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Property Purchase

A step-by-step guide to buying a home anywhere: budget and mortgage, viewing, offer, legal checks on title and condition, protected deposit, signing, completion and registration. Purchase law, taxes and who handles the transfer vary by country.

• ~77 days
• 11 steps
• 3 documents

Curated by Raaya · Last reviewed Oct 2026

Steps

1. Work out your budget and total buying costs

   7 days

   Start with what you can afford each month, not the maximum a lender might offer. Then add the one-off costs on top of the price: deposit, purchase or transfer taxes, notary or legal fees, survey, land registration, mortgage arrangement fees, insurance and moving. Together these often add several percent to the price, and in some countries much more.

   Check your credit report and correct errors before applying for a mortgage. If you are buying in another country, you may need a local tax identification number and a local bank account before you can borrow there.

   Tip: Keep a reserve for repairs after you move in; first-year surprises are common even with a good survey.

   • Set a comfortable monthly payment limit
   • Confirm how much deposit you have available
   • Estimate purchase taxes and registration fees for your area
   • Get quotes for legal or notary fees and a survey
   • Check your credit report and fix any errors
   • Budget for moving, insurance and early repairs

   Bank Statements

   Attach my documents

2. Get a mortgage agreement in principle

   1 day

   An agreement in principle or pre-approval shows sellers you can borrow, and tells you your realistic price range. Compare several lenders or use an independent broker.

   Compare the total cost of the loan, not just the headline rate: arrangement fees, the annual percentage rate where it is shown, how long a fixed rate lasts, what happens afterwards, and penalties for early repayment. Ask how long the approval stays valid and what could change it.

   Tip: Avoid taking on new loans or credit cards between approval and completion; it can change the lender's decision.

   Where

   Mortgage lender or independent mortgage broker · Bring ID, recent payslips or accounts if self-employed, bank statements, details of debts and your deposit. Ask for the total cost of the loan in writing.

   Passport or National IDBank StatementsPayslips or Proof of Income

   Attach my documents

3. Search and shortlist properties

   14 days

   Decide your must-haves before you search: location, commute, schools, size, outdoor space and the type of ownership, such as freehold, leasehold or an apartment in a building with shared charges.

   Use reputable listing sites and registered agents where licensing exists. Compare asking prices with recent sale prices for similar properties nearby, which some countries publish officially, and be wary of listings far below market value or sellers who push for quick payment.

   Tip: Ask early about annual property taxes and building or service charges; they can change what is affordable.

   • Write down must-haves and deal-breakers
   • Compare recent sale prices of similar properties
   • Check the type of ownership and any shared charges
   • Check flood, noise and planned development in the area
   • Shortlist properties to view in person

4. View properties in person

   7 days

   Visit each shortlisted property, ideally twice and at different times of day. Look for signs of damp, cracks, roof or plumbing problems, and test windows, taps, heating and electrics.

   Walk the neighbourhood, check transport and parking, and ask the seller or agent why they are selling, how long it has been on the market, what is included, and what the annual running costs are.

   Tip: Take photos and notes at each viewing; after a few visits the properties blur together.

5. Make an offer and agree terms

   3 days

   Make your offer in writing and, where local practice allows, make it subject to a satisfactory survey, clear title and your mortgage being confirmed. Agree what is included in the sale and a target timetable.

   Be alert to payment diversion fraud: criminals send emails that look like they come from your agent or lawyer with changed bank details. Always confirm bank details by phone on a number you already know before sending any money.

   Tip: Do not pay any deposit to a seller or agent directly until your legal adviser has confirmed where and how it should be held.

   • Put the offer in writing with its conditions
   • List fixtures and items included in the price
   • Agree a target timetable for signing and completion
   • Ask the seller to take the property off the market
   • Confirm all bank details by phone before paying anything

6. Appoint a lawyer, notary or conveyancer

   1 day

   Someone qualified must handle the legal transfer. In some countries a notary carries out the transfer and acts for neither side, so buyers often also hire their own lawyer; in others each party appoints its own lawyer or conveyancer.

   Choose someone independent of the seller and the agent, check their registration with the relevant professional body, and get a written quote listing fees, taxes and expenses. Ask what checks they will carry out and what they expect from you.

   Tip: If you are buying in a language you do not read well, ask for translations of every document before you sign.

   Where

   Property lawyer, notary or conveyancer · Bring ID, the offer details, mortgage approval and the property listing. Agree the scope of checks, fees and the expected timetable.

   Passport or National ID

   Attach my documents

7. Complete due diligence: survey, title and permits

   21 days

   This is where expensive problems are found. An independent survey or inspection checks the building's condition. A title search confirms the seller owns the property and shows any mortgages, liens, rights of way or other claims that must be cleared.

   Your lawyer should also confirm that extensions and alterations had the required permits, that the boundaries match the plans, and that there are no unpaid property taxes, utility bills or building charges that could pass to you. For new builds, check the developer's guarantees and completion certificates.

   Tip: Use a surveyor you choose yourself, not one recommended by the seller.

   • Order an independent survey or building inspection
   • Title search: ownership, mortgages, liens and rights of way
   • Check permits for extensions and alterations
   • Confirm boundaries against the official plan
   • Check for unpaid taxes, utility bills or building charges
   • Review building or homeowners' association rules and finances
   • Check flood and environmental risk reports
   • Renegotiate or withdraw if serious problems appear

8. Pay the deposit into a protected account

   1 day

   Pay the deposit only once due diligence is satisfactory and your lawyer confirms the next step. Wherever possible, pay into an escrow account, a notary's account or your lawyer's regulated client account rather than to the seller directly.

   Understand exactly when the deposit becomes non-refundable and what happens if either side withdraws. Confirm the bank details by phone on a known number, and get a written receipt.

   Tip: Send a small test payment first if your bank allows it, and confirm it arrived before sending the rest.

9. Finalise mortgage and sign the contract

   7 days

   Before signing, check the final mortgage offer matches what you agreed, and that the contract states the price, what is included, the completion date and any conditions. Once signed, the contract is usually binding.

   Expect identity and source-of-funds checks under anti-money-laundering rules: you may need to show where your deposit came from. Many lenders require buildings insurance from the date of signing or completion, so arrange it now.

   Tip: Read the final contract yourself, even with a lawyer; you are the one who knows what was agreed at the viewing.

   Passport or National IDBank Statements

   Attach my documents

10. Complete the purchase and pay the balance

    1 day

    On completion the balance of the price, normally including the mortgage funds, is transferred and you receive the keys. Many buyers do a final walk-through first to confirm the property is in the agreed condition and included items are still there.

    Your lawyer or notary usually pays the purchase taxes and registration fees from funds you provide. Ask for a completion statement showing every amount.

    Tip: Take meter readings and photographs on the day you receive the keys.

11. Register ownership and set up the home

    14 days

    Ownership is usually only secure once it is recorded in the land or property register. Your lawyer or notary often files the registration; confirm when it is done and ask for a copy of the updated register entry or title deed.

    Then handle the practical side: transfer utilities, register for local property taxes, update your address with banks and authorities, and set up home insurance if not already in place.

    Tip: Check the register entry carefully for spelling and the mortgage record; errors are easier to fix early.

Documents you'll need

Official sources

• Your Europe: Buying a house in another EU country
• CFPB: Buying a house, tools and resources
• GOV.UK: How to buy a home

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