Restricted European Property Markets: Foreign Buyers Property Guide for Smart Investment

Yes, but with strict restrictions under the federal Lex Koller. Here's a sharp summary: Only holiday homes are allowed for non-residents - in designated tourist zones, not urban centers like Geneva or Zurich. A Lex Koller permit is required, with annual quotas limited to ~1,500 properties nationwide, distributed unevenly among cantons. Bottom line: Yes, foreigners can buy - but only in constrained, tourist‑zone holiday homes, within permit quotas and strict size and location rules.

Yes, but only with a property purchase permit from the Ministry of Justice - available only if the buyer's country has a reciprocity agreement with Croatia. Without one, even apartments are off-limits.

Non-EU buyers can generally buy apartments, but houses or land require a permit - known as the Poland house permit - from the Ministry of the Interior. The application must include proof of local ties and financing; failure can lead to voided contracts and lost deposits.

In many Austrian provinces (Tyrol, Salzburg), yes. While EU/EEA buyers face no restrictions, non-EU buyers must often secure local authority approval, which includes proving residency intent and sometimes showing integration into the region.

Not directly. Land ownership Bulgaria for non-EU buyers requires forming a local company. While apartments are freely purchasable, acquiring land or plots involves additional legal steps, company formation, and ongoing tax obligations.