Knowledge Hub
What you need to know before buying abroad
Structured answers to the questions every buyer eventually asks — taxes, legal rules, running costs, rural land, and the buying process across France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
Choose a country
France
France has one of the most transparent property buying systems in Europe. The notary (notaire) sits at the centre of every transaction, ensuring legal certainty — but the process has unique rules around agricultural land, planning, and tax that every foreign buyer should understand before signing.
6 topic areas →
Italy
Buying property in Italy offers extraordinary value but comes with a distinctive bureaucratic complexity. The geometra, notaio, and Italian cadastral system are unlike anything in Northern Europe — and rural properties carry additional title and compliance risks that require careful due diligence.
6 topic areas →
Spain
Spain's property market is decentralised — each autonomous community (region) sets its own transfer tax rates, and planning rules vary significantly between regions. Understanding whether land is classified suelo urbano or suelo rústico is the most important due diligence step for rural buyers.
6 topic areas →
Portugal
Portugal has become the most popular destination for Northern European and international property buyers in the past decade. Its tax framework and buying process are relatively straightforward — but rural properties carry specific risks around agricultural land, borehole legality, and coastal protection zones.
6 topic areas →Six topics that matter most
Available for every country — select a country above to read the detailed answers.
Who can buy, what restrictions apply, and which documents to check
Step-by-step from offer to completion — with timelines and professional roles
Transfer taxes, notary fees, and annual property taxes — with real numbers
What it actually costs to own and maintain a property year-round
Land rules, agricultural restrictions, septic systems, and rural pitfalls
Internet, healthcare, year-round viability, and renovation realities
All content is based on official sources: DGFiP and Notaires de France (France), Agenzia delle Entrate (Italy), Agencia Tributaria (Spain), and AT Portugal. Tax rates verified February 2026. This is general information — always take independent legal advice before any property transaction.