Buying property abroad
Buyers from Russia always have the same questions: where is it even possible to buy, what the entry cost is, what the yield looks like, whether buying grants residency status, and how to transfer money. Below are direct answers for each direction, no generalities.
Entry costs by destination — a comparison
Figures are indicative, based on liquid properties. Yield is gross, before taxes, maintenance, and management fees.
| Direction | Entrance | Yield | Status | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico · Cancún | from $150k | 7–11% | no direct residence permit | Through a fideicomiso trust. No visa required for RF citizens |
| Mexico · Tulum | from $150k | 9–12% | no direct residence permit | Maximum yield and maximum risk |
| Mexico · Mérida | from $90k | 5–7% | no direct residence permit | Direct purchase, no trust required. The safest city |
| UAE · Dubai | from $200k | 7–9% | visa from $205k | Freehold, no rental income tax |
| Turkey | from $150k | 6–8% | citizenship from $400k | The only real citizenship programme |
| Thailand · Phuket | from $120k | 8–12% | no | Apartments are freehold within the quota; land is leasehold only |
| Indonesia · Bali | from $120k | 10–15% | no | Leasehold, not freehold. Check the remaining term. |
| Georgia | from $60k | 8–11% | Residence permit is possible | The lowest entry point, a straightforward transaction |
| Spain | from €200k | 4–6% | Residence permit for the financially independent | Golden Visa discontinued; residency is income-based |
| Cyprus | from €300k | 4–6% | Permanent residence from €300k | EU and English law, a straightforward transaction |
| USA · Miami | from $300k | 5–7% | does not grant a visa | ⚠️ SB 264: agricultural land and a 10-mile zone around military installations are restricted |
| Canada · Toronto | from CAD 500k | 4–6% | does not grant status | ⚠️ Foreign purchase ban until 01.01.2027 |
Where restrictions currently apply for Russian citizens
It is better to know this before you choose a property and pay a deposit. USA: in Texas, Russian citizens have been prohibited from purchasing as of September 1, 2025 any property (exceptions: a green card or lawful residence in the US and buying a home for yourself). Florida has no blanket ban — agricultural land is restricted, and a 10-mile zone around military sites and critical infrastructure, within which zone, one residential property is permitted with a valid non-tourist US visa. Canada: federal ban on property purchases by foreigners until 1 January 2027, with exceptions for permanent residents and holders of work permits.
In Mexico, the UAE, Turkey, Georgia, Thailand, Spain, and Cyprus there are no restrictions by citizenship there isn’t one — it’s purely a matter of money and proper paperwork.
What we check before you transfer any money
Ownership and property history, encumbrances and debts, permits the developer’s track record and reputation, and on Mexico’s coast — also land origin: plots with ejido status do not provide a proper title, and no trust will fix that. If a property is risky, we say so directly and suggest an alternative.
Residence permits through real estate — where it actually works
Only a few programmes are genuinely tied to a purchase: the UAE residency visa from 750 000 AED, Turkish citizenship from $400 000, Cyprus permanent residence from €300 000. In Mexico, the US, and Canada a property purchase does not confer status — other grounds apply there, and promising otherwise would be untrue. We analyse your goal and find a property for the programme that actually exists.
Residence permit consultation →
Buying for income rather than to live in?
At that point, layouts don’t decide things — numbers do: net yield after expenses, taxes, occupancy rates, and payback period. All of this is in the investment section, there’s also a calculator there.
How to pay for a purchase from Russia and the CIS
Direct transfers from Russian banks do not go through, and the payment route is something the buyer arranges on their own — we don’t handle transfers. Our role here is different: name the date by which the funds must be in the account, gather the documents in advance on the origin of funds and agree on a timeline with the notary and the seller, so that the deal didn’t fall through because the payment took longer than expected.
Proof of source of funds
Almost everywhere, a transaction requires proof of the money’s origin: the notary or the bank are required to verify the source, and the larger the amount, the more detailed the request. Pulling documents together after the signing date has already been set is too late. Prepare the package in advance.
Funds legalisation consultation →Properties for sale in Cancún — currently in selection
Live listings we manage directly. Click ’I want this property’ — we’ll reply on WhatsApp and send floor plans, pricing, and a transaction cost breakdown.
All properties in Cancún (11) →
Didn’t find what you were looking for? Write to us on WhatsApp — we’ll find the right fit for your goal.
What we handle
Finding a property
We are gathering options abroad to match your goal and budget — from verified sources, not generic catalogues.
Legal review
We verify title, encumbrances, permits, and the developer’s track record before you pay a deposit.
Yield calculation
We calculate the real return net of taxes, maintenance, management fees and seasonality.
Payments from Russia and the CIS
We process the payment through a legal route — in sync with the transaction date.
Turnkey transaction
We support you from contract to title registration, explaining every document along the way.
Residence permit and status
We review residency options and manage the application process together with SVOY Legal, if that is your goal.
What is most likely holding you back
How do I transfer the money?
This is the first question that stops most deals. We plan the payment route before the deposit is paid and process the payment legally and on time — tailored to your amount and bank.
What if the property has issues?
Before the deposit, we verify ownership title, encumbrances and permits. If a property carries risk, we say so plainly and suggest an alternative.
I don’t know the language or the laws
We handle the entire transaction and explain every document before signing. You know exactly what you’re paying for at every step.
- Purchase — you pay nothing. Neither the consultation, nor the search, nor transaction support. The buyer’s agent fee is paid by the seller.
- Rental only, no purchase option in Spain and in Italy. There the price is — one month’s rent plus VAT 21 %, two payments: the first 40 % cost of the service before work begins, in Barcelona — 1 000 €, in Valencia and Alicante — 726 € VAT included, balance on signing the tenancy agreement. In all other countries, rental search is free of charge.
- Residence permit and status — paid service, handled by SVOY Legal attorneys. Situation review free; the cost of processing depends on the country and the basis — full pricing is on svoy.io.
- We search until you move in. Work begins after the service agreement on the service and the opening of a working chat — not after a phone call.
- The ’Before move-in». We don’t close the task at the fifth option — we work through 40–100+ properties and keep searching until you move in. If the service is not delivered, the first payment refunded under the contract.
We’ll find a property that fits your goals
Submit a request — we’ll come back with specific options and a straightforward breakdown, and not with a generic presentation.