Buying Guides
Bank 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 →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.