Property abroad

Buying or renting property abroad from the United States

Buying property abroad as an American usually means paying the purchase price plus currency and transfer costs, which one source puts at about $6,000 to $15,000 on a $300,000 purchase. One source puts cash purchases of this kind at $250,000 or more, and rules on foreign ownership differ by country. For a current picture of prices and rules for the place you have in mind, send a request on BlaBlaPrice.

• Purchase price, and whether the deal is paid in cash or with financing.
• Currency rate and international transfer fees, which grow with a large transfer.
• Property type, number of rooms, floor area and location in the target country.
• Budget and planned use: living there, renting it out or holding it.
• Prices are quoted per property, so ask for the total including fees.

US tax rules that apply

US citizens report foreign property income and sales to the IRS, and FBAR and Form 8938 may apply to foreign accounts and assets. A short-term gain is usually taxed at ordinary income rates, while a long-term gain may qualify for 0%, 15% or 20% rates in 2025. A foreign tax credit can offset tax paid abroad, and rental income rules apply if you let the property out. Check these points before you buy, not after.

Season and when to view

Plan viewing trips for the season when you will actually use the property, because the climate abroad is not the same as in New York, Chicago or Phoenix. In the US the northern summer runs June to August and winter runs December to February, so a trip in one of these windows lets you judge how a home copes with heat or cold.

How the money moves

Plan the transfer before you sign. Currency specialists often offer better rates than a bank, and the gap between the advertised price and the amount you pay can be large on a big transfer. Ask every seller for the total cost in dollars, including fees, and for the payment methods they accept.

What to write in your request

Name the country and city, whether you want to buy or rent, the property type, your budget in dollars, the number of rooms, the floor area you need, the purpose (home, holiday or investment), the features you require and how you plan to pay. These details let the AI on BlaBlaPrice look through local sellers' websites and price lists and show the offers it finds.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. Sellers registered on BlaBlaPrice reply in the chat with their own offer, terms and payment options, and your contact details stay hidden until you choose to share them. For nearby options, see apartments or houses.