Renting first remains the reversible decision when the country is new to you. Neighbourhoods look very different once the tourist season ends, and noise reveals itself once you live there. Twelve months as a tenant costs far less than unwinding a bad purchase.
Ownership becomes reasonable once the horizon is long enough. The costs of buying and selling are significant, so a two-year plan rarely recovers them. A common guideline points to a horizon of several years before ownership pays off.
Borrowing locally changes the picture significantly. Non-residents often face higher down payments and higher rates than domestic buyers. Where local lending is unavailable, the whole plan means tying up the entire sum, which alters what else that capital could do.
A rental protects freedom of movement. A job change, a family situation or a change in immigration policy is easier to handle with a few months’ notice, instead of a buy property in sunny beach sale in a slow market. Where the market is illiquid, the ability to leave quickly carries genuine value.
Ownership brings what renting cannot: stability of costs, the right to alter the buy property in almansil, and equity that can grow in value. In some countries, ownership also supports a residence application. The honest answer in most situations remains renting while you learn the market and buying afterwards.