Property abroad: how to find a flat or villa
Start with the purpose, not the country
People buy property abroad for different reasons, and everything else depends on them. For living there, infrastructure, schools, transport and the price of everyday services matter. For holidays, the distance to the sea and the seasons matter. For renting out, the demand for homes in that city matters, not only nice photos. If the aim is a residence permit, first find out from a lawyer or an immigration consultant whether a purchase gives that right in that country and on what terms, because the rules differ and change.
What to put in your request
- location — the country and the city or region, for example Spain, Alicante;
- buy or rent — what you need, and for rent, for how long;
- type of property — apartment, villa, house, commercial;
- budget — an amount in the local currency, or in euros or dollars;
- rooms — number of rooms or bedrooms;
- size — in sq m or sq ft;
- purpose — living, a second home, investment, renting out;
- features — distance to the sea, a pool, a new build or resale;
- way of paying — cash, a payment plan from the developer, a mortgage from a foreign bank.
Example: “I want to buy an apartment in Spain, Alicante, 2 bedrooms, from 750 sq ft, within 500 m of the sea, preferably with a pool in the complex. Purpose: renting out to tourists. Budget up to €150,000, interested in a payment plan from the developer.”
What to remember when buying abroad
The price in a listing almost never equals the costs. On top of it come taxes and fees on purchase, notary and lawyer services, registration and sometimes an agent’s commission. The size of these costs depends on the country and the type of property, so ask the seller or the agent to list them in the offer.
A new development and a resale home carry different risks. For something still being built, ask about permits, handover dates and the developer’s guarantees. For a resale, ask about debts, claims and yearly payments: property tax and fees for the upkeep of the complex. If you are buying to rent out, check whether short-term rental is allowed in the building and the city, since some places have restrictions. A typical mistake is to buy from a video and promises of returns without having the documents checked by a separate, independent lawyer.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
You write the request in your own words, and agents, developers and owners reply with offers in the chat: which property, the price, the terms, photos. The request is checked before it is shown, and BlaBlaPrice shows the offer that is best on the merits first. Sellers can see where they stand among the others and may improve their terms. Contacts stay hidden until you choose whom to give them to. More: how it works.
If you are also considering property in United Arab Emirates, see apartments, houses or land. For a short holiday stay, there are short-term rentals.
