Deal guide
How Foreign Buyers Can Assess the Local Market
A foreign buyer can understand an apartment perfectly and still misread the local market. Familiar neighbourhood names, renovation standards, building types, price conventions and resale demand may work differently from the buyer's home country. The solution is to compare locally, not translate assumptions from another market.
01 · Learn the local unit of comparison
Do not compare only by price per square metre. Local buyers may value one street, building type, floor, view, renovation condition or parking arrangement very differently from another property only a short distance away.
02 · Understand building categories
New development, older concrete buildings, historic stock and renovated older buildings can have very different maintenance, common areas, utilities and buyer demand. Know what category you are buying and what future buyers usually expect from it.
03 · Check what the advertised price includes
Clarify whether furniture, appliances, parking, storage, renovation, taxes, service charges or developer finishing are included. Two listings with similar headline prices can require very different total cash.
04 · Separate tourist appeal from residential demand
A location that is famous online may not be the strongest choice for every buyer or tenant. Consider daily transport, noise, schools, offices, parking, walkability, services and who actually lives or rents in the area throughout the year.
05 · Use local comparables
Compare with properties that local buyers would genuinely see as alternatives. Ask why one building or street commands a premium and whether completed transactions, rental evidence or repeated buyer behaviour support that difference.
06 · Plan the exit before the purchase
Ask who is likely to buy the apartment from you later: local family, investor, expat, first-time buyer or another foreign purchaser. A property can look attractive to an outsider but have a narrow resale audience locally.
For general information only. This guide is not a substitute for legal, tax or investment advice. Verify the facts for your particular transaction and consult a qualified professional when necessary.