Buying property abroad as a woman: the unglamorous checklist

Your lawyer works for you, not the agent

The single most expensive mistake is using the lawyer the seller's agent recommends. Hire your own, independently, in writing, with a fixed fee. They should confirm clean title, no liens, correct zoning, and that the person selling actually has the right to sell.

Foreign ownership rules are the whole game

Some countries let you buy freehold outright. Some restrict coastal or agricultural land. Some, like Indonesia, do not allow foreign freehold at all and require leasehold or a properly structured company — and the nominee structures sold to tourists are frequently unenforceable.

In Mexico, coastal purchases run through a bank trust. In Portugal, buying is straightforward, but the tax and residency implications are not. Learn the structure before you fall in love with a balcony.

• Confirm whether foreigners can hold freehold in that exact zone.
• Budget 8–12% on top of purchase price for taxes and fees.
• Never wire funds to an individual's personal account.

Currency and cash flow

You are earning in one currency and paying in another for years. Use a specialist FX provider rather than a retail bank, split large transfers into tranches, and stress-test your budget at a 15% adverse move. If a 15% swing breaks the plan, the property is too expensive.

Rent first. Always.

Rent in the exact neighbourhood for at least one full season, including the bad one — rainy season, tourist high season, whatever locals complain about. Members who did this bought better and cheaper than members who did not.