International property investments, expertly selected
Curated property opportunities across the UK, UAE, Thailand, Spain, Bali, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus — with independent guidance on buying, financing, tax and residency or citizenship by investment.
Property markets worldwide. One trusted partner.
Every market we feature is selected for a reason: income, capital growth, lifestyle, or a route to residency and citizenship. Explore each location's investment case.
United Kingdom
Stable yields & government-backed income
United Arab Emirates
Tax-free income & 10-year Golden Visa
Thailand
Lifestyle resorts & strong rental demand
Spain
Europe's favourite second-home market
Bali, Indonesia
High-yield villas & Second Home Visa
Egypt
Emerging-market growth from $100k
Greece
Golden Visa from €250,000
Cyprus
EU permanent residency from €300,000
Why investors look beyond their home market
International property has long been a cornerstone of globally diversified wealth. For internationally mobile professionals, expatriates and high-net-worth families, owning real estate in more than one country is a way to spread risk across economies, currencies and property cycles that rarely move in step with one another.
The motivations vary. Some investors want hard-currency rental income in a market with reliable tenant demand; others are focused on long-term capital growth in a fast-developing region, a holiday home that can pay for itself, or a base in a country whose lifestyle and climate they value. For many, property is also a route to something less tangible: the right to live, work or retire in another jurisdiction, and greater freedom to move.
Whatever the goal, the principles are the same. A sound international purchase should be underpinned by genuine local demand, clear legal title, a realistic view of costs and taxes, and an exit plan thought through before you buy — not after.
Property that opens borders
Several of our markets pair real estate with powerful migration benefits — from Greece's Golden Visa and Cyprus permanent residency to the UAE's 10-year Golden Visa and Indonesia's Second Home Visa.
- Greece Golden Visa from €250,000 — check eligibility
- Cyprus EU permanent residency
- UAE 10-year Golden Visa — check eligibility
- Indonesia Second Home Visa
Tools & tests for property investors
Pressure-test the numbers before you commit. Model repayments, yields and total buying costs, convert currencies, and check your eligibility for a residency-by-investment route.
Mortgage Calculator
Estimate monthly repayments, total interest and your loan-to-value ratio across currencies and terms when financing an overseas purchase.
Open YieldRental Yield Calculator
Work out gross and net rental yield, factoring in running costs, a vacancy allowance and buying expenses to gauge true income.
Open Buying costsBuying Costs Calculator
Estimate total acquisition costs — transfer taxes, legal fees and agent commissions — across the UK, Dubai, Spain, Greece and beyond.
Open CurrencyCurrency Converter
Convert between GBP, EUR, AED, THB and other currencies relevant to overseas property, with a quick reference for common amounts.
OpenWhat to weigh in every market
Headline yields and glossy brochures tell only part of the story. These are the factors our advisers examine in every jurisdiction before recommending a purchase.
Legal ownership rules
Who is allowed to own what varies widely. Some countries permit full freehold to foreigners; others restrict land ownership, require a local entity, or grant only long leaseholds. Understanding the framework is the first step.
Real rental demand
Sustainable income depends on tenants, not projections. We look at occupancy patterns, seasonality, the balance of long-let and short-let rules, and whether local regulation supports or restricts holiday letting.
Total cost of buying
The purchase price is rarely the full cost. Transfer taxes, notary and legal fees, agency commissions and registration charges differ by country and can add materially to your outlay — plan for them from the outset.
Currency exposure
Buying in a foreign currency means your returns move with the exchange rate. A weaker home currency can flatter gains or erode them; specialist FX planning helps you manage the timing of large cross-border transfers.
Tax in two places
Owning abroad usually means obligations in both the country where the property sits and your country of residence. Double-tax treaties, rental-income reporting and capital-gains rules all deserve advice before, not after, you buy.
A realistic exit
Liquidity varies. Some markets sell quickly to a deep pool of local and international buyers; others are thin and seasonal. Knowing who your eventual buyer is — and how long a sale may take — protects your capital.
The overseas buying process, step by step
Buying abroad follows a broadly similar path in most countries, even where the detail differs. Knowing the sequence helps you budget your time and avoid the common pitfalls.
Define the brief
Agree your objective — income, growth, lifestyle or residency — and set a realistic all-in budget that includes purchase taxes and fees, not just the asking price.
Search & view
Shortlist properties that fit the brief, visit where possible, and check the fundamentals: location, build quality, service charges and genuine rental demand.
Offer & due diligence
Make an offer, pay any reservation deposit, and instruct an independent lawyer to verify title, permits, debts and planning before you are legally committed.
Complete & hand over
Sign the deed, settle the balance and taxes, register your ownership, and arrange management, insurance and utilities so the property is ready to use or let.
The parts investors most often underestimate
How you fund and hold an overseas property can matter as much as the property itself. Our advisers work alongside specialist lenders, tax professionals and lawyers so the structure fits your wider plans. Explore our expat mortgage guidance, model returns with our investment tools, or review the citizenship and residency routes that property can unlock.
Financing & expat mortgages
Non-resident buyers can often borrow locally or against assets elsewhere, but lending criteria, deposit requirements and rates differ sharply by country. Arranging finance in principle early keeps you credible and moving quickly.
Tax, treaties & reporting
Rental income, capital gains and, in some cases, wealth or inheritance taxes can apply where the property sits and where you live. Getting the treaty position right avoids surprises and unnecessary double taxation.
Ownership structures
Holding a property personally, jointly, through a company or via a trust each carries different tax, succession and cost implications. The right structure depends on your goals, your family and the local rules.
Understanding the risks
International property can be rewarding, but it is not without risk, and the best investors respect that from the start. Currency movements can amplify or erase paper gains. Local markets can cool, off-plan developments can be delayed, and rules on foreign ownership, short-term letting and taxation can change with little notice.
Residency and citizenship-by-investment programmes are a good example of how quickly the landscape shifts. In recent years several European golden-visa schemes have raised their thresholds, narrowed the property that qualifies, or closed to real estate altogether — a reminder that a programme available today may look different tomorrow. We therefore encourage clients to value a property on its own merits first, and treat any residency benefit as a bonus rather than the sole reason to buy.
The most effective protection is preparation: independent legal advice, conservative assumptions on rent and resale, a cash buffer for costs and voids, and a clear time horizon. None of this removes risk, but it puts you in a far stronger position to manage it.
Latest guides & insights
The True Cost of Owning a Second Home Abroad: Every Expense You Need to Budget For
The purchase price of an overseas property is visible and easy to compare. The ongoing annual cost is often invisible until you own the property — and it is frequently underestimated. This guide builds the full cost picture.
Read guide →TaxTransferring Overseas Property to Family Members: Tax and Legal Implications
Transferring overseas property to a spouse, child, or other family member can appear straightforward — but it triggers a chain of UK and overseas tax consequences that are frequently underestimated. This guide sets out the full picture before you act.
Read guide →Market InsightsTokenised and Fractional Property Ownership: The Future of Property Investment?
Fractional and tokenised property ownership has generated significant interest as a way to invest in property with lower capital. Understanding what these models actually deliver — and where their limitations lie — is important before committing any funds.
Read guide →Buying GuidesTitle 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 →TaxTax Residency vs Domicile for Property Investors: What Every Expat Must Understand
Tax residency and domicile are two distinct legal concepts that determine how you are taxed on overseas property. Confusing them is costly. This guide explains the rules clearly for international property investors.
Read guide →Rental & Letting · United KingdomShort-Let and Airbnb Regulations in the UK 2026
A practical guide to the UK's short-let licensing regime, 90-day limits, tax treatment, and enforcement landscape for international property investors.
Read guide →How Global Investments helps
We are not estate agents, and we do not push a single development or destination. Our role is to sit on your side of the table: to understand your objectives, tell you honestly which markets suit them, and connect you with the vetted local partners — lawyers, lenders, tax advisers and reputable developers — who handle the transaction.
That independence runs through everything we publish. Our market pages set out the genuine investment case for each country, our guides explain the buying process and the pitfalls in plain language, and our tools help you pressure-test the numbers before you commit. Whether you are buying your first overseas home or adding to an international portfolio, the aim is the same: a decision you understand fully and can stand behind.
International property — FAQs
Can foreigners buy property in these countries?
In most of the markets we cover, non-residents can buy, but the rules differ. Some allow full freehold ownership, others restrict land or require a local company or long lease, and a few limit foreign buyers to designated zones or developments. We confirm the position for your situation before you proceed.
Does buying property give me residency or citizenship?
Sometimes. Several countries link a qualifying property purchase to residency, and a small number to a path toward citizenship. The thresholds and conditions change regularly, so we treat any such benefit as a factor to verify rather than assume. Our residency and citizenship guides set out the current routes.
Can I get a mortgage as a non-resident?
Often, yes. Many countries offer mortgages to non-resident and expatriate buyers, though deposit requirements, rates and paperwork are usually stricter than for locals. Some clients instead borrow against assets in their home country. Our expat mortgage guidance explains the options in more detail.
How do I avoid the common mistakes?
The recurring errors are budgeting only for the purchase price, skipping independent legal advice, over-relying on projected rents, and ignoring exit and currency risk. Using your own lawyer, planning for all costs and taxes, and stress-testing the numbers removes most of the avoidable risk.
Related services
Property is one part of a wider plan. These sibling hubs cover the routes, banking and portfolios that most often sit alongside an international purchase.
Citizenship & residency by investment
Compare golden-visa and citizenship-by-investment programmes worldwide — from Greece and the UAE to the Caribbean and Malta.
Open BankingInternational banking & expat mortgages
Offshore and multi-currency accounts, cross-border transfers, FX strategy and expat mortgages for globally mobile buyers.
Open InvestmentsInternational investment portfolios
Independent guidance on global equities, bonds, funds and offshore bonds for internationally mobile investors.
OpenSpeak to a property investment specialist
Our advisers can help you find the right international property opportunity — whether you are looking for income, capital growth, or a residency-by-investment route.