Establish your Budget

This is important as it will give us an indication as to what level of investment or investments you have planned for and it will also save both you and us time when creating a property list for your viewing. Also bear in mind that there will be additional costs to be considered when buying a property and we will discuss these costs with you so that you are aware of these and take them into consideration when establishing your budget.

Know the type of property

Knowing whether it is a villa on the beach, a colonial house inland or bare land with views of the sea or a paddy field will also assist us in creating a viewing list for you. It is wise to do some research on the types of property available. Also, knowing whether it will be an investment property or one that you will live in would help. We will also explain the nuances of each property type with you so that you have every confidence in your investment choices. Use our enquiry form to learn more.

Location, location, location

Know which area or town in Sri Lanka suits you best. Whether it is a home up country, inland or a home on the South Coast we will be able to help. You may have travelled around Sri Lanka and may need to explore more. Let us help you by sending us an enquiry or by calling us.

Viewings

Once we have established the above criteria, we will develop a selection of properties that meet these for your viewing. We will arrange suitable viewing times and will be in attendance at each one. Keep an open mind, see as much as possible, perhaps do a second or third visit to a few to enable you to find the property that suits you best.

Make an offer

Once you have viewed the properties that match your criteria and have found the property you wish to purchase, an offer will need to be made to the seller and the process of securing the property in your name will begin. In the background, a title deed search will have been done by our lawyers to ensure that you are purchasing a property with a clear title and that there is nothing that could impede the purchase. The offer will be considered by the seller and we will be informed of their response.

Company structures and setting up

The preferred and most secure way to purchase land or property in Sri Lanka is the Freehold method which involves having a company structure involving two entities being set up in your name. This may sound a daunting task, but with our guidance and with the assistance of our preferred lawyers and accountants this will be a mere formality. We have the expertise and the service providers to guide you seamlessly through this process. Our preferred lawyers will also be responsible for the sale and purchase agreement for your property and for registering the title deed in your name with the Lands registry. Please do inquire should you wish to have further details on this point.

Bank Accounts

In order to complete any transaction with regards to property in Sri Lanka, the prospective purchaser will need to open an Inward Investment Account (IIA) with a preferred leading bank, close to where you wish to purchase for convenience’s sake. This is the most flexible and convenient vehicle when considering purchasing property in Sri Lanka as any Inward remittances made through this account will be able to be repatriated to your home country through this account when the property is again sold. Should you require additional information on the IIA account please just ask.

Conveyancing

Any sale of land or property will need to comply with laws and practices set out in the governing property laws in Sri Lanka. Care must be taken that all conveyancing is done by reputed law firms and that title deed searches are carried out meticulously in order to protect and secure your rights to the property which you intend buying. There is a process which must be followed and we will guide and assist in ensuring that you work with the best lawyers and that you are in very safe hands.

Documentation and other requirements

As is the case with any property purchase, there will be a number of documents required by us and those assisting you with your company set up, banking requirements and property purchase. Each party may request different documents for each purpose, and at different times. We will assist in making sure that you are asked well in advance for any document and we will ensure that any documents handed over to us are treated with strict confidentiality by ourselves and any other party.

We trust that you have found this information useful and look forward to being of further assistance in your search, selection and purchase of property in Sri Lanka. Should you require any additional information to the points above please don’t hesitate to send us an enquiry or give us a call. We will respond as soon as we possibly can.

I would therefore like to offer a little information and advice on choosing the perfect holiday home or property on the South Coast of Sri Lanka.

Location, location, location. This may be a cliché used by property experts, and it certainly should be at the forefront of your property investment consideration, even in Sri Lanka.

When determining the location there are certain factors to take into account.

What is the intended purpose of the investment i.e:

• Primary residence
• A guest-house
• A boutique hotel
• Personal holiday home
• Wellbeing and or yoga retreat
• Adventure retreat
• Surf school and hotel

What would be the ideal extent of the land required?

Beachfront property is expensive and generally smaller in size. As you move further inland the properties are larger and less expensive. In my opinion to get value for your money always look for a property which has a view. Either set up on a hill, overlooking a paddy field, sea view, or lake view. The view certainly adds to the proposition of the property.

Where would you like your property to be located?

The number one reason clients want to invest on the South Coast of Sri Lanka is because of the sea and the coastline, which is fringed with numerous golden beaches. Depending on the purpose of the investment, this would most certainly dictate the chosen location of the property. One thing for certain is, you would like to position yourself probably no further than 4km inland from the coastline. Your guest and family will certainly appreciate the close proximity to the beaches but will also enjoy the slightly cooler and less humid weather away from the coast.

What facilities and amenities are in the area?

On the South Coast, we have many large towns and many small villages stretching the length of the coastline. Getting to know what is available in the chosen area, i.e restaurants, swimming beaches, supermarkets, fish and fruit markets, and what tourist attractions are in the vicinity would be an advantage. It is also good to understand the public transport situation and whether the property is on a bus route or accessible to a train station.

Enlist Professional help

Once you have gathered all your information it's then time to enlist the help of a professional and reputable Real Estate Agent. As a leading real estate agent in Galle, we encourage you to hop over to our website and take a look at the extensive portfolio of properties which we have listed, and come in to discover the many more which are not listed.

Once you have settled on a few of interest please get in touch, let us know what you are looking for and we will handpick properties that we feel would best fit your requirements.