Buying property in Lebanon from abroad

Roughly half of the people we work with are not in the country when they start looking. Many are Lebanese living abroad, buying a place for the summers, for family, or for the day they come back.

Buying from a distance is normal here, and it does not have to mean flying in for every viewing. This is how it works with us, from the first message to the keys.

Tell us what you are looking for

Opens WhatsApp with your message ready. No form to fill in.

How it works, step by step

  1. Tell us what you want. A WhatsApp message with the area, the budget and what the place is for. We reply with what fits, including places that are not on the site.

  2. See it without flying. We walk through the property on a video call or send a recorded tour, and answer what photographs cannot: the view from the balcony, the noise from the street, the state of the stairwell.

  3. Check the paperwork first. Before you commit we look at the title deed: individual or shared, registered or pending, and whether anything is recorded against it. Finding a problem now costs nothing. Finding it at the notary kills the sale.

  4. Agree the price and hold the property. Prices are in US dollars. Once terms are agreed, a deposit and a preliminary contract take the property off the market.

  5. Sign in person, or through a power of attorney. If you cannot come, someone you trust in Lebanon can sign for you. The power of attorney can usually be made at a Lebanese embassy or consulate where you live. Ask us for the wording before you go, so it covers exactly this sale.

  6. Transfer and registration. The sale is completed before a notary and registered at the Land Registry in your name. Registration fees are charged on the declared value. We give you the current figure before you budget, because it has changed more than once in recent years.

  7. Keys, and after. We can hand the keys to family, or find a tenant if the place is an investment, and we stay the people you call about it.

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What to ask about any property

Buying remotely means asking the questions you would otherwise answer by standing in the room. These are the ones that decide a sale in Lebanon.

  • Electricity. Whether the building has 24/7 power, the generator subscription in amps, and any solar panels or battery backup. This matters more than the kitchen.
  • Water. Where it comes from, whether there is a well or a tank, and how often it has to be topped up.
  • The building. The monthly building charge, whether the lift runs on the generator, and parking.
  • The title. Individual or shared title, and what that means for what you can do with it later.

Paying for it

Mortgages are effectively unavailable in Lebanon at the moment, so property is bought outright, in US dollars. Plan for the price, the registration fees and the agency fee, and ask us for all three in writing before you commit.

If you are not a Lebanese citizen

Foreign nationals can own property in Lebanon, within limits on size and location, and some purchases need a permit. If this applies to you, say so in your first message. We will tell you early whether it affects the place you like, before anyone spends money.

Questions people ask

Do I need to come to Lebanon to buy property?
No. With a power of attorney, someone you trust can sign on your behalf. Many buyers still come for a final viewing, but it is not required.
Which currency are prices in?
US dollars. Lebanese property is quoted and settled in USD, and every price on this site is in dollars.
How do I see a property I cannot visit?
On a live video call, or with a recorded walkthrough. Ask for anything the photographs do not show and we will film it.

Start with one message

Tell us where you are, where in Lebanon you are looking, and your budget. A real person answers.

Tell us what you are looking for

Or call +961 3 112 721

Message us
Buying Property in Lebanon from Abroad | Lines Group