Читать книгу Global Residence and Citizenship Handbook - Christian H. Kälin - Страница 41

One of the key factors when changing residence is the question of where one will physically reside. Ownership of real estate satisfies a basic human need, and to acquire a piece of property in an attractive location is equivalent to gaining a desired quality of life, and it is often also a sensible asset diversification.

However, it is recommended that initially you rent a comparable property in an area that could eventually be the location that you would settle. By renting, it gives you an opportunity to learn about the area before committing capital for the purchase.

Many countries allow foreign nationals to acquire real estate without restrictions. However, there are countries where permits are required to purchase property as a foreign national, or where property acquisition is limited to nationals of the country. The acquisition and ownership of real estate in a new country raises legal and tax issues that are often unsuspected by those concerned. Private acquisitions of real estate are frequently made without any accurate knowledge of the legal, tax and economic background particular to the country.

Value maintenance and capital growth will also play a vital role, so it is important to clarify these key factors before acquiring real estate in order to be protected from unexpected devaluation, legal and tax consequences. While this applies to real estate in general, it is particularly true for property located in a different jurisdiction, especially one with onerous legal systems and linguistic limitations.

It is generally an advisable risk-averse approach to appoint lawyers, tax experts, architects and trustworthy real estate agencies familiar with local expertise. The costs incurred will almost always be offset by the smooth and correct handling of the issues and procedures involved.

Other countries have different habits and different legal systems, especially in respect of real estate and tax law, which may assume very different forms in the various countries. So foreign acquirers of real estate should not let themselves be guided by their inherent feeling for what is right, but must inform themselves in an unprejudiced way about the circumstances prevailing locally. Still, the acquisition of real estate is safe in most countries as long as certain basic rules are observed.