Tuesday, January 21, 2020

6 Factors to Consider Before Buying a Home Overseas

However, the best approach to buying property abroad is to begin by securing the services of a property agent well versed in the country or area. Prioritise working with agents who have active listings or have recently done business in the country. Whether you are a young professional, retiree, investor, or looking at moving your family to another country, the prospect of owning a home abroad can be an enticing prospect. Depending on your needs, there are a number of overseas hotspots abroad with great property deals. Destinations like Copenhagen and Berlin are popular with young professionals, Singapore is favoured by families, holiday homes are plentiful in Cape Town and Mallorca is ideal for sun-seeking retirees.

buying a home overseas

Spanish fixed-rate mortgages are available at around 2.1% to 3.2% and Portuguese ones at 2.2% to 3.3% (with a 30% deposit). Estate agent Knight Frank regularly publishes research into residential property markets around the world. Its latest Global House Price Index found that although prices rose in 86% of the markets it tracks in 2018, overall price growth is slowing. This is set to continue in 2019 as economic uncertainty, tighter market regulation and the cost of debt is expected to increase around the world. If you have a local foothold, such as dual citizenship or a spouse who is a citizen, you may be able to qualify for a local mortgage. Obtaining a mortgage from a foreign bank may require a higher down payment and take longer to process.

#6: Carrying Costs

On this land, Janet built two houses, one for her personal use and one to rent out. While you’re at it, it may be wise to invest in a security system for your property. This is for your peace of mind as well as the safety and security of your new home. If you are living and working abroad, you must report that income to the Internal Revenue Service .

buying a home overseas

If you do a quick search online for real estate available in your area of interest, it will result in contact details for numerous estate agents. Understandably, the temptation to pick up the phone and call or email these people can be high. Assuming you already have a preferred location in mind – whether you want to move country, state or city – for buying a house abroad, we recommend following these steps. Not only did we get eight offers in just 24 hours, we got an all cash offer above our asking price.

Have any more questions about buying or selling property overseas?

Don’t assume it’s going to operate just as things do here in the U.S,” she advises. See expert-recommended refinance options and customize them to fit your budget. In short, just because property values are rising in your neighborhood doesn’t mean that they are also rising in Spain. Such trends are especially important for investors; investors typically want to buy near the bottom and sell near the top of a cycle.

buying a home overseas

The second approach is to have the inspection done before contacting the seller with an offer. This strategy can help increase your confidence, especially if you are working with a timeline or tight budget. After viewing the condition of the house, the offer you make will be closer to the true value of the property. The offer will also be more appealing to the seller because it won’t have a home inspection contingency. When the property agent comes up with their list of potential houses you could purchase based on your criteria, you can organise inspections with the seller.

The Impact of Brexit and the EU Property Market

Moving overseas can benefit your bottom line if you pick an area that has a low cost of living. A promissory contract needs to be signed by you and the seller once your lawyer has checked the relevant documents for the property to confirm the terms of the purchase. At this point, you also need to pay a deposit but you can sign this 'subject to mortgage finance'. To grant you a mortgage, your lender will need the signed sale agreement , between you and the seller, but you can sign this ‘subject to mortgage finance’.

If you eventually end up selling the home, the same rules will apply if you eventually end up selling the property. A new airport, new train station, new highway, new hospital, etc., can mean a new universe of potential buyers. And a newly paved road, for example, that cuts travel time in half, can make a location more accessible and therefore more valuable. In expanding markets, supply takes time to catch up with demand, creating peaks and valleys in pricing, even if the overall trend is up.

And if you’re planning to retire there, will you be near hospitals and other health services? Here’s what you need to know, from choosing where to buy and finding the right property, to financing your purchase and budgeting for the costs involved. If you do get a loan for your home overseas, you might be surprised at the terms or interest rates.

buying a home overseas

However, it’s always worth checking with lenders to see what the rules are with this, especially since most people don’t have tons of cash lying around. Let’s say you fall in love with the Cayo District in Belize, she explains. You sell your home and everything you own and buy a home in this quiet area of the country. Then at some point you realize that you miss living in the United States – at least some of the time.

Buying International Property: How To Finance Foreign Real Estate Investment

In 2021, we recommend focusing on the lesser-visited areas along the country’s Algarve coast and the Porto region north of Lisbon. In 2018 and 2019, pre-pandemic, Bangkok was the number-one visited city in the world, receiving more visitors than London or Paris. The tourism industry in Thailand suffered during the pandemic but is slowly recovering… This is your chance to get in on the dip in Bangkok, before it makes its comeback when all those tourists return. Alamy/Sean PavoneWe like Thailand for agriculture primarily but think this country deserves attention for its strong economy and expanding tourism industry, as well. Investing pre-construction in an apartment intended for the business traveler market is one of the best available opportunities.

But in many places, insurance agencies won’t write a policy past a certain age. “If you are looking for a place to live because you want to move to a specific place, that’s one agenda. But if you are thinking about buying a piece of property for an investment, then that’s a whole different agenda and thought process,” she explains.

If you plan on renting out your foreign home, we recommend hiring the right team of CPAs that fully understand US expat taxes and your IRS obligations. The team of accountants will handle all the filing for you, so you can start renting out your foreign home and have complete peace of mind. Each summer, Janet took a trip to Kerry to check on her rental property and to meet with her rental manager. During the visit, she stayed in one of the two houses she’d built, her second home in Ireland. Wagner also recommends looking for a lender that does business in both countries.

buying a home overseas

Additionally, make sure you’re comparing locations and properties apples-to-apples. For example, a one-bedroom condo in Paris might cost the same as a three-bedroom house with a pool in Mexico. Additionally, in the age of remote work, several countries are offering renewable visas for people to set up shop remotely in certain towns to attract permanent residents. This is a great alternative for those who are hesitant about fully purchasing a property or would like to trial the ex-patriate lifestyle. This step will prepare you for unexpected situations since local courts may not always accept wills or trusts drafted in the U.S.

Or maybe the idea of spending your golden years someplace warm and sunny appeals to you. Either way, buying property in a foreign country is going to be a different experience than buying a place on your home turf. Before you fall in love with that Italian villa or a Mexican hacienda, there are a few things to take into account. You may want to meet with a financial advisor to discuss the specifics of your situation.

buying a home overseas

This Caribbean island is a top choice for a rental investment, making Belize one of the best places to buy real estate overseas. Before moving into a foreign country, it’s best to consider any tax rules that might apply. It’s not uncommon to be charged taxes when you buy a home and again when you sell it. There may also be ongoing tax payments that you’ll need to make throughout the year, similar to U.S. property taxes.

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