Guides
Buying Property
How to buy a home abroad — from finding an agent to closing the deal.
How Much House Does $500K Buy in Dublin Right Now?
What USD $500,000 actually buys in Dublin in 2026. Neighborhoods, closing costs, mortgage rules for Americans, and the real cost of the Irish housing crisis.
Amsterdam vs Rotterdam: Cost of Buying as an American in 2026
Amsterdam vs Rotterdam for American property buyers in 2026. Prices, overdrachtsbelasting, BSN, mortgage access, and which Dutch city gives you more for your euro.
Berlin vs Munich for American Buyers: Price Per Square Meter in 2026
Berlin vs Munich for American property buyers in 2026. Per-sqm prices by neighborhood, Grunderwerbsteuer, notary fees, mortgage access, and which city wins on value.
Buying a Home in Tokyo on a US Salary: Full Cost Breakdown
Can you buy a home in Tokyo on an American salary? A line-by-line breakdown of prices, taxes, mortgages, and the realities of buying property in Japan in 2026.
Chiang Mai vs Phuket: Where American Buyers Get More for $200K
Chiang Mai vs Phuket for American buyers in 2026: what USD $200K buys in each, Thai foreign ownership rules, condo vs leasehold, and real monthly costs.
How Much Does It Really Cost to Buy in Barcelona? Fees, Taxes, Agent Costs
A complete 2026 breakdown of what Americans actually pay to buy an apartment in Barcelona: ITP, AJD, notary, gestoria, lawyer, and agent fees line by line.
The True Cost of Buying a House in Lisbon as an American in 2026
A line-by-line breakdown of what it actually costs an American to buy a home in Lisbon in 2026: IMT, stamp duty, notary, lawyer, NIF, Wise transfers, and hidden items.
Cuenca, Ecuador: What $150K Buys an American Retiree This Year
A 2026 breakdown of what USD $150,000 buys in Cuenca, Ecuador: neighborhoods, closing costs, pensioner visa, and the real cost of a retirement apartment.
What a French Notaire Actually Does (and Why You Need One)
The French notaire is a public legal officer, not a lawyer — and is legally required for every property sale. Here's what the notaire does for American buyers in 2026.
Galway vs Cork: Where $400K Goes Further in Ireland
A 2026 head-to-head of Galway and Cork for American buyers on a EUR 400K budget. Neighborhoods, closing costs, PPS number, and which city gives more per euro.
Ho Chi Minh City vs Bangkok: Condo Prices for Foreign Buyers
A 2026 head-to-head on HCMC vs Bangkok condo prices for foreign buyers. Legal structures, closing costs, the 30 percent Vietnam cap, and realistic monthly carry.
The Italian House-Buying Timeline: Compromesso to Rogito
The real 2026 calendar for an Italian property purchase — from proposta to compromesso to rogito, plus the codice fiscale, notaio, and taxes Americans forget.
How to Buy a House in Japan Without Speaking Japanese
You can legally buy Japanese property with zero Japanese — but you need a bilingual agent, a scrivener, and a translated contract. Here's the realistic 2026 playbook.
Kyoto vs Osaka Akiya: Buying a Cheap Japanese Home in 2026
The 2026 reality of buying an akiya (abandoned home) in Kyoto and Osaka: prices, renovation costs, what Americans actually pay, and the traps to avoid.
Medellin Real Estate in 2026: Cost of Buying a 3-Bed Condo in El Poblado
What it actually costs to buy a 3-bedroom condo in El Poblado, Medellin in 2026. Real prices, closing costs, the dollarization math, and the gentrification question.
Melbourne vs Brisbane vs Perth: Where Americans Get the Best Value in Australia
A 2026 three-way comparison of Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth for American buyers. FIRB approval, stamp duty, and which Australian city gives the most for USD $600K.
Mexico City Real Estate for Americans: What $300K Actually Gets You in 2026
What USD $300,000 actually buys in Mexico City in 2026 by neighborhood, plus closing costs, fideicomiso rules, and the real story on gentrification.
Buying Off-Market Property in Ireland as an American: Is It Possible?
Off-market Irish property does exist — probate sales, rural auctioneer back-rooms, direct-to-owner approaches. Here's how to find it as a non-resident American in 2026.
Panama City Condo Prices in 2026: What Americans Are Actually Paying
Panama City condo prices in 2026 by neighborhood, with closing costs, the Friendly Nations visa link, and the real monthly cost of ownership for Americans.
The Real Cost of a Beach Condo in Playa del Carmen in 2026
What it actually costs an American to buy a beach condo in Playa del Carmen in 2026: fideicomiso fees, closing costs, HOA, predial, and honest price ranges.
What $250K Buys in Porto Compared to Portland, Oregon
A dollar-for-dollar comparison of what USD $250,000 buys in Porto, Portugal versus Portland, Oregon in 2026. Neighborhoods, closing costs, carrying costs.
Rome vs Florence vs Milan: Cost of Buying Property as an American in 2026
A three-way comparison of buying property in Rome, Florence, and Milan as an American in 2026. Prices, closing costs, and which city actually makes sense.
San Jose, Costa Rica: Cost of Buying a House in the Central Valley
What Americans pay to buy a house in San Jose and the Central Valley of Costa Rica in 2026. Neighborhoods, closing costs, the pensionado visa, and monthly carry.
How Long Does It Take to Close on a House in Spain as a Foreigner?
Realistic 2026 Spain closing timelines for American buyers — from NIE to escritura to registered deed. Typical 4-6 months, fastest 6-8 weeks, worst case a year.
Valencia, Spain vs Malaga: Which Is Cheaper for American Buyers?
Valencia vs Malaga for American property buyers in 2026. Prices, closing costs, climate, visas, and which Spanish Mediterranean city gives you more for your money.
Virtual House Tours for Foreign Buyers: Which Portals Offer Them in 2026
Which international property portals have real 3D and video tours in 2026 — Rightmove, Zillow, Idealista, Immobiliare, Daft, Funda — and how reliable they are.
Wellington vs Auckland: NZ Property Prices After the Foreign Buyer Ban
A 2026 Wellington vs Auckland comparison for Americans after the 2018 NZ foreign buyer ban. Who can actually buy, prices, residency paths, and realistic alternatives.
Zurich vs Geneva vs Basel: Swiss Property Prices for Foreigners
A 2026 three-way comparison of Zurich, Geneva, and Basel for foreign property buyers. Lex Koller, prices, closing costs, cantonal tax differences, and realistic paths.
Can an American Get a Mortgage in Spain Without Residency? The 2026 Reality
Yes — Americans can get a mortgage in Spain without residency in 2026. Here are real LTVs, rates, banks that lend to US citizens, and every FATCA trap.
Mortgages in Mexico for Foreigners: The 2026 Playbook
Real 2026 mortgage options for Americans buying in Mexico — cross-border USD loans, peso mortgages, fideicomiso, down payments, and the math that actually works.
How to Finance a House in Portugal as a Non-Resident American in 2026
The 2026 non-resident mortgage playbook for Americans buying in Portugal — real LTVs, interest rates, NIF setup, the banks that lend, and the Golden Visa fallout.
Italian Mortgages for Americans: LTV Limits, Rates, and Banks in 2026
Real LTV caps, interest rates, and banks that lend to Americans buying property in Italy in 2026. With reddit threads, broker numbers, and the exact paperwork.
US-Based Lenders That Will Finance Foreign Property in 2026
The actual list of US lenders, brokers, and pledged-asset products Americans use to fund overseas home purchases in 2026. Rates, caps, and the traps nobody mentions.