The 8 best places to buy property abroad as a Brit

Looking to buy a property abroad? You might be looking to move permanently, buy a holiday home or perhaps buy an investment property.

Whatever your plans, you’ll need to know where to start your search. When the world is your oyster, this can be a daunting prospect.

We’re here to help, with a roundup of 8 of the best places to buy property abroad as a Brit. This includes average property prices and buyer’s fees, along with info on how easy it is to buy property in each country.

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How to choose the right place to buy property abroad

The right location for your overseas property purchase ultimately depends on what you’re looking for - a permanent home, holiday home, investment or rental property.

You might be retiring and want to live near a good-sized community of British expats, or be looking for work or business opportunities in a busy city. You may even be bringing the kids with you and need a family-friendly place close to local schools.

Key things to consider include:

• Foreigner-friendly policies related to buying real estate - both locally and nationally
• Accessibility and connectivity - a location with good links to transport and amenities
• Low fees and taxes for purchasing property, along with ongoing costs for homeowners.

8 of the best places to buy property abroad as a Brit

While there will be a lot of factors to consider when choosing where to buy your overseas property, one of the most important will always be cost.

With this in mind, let’s take a look at average property prices in all of the top spots on our list, plus the average fees and costs for buyers.

Country	Avg. price per sqm (apartment in city centre)	Avg. price per sqm (apartment outside city centre)	Buying fees⁶
Spain¹	£3,106.85	£1,951.09	7.50% to 14%
Ireland²	£3,617.54	£2,995.99	2.10% to 3.70%
France²	£4,655.75	£3,194.14	9.09% to 14.31%
Portugal³	£2,961.85	£2,251.88	2.45% to 7%
Greece³	£2,308.34	£1,929.97	5.89% to 8.09%
Turkey⁴	£1,518.66	£857.86	7.60% to 7.70%
Cyprus⁵	£2,603.05	£1,905.96	4% to 10%
Australia⁵	£5,089.96	£3,800.26	3.60% to 5.10%
UK - for comparison¹	£4,645.71	£3,719.21	0.6% to 15.10%

Spain

Spain has topped the list for British expats, holiday home buyers and investors for years, and it’s easy to see why. Brits love the sun, sea and sand, as well as the tapas, sangria and relatively short 2.5 hour flight from the UK. And of course, the pretty reasonable property prices.

It’s pretty straightforward for foreigners to buy property in Spain, as there aren’t any special rules or requirements in place at the moment. All you’ll need is a Spanish tax ID number known as a Número de Identificación de Extranjeros (NIE) - you can get this at any Spanish police station or at a local Spanish consulate back in the UK.

You’ll need the required residency visa or permit though if you want to actually live in your new Spanish home.

And a word of warning - the Spanish government is considering introducing a new 100% property tax for non-EU buyers, so you’ll need to check whether this has come into effect before starting your property search.

Popular locations in Spain for recent UK buyers include:⁷

• Torrevieja
• Villamartin
• Estepona
• Ciudad Quesada
• Marbella.

💡 Read more: Buying property in Spain as a foreigner: A complete guide

Ireland

Just a short hop over the Irish Sea, Ireland is another popular place for Brits looking to buy property. There’s a shared language, easy access to the UK and a fabulous mix of lively, culture-rich cities and stunning natural landscapes.

Fees for buying property in Ireland are also very low, so you could have more to spend on your dream home.

It’s fairly easy for UK nationals to buy a home in Ireland too, as there are no nationality or residency restrictions on who can buy property there.

Popular spots for Brits include:⁸

• Dublin
• Cork
• Galway

💡 Read more: Buying property in Ireland as a foreigner

France

It may not be the cheapest place to buy property compared to others on our list, but France remains a popular destination for Brits.

It’s not difficult to see why, as France is just a short flight, ferry or even a drive away from the UK. It boasts some of the world’s best food and wines, fantastic cities, beautiful countryside and lots of picturesque seaside destinations ideal for holiday homes.

There are no restrictions on foreigners buying property in France, but the process can be complicated if you’re not a resident. To live there, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay visa.

Popular places in France for UK buyers include:⁷

• Nice
• Sauzé-Vaussais in Deux-Sevres
• Eymet
• Villefagnan in Charente
• Limoux

💡 Read more: Buying property in France as a foreigner from the UK

Portugal

Portugal has lots to recommend it to British property buyers, including fantastic food, a warm climate and friendly people. It also has some of the world’s most beautiful and culture-rich cities, as well as idyllic coastal destinations.

The process of buying property in Portugal is fairly straightforward for foreigners, but you’ll need to get yourself a local tax number known as a Número de Identificação Fiscal or NIF. You’ll also need the relevant visa if you plan to live in your new property.

Both property prices and buyer’s fees tend to be cheaper in Portugal than the UK, so your budget should stretch a little further.

Popular places for Brits to buy property in Portugal include:⁷

• Lagos
• Praia da Luz
• Cabanas de Tavira
• Luz
• Castelo Branco.

💡 Read more: Buying property in Portugal as a UK foreigner

Greece

One of the cheapest places on our list for both property prices and buyer’s fees, Greece is a sought-after destination for British buyers. The country boasts friendly people, sun-kissed beaches, ancient treasures and all the delicious mezze food you can eat.

It also has a Golden Visa scheme, which offers a route to residency for non-EU citizens through investment in real estate. The rules of this scheme have changed recently though, so you’ll only be eligible for the 5 year residence permit if you convert commercial properties to residential, or repair a listed building.⁹

Otherwise, buying property as a foreigner in Greece is a little more complicated compared to the process for EU citizens. You may need to prove your connection to the country and your intent for the use of the property, through an application to the Greek Ministry of Defence.¹⁰

Popular places for Brits to buy property in Greece include:⁷

• Agios Nikolaos
• Elounda
• Apokoronas
• Zante
• Kokkino Horio.

💡 Read more: Buying property in Greece as a foreigner: a UK guide

Turkey

With a hot climate, abundant sun-soaked beaches and some of the most vibrant and culturally diverse cities in the world, it’s easy to see why Turkey attracts lots of British property buyers - not to mention holiday-makers.

One of the main draws are the property prices, which are the lowest on our list - so you can get a lot for your money. Foreigners are allowed to buy property there with minimal restrictions, although there is a risk of scams and frauds so you’ll need to do your due diligence and take sensible precautions.

Turkey also has a Golden Visa scheme, where you can actually get citizenship through investing at least $400,000 USD (or the equivalent in Turkish lira or foreign currency) in real estate. ¹¹

Popular places in Turkey for UK buyers include:⁷

• Altinkum
• Mahmutlar
• Ovacik
• Kargicak
• Çalis
• Avsallar.

💡 Read more: Buying property in Turkey as a foreigner

Cyprus

Thanks to its stunning golden beaches, warm Mediterranean climate and friendly people, Cyprus has become a hotspot for British property buyers. It’s relatively affordable too, with property prices lower than the UK on average.

However, there are some restrictions on foreigners buying property in Cyprus, especially since the UK has left the EU.

Non-EU citizens are only allowed to buy one apartment or house, or a plot of land not exceeding a certain size. You’ll also need to get permission from the country’s Council of Ministers - although this is mandatory, it’s usually considered to be a formality.¹²

Popular spots for buying property in Cyprus:

• Chloraka
• Coral Bay
• Sea Caves
• Drosia (Larnaca)
• Droushia (Paphos).

💡 Read more: Buying property in Cyprus as a foreigner: UK guide

Australia

While it may be an inconveniently long distance from the UK, many British buyers are nonetheless drawn to the Aussie lifestyle. The country boasts fantastic outdoor spaces and countless opportunities for adventure, as well as sharing a language and many cultural aspects in common with the UK.

Foreigners can buy property there, but only under certain conditions. The most important is the need to get permission from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).¹³

Another key consideration is property prices, which are a touch higher than the average prices in the UK - although of course, it depends where in the country you buy.

The most popular places in Australia for British expats are the big cities, including:

• Melbourne
• Sydney
• Perth
• Brisbane
• Adelaide.

💡 Read more: Buying property in Australia as a foreigner

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Sources used:

1. Numbeo - Property Prices Comparison Between United Kingdom and Spain
2. Numbeo - Property Prices Comparison Between Ireland and France
3. Numbeo - Property Prices Comparison Between Portugal and Greece
4. Numbeo - Property Prices in Turkey
5. Numbeo - Property Prices Comparison Between Cyprus and Australia
6. Global Property Guide - Real Estate Transaction Costs by Country
7. A Place In the Sun - Top 10 Places to Buy Abroad 2023
8. Currencies Direct - Easiest places to buy property abroad for British citizens
9. Get Golden Visa - Greece’s 2024 Golden Visa Program Latest Changes and New Rules
10. Get Golden Visa - Buying a Property in Greece: Foreigner’s Guide
11. Get Golden Visa - Turkey Citizenship by Investment: The Definitive Guide 2025
12. Lexology - Buying Property in Cyprus as a Foreigner: A Legal and Practical Guide
13. Experts for Expats - How to buy property in Australia as a foreigner

Sources last checked on date: 10-Jun-2025