As a collection of seven separate emirates, there are some differences between emirates in the rules and procedures for buying property in the UAE. Here we are focussing on Dubai, where buyers from India, the UK and Pakistan make up the three largest overseas contingents. The market is certainly buoyant. Transaction reports from the Dubai...

There is no restriction on buying property in Italy and it has some of the most breathtakingly beautiful older property in the world, at surprisingly cheap prices (especially you’re up for a bit of renovating). By Christopher Nye In Italy you generally do not need a lawyer because the agent and the notary are both...

UK buyers are the most important group of non-resident investors in France, accounting for 34 per cent of all transactions in 2015, up 44 per cent on 2014. The figures come from a survey by the Notaires de France, BNP and Rightmove, the UK property portal. The combined effects of sterling strength and euro weakness...

Buying a home in Malta is made easy by the short distances – the island is only 30 kilometres at its widest – and the fact that English is an official language. Estate agents speak English, newspaper ads and many property websites are in English too – try maltaproperty.com Malta is...

The Chinese government owns all the land in Hong Kong, and property owners lease the land (or co-lease it, in the case of an apartment block). Most foreigners can buy in Hong Kong but, in an attempt to cool the market and put off overseas speculation, the government has imposed an extra 15% Buyers’ Stamp...

Buying property is rarely a joy, but the process in Canada comes closer than most countries. Everything is in English (or French), the process is straightforward and well regulated, the buying costs are cheap and there is no shortage of data and information out there. Canadian homes are big and getting bigger. The average size...

Buying in Cyprus has the advantage of English being very widely spoken and there being no great difference between prices for ‘locals’ and expats, which you see in some countries. When it comes to selling property to foreigners, however, developers and agents in Cyprus have made a few mistakes in the past. Some encouraged buyers...

Buying property in New Zealand is generally quick, efficient and safe. It takes four to six weeks from offer to moving in, and is relatively inexpensive compared to most European countries. There are few restrictions on foreigners buying property there, although ownership certainly does not guarantee residency rights. It is worth mentioning though, that buying/building...

The first thing to know about buying property in Australia is that foreigners do not have an automatic right to own property. Unless you are married to an Australian or hold a permanent resident visa or special category visa (as New Zealanders do) you will need to apply to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB)....

Make sure you follow the correct procedures to smooth the process of buying property in Germany. By Christopher Nye To buy or not to buy, that has been the question in Germany in recent years. It was a country where most people rented, protected by strong pro-tenant laws, and where property price rises were...

As a collection of seven separate emirates, there are some differences between emirates in the rules and procedures for buying property. For this guide we will focus on Dubai, where buyers from India, Pakistan and the UK make up the three largest overseas contingents. Buying an existing (resale) property in Dubai follows a similar pattern...

The subdued global economic growth of the past year has had a significant impact on rental rates around the world. The majority of locations have witnessed very static rental trends, with minimal movements in the last year. But there are regional variations. Low inflation has helped to keep wage rises down, which has had an...