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Field guides to buying property abroad

Buying across a border means playing by someone else's rules — and finding them out the expensive way is optional. These guides cover, country by country: who can buy, what a purchase does (and doesn't do) for your visa, the process step by step, the professionals you'll actually need, and what it really costs.

How we verify. Every changeable claim in these guides links to a source — official ones where possible — and every guide shows its "last verified" date. Rules in this space move fast (permit zones appear, visa schemes expire, tax rates shift), so treat the date as part of the information. And the standing rule: these guides are general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm the details that matter with a local professional before you commit money.
🇮🇹

Italy

Reciprocity, the notaio, and the truth about €1 houses.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — reciprocity applies
Residency from buying?No
Typical closing costs~10–15% (second home)
Non-resident mortgagePossible, 50–60% LTV
Read the Italy guide →
🇯🇵

Japan

Nine million empty houses, zero ownership restrictions — and the akiya fine print.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — no restrictions
Residency from buying?No
Typical closing costs~6–10% (more on cheap akiya)
Non-resident mortgageEffectively no — cash
Read the Japan guide →
🇫🇷

France

Notaire fees, SAFER pre-emption, and châteaux cheaper than city flats.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — no restrictions
Residency from buying?No (90/180 rule)
Typical closing costs~12–15% with agency
Non-resident mortgageYes, 50–85% LTV
Read the France guide →
🇰🇷

South Korea

Permit zones, jeonse, the farmland wall — and hunting on Jeju Island.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — permits in some zones
Residency from buying?No (resort-scheme exception)
Typical closing costs~2–5% (single home)
Non-resident mortgageEffectively no — cash
Read the Korea guide →
🇭🇷

Croatia

EU member since 2023, property-based residence permits, and the Adriatic coast.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — EU equal, non-EU reciprocity
Residency from buying?Residence permit (6mo/yr)
Typical closing costs~5–6%
Non-resident mortgageRare
Read the Croatia guide →
🇲🇪

Montenegro

€150K residence permit, citizenship path — but no dual citizenship.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — no restrictions
Residency from buying?€150K → residence
Typical closing costs~4–6%
Non-resident mortgageNo
Read the Montenegro guide →
🇷🇸

Serbia

No minimum investment, temporary residence through property, and Belgrade's boom.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — buildings, not farmland
Residency from buying?Temporary (1yr renewable)
Typical closing costs~4–5%
Non-resident mortgageRare
Read the Serbia guide →
🇦🇱

Albania

Low entry costs, citizenship path in 7 years, and dual citizenship allowed.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — buildings (3x land rule)
Residency from buying?1yr renewable
Typical closing costs~3–4%
Non-resident mortgageNo
Read the Albania guide →
🇬🇪

Georgia

$150K threshold since March 2026, zero transfer tax, and Tbilisi's rise.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — not agricultural
Residency from buying?$150K → 1yr renewable
Typical closing costs~1–2%
Non-resident mortgageNo
Read the Georgia guide →
🇬🇷

Greece

Golden visa in three tiers, border-zone permits, and the Airbnb ban on visa properties.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — border permits for some
Residency from buying?€250K–€800K golden visa
Typical closing costs~8–12%
Path to citizenship7 years residency + test
Read the Greece guide →
🇹🇷

Turkey

$400K in property → full citizenship and passport for the whole family.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — most nationalities
Citizenship from buying?$400K, 3-year hold
Typical closing costs~7–10%
Non-resident mortgageAvailable, limited
Read the Turkey guide →
🇦🇷

Argentina

USD cash deals, the boleto system, and a potential CBI program on the horizon.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — same as citizens
Residency from buying?No (rentista visa path)
Typical closing costs~7–10%
Non-resident mortgageNo — USD cash
Read the Argentina guide →
🇸🇻

El Salvador

Territorial taxation, Bitcoin legal tender, and the $1M Freedom Passport.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — same rights (urban)
Citizenship by investment?$1M BTC/USDT
Typical closing costs~5–7%
Income tax on foreign income0% (territorial)
Read the El Salvador guide →
🇳🇿

New Zealand

Foreign buyer ban since 2018, narrow investor-visa exception from 2026, and zero stamp duty.

Can foreigners buy?Mostly no — heavy restrictions
AU/SG citizensExempt — can buy freely
Stamp duty$0 (none)
Capital gains taxNo (2yr brightline test)
Read the New Zealand guide →
🇦🇺

Australia

FIRB approval, established home ban until 2027, and state surcharges up to 8%.

Can foreigners buy?New builds only (FIRB)
Established homesBanned (Apr 2025–Mar 2027)
Foreign buyer surcharge7–8% stamp duty extra
Annual vacancy feeYes — if left empty
Read the Australia guide →
🇹🇭

Thailand

Condo freehold only (49% foreign quota per building), no land ownership. Thailand Elite and DTV visas for long-stay.

Can foreigners buy?Condos only — no land
Foreign quota49% of building area
Property-linked visa?No — Elite/DTV separate
All-in costs~6–8%
Read the Thailand guide →
🇮🇩

Indonesia

No foreign freehold — Hak Pakai (right to use, up to 80yr) is the strongest title. Golden Visa from $350K property.

Can foreigners own land?No — Hak Pakai only
Golden Visa$350K → 5yr stay permit
Nominee arrangementsIllegal and unenforceable
All-in costs~10–13%
Read the Indonesia guide →
🏝️

Bali

Indonesia's most active foreign market. Leasehold villas (25–30yr), Hak Pakai condos, and a nominee trap that costs people everything.

Most common structure25–30yr leasehold
Hak Pakai minimumRp 5B (~$310K)
Rental licensingPondok Wisata required
All-in costs~10–14%
Read the Bali guide →
🇲🇾

Malaysia

Foreign freehold above state minimums (RM1M in KL, RM3M landed in Penang). MM2H long-term visa, Bumiputera restrictions.

Can foreigners buy?Yes — above state minimums
KL minimumRM1M (~$225K)
MM2H visaSilver/Gold/Platinum tiers
All-in costs~4–6%
Read the Malaysia guide →
🏝️

Lombok

Earlier-stage Bali alternative. Same Indonesian law, lower prices, more title risk. Mandalika SEZ bringing government infrastructure.

Typical entry priceLeasehold from ~$60K
Title riskHigher than Bali — verify at BPN
Mandalika SEZClearer titles, higher prices
All-in costs~8–13%
Read the Lombok guide →

By topic

Cross-country guides on specific questions foreign property buyers face.

🏠

Airbnb & STR regulations

Country-by-country breakdown of short-term rental rules, foreigner eligibility, licensing, tax, and penalties.

Countries covered18
Hardest for foreignersIndonesia/Bali, Thailand
Highest penaltiesFrance (€100K+)
Read the Airbnb regulations guide →

By nationality

Which countries let you buy property and get residency — from the perspective of your passport.

🇬🇧

British buyers

Post-Brexit options: every country where property leads to residency or citizenship.

Programs covered13 countries
Cheapest routeSerbia — no minimum
Citizenship possible?Turkey, Caribbean, others
Read the British buyers guide →
🇫🇷

French buyers

Beyond the EU: non-EU countries where property unlocks residency or citizenship.

Programs covered10+ countries
Tax alertIFI, exit tax, prélèvements
Dual citizenship?France allows it
Read the French buyers guide →
🇰🇷

한국인 가이드

해외 부동산 구매로 거주권·시민권 받을 수 있는 나라 총정리.

다루는 국가14개국
이중국적한국법상 주의 필요
외환신고필수 — 미신고 시 과태료
한국인 가이드 보기 →
🇪🇺

EU citizens

Buying in another EU country: what's actually required, the tax traps, and the 183-day rule.

FocusCross-border EU buying
Key trapTax residency creep
Countries covered11 EU + non-EU options
Read the EU citizens guide →
🇺🇸

American buyers

FBAR, FATCA, worldwide taxation — the IRS obligations that follow you across every border.

FocusUS tax and reporting
FBAR threshold$10K in foreign accounts
Key trapCurrency gain = taxable gain
Read the American buyers guide →
🇦🇺

Australian buyers

ATO worldwide income, FITO offsets, CGT on foreign property, and the currency gain trap.

FocusATO tax and reporting
CGT discount50% (if held 12+ months)
Key trapForex gain = taxable event
Read the Australian buyers guide →

More country guides and nationality guides are in the works. If your hunt is somewhere we haven't covered yet, tell us from inside the app — guides get written where hunters actually are.

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