Renting first is still the reversible decision in an unfamiliar country. Neighbourhoods look very different between seasons, and traffic only becomes obvious once you live there. A year of renting costs far less than correcting a purchase in the wrong area.
Buying becomes reasonable once the horizon is long enough. Transaction costs can be significant, so a two-year plan rarely recovers them. The standard advice involves holding the property for sale in sardinia for years rather than months before the maths turns favourable.
Getting a mortgage shifts the calculation in both directions. Non-residents often face stricter lending terms and shorter terms than local borrowers. If no local mortgage is available, the purchase turns into tying up the entire sum, which reshapes how the money could otherwise be used.
Leasing preserves freedom of movement. A change of plans, a family situation or a change in immigration policy is manageable with a notice period, instead of a domzale property prices sale in a slow market. In a thin market, that flexibility has real value.
Owning gives advantages a rental never will: predictable housing costs, the freedom to renovate, and an asset that may appreciate. In some countries, being an owner also supports a visa application. A realistic conclusion for many buyers remains a rental year followed by a purchase.