FC Properties is an independent property magazine: market analysis, area guides, buying and investment advice from Dubai, London, Lisbon and around the world.https://fcproperties.media/enhttps://fcproperties.media/taxes-on-property-abroad-explained/https://fcproperties.media/taxes-on-property-abroad-explained/Overseas property is taxed at four moments: when you buy, every year you own it, whenever you let it and when you sell. Each can be taxed twice, once where the home sits and once where you live. This guide maps the taxes and explains how double tax treaties and credits usually work.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:38:07 GMTLegal & OwnershipCapital Gains TaxDouble Tax TreatiesNon Resident TaxProperty TaxRental Income TaxTransfer TaxFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/prime-central-london-market-for-international-buyers/https://fcproperties.media/prime-central-london-market-for-international-buyers/Prime central London has spent years absorbing higher stamp duty, new surcharges, the end of non-dom status and registers of overseas owners. This guide explains how the market works for international buyers, which forces move prices and the scenarios that could shape the years ahead.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:38:04 GMTMarket AnalysisInternational BuyersLeaseholdNon DomPrime Central LondonStamp DutySterlingFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/prime-and-super-prime-property-explained/https://fcproperties.media/prime-and-super-prime-property-explained/Prime, super-prime and ultra-prime are used freely in listings and research reports, but they rest on different definitions in different cities. This guide explains how the tiers are defined, why location and scarcity matter more than finishes, and how top-end markets behave differently from the rest.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:38:01 GMTLuxury HomesHigh Net Worth BuyersLuxury Real EstatePrime PropertyProperty ValueScarcitySuper PrimeFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/owning-a-holiday-home-abroad-from-a-distance/https://fcproperties.media/owning-a-holiday-home-abroad-from-a-distance/A second home abroad keeps working while you are away: bills arrive, pipes freeze or leak, gardens grow and guests need keys. This guide covers property managers, key-holding, lettings agents, insurance for empty homes and the local paperwork that keeps an absentee owner out of trouble.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:58 GMTBuying AbroadAbsentee OwnersHoliday LettingsHome InsuranceKey HoldingProperty ManagementSecond HomesFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/off-plan-buyer-protection-by-country/https://fcproperties.media/off-plan-buyer-protection-by-country/When you pay for a home that does not exist yet, the law decides what happens to your money if the developer fails. Protection ranges from escrow accounts and bank guarantees to almost nothing. This guide compares the main systems and the safeguards to insist on where the law is weak.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:55 GMTOff-Plan & New DevelopmentsBank GuaranteeBuyer ProtectionDepositsDevelopersEscrowNew Build WarrantyOff PlanFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/new-build-snagging-and-handover-checklist/https://fcproperties.media/new-build-snagging-and-handover-checklist/Every new home has defects at handover, from scuffed paint to missing seals and faulty drainage. A thorough snagging inspection, done before or at completion and recorded properly, is how you get them fixed at the developer's cost. This room-by-room guide works in any market.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:52 GMTOff-Plan & New DevelopmentsCompletionDefectsHandoverInspectionsNew BuildSnaggingWarrantiesFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/moving-money-abroad-to-buy-property/https://fcproperties.media/moving-money-abroad-to-buy-property/A home priced in euros or dollars is a currency trade as well as a property purchase. This guide explains how exchange-rate risk works between offer and completion, the difference between banks and specialist providers, forward contracts, and the source-of-funds checks that delay sales.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:49 GMTBuying AbroadAnti Money LaunderingCurrency ExchangeForward ContractsInternational TransfersOverseas PropertySource Of FundsFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/miami-property-market-for-international-buyers/https://fcproperties.media/miami-property-market-for-international-buyers/Miami draws buyers from Latin America, Europe and across the United States with no state income tax, a deep condo market and year-round sun. But foreign owners face US estate tax, FIRPTA withholding, rising insurance costs and new condo safety rules. This guide explains how the market works.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:46 GMTMarket AnalysisCondosFirptaFlorida Property TaxHurricane InsuranceInternational BuyersMiami Real EstateUs Estate TaxFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/luxury-home-due-diligence-checklist/https://fcproperties.media/luxury-home-due-diligence-checklist/At the top of the market, the expensive mistakes are rarely about price. They hide in unapproved extensions, heritage restrictions, coastal rules, ageing pools and plant rooms, staff contracts and neighbours' plans. This checklist covers the surveys, legal checks and practical questions luxury buyers should not skip.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:43 GMTLuxury HomesBuilding SurveysCoastal PropertyDue DiligenceListed BuildingsLuxury Real EstatePlanning PermissionFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/lisbon-property-market-for-international-buyers/https://fcproperties.media/lisbon-property-market-for-international-buyers/Lisbon's housing market was reshaped by a decade of foreign demand, tourism and tax incentives, then by policy changes that closed the golden visa property route and tightened short-term letting. This guide explains how the market works now, what buyers pay in tax and the scenarios ahead.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:40 GMTMarket AnalysisAlojamento LocalImiImtInternational BuyersLisbon PropertyNhrPortugal Golden VisaFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/inheritance-rules-for-property-abroad/https://fcproperties.media/inheritance-rules-for-property-abroad/A home in France, Spain or Italy can pass under rules you never chose: forced heirship shares for children, a local inheritance tax and probate in a foreign language. This guide explains how the EU Succession Regulation works, why a local will helps and what heirs face when an owner dies.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:37 GMTLegal & OwnershipEstate PlanningEu Succession RegulationForced HeirshipInheritanceInheritance TaxWillsFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/how-to-vet-a-property-developer/https://fcproperties.media/how-to-vet-a-property-developer/An off-plan home is only as good as the company building it. Before you pay a deposit, check who really owns the developer, what it has delivered before, how the project is funded, whether the land and permits are in order and what past buyers say. This guide sets out the checks step by step.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:34 GMTOff-Plan & New DevelopmentsBuilding PermitsDevelopersDue DiligenceOff PlanProject FinanceTrack RecordFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/foreign-ownership-rules-around-the-world/https://fcproperties.media/foreign-ownership-rules-around-the-world/Some countries let anyone buy anything; others ban foreign land ownership, cap foreign quotas in a building or charge foreigners far higher stamp duty. This guide explains the main types of restriction and how they work in the UK, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, Singapore, India and more.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:30 GMTLegal & OwnershipCondominium QuotaForeign OwnershipFreeholdLand OwnershipLeaseholdStamp DutyTitleFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/buying-property-abroad-ten-questions/https://fcproperties.media/buying-property-abroad-ten-questions/Most expensive mistakes made by overseas buyers are decided before the first viewing: who can legally own, who checks the title, what tax follows you home and how you will ever sell. These ten questions turn a holiday daydream into a purchase you can defend on paper.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:27 GMTBuying AbroadConveyancingDue DiligenceForeign BuyersOverseas PropertyProperty TaxResidencySecond HomesFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/branded-residences-explained/https://fcproperties.media/branded-residences-explained/Homes carrying a hotel, fashion or car brand now feature in prime markets from Dubai to Miami and London. Buyers pay a premium for services, design and the name itself. This guide explains how branded residences work, who actually builds and runs them, the fees involved and the questions to ask.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:37:24 GMTLuxury HomesBranded ResidencesHotel ResidencesLicensingLuxury Real EstateResale ValueService ChargesFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-property-market-q4-2026-outlook/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-property-market-q4-2026-outlook/After four years of record growth, Dubai's residential market spent 2026 absorbing a war, a 38% fall in transactions and the first annual villa price decline since 2021. With Q3 numbers in, a 70,000-unit supply wave approaching and the Central Bank nudging rates up, this is a full-length, data-led look at what the fourth quarter of 2026 holds for buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:47:11 GMTMarket AnalysisForecastMarket OutlookMortgagesOff PlanPricesQ4 2026RentsSupplyTransactionsVillasFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/true-cost-of-buying-property-in-dubai/https://fcproperties.media/true-cost-of-buying-property-in-dubai/The headline price is only the beginning. Between DLD transfer fees, agency commission, trustee charges, mortgage registration and the first year of service charges, budget roughly 7–8% on top of the price for a cash purchase and more with a loan. Here is the full list.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:31 GMTBuying GuidesAgency CommissionDld FeesMortgage FeesService ChargesTransaction CostsFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/short-term-rentals-and-holiday-homes-in-dubai/https://fcproperties.media/short-term-rentals-and-holiday-homes-in-dubai/Dubai is one of the few global cities that actively licenses short-term letting rather than restricting it. The gross income can be far higher than a long lease, but so are the costs and the effort. This guide covers the permit process, the economics by area and the honest break-even.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:28 GMTInvestmentAirbnbDet PermitFurnished ApartmentsHoliday HomesOccupancyShort Term RentalFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/ready-vs-off-plan-in-a-correcting-market/https://fcproperties.media/ready-vs-off-plan-in-a-correcting-market/For three years off-plan was the default buy in Dubai: cheaper per square foot, flexible payment plans, easy to flip. The 2026 correction has reversed several of those advantages at once. This is how the two routes compare now, and who should still choose each.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:26 GMTMarket Analysis2026Buyer StrategyOff PlanPrice CorrectionReady PropertySecondary MarketFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/how-to-buy-off-plan-property-in-dubai/https://fcproperties.media/how-to-buy-off-plan-property-in-dubai/Off-plan is how most new homes in Dubai are sold, and it is where most first-time mistakes are made. This guide walks through the legal protections, the payment-plan maths and the eight questions that separate a sound launch from a risky one.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:23 GMTBuying GuidesDldEscrowFirst Time BuyersOff PlanPayment PlansReraFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/freehold-areas-and-title-deeds-in-dubai/https://fcproperties.media/freehold-areas-and-title-deeds-in-dubai/Foreigners can own property outright in Dubai, but only in designated freehold zones, and the words 'freehold', 'leasehold' and 'usufruct' are used loosely by agents. This guide explains the ownership types, how to verify a title deed, what the Dubai REST app shows and the checks that protect a buyer.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:20 GMTBuying GuidesDldDubai RestFreeholdLeaseholdLegalOwnership RulesTitle DeedFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-villa-communities-guide/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-villa-communities-guide/Families who outgrow apartment life face a long list of gated villa communities that look alike on a map and feel very different on the ground. We compare five of the most searched on price, age of stock, schools, commute, service charges and what the resale market says about each.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:18 GMTArea GuidesArabian RanchesDamac HillsDubai Hills EstateFamily LivingThe SpringsTilal Al GhafTownhousesVillasFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-rental-yields-explained/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-rental-yields-explained/Dubai advertises some of the highest rental yields of any major city, and the gross figures are real. But service charges, vacancy and agent fees can take a third off the number in the brochure. This is how to calculate yield properly and which areas genuinely deliver.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:15 GMTInvestmentBuy To LetDubai MarinaInternational CityJvcRental YieldService ChargesFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-real-estate-after-the-2026-war/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-real-estate-after-the-2026-war/Transactions fell by a quarter within weeks of the first strikes, prices gave back six months of gains, and off-plan took the hardest hit. Six months on, the market is smaller, cheaper and more selective — but not broken. Here is what the numbers say, and what they don't.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:12 GMTMarket Analysis2026DldDubai Property MarketOff PlanPrice CorrectionFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-mortgages-for-expats-and-non-residents/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-mortgages-for-expats-and-non-residents/Residents can borrow up to 80% on a first home under AED 5 million; non-residents are generally limited to 50–60% and a narrower choice of lenders. This guide covers loan-to-value rules, how rates are set, what banks ask for and how long a mortgage really takes from pre-approval to transfer.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:10 GMTFinance & MortgagesCentral BankExpat FinanceHome LoansLoan To ValueMortgagesNon Resident BuyersFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-marina-vs-downtown-vs-business-bay/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-marina-vs-downtown-vs-business-bay/Three districts account for a large share of apartment sales in Dubai and are routinely confused by newcomers. They differ sharply in price per square foot, tenant profile, yield, traffic and what daily life feels like. A side-by-side comparison for buyers and renters.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:07 GMTArea GuidesApartmentsArea ComparisonBusiness BayDowntown DubaiDubai MarinaFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-golden-visa-through-property-investment/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-golden-visa-through-property-investment/A ten-year renewable residency tied to a property worth at least AED 2 million has become one of the strongest reasons foreigners buy in Dubai. Here is who qualifies, what counts toward the threshold, how mortgaged and off-plan purchases are treated, and the steps from title deed to Emirates ID.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:04 GMTVisas & ResidencyAed 2 MillionExpat BuyersGolden VisaInvestor VisaResidencyFC Properties Editorial Teamhttps://fcproperties.media/dubai-creek-harbour-area-guide/https://fcproperties.media/dubai-creek-harbour-area-guide/Launched as the home of a tower that would eclipse the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Creek Harbour has instead become a quieter story: a large, well-designed Emaar waterfront district with Downtown views, a nature reserve next door and a supply pipeline that keeps prices below its neighbour. Here is what living and investing there looks like now.Thu, 08 Oct 2026 17:25:02 GMTArea GuidesArea GuideDowntown ViewsDubai Creek HarbourEmaarRas Al KhorWaterfrontFC Properties Editorial Team