Legal services and advice for buying property abroad
It is sound advice to employ solicitors to act as intermediaries and oversee the purchase of property. This is easy in your home country, when buying a selling to people of your own nationality, because everyone speaks and reads the same language. But when you go overseas choosing the right solicitor becomes more difficult, and as a result even more important.
Choosing Legal Counsel for Overseas Property Purchases
DSR can provide access to high quality local legal services and, though these services are non-obligatory, they come highly recommended. Should you find your own personal council, please ensure that your chosen team is not only reputable but, ideally, also fluent in a common language, for an English speaking solicitor or lawyer who can effortlessly act on your behalf generally leaves no room for misunderstandings or allows vital matters to be lost in translation.
Cost and Value of legal advice for Property Abroad
Legal fees are usually around 1-2% of the property's value as drawing up contracts, dealing with the notary, ensuring all taxes are paid and registering your property with the relevant land registry. But with critical issues involving things like title ownership, outstanding debts, access rights, authorized planning, licensing and taxes etc, there's so much more involved than one might first take into consideration.
Because of all these considerations that vary so drastically not only from country to country, but even from province to province and village to village in some countries, carefully chosen local legal counsel pays for itself; even if you only count the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you aren't getting yourself tied up in something that could potentially make your life a misery.
Be careful and relentless in your questions and research to choose the right solicitor. At the very least ensure that whoever handles your legal issues are not only licensed, but are qualified, competent and on hand when you need them before you commit to anything. And remember, local reputable solicitors, lawyers and surveyors can save your dream overseas property purchase from turning all too quickly, into a regrettable nightmare.
