Buying property abroad often looks exciting: a beautiful location, an attractive price, or the promise of steady rental income. But the biggest mistakes in cross-border real estate rarely happen after the purchase; they happen long before anyone signs a contract. What seems like a great deal can quickly turn into a costly problem when local rules, hidden construction issues, or different business habits come into play.
Leila Oukhabou has spent more than 20 years helping investors avoid exactly that. As the founder of Luxury Construction Advisor and co-founder of LYSIM Real Estate and LYSIM Invest, she advises homeowners, developers, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals on acquiring, renovating, and developing high-value real estate across Europe and the United States. Her role goes far beyond finding attractive properties. She helps clients understand what they are buying, what risks they may face, and how to protect their investment before, during, and after a project.
One of the biggest misconceptions she sees is the belief that buying property abroad works the same everywhere. It doesn’t. Every country has its own legal framework, construction standards, permit processes, financing options, and business culture. Something that is routine in one market may be completely different in another. Buyers who assume the process is the same often discover unexpected costs, delays, or compliance issues after the deal has closed.
