Buying a home abroad: a practical checklist before you pay anything

Buying property in another country can be one of the best decisions you make, or one of the most expensive mistakes. The difference is almost always in the checks you do before money changes hands. This checklist works for any country, because it tells you what to ask rather than assuming the answers.

1. Find out what a foreigner is allowed to own

Many countries limit what non-residents can buy. Some allow freehold ownership of apartments but not land; some allow long leases instead of ownership; some require a local company or a residence permit. Ask an independent local lawyer one direct question: "Exactly what right will I hold, for how long, and can I sell it or pass it to my heirs?" Get the answer in writing.

2. Hire your own lawyer, not the seller's

The agent and the seller's notary want the sale to close. Your lawyer's job is to find reasons it should not. Choose someone who is licensed locally, speaks your language or works with a sworn translator, and quotes a fixed fee up front.

3. Check the title and the person selling

• Get an official extract from the land or property registry, not a photocopy from the seller.
• Confirm the seller's name matches the registry, and that everyone who co-owns the property signs.
• Ask for searches on mortgages, liens, unpaid taxes, building violations and pending disputes.
• For new projects, check that the developer holds the permits for the building and that your unit exists on the approved plans.

4. See the property, more than once

Visit at different times of day. Check water pressure, phone signal, noise at night, flooding marks, and what is being built next door. Talk to neighbours: they will tell you things no listing will. If you cannot travel, pay an independent inspector, not one recommended by the seller.

5. Work out the full cost, not just the price

Ask your lawyer for a written list of every cost on top of the price: transfer or stamp taxes, registration fees, notary and legal fees, agent commission, and yearly property taxes or service charges. Then ask what tax you will owe when you sell, and whether your home country taxes foreign property or rental income.

6. Plan how the money moves

Large international transfers can be delayed by bank checks, and some countries require you to bring the money in through a specific channel to be able to take it out again later. Keep every transfer record. Never send a deposit to a personal account that does not match the seller named on the title, and never because someone is "in a hurry".

7. Read the contract in a language you understand

If the binding version is in the local language, pay for a certified translation. Check the deposit terms: when is it refundable, and what happens if the seller backs out? Make the deposit conditional on the title checks and, where relevant, on your financing.

8. Think about the exit before the entry

Ask a local agent how long similar homes take to sell, and who buys them. A beautiful villa in a place only foreigners want can be hard to resell. A plain apartment near transport usually sells faster.

Where BDS2 fits in

On BDS2 you can browse listings by country, region and neighborhood, call owners directly, and see a directory of real local agents and businesses for each area. Use it to compare, shortlist and ask questions. Then let your own lawyer and inspector do the checks above before you sign anything.