helps overseas investors evaluate off-plan versus Cairo and Alexandria resale options.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United Arab EmiratesOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Dubai: Which Is Right for You?
Dubai's property market is dominated by off-plan launches, yet resale offers immediate entry and income. This guide breaks down the key differences so you can choose the right route for your goals.
Read guide →Buying Guides · CyprusOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Cyprus: Which Is Right for You?
Cyprus offers a well-developed off-plan sector with significant investor demand and a mature resale market. Permanent residency requires a new-build purchase — but title deed delays and VAT rules make the choice between off-plan and resale more nuanced than it first appears.
Read guide →Buying Guides · Bali, IndonesiaOff-Plan vs Resale Property in Bali: Which Is Right for You?
Bali's property market is almost entirely leasehold for foreign buyers, with off-plan launches proliferating across Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud. Understanding lease terms, developer quality, and the right ownership structure is essential.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United KingdomLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in the UK: What Every Buyer Must Know
The UK conveyancing process is well-regulated but riddled with traps — from short leases to restrictive covenants — that only thorough due diligence will reveal. This guide walks you through every legal check a buyer must complete before exchanging contracts.
Read guide →Buying Guides · ThailandLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Thailand: What Every Buyer Must Know
Thailand offers genuinely attractive property investment opportunities, but its foreign ownership restrictions and variety of title deed types mean that legal due diligence is more complex than in most Western markets. Understand the rules before you commit.
Read guide →Buying Guides · SpainLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Spain: What Every Buyer Must Know
Spain's property market is popular with international buyers, but illegal builds, undisclosed community debts, and missing habitation certificates remain common hazards. This guide outlines every legal check you should complete before committing to a purchase.
Read guide →Buying Guides · GreeceLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Greece: What Every Buyer Must Know
Greece offers some of Europe's most attractive coastal and island property, but illegal constructions, complex inheritance co-ownership, coastal zone restrictions, and ENFIA tax arrears are recurring hazards. This guide covers every legal check a buyer must complete.
Read guide →Buying Guides · EgyptLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Egypt: What Every Buyer Must Know
Egypt permits foreign nationals to own property, but with restrictions on number of units, maximum area, and minimum hold period. Many Egyptian properties have historically been unregistered, and off-plan developer risk is real. Thorough due diligence is essential before any commitment.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United Arab EmiratesLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Dubai: What Every Buyer Must Know
Dubai's property market is well-regulated by regional standards, but buyers who skip formal due diligence — particularly around agent registration, title verification, and off-plan developer credibility — remain exposed to significant risk. This guide covers every check that matters.
Read guide →Buying Guides · CyprusLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Cyprus: What Every Buyer Must Know
Cyprus has historically been affected by title deed delays and developer mortgage complications that have left buyers waiting years for their deeds. Understanding how to protect yourself — and what to check before you buy — is essential for any international buyer in the Cyprus market.
Read guide →Buying Guides · Bali, IndonesiaLegal Due Diligence When Buying Property in Bali: What Every Buyer Must Know
Bali's property market is one of the most appealing in Southeast Asia, but foreigners cannot own freehold land in Indonesia, and the structures that exist to work around this carry meaningful legal risk if not executed correctly. This guide explains how to protect yourself.
Read guide →Buying Guides · ThailandFull Buying Costs Breakdown for Thailand Property: Every Fee Explained
Thailand's property buying costs are among the more moderate in Southeast Asia, typically running to 2–4% of the purchase price for the buyer on a condominium — but the full picture is more nuanced, with taxes split between buyer and seller and important distinctions between freehold and leasehold ownership.
Read guide →Buying Guides · ThailandCurrency and International Transfer Considerations for Thailand Property Buyers
Thailand's foreign exchange rules are more complex than most markets — the Foreign Exchange Transaction (FET) certificate is a legal requirement for condo registration that many buyers only discover too late. Understanding the transfer rules before you send money is critical.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United KingdomHow to Buy Property in the UK as an Overseas Investor
Buying property in the United Kingdom as an overseas investor is straightforward in legal terms — there are no restrictions on foreign ownership — but the process, costs, and tax obligations differ from those familiar to domestic buyers and from purchasing norms in many other countries.
Read guide →Buying Guides · ThailandHow to Buy Property in Thailand as a Foreign Investor
Foreign investors can legally own condominium units in freehold and access land-linked property through properly registered leasehold, superficies or usufruct structures. Nominee arrangements are illegal and carry serious risk.
Read guide →Buying Guides · SpainHow to Buy Property in Spain as a Foreign Buyer — Step-by-Step Guide
Buying property in Spain as a non-resident is entirely legal and well-established, but the process involves a specific sequence of legal steps that differs from the UK, the US and many other markets. This guide explains each stage clearly.
Read guide →Buying Guides · GreeceHow to Buy Property in Greece: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Investors
Buying property in Greece involves mandatory legal and administrative steps that differ significantly from most English-speaking markets. This guide sets out the full process for international and expat investors, from obtaining a Greek tax number through to completion.
Read guide →Buying Guides · EgyptHow to Buy Property in Egypt as a Foreigner
Foreign nationals can buy property in Egypt, but the process differs significantly from Western markets. This guide walks through legal ownership rules, contract types, due diligence, and the off-plan payment plans that dominate new supply.
Read guide →Buying Guides · United Arab EmiratesHow to Buy Property in Dubai: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Investors
Dubai allows foreign nationals to purchase freehold property in designated zones, with a regulated process overseen by the Dubai Land Department. This guide explains every stage from search to title deed.
Read guide →Buying Guides · CyprusHow to Buy Property in Cyprus: A Step-by-Step Guide for International Buyers
Buying property in Cyprus is a well-defined process, but foreign nationals face specific legal requirements around permissions, title deeds, and contract registration. This guide walks through each stage so you know what to expect.
Read guide →Buying Guides · Bali, IndonesiaHow to Buy Property in Bali as a Foreigner: Legal Structures Explained
Foreigners cannot hold freehold title over land in Indonesia. Understanding the legal structures available — leasehold, Hak Pakai, and PT PMA — is the essential first step before buying property in Bali.
Read guide →Talk to a property investment adviser
Our advisers help international buyers navigate property purchases, ownership structures, financing, and residency-by-investment programmes across multiple markets.