The first thing to check is what foreign buyers are actually allowed to own. Certain jurisdictions permit full ownership of built housing yet limit land northern cyprus real estate plots; elsewhere, governments demand a locally registered company or a long lease in place of direct title. The requirements shift every few years, so confirm them at the time of the deal, not from an old forum post.
The next stage is due diligence on the property itself. An independent lawyer should verify the ownership record, existing charges, construction approvals and whether the seller can legally transfer it. In a number of countries, unpaid local taxes transfer with the property, not the person who ran them up.
The funding deserves as much attention as the property. Getting a local account is often a precondition for paying taxes afterwards, and compliance departments routinely ask where the funds came from. The exchange rate can change the amount you actually pay significantly, so it is worth comparing providers.
A reservation contract generally comes first: a deposit reserves the unit for an agreed window. Check carefully the terms of the deposit if due diligence uncovers an issue. A clear provision gives back the deposit when the defect lies with the property.
Completion usually happens before a public notary or a licensed conveyancer, depending on the country. The new title takes effect when the register is updated, a step that can take anywhere from days to months. Retain every document — the purchase deed, tax receipts and the registry extract. You will need them pag real estate for sale any future sale.