Investing abroad
Before investing in a new country
Questions to define before assessing property or a business in Latin America: purpose, ownership, operating costs, independent review and an exit plan.
A home for your family, a property held for income and a business acquisition may involve the same country, but they require very different decisions. Begin with the purpose of the investment before considering a particular opportunity.
Write the brief before viewing the asset
Clarify your intended use, time horizon, access to capital and the level of day-to-day involvement you want. Decide how much of the project depends on your relocation proceeding as planned. Consider the outcome if your family later chooses another country.
Commission independent reviews
For a property, ask independent local professionals to examine ownership, restrictions, permitted use, condition and transaction costs. For a business, commission a review of its accounts, liabilities, contracts, licences, ownership and day-to-day operations.
Official registry information is one part of that work. Buenos Aires City’s property registry (Spanish) explains reports on ownership, mortgages and restrictions; Uruguay’s DGR certificates (Spanish) report registered property acts as of their issue. Use the registry appropriate to the asset’s location, alongside the wider legal and technical review.
Ask who each adviser represents, how they are paid and whether they receive a referral commission. Separate a seller's presentation from your own advisers' findings.
Model ownership, operation and exit
Request a written schedule covering acquisition costs, ongoing taxes and fees, maintenance or operating expenditure, and the practical process for selling or closing. Include currency and payment assumptions. Test whether the project still suits your needs if costs increase or the sale takes longer than expected.
Keep immigration and investment decisions connected, but distinct
An attractive asset is not evidence that you qualify for a residence programme. Equally, an immigration objective does not establish that an investment is commercially suitable. Have each question assessed by the appropriate specialist before committing funds.
Latin Privilege Advisory can help align your relocation brief with the questions you take to local legal, tax and investment professionals. Tell us what you are considering to discuss the scope of an initial assessment.
Further reading
Family, residence and wealth
A family can share a future without every member making the same move at the same time. The important work is understanding how the individual decisions fit together.
Uruguay for founders: a business base with room to live
A place for your family can also become a base for your business. Uruguay offers an established technology sector and meaningful tax incentives for qualifying operations. The useful question is how they fit the company you actually want to run.