I don't know how it is done in Briatin, but here in Canada if you buy some realty you have to pay lots of fees - and then, if you have to sell it within a few years, you might actually carry some losses. Of course, the price of your house/apartment might go up, but it might go down as well. If (let's consider the worst scenario possible) you have to leave the country in, say, 3 years from now (your work permit is not extended, immigration laws change etc.), the price stays the same or goes down, you are forced to sell anyway, and then you'll be still indebted to your bank or building society, your credit history will be ruined, which might create problems if there is a global european database on credit histories etc. I am not trying to dissuade you, just trying to show the other side of this coin.