2026 Overseas Real Estate Market Observation: Analysis of Popular Global Real Estate Investment Destination

Why are more and more families starting to allocate overseas properties

Overseas real estate is no longer a distant concept for many Chinese families. In recent years, the activity of real estate transactions by mainland buyers in markets such as Hong Kong, Australia, the UK, and Southeast Asia has continued to rise. The driving forces behind it can be summarized into several aspects: diversified demand for asset allocation, accommodation arrangements for children studying abroad, supporting demand for immigration status, and optimism about the long-term appreciation potential of certain overseas markets.

From the perspective of asset allocation, concentrating all household assets in a single market and currency carries a certain degree of concentration risk. By allocating a portion of overseas properties, it is possible to achieve geographical and currency diversification of assets, which is a common practice for many high net worth families when making global asset allocations.

Of course, there are significant differences between buying a property overseas and buying a property domestically. There are significant differences in property rights systems, loan policies, tax regulations, and transaction processes among different countries. Before making decisions, fully understanding the basic rules of the target market is a prerequisite for avoiding pitfalls.

European market: dual attributes of home purchase immigration and self occupied vacation

Europe is one of the key regions for Chinese buyers to purchase properties overseas. Greece, Portugal, Spain, Cyprus and other countries have attracted the attention of many families with dual needs of immigration and self occupation due to their ability to obtain status by buying a house.

The Greek real estate market has experienced a significant recovery in the past few years. Real estate prices in popular areas such as Athens, Santorini, and Crete are gradually recovering, while Greece's golden visa policy also provides identity added value for overseas buyers. For families who wish to obtain EU Schengen status and also own a European property, Greece is a relatively threshold friendly option.

Lisbon, Porto and other cities in Portugal have always attracted the attention of international buyers in the real estate market. Portugal not only has a beautiful living environment and warm climate, but also a relatively mature healthcare and education system. Although the golden visa policy has shifted from buying a house to fund investment, buying a house directly in Portugal for self occupation or vacation is still a choice for many European lifestyle enthusiasts.

The real estate markets in cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia in Spain are also active. The cost of living in Spain is relatively lower compared to other Western European countries, and the Mediterranean climate is pleasant, making it very suitable for retirement or vacation living.

Middle East and Southeast Asia: Opportunities for Emerging Markets

Dubai has been a hot spot in the overseas real estate market in recent years. There is no personal income tax in the UAE, and Dubai's real estate market is fully open to foreign buyers, who can obtain long-term residency visas for purchasing properties. From the perspective of rental returns, some popular areas in Dubai can reach a level of 5% to 8%, making them competitive among major cities worldwide.

However, the volatility of the Dubai real estate market also needs to be taken into account. In the past few years, Dubai has experienced a clear cycle of ups and downs. Buyers need to fully evaluate their holding period and risk tolerance when entering the market, and should not enter with a short-term trading mentality.

Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam are also destinations of interest for Chinese buyers. Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai in Thailand have relatively controllable total property prices and strong tourism and vacation properties. Many Chinese buyers choose to set up a vacation or retirement property in these cities. The Second Home program in Malaysia also provides convenient visa arrangements for foreigners who reside in Malaysia for a long time.

Emerging tourist cities such as Da Nang and Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam are entering the high-end real estate market. The upgrading of infrastructure, friendly visa policies, and the recovery of the tourism industry are the main factors driving the increase in attention to these markets.

Several issues that must be clarified when buying a house overseas

The first issue is property rights. There are significant differences in land systems among different countries, with some having permanent property rights and others having leased property rights. Before making a purchase, it is important to clarify what property rights you are buying, what the term is, and how to handle them after expiration.

The second issue is taxation. The tax categories involved in overseas real estate include purchase tax, stamp duty, annual property tax, rental income tax, capital gains tax, etc. The tax regulations in different countries vary greatly, so it is best to consult a professional tax advisor before purchasing a house to understand the tax costs that may be involved during the holding period and future exit.

The third issue is the loan problem. Many countries have different loan policies for foreign buyers and local residents, with higher down payment ratios and possibly higher interest rates. It is necessary to confirm in advance with local banks or financial institutions that provide cross-border loans whether loans are available and the loan ratio.

The fourth issue is management. If the buyer does not live locally, the rental, maintenance, and management of the property need to be entrusted to a local property management company. Understanding the local property management fees, vacancy periods in the rental market, and management fees is an important step in calculating investment returns.

Come to Shanghai Overseas Real Estate Exhibition to see projects and ask about policies on site

The information chain involved in overseas real estate is very long - choosing a country, city, project, finding a lawyer, applying for a loan, and doing tax planning, each step requires professional information support. Searching sporadically online can easily lead to being misled by one-sided information.

By attending a professional overseas real estate exhibition, you can see selected projects from multiple countries at once and have face-to-face communication with local developer representatives, real estate lawyers, and tax consultants. You can directly compare the price levels, rental returns, and policy environments of different markets, and then make judgments based on your own needs.

From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center will host the Overseas Immigrant Study and Property Expo, as well as the Enterprise Overseas Development and Financial Services Expo. The overseas real estate sector of this exhibition brings together real estate projects and service agencies from multiple countries and regions such as Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania.

Whether you want to set up a vacation retirement home or do overseas asset allocation, you are welcome to come and learn about it on-site. The exhibition will last for three days and is expected to attract around 8000 attendees.

Consultation hotline: 13681692751 (same as WeChat), official website: www.qs-expo.com.