← Back to Blog📋 Planning & Logistics

Buying Property Abroad: Where, How, and Whether You Should

ReloMap Investment Research·2026-01-15·10 min
Buying Property Abroad: Where, How, and Whether You Should

The Big Question: Buy or Rent?

For most expats in their first 2 years, the answer is rent. Here's why:

  • You don't know if you'll stay — 40% of first-time expats return home within 2 years
  • You don't know the neighborhoods — What looks great on Google Maps might be noisy, flooded, or far from amenities
  • Buying takes time — 3-6 months minimum in most countries, during which you're paying rent anyway
  • Transaction costs are high — 8-15% of purchase price in closing costs, taxes, and fees
  • Currency risk — If you earn in one currency and pay a mortgage in another, you're exposed to FX swings

    • When Buying Makes Sense

  • You've lived in the country for 2+ years and plan to stay 5+
  • You have local income or can get a local mortgage
  • The rent-to-buy ratio is favorable (price-to-rent ratio below 20)
  • You want to qualify for a Golden Visa through property investment

    • Price-to-Rent Ratios by City

    This metric tells you how many years of rent equal the purchase price. Below 15 = buying favored. Above 25 = renting favored.

    CityAvg Apartment PriceMonthly RentPrice-to-Rent RatioVerdict
    Lisbon 🇵🇹€350,000€1,30022.4Rent
    Barcelona 🇪🇸€380,000€1,45021.8Rent
    Valencia 🇪🇸€180,000€90016.7Buy favorable
    Athens 🇬🇷€150,000€70017.9Buy favorable
    Budapest 🇭🇺€140,000€60019.4Neutral
    Bangkok 🇹🇭€120,000€65015.4Buy favorable
    Dubai 🇦🇪€250,000€1,50013.9Buy favorable
    Medellín 🇨🇴€70,000€50011.7Strong buy

    Golden Visa Programs (Property-Based)

    		CountryMin. InvestmentResidencyPath to CitizenshipNotes
    Greece 🇬🇷€250,0005-year renewable7 yearsBest value in EU
    Spain 🇪🇸€500,0002-year renewable10 yearsUnder review, may increase
    Portugal 🇵🇹~~€500,000~~CLOSED for property—Closed in 2023 for real estate
    UAE 🇦🇪AED 750,000 (~€190,000)2-year renewableNot availableTax-free jurisdiction
    Turkey 🇹🇷$400,0001-year renewable3 years with investmentFast citizenship
    Malta 🇲🇹€300,000+ (purchase)5-year5 years+1EU passport potential

    Hidden Costs of Buying Abroad

    		Cost CategoryTypical RangeNotes
    Transfer tax2-10%Varies widely by country
    Notary fees0.5-2%Mandatory in most EU countries
    Legal fees1-2%Always use an independent lawyer
    Agent commission3-6%Usually paid by seller (check!)
    Mortgage setup0.5-1.5%If financing locally
    Building survey€300-1,500Highly recommended
    Property tax (annual)0.3-2% of valueOngoing cost, often forgotten
    Insurance€200-1,000/yearMandatory for mortgages

    Total one-time costs: 8-15% of purchase price. This means on a €200,000 property, you're paying €16,000-30,000 in transaction costs alone. You need the property to appreciate by that amount just to break even.

    Can Foreigners Buy Property?

    		CountryForeign OwnershipRestrictions
    Spain 🇪🇸✅ Full rightsNIE required
    Portugal 🇵🇹✅ Full rightsNIF required
    Greece 🇬🇷✅ Full rightsSome border zone restrictions
    Thailand 🇹🇭⚠️ Condos only (49% foreign quota)No land ownership for foreigners
    Indonesia 🇮🇩❌ No freeholdLeasehold (25-30 years) available
    Mexico 🇲🇽⚠️ Via bank trust (fideicomiso) in restricted zonesBorder and coastal restrictions
    UAE 🇦🇪✅ In designated areasFreehold in specific developments

    My Recommendation

  • Rent for 2 years minimum — Get to know the country, city, and neighborhoods
  • Buy only if you plan to stay 5+ years or if math strongly favors it (price-to-rent below 15)
  • Always hire a local independent lawyer — Never use the seller's lawyer
  • Get a building survey — Even in hot markets, never skip this
  • Consider the exit — How easy is it to sell? What are capital gains taxes?

    • Compare Rental Costs Across Cities →

    Ready to find your destination?

    Get your free AI Snapshot →