6 Essential Things to Consider While Buying Property Overseas

Written by Emily Johnson Posted On Tuesday, 05 November 2019 05:00
6 Essential Things to Consider While Buying Property Overseas iphotostock

Purchasing real estate abroad is not an easy feat. Clearly, you have the universal factors to keep in mind like the size, style, and location of the property, and of course, the price range.

However, with international real estate, you have to factor in every issue related to purchasing an overseas property. That's why it is essential to keep yourself aware of some of the crucial factors to make a well-informed investment.

How to Ease the Process of Investing in Real Estate Overseas?

The first two things that come to mind when purchasing an international property are travel and legal issues. If you are going to buy an overseas real estate, you will have to deal with both these problems at once.

Nevertheless, you can ease the process by seeking out some advice and tips. When you have a streamlined resource coupled with some basic guidelines to remember and consider before purchasing real estate abroad, it becomes much easier for you to make the right investment.

And that's precisely what we will be helping you with today. In this article, we will provide some tips for purchasing a property abroad.

6 Things to Remember Before Making Your International Real Estate Purchase

1. Seek the help of local professionals

You need to get help from two local professionals. First, when buying properties overseas using digital media, always get yourself a local lawyer to help you deal with the legal matters. Secondly, contact real estate brokers of the area to help you become aware of the market, to stay organized, and most importantly, to help you find the best deal.

2. Consider your tax liabilities as investors

Everyone has different circumstances when it comes to taxes, especially in the volatile and diverse real estate market. Every country has its own legislation and tax laws, which may ask you to repay the inheritance tax, title transfer tax, and even the stamp duty at the time of purchase. Aside from these, some countries ask for land tax to property owners, and it's usually in the form of the annual cost. These potential costs need to be added to your budget, or you might face legal penalties.

3. The need for funding and finance

Once you know your motivation behind the purchase, selecting viable properties that are in conjunction with your needs is quite simple. The challenging part, however, is securing finance, especially when it'll be liable to international laws, which are generally in terms of local currencies. To get started, make sure you obtain your "Agreement in principle" before making the purchase as it will safeguard you when you do not get a loan or are not able to get your initial deposit back.

4. Confirming title & ownership

As investing in international real estate is remote in nature, it can be quite challenging to build trust with the agents and vendors. As such, one has to be extremely careful when discussing title and ownership issues. This is crucial because you will be liable to pay any debt that may exist on a property once you have made the transaction.

5. Bridge the language barrier

Whether you intend to relocate permanently or not, you will still have to connect with real estate advisers and vendors of that region directly when buying property abroad. As such, any language barrier may impose some issues, which can create miscommunication easily and either delay the process of completing a deal or even impact the cost negatively. While it's possible to overcome this issue by learning the relevant language, it'll be far more effective if you hire a lawyer or an attorney with conveyance knowledge.

6. Have an exit strategy

No matter what your intentions are for purchasing property overseas, it's crucial to keep in mind that even the most well-articulated plans can, sometimes go awry. It is, therefore, essential for you to have a contingency plan or an exit strategy ready. In doing so, it'll help in curbing any inconvenience that may arise in the event of a potential financial loss. 

Purchasing properties overseas doesn't have to be that complicated. If you keep yourself aware of the laws and legislation of the country you're relocating, it can help in cutting down the stress.

Also, following and keeping some essential tips and advice in mind can go a long way. That said, consider the above factors before making your international real estate purchase. 

 

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