Many people choose to buy property abroad, whether to sell, rent, or enjoy it as a holiday home. Yet moving large sums across borders isn’t as simple as sending a bank transfer, with exchange-rate swings, transfer fees and tight payment deadlines all being able to quickly affect your budget or ruin the deal altogether. An increasing number of buyers work with a specialist FX company such as NewbridgeFX to mitigate these risks and avoid potential problems. In this post, we’ll explain the key payments you might need to make when buying property, challenges that can come up, and how an FX company can help.
Key Payments You’ll Need to Send
When purchasing property overseas, you’ll make several payments from the UK to the country where you are buying. From deposits to legal fees and taxes, the sums soon add up, so it’s essential to budget early to avoid surprises. Each payment is vital to completing the purchase and must reach the correct party, in the right currency, and on time to keep the transaction on track. Below are some of the key payments to consider:
Deposits and Balances
When purchasing property abroad, payments usually start with a reservation deposit, then a contractual deposit on exchange, and finally the balance on completion. Each transaction must be sent internationally, in the required currency, often within tight deadlines, to keep the purchase agreement legally binding.
Legal and Notary Fees
In addition, legal and notary fees must be paid when buying property overseas. Local solicitors or civil-law notaries verify title, draft contracts, witness signatures and register deeds; their professional charges must be remitted internationally in advance to meet jurisdictional requirements and prevent costly completion-day delays.
Government Taxes and Registration Costs
Completion also triggers statutory outlays such as transfer taxes, stamp duty, land-registry charges and, in some countries, value-added tax. These public levies require prompt cross-border payment into government accounts to record ownership, issue cadastral numbers, and prevent penalties or interest accrual.
Common Payment Challenges
All of the payments mentioned are crucial to a property purchase, but challenges can arise that cause problems. From unexpected exchange-rate changes impacting budgets, to hidden charges and cut-off times, these issues can derail an international property purchase if not managed properly. Here are some of the most common payment challenges people face when buying a property abroad:
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Exchange-Rate Swings: Foreign-exchange volatility can upset even the most carefully planned budget. A two-per-cent depreciation of sterling against the euro on a €300,000 property demands roughly £5,000 more at completion, potentially breaching mortgage limits or contractual clauses and ruining the entire transaction schedule and settlement deadlines simultaneously.
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Bank Charges & Poor Rates: Standard banking channels frequently impose wide spreads and explicit transfer charges on international payments. Remitting multiple instalments at three per cent above interbank rates can quietly absorb thousands of pounds, capital that could otherwise finance furnishings, legal reviews or contingency reserves, without delivering any additional value.
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Timing Delays and Cut-Offs: Distinct national banking cut-off times, bank holidays and regional processing windows can also delay funds unexpectedly. Missing a notary’s deadline may trigger penalty clauses or allow rival bidders to proceed. Deferred payments also postpone essential tasks, inflating holding expenses and undermining confidence among all transactional stakeholders.
How an FX Company Helps Keeps the Transaction on Track
To ensure that none of these common challenges affect an international property purchase, it is wise to work with a specialist FX company such as NewbridgeFX. Partnering with an FX provider can lock in competitive exchange rates, receive real-time payment updates and stay compliant, removing uncertainty at every stage of the property purchase. Below, we outline some of the ways an FX company keeps you on track and streamlines international payments:
Competitive Exchange Rates
Securing the most competitive exchange rate maximises every pound sent overseas, stretching budgets and protecting capital against unnecessary currency loss. NewbridgeFX continually monitors market movements, providing highly competitive spreads that maximise the value of your funds and preserve capital for further investment in the property.
No Transfer Fees
Avoiding transfer fees ensures your remittance arrives intact, without hidden deductions silently eroding the budget saved for lawyers, surveys or renovations. NewbridgeFX charges no transfer fees, delivering full value to recipients and allowing accurate cost planning throughout every stage of the overseas property transaction.
Fast Payments
Speed matters when completion dates come up quickly, deposits fall due, and notaries impose rigid cut-offs. NewbridgeFX’s real-time SWIFT and local payment rails settle most currencies within minutes, while live GPI tracking keeps you informed and assure sellers, agents and lawyers that funds will arrive precisely when promised.
Smart FX Tools
Using advanced FX tools transforms currency exposure into a manageable variable rather than an uncontrollable threat that can cause problems. NewbridgeFX offers tools like forward contracts, spot contracts, market orders, and rate alerts, enabling you to lock, target or seize favourable levels, protecting budgets and turning unpredictable markets into strategic opportunities.
Ensures Compliance
Adhering to regulations across multiple jurisdictions is vital for a smooth completion when purchasing property overseas. We offer clear guidance on anti-money-laundering rules, document requirements and correct payment formatting, helping you submit everything accurately and on time, preserving legal certainty and giving all parties confidence in the transaction.
Partner with NewbridgeFX for International Property Purchases
At NewbridgeFX, we help clients complete their international property purchases with ease by utilising our expert support and range of specialist FX tools. Make fast, secure payments to more than 200 countries, with most transfers settling within minutes and incurring no transaction fees. Our FX tools, including forward contracts, spot contracts, market orders, and rate alerts, also allow you to manage and mitigate currency risk with confidence for overseas purchases. Want to learn more about how we can assist with international property purchases? Get in touch today to get started.