Which countries have the lowest property closing costs for foreign buyers?

Thailand (1-2%), Bali/Indonesia (2-3%), Panama (2-5%), and Ecuador (2-5%) have the lowest buyer closing costs. These include transfer taxes, legal fees, and registration. However, some restrict foreign ownership to certain property types.

Can foreigners get a mortgage to buy property abroad?

In most European countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Germany), non-residents can get mortgages at 50-80% LTV. In Dubai and Turkey, mortgages are also available. Thailand, Bali, and Ecuador generally do not offer mortgages to foreign buyers.

Which countries offer residency through property investment?

Greece (Golden Visa from EUR 250K), Turkey (citizenship from $400K), Dubai/UAE (Golden Visa from ~$545K), Colombia (investor visa from ~$150K), and Ecuador (investor visa from ~$42K) all offer residency or citizenship pathways through property purchase.

How much are annual property taxes for foreign owners?

Dubai and Panama can be nearly zero. Thailand and Malaysia are under 0.3%. Most European countries charge 0.3-2% of assessed value annually. Japan is among the highest at 1-1.7% per year.

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WhereNext Open Data

Property Buying Costs by Country (2026)

The only open dataset comparing closing costs, annual taxes, mortgage access, rental yields, and capital gains tax across 19 countries popular with foreign property buyers.

CC BY 4.0Updated Q2 202619 countriesJSON APICSV DownloadSee what changed →

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Foreign buyer closing costs range from 1% (Thailand) to 30% (Singapore with ABSD) across the 19 countries in WhereNext's 2026 property dataset — the widest spread available in any open property cost comparison

Copy with attribution: “Foreign buyer closing costs range from 1% (Thailand) to 30% (Singapore with ABSD) across the 19 countries in WhereNext's 2026 property dataset — the widest spread available in any open property cost comparison” — WhereNext, as of 2026-04-03

Country	Foreign Ownership	Closing Cost %	Annual Tax %	Mortgage	LTV Range	Gross Yield %	Rental Tax %	Cap Gains Tax %
Thailand	Restricted	1%–2%	0.0%–0.3%	No	\u2014	5.5%	15%	15%
Bali (Indonesia)	No	2%–3%	0.0%–0.1%	No	\u2014	10.0%	10%	2.5%
Panama	Open	2%–5%	0%–0.8%	Yes	50–70%	6.0%	15%	10%
Ecuador	Restricted	2%–5%	0%–0.3%	No	\u2014	7.0%	25%	10%
Colombia	Open	3%–5%	0.5%–1.6%	Yes	50–70%	6.5%	33%	15%
Costa Rica	Open	3.5%–5%	0.3%	Yes	50–70%	5.0%	15%	15%
Malaysia	Restricted	4%–5%	0.0%–0.0%	Yes	60–70%	5.0%	26%	10%
Turkey	Open	4%–6%	0.1%–0.6%	Yes	50–70%	7.0%	20%	0%
Mexico	Restricted	4%–7%	0.1%–0.3%	Yes	50–65%	6.0%	25%	35%
Japan	Open	6%–8%	1%–1.7%	Yes	50–70%	4.5%	20%	30%
France	Open	7%–8%	0.5%–2%	Yes	70–80%	3.5%	37%	36%
Dubai (UAE)	Restricted	7%–8%	0%	Yes	50–65%	6.5%	0%	0%
Netherlands	Open	6%–10%	0.1%–0.3%	Yes	60–80%	4.0%	32%	32%
Greece	Restricted	7%–10%	0.1%–1.1%	Yes	50–70%	4.5%	15%	15%
Portugal	Open	7%–12%	0.3%–0.5%	Yes	60–75%	4.5%	28%	14%
Spain	Open	8%–13%	0.4%–1.1%	Yes	60–70%	4.8%	24%	24%
Italy	Open	7%–15%	0.4%–0.8%	Yes	50–60%	4.0%	21%	26%
Germany	Open	10%–15%	0.3%–0.8%	Yes	60–70%	3.5%	25%	0%
Singapore	Restricted	8%–30%	0%–0.2%	Yes	45–75%	3.0%	22%	0%

Countries Offering Residency via Property Investment

Ecuadorfrom $42K

Colombiafrom $150K

Turkeyfrom $400K

Dubai (UAE)from $545K

Greecefrom $270K

Methodology

Closing costs include buyer-side transfer taxes, stamp duties, notary fees, legal fees, and registration. Agent commissions are included where customarily paid by buyers.
Annual property tax is expressed as a percentage of assessed value (which is often below market value).
Mortgage access reflects availability for non-residents specifically. LTV ranges are typical, not maximums.
Gross rental yield is national average for moderate residential areas, not prime city centers.
Rental tax and capital gains tax rates are for non-resident individuals. Resident rates may differ significantly.
All USD conversions use Q1 2026 exchange rates. Ranges reflect regional variation within each country.
This is directional data for comparison purposes, not purchase-grade legal or tax advice.

Sources: National property registrars, tax authorities, Global Property Guide, practitioner verification. Full methodology

Ready to buy property abroad?

These are country-level averages. Your actual costs depend on the specific region, property type, your nationality, and tax treaties. Get a personalized analysis with the Relocation Decision Plan.

Get a Decision Plan — $29 Explore property hub →

How to cite this data:

WhereNext. "Property Buying Costs by Country 2026." getwherenext.com/data/property-costs-2026. Accessed 2026-04-03.

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Free to use with attribution.

← All open data Property hub →Expat tax rates →Cost of living data →

WhereNext Open Data

Property Buying Costs by Country (2026)

The only open dataset comparing closing costs, annual taxes, mortgage access, rental yields, and capital gains tax across 19 countries popular with foreign property buyers.

CC BY 4.0Updated Q2 202619 countriesJSON APICSV DownloadSee what changed →

Press headline · permalink

Foreign buyer closing costs range from 1% (Thailand) to 30% (Singapore with ABSD) across the 19 countries in WhereNext's 2026 property dataset — the widest spread available in any open property cost comparison

Country	Foreign Ownership	Closing Cost %	Annual Tax %	Mortgage	LTV Range	Gross Yield %	Rental Tax %	Cap Gains Tax %
Thailand	Restricted	1%–2%	0.0%–0.3%	No	\u2014	5.5%	15%	15%
Bali (Indonesia)	No	2%–3%	0.0%–0.1%	No	\u2014	10.0%	10%	2.5%
Panama	Open	2%–5%	0%–0.8%	Yes	50–70%	6.0%	15%	10%
Ecuador	Restricted	2%–5%	0%–0.3%	No	\u2014	7.0%	25%	10%
Colombia	Open	3%–5%	0.5%–1.6%	Yes	50–70%	6.5%	33%	15%
Costa Rica	Open	3.5%–5%	0.3%	Yes	50–70%	5.0%	15%	15%
Malaysia	Restricted	4%–5%	0.0%–0.0%	Yes	60–70%	5.0%	26%	10%
Turkey	Open	4%–6%	0.1%–0.6%	Yes	50–70%	7.0%	20%	0%
Mexico	Restricted	4%–7%	0.1%–0.3%	Yes	50–65%	6.0%	25%	35%
Japan	Open	6%–8%	1%–1.7%	Yes	50–70%	4.5%	20%	30%
France	Open	7%–8%	0.5%–2%	Yes	70–80%	3.5%	37%	36%
Dubai (UAE)	Restricted	7%–8%	0%	Yes	50–65%	6.5%	0%	0%
Netherlands	Open	6%–10%	0.1%–0.3%	Yes	60–80%	4.0%	32%	32%
Greece	Restricted	7%–10%	0.1%–1.1%	Yes	50–70%	4.5%	15%	15%
Portugal	Open	7%–12%	0.3%–0.5%	Yes	60–75%	4.5%	28%	14%
Spain	Open	8%–13%	0.4%–1.1%	Yes	60–70%	4.8%	24%	24%
Italy	Open	7%–15%	0.4%–0.8%	Yes	50–60%	4.0%	21%	26%
Germany	Open	10%–15%	0.3%–0.8%	Yes	60–70%	3.5%	25%	0%
Singapore	Restricted	8%–30%	0%–0.2%	Yes	45–75%	3.0%	22%	0%

Countries Offering Residency via Property Investment

Ecuadorfrom $42K

Colombiafrom $150K

Turkeyfrom $400K

Dubai (UAE)from $545K

Greecefrom $270K

Methodology

Closing costs include buyer-side transfer taxes, stamp duties, notary fees, legal fees, and registration. Agent commissions are included where customarily paid by buyers.
Annual property tax is expressed as a percentage of assessed value (which is often below market value).
Mortgage access reflects availability for non-residents specifically. LTV ranges are typical, not maximums.
Gross rental yield is national average for moderate residential areas, not prime city centers.
Rental tax and capital gains tax rates are for non-resident individuals. Resident rates may differ significantly.
All USD conversions use Q1 2026 exchange rates. Ranges reflect regional variation within each country.
This is directional data for comparison purposes, not purchase-grade legal or tax advice.

Sources: National property registrars, tax authorities, Global Property Guide, practitioner verification. Full methodology

Ready to buy property abroad?

These are country-level averages. Your actual costs depend on the specific region, property type, your nationality, and tax treaties. Get a personalized analysis with the Relocation Decision Plan.

Get a Decision Plan — $29 Explore property hub →

How to cite this data:

WhereNext. "Property Buying Costs by Country 2026." getwherenext.com/data/property-costs-2026. Accessed 2026-04-03.

Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Free to use with attribution.

← All open data Property hub →Expat tax rates →Cost of living data →