Real Estate & Housing by Country
Whether you plan to rent or buy, understanding property rules, costs, and popular neighborhoods in your destination country is essential. Here is a country-by-country guide to real estate and housing.
Canada
Yes — no restrictions for foreign buyers (except in some provinces with speculation taxes).
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
$1,500–$3,500/month (1-bed apartment in major cities)
Purchase Prices
$400,000–$1,200,000 (major cities), $250,000–$500,000 (smaller cities)
Buying Process
Real estate agents (buyer's agent is free — paid by seller), offer and negotiation, home inspection, mortgage pre-approval, lawyer/notary for closing.
Tip
Foreign buyer ban lifted in 2025 for most categories. Speculation and vacancy taxes apply in BC and Ontario. Budget 1.5–4% for closing costs (land transfer tax, legal fees, inspection).
USA
Yes — foreigners can buy property freely. No residency requirement.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
$1,500–$4,000/month (1-bed in major cities, varies widely)
Purchase Prices
$300,000–$2,000,000+ (varies enormously by city and state)
Buying Process
Real estate agent, mortgage pre-approval (harder for non-residents), offer, inspection, appraisal, closing with title company.
Tip
Property taxes vary hugely by state (0.3% in Hawaii to 2.5% in New Jersey). FIRPTA withholding (15%) applies when foreigners sell US property. HOA fees add $200–$1,000/month in condos.
UAE / Dubai
Yes — in designated freehold areas (most popular areas in Dubai are freehold). Leasehold in other areas.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
AED 50,000–150,000/year ($14,000–$41,000) for 1-bed apartment
Purchase Prices
AED 800,000–5,000,000+ ($218,000–$1,360,000+)
Buying Process
No-objection certificate from developer, DLD (Dubai Land Department) registration, 4% transfer fee, agent commission (2%).
Tip
No property tax in Dubai. Rental contracts are registered with Ejari. RERA index regulates rental increases. Off-plan purchases offer payment plans but carry developer risk. Rental yields 5–8%.
India
OCI/PIO holders can buy residential and commercial property. Foreign nationals (non-OCI) cannot buy agricultural land.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
₹15,000–₹80,000/month ($180–$960) for 2-BHK in major cities
Purchase Prices
₹40,00,000–₹3,00,00,000+ ($48,000–$360,000+) varies enormously by city
Buying Process
Property search (99acres, MagicBricks), negotiation, sale agreement, stamp duty (5–8%), registration, possession.
Tip
RERA registration is mandatory for new projects — always verify. Stamp duty varies by state (5–8% of property value). NRIs can repatriate sale proceeds with tax clearance. Home loans available for NRIs.
Israel
Yes — foreigners can buy property. Olim receive special tax benefits on first property purchase.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
₪4,000–₪10,000/month ($1,100–$2,750) for 2-bed apartment
Purchase Prices
₪1,500,000–₪5,000,000+ ($410,000–$1,370,000+) in central areas
Buying Process
Lawyer essential (both sides), purchase agreement, tax authority approval (for non-residents), Tabu (land registry) registration.
Tip
Israel has purchase tax: 0% on first ₪1.9M for residents, 8% for non-residents/investors. Olim get reduced purchase tax. New construction often sold directly by developer. Market is very competitive in Tel Aviv.
Panama
Yes — foreigners have same property rights as citizens. No restrictions.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
$800–$2,500/month (1-bed in Panama City)
Purchase Prices
$150,000–$500,000+ (Panama City condos)
Buying Process
Lawyer, title search, promesa de compra-venta (purchase promise), public deed, registration at Public Registry.
Tip
Titled property is most secure (vs. right-of-possession land). Property tax exemptions available on new construction (up to 20 years). No capital gains tax on primary residence. Closing costs ~3–5%.
United Kingdom
Yes — no restrictions. Non-residents pay 2% surcharge on stamp duty.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
£1,200–£2,500/month (1-bed in London), £600–£1,200 (outside London)
Purchase Prices
£250,000–£1,000,000+ (London), £150,000–£400,000 (outside London)
Buying Process
Estate agent, mortgage in principle, offer, survey, solicitor/conveyancer, exchange and completion (typically 8–12 weeks).
Tip
Stamp Duty Land Tax starts at £250,000. Leasehold vs freehold — check lease length (under 80 years is risky). Council tax is ongoing. Right to Rent check required from landlords.
France
Yes — no restrictions for foreigners buying property in France.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
€800–€2,000/month (1-bed in Paris), €500–€1,200 (other cities)
Purchase Prices
€200,000–€800,000+ (Paris), €150,000–€400,000 (other cities)
Buying Process
Notaire (mandatory), compromis de vente (preliminary contract), 10-day cooling-off period, mortgage, acte de vente (final deed).
Tip
Notaire fees are 7–8% for existing property, 2–3% for new-build. Taxe foncière (property tax) and taxe d'habitation apply. French mortgages available to non-residents (typically 70% LTV). Rental regulations favor tenants.
Mexico
Yes — but restricted zone (within 50km of coast, 100km of borders) requires a fideicomiso (bank trust) for foreigners.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
$500–$2,000/month (varies by location and size)
Purchase Prices
$100,000–$500,000+ (varies widely)
Buying Process
Promesa de compra-venta, fideicomiso setup (if restricted zone), notario público (mandatory), title search, registration.
Tip
Fideicomiso costs ~$2,000 setup + $500–$1,000/year. Mexican corporations can hold restricted-zone property directly. Closing costs 5–10%. Always use a reputable notario and verify property titles.
Portugal
Yes — no restrictions. NIF (tax number) required.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
€700–€1,500/month (1-bed in Lisbon), €500–€1,000 (Porto/Algarve)
Purchase Prices
€200,000–€600,000+ (Lisbon), €150,000–€350,000 (other areas)
Buying Process
Get NIF, CPCV (promissory contract), hire lawyer, escritura (public deed) at notary, registration at Land Registry.
Tip
IMT (property transfer tax) is 0–8% based on value. Stamp duty is 0.8%. NHR tax regime offers 10-year tax benefits for new residents. Rental market is very tight in Lisbon — start searching early.
Spain
Yes — NIE (tax ID for foreigners) required. Golden Visa available for €500K+ property purchases.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
€800–€1,800/month (1-bed in Barcelona/Madrid), €500–€1,000 (other cities)
Purchase Prices
€200,000–€600,000+ (major cities), €100,000–€300,000 (smaller cities)
Buying Process
Get NIE, arras contract (deposit), hire lawyer (abogado), escritura at notary, registration at Land Registry.
Tip
ITP (transfer tax) is 6–10% depending on region. New-build VAT is 10%. Plusvalía municipal tax at sale. Spanish mortgages available to non-residents (60–70% LTV). Rental laws recently strengthened for tenants.
Australia
Temporary residents can buy one established home (to live in). All foreign buyers can buy new-build. FIRB approval required.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
AUD 2,000–$4,000/month (2-bed in Sydney/Melbourne), $1,200–$2,500 (other cities)
Purchase Prices
AUD 600,000–$2,000,000+ (Sydney/Melbourne), $400,000–$800,000 (other cities)
Buying Process
Pre-approval, FIRB application, offer/auction, building inspection, settlement (30–90 days), stamp duty payment.
Tip
FIRB application fee $14,700 for property under $1M. Foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge (7–8% in NSW/VIC). Auctions are common — unconditional and no cooling off. Negative gearing available for investors.
Singapore
Foreigners can buy private condos freely. Landed property requires government approval. HDB flats for citizens/PR only.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
S$2,500–$6,000/month (1-bed condo)
Purchase Prices
S$1,000,000–$5,000,000+ (private condo)
Buying Process
Option to Purchase (OTP), exercise option, lawyer, stamp duty payment, completion (8–12 weeks).
Tip
Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) for foreigners: 60% (!). This effectively prices out foreign investors. PR holders pay 5% ABSD on first property. Rental yields 3–4%. 99-year leasehold is standard.
Thailand
Foreigners can own condos (up to 49% of building). Cannot own land directly — leasehold or Thai company structure used.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
฿15,000–฿50,000/month ($420–$1,400) for 1-bed condo in Bangkok
Purchase Prices
฿2,000,000–฿15,000,000+ ($56,000–$420,000+)
Buying Process
Foreign quota check, sale agreement, transfer at Land Office, transfer fees (2%), taxes.
Tip
Condominium Act allows foreign freehold ownership of condos. Land can only be leased (30+30+30 year structure common). Transfer fees split 50/50 by convention. No annual property tax for most residential properties.
Saudi Arabia
Premium Residency holders can own property. Foreigners can own in designated economic zones. Employer-sponsored residents typically rent.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
SAR 30,000–80,000/year ($8,000–$21,000) for 2-bed apartment
Purchase Prices
SAR 500,000–3,000,000+ ($133,000–$800,000+)
Buying Process
Purchase agreement, Ministry of Justice registration, property transfer deed (Sak), municipality approval.
Tip
Most expats rent — employers often provide housing allowances. Vision 2030 is opening property ownership to foreigners. Compounds offer Western-style living with amenities. Rental contracts typically annual.
Mauritius
Yes — through approved schemes: IRS, RES, PDS (minimum $375,000 investment grants residency). Also Smart City Scheme.
Popular Areas
Rental Costs
MUR 20,000–80,000/month ($440–$1,760) for 2-bed
Purchase Prices
$375,000+ (PDS scheme — includes residency permit)
Buying Process
Choose approved development, application to EDB (Economic Development Board), purchase agreement, registration.
Tip
Buying through PDS/IRS scheme grants residency permit for buyer and family. No capital gains tax. Rental yields 4–6%. Property market is small but growing. Resale of IRS/PDS properties has minimum price requirements.
Property prices, rental costs, taxes, and regulations change frequently. Always verify current information with a licensed real estate professional or legal advisor in the destination country.
Speak With a Relocation AdvisorReal estate abroad — common questions
Can foreigners buy property freely in most countries?
It varies sharply. Foreigners can buy property with almost no restrictions in the UK, USA, Portugal, Spain, France and the UAE (in freehold zones). Thailand limits foreigners to condos (49% of any building), Australia largely restricts foreign buyers to new-builds via FIRB approval, Mexico requires a fideicomiso in restricted coastal/border zones, and Singapore charges foreigners 60% Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty.
Should I rent or buy when I first move abroad?
Renting for the first 6–12 months is almost always the safer choice. You learn neighbourhoods, school catchment areas, commute times and how local property markets really price-in good vs bad streets. Buying too soon risks overpaying, getting locked into a bad area, and incurring 5–10% in transaction costs you would lose if you moved again.
What are the typical closing costs and taxes when buying property abroad?
Plan for 5–10% on top of the property price in most countries: France 7–8% (notaire fees, taxes), Spain 10–12% (ITP, notary, registration), Portugal up to 8% (IMT, stamp duty), UK 5–17% (SDLT including non-resident surcharge), UAE about 4% (DLD), and the US 1–4% depending on the state. Mortgage arrangement and survey fees are extra.
Can I get a mortgage as a non-resident or new arrival?
Yes, in many countries — but expect lower loan-to-value and higher rates. Spanish and French banks lend 60–70% LTV to non-residents; UAE banks lend 50–75% depending on residency and property; Portuguese banks lend up to 70%; US lenders offer foreign-national loans at 50–65% LTV with higher rates. Canadian and Australian banks often require 35% down for newcomers without local credit.
How do I avoid scams when renting or buying remotely?
Never wire money for a property you have not seen in person or through a verified video walk-through. Use a licensed local lawyer (notaire, abogado, solicitor, notario público) — not just the seller's agent — for any purchase. Verify title at the local land registry (Tabu in Israel, Public Registry in Panama, Land Registry in Portugal, etc.) and check the developer's RERA, FIRB or DLD registration where applicable.
Do I have to pay tax on rental income or capital gains as a foreign owner?
Yes, in almost every country. Rental income is taxed where the property is located, often at 15–30% withheld at source, and gains on sale are usually subject to local capital gains tax (FIRPTA 15% in the US, 19–28% in Spain, 24%+ in the UK for non-residents). Most countries have double-tax treaties that prevent you being taxed twice — talk to a cross-border tax advisor.
Related expat services
- Visa & Immigration Guide by CountrySome property purchases (Portugal, Mauritius, Spain) come with residency benefits.
- Banking & Bank Accounts by CountryYou will need a local account for mortgage payments, utilities and rent.
- International Schools for Expat FamiliesPick your neighbourhood around the right school catchment area.
- Expat Country GuidesDeeper country guides covering housing, tax and daily life.
- Trusted Relocation Provider DirectoryFind vetted relocation, real-estate and moving partners.
- Talk to a Relocation AdvisorGet a personal recommendation for housing in your destination city.