House Hunters International: Sri Lanka? | Our Property Search as an Expat in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰
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Kristina and I look for houses to potentially buy or rent long term here in South Sri Lanka near the beach! Is Sri Lanka a good place to buy or rent a house long term? Thank you Skillshare for Sponsoring this video!
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My friend. Dont trust people. The houses that u have seen. Its all not that much expensive. If u need property u search online. www.Ikman.lk . U can find houses with location that u need. Dont be fooled.
Hi. I have a property close to Unavatuna. Looking for long term tenent. I live in Canada property is unoccupied. Let me know if you are interested.
Johnny there are loads of things to check before buying a land in SL from both legal and engineering sides. And there are some places Sri Lankans consider as low valued based on spiritual things which will be an issue when your re-selling.
I don't think other than the second one are suitable to consider. But it also looks very blank from outside. There might be better places for the same cost.
Don't just go and buy anything without proper consultation, especially on legality of land.
The second house is pretty good but you can find more great places near the beach itself so you can view the beach too
One thing from someone who has bought and sold quite a few houses...the kitchen counter tops need to be high enough to be comfortable for Kristinas height...it is a huge issue when the counter tops are so low it will bother her back always...viv
Never rent or buy a house that is below the road level. Always get a property that is higher than the road level. It prevents flooding and other issues. Brand new houses are vague on quality, need to be very careful as lot of camouflage can be done in Kitchen , pantry and Toilet fittings. Lot of low quality Chinese fittings are fitted in most houses. But, the house you are staying in is the most beautiful.
Be careful about buying an old house and when a repair comes in then it will go from one thing to another and another. Hard to contain once start. If I am to settle, I will go to the second house you inspected. Have to find parking for whenever you have an occasion and having visitors is really difficult in those narrow roadways. Having a front garden will easily compensate for the narrow roadways. Lastly, the asking price is far too high for me. Considering the land size & other factors, I would only settle for 15 Million the most. Good luck.
absolutely
And want to be aware the house is haunted😂
i think you should look for more options
Hi Johnny, my advice is just listen to Christina , that’s it 😄😄
Hey guys, best of luck with the search. Just beware of houses in low points or valleys, cause there is probably no road drainage and the water will drain to your land if it is on the low point and cause flooding during rain season. Then you will have to install expensive pump infrastructure to fix the issue , Secondly, if you plan to do any renovations, you have to cost in a lot of your own time doing supervising of the job, as the tradies can go off on a tangent if left unsupervised...
So True.
Hi Johnny! I think you should look for more options. Don’t Rush.
Just a bit of advice... Foreigners can buy apartments/condominiums from ground level up, however, lands cannot be purchased on freehold. Don't waste your time looking for houses with land. Apartments only from high-rise buildings and taxes have to be paid 100% on the property value to the government, on top of that there are other charges including lawyer’s fees etc.
If you rent a property make sure you have a valid visa, otherwise you can get into big trouble if the authorities find out.
Visas will not be given for longer period; usually will extend for 6 months but after that, you will need to have a valid reason for you to be entitled to get a visa to remain in Sri Lanka…. Tourists are allowed max 6 months but need to show min amount of money with proof. New immigration laws are coming up soon, and it will not be easy for you to get a visa any other way to stay here other than a tourist visa. Unless you invest a large sum of money here for a business, again foreigners can invest in certain ventures only and have to be registered. Don’t have high hopes looking for places to live here, there are legal requirements you need to fulfil, just like when we try to come into your countries.
Second place is the best. If you need to change the appearance ,thats esay but 3rd oh.. so much work and cost
I agree. Kristina is right. The 3rd needs more work than a paint. However,you could make it look the way you like
Before rushing to buy a house please check the local law for a foreigner to own land in Sri Lank. To my knowledge apartment from the 3rd or 5th floor, up is no issue, but actual land ownership I think prohibited.
Thats a Great Idea Johnny ..Keep Looking .....Good Luck 🇱🇰 🇱🇰 🇱🇰
As far as i know, a foreign national cannot purchase a land in Sri Lanka, land can only be leased out for a maximum period of 99 years. But you can buy a condo or an apartment, but need to pay the land tax at 100% of the property value.
I don't think he is planning to buy anything, just pretending. Drama king Mr. Jhonny!! That's why he went to worst places ever you can find in entire Sri Lanka that he can tell ohh see i couldn't found a good place and didn't buy any. Come on Johnny grow up man not everything is commercial- There is thousands of really magnificent properties waiting and you go to hell's house. Best of luck though!!
@@sumanroy2988 Srilankan with the brain!! now, that's rare.
That’s a great idea Johnny🤩🤩Don’t be rush , Keep looking and you can find better houses than these 🤞
As far as I know non citizens can’t legally own a landed house in Sri Lanka. Not sure is there any loopholes in the law. Please be careful.
None of these houses worth buying..try more..
Loved the second property !! Just put a hole in the wall and get a big window up there👌🏽
Hi Christina and Johnny, Sheneller's idea of putting a hole in the front is funny but practical! Maybe a big opening with two pillars and some steps would give it a grand opening! A paint job would make it look great! All the best! 🏊♂️🏄♀️🏝🌴😃
My best advice is to get a local bank to get a valuation done on the property and the area. So u have an idea how much its worth. Have been following u for awhile if you need to rent a house colombo let me know. I have a place for rent in colombo-5. Also the 2nd house is not worth 20million ruppees u can pay half of that. So do get a valuation done if you can open an account with any local bank.
Hi Johnny, pls look for more options... I’m sure you will find a great place with minimum renovations required.. Tbh the last two places are old as hell.. not worth it..
So if you're not sure buying a property I'm assuming all these are for the contents? Clever.
Dear Mr.JFD!!, it’s very happy to hear you guys gonna stay in Sri Lanka, plan your wedding according to Sri Lankan tradition and get married with Ms.Christina, We all will visit your wedding JFD, Now you guys are like our family members, Don’t leave this small tiny beautiful Island, stay safe!!,
BTW if you wanna search good house please download or browse www.ikman.lk, and filter Gall and Ahangama area, I’m suggesting you to look some places very near to the beach,Stay safe!, Thank you.
And also check in the Matara District, Hambantota District and search houses near to beach or near to rivers.
Hi Johnny , none of them worth for that price tags. And the most important thing when buying a property in Sri Lanka is about the Deed.
You need to check the deed by a genuine lawyer always before buying. Cos you might be in trouble if those documents are not clear or genuine. It has a process to follow in Sri Lanka. Sometimes the real state brokers might play you out be careful on that as well. Good luck 👍
100% True
Is there a way to get an inspection who doesn’t work for the real estate company who can look at the house for structural damages? That is so important to know.
Before putting down $100,000, check out the interest rates for SL rupees. I know the SLR value is going down but with the good return, pay the rent and put back the balance to hedge against the devaluation. Longterm, as long as the Chinese have a foot in SL, SLR should be stable. Otherwise, hyperinflation would have set in long ago.
Hi! I wonder if it is even possible for a foreigner to own a house or any other realty in Sri Lanka?
Please look for more options. Non of the houses are good for the price mentioned. 🙏
Johnny, in SL current construction cost would be around Rs. 6000/= per 1 Sq.Ft. bathroom may be come in little higher rate due to tiling, fixtures and plumbing. (an architect talking here..lol)
Hi , Johnny, No body recommend to buy old houses. Those old houses are very expensive. Take time to find a suitable home around Hahangama, Midigamam, Weligama, Mirissa area. There are more beautiful location Weligama and Mirissa area. 10-15 minutes away from Hahangama. One day You guys go and check. Confidently You can find your dream home. Good Luck!!!
It would be nice to clean up the house number 3 before showing it to prospective buyers
House no 1 Is not great for a holiday home as not much of a garden or no verandahs or semi outdoor spaces with views into the garden.
House no 2 Is quite OK. But I would offer 15 million.
House No.3 needs a loot of work. Essentially you are just paying for the land. You will need another 10-15 million to make it look nice and decent.
House no 4 Is also ok. But it will need some rennovation and modifications to make it open out more to the gardens. But it is a good find. It has a pretty nice garden and structure also looks good.
- From an Architect. :D
If you are okay with the structural stability of the second house, go for it.
It can be converted to a cool guest house.
The problem is can't predict where tourism is moving with the covid.
I started a renovation in my house in Weligama and stopped with the rise of the second wave. 😞
BTW, if you seriously going to buy one, I suggest you try to do some more searching because it's obvious you can find a better place in the area. Especially in the areas like Weligama, Midigama and Mirissa areas. 😉
Hi Johnny!
Don’t be hasty! Don’t Rush. Maybe u will find your Paradise Heaven in time to come. Take it easy!!
My brother in law in Colombo actually used to work as a real estate agent where he specialised in helping expats. I’m not sure if he still does this.
Johnny Please Before you buy Check Deed Is that Original and That Clean Deed .. It's mean Some times After you buy more people can come for own ship . Ex: Brothers , Sisters .. Good Luck ,Stay Safe Both of You ..
Jonny I think search more locations. Renovation is not a good idea. It will cost you lots of money, may be more than price you bought it.
I noticed from videos in india, the houses are encased with walls around it. Maybe it’s to keep the house from flooding but the houses never seem to have yards. I didn’t think Sri Lanka houses would be the same.
I wouldn’t buy any of them. Don’t be in a rush. If you are serious about buying, I would consult a good real estate lawyer first to check your options.
I love your outfit Christina and the bag 😎
3rd house is not worth touching. It is too much work and no meaning to the lay out. The only draw back for the first house is lack of back and front garden...There are much better homes in S Lanka...
Wow... Really happy that you guys are gonna stay. There a popular app and a website called ikman.lk which is used by locals to buy and sell anything... Have a look there and be careful about deeds and court cases.... Hope you guys could get a gorgeous house.
are foreigners allowed to buy properties? I don't think so
I was wondering how you would actually buy a house in Sri Lanka when you are not a Sri Lankan citizen. Dont the government impose a 100% tax (double the price ). Or lease for 99 years?
99 years is a long time. Longer than I plan to live. =)
ATTENTION JOHNNY FD: You will not be able to legally buy property in Sri Lanka as a foreigner unless you are a Sri Lankan citizen. Don't listen to what people tell you, speak to a lawyer before you make any final decisions. Good luck!
What to do if a foreigner wants to buy s house .
2nd home is a perfect deal for money, you can make some little changes and make it perfect.
Get something that doesn't need too much work unless you can do the work yourself.
Johnny stop being so cheap, listen to Kristina you will regret if you bought the last house, you will spend $60 000 to buy it and another $100 000 to renovate it. I would not live in that house if someone paid me to. Id prefer a tent over that house. Anyways keep looking for more and please don’t be hasty.
FYI brick & mortar homes are very difficult to renovate & expensive compared to traditional stud framed & sheet rock homes in the US. Moving walls or getting to piping to add a bathroom is difficult compared to breaking sheetrock. You also cannot knock on the walls to determine if there are any studs or piping or anything else behind the wall before you break it either. Good luck with the home search 👍
I prefer the flexibility of renting. This allows me to have the freedom of not being tied up to a place.
The second house occupant looked freaked out lol. This is a panoramic Why were you guys not wearing a mask?
Good luck in house hunting, we just bid on a house here in the bay area, offered $1.2Mil, did not get it. It is nice place on East bay Berkeley hills with grand view of the whole bay. It closed closer to $2 million
Hi Jonny, if you decided to buy a house or land....
Please don't be Rush...
take time.... Even You can go through the recomended land sellers..👍
I think the place you're at now is gorgeous and I'd lock in a long-term rental plus sublet option there if possible. That way you won't pay a lot when the prices go back up. The sublet option would allow you to rent it out to someone else if you decide to travel for awhile but still have a place to come back to. Unless you know you're going to stay in one place for a long time, can easily rent it out, or fixing it up would give it a ton of resale value, don't buy anything. There are much better places to invest (or sink) your money into. That said, keep looking at properties because it's fun to see what people have done and think what you'd do!!
Thanks Linda! I would have happily locked up this villa long term but the owner wasn't up for it. =)
@@JohnnyFD Yeah, I thought that might be the case. Find another long-term rental, though it would be fun for the rest of us if you bought a fixer-upper and documented the process of renovating a home there!
Let's goto Hiriketiya beach Dickwella. Very beautiful and seren environment. Gorgeous Bay over there with many more attraction places. Good luck.
I trust you will be wise not to rush into it and don’t even think of spending much to renovate ! Kristina is right there’s too much work to be done ! Not economical!!
Hi Jonny, You are better off renting a property. All of the places you saw except for the 1st one are high maintenance and high refurbishment properties. As a foreigner it will be a nightmare for you to try to engage contractors to do repairs, they will RIP you off and take you to the cleaners.
Unless you have long term plans to stay in the country, you are better off renting my friend.
As a Sri Lankan I can say, Johnny listen to Freddy. If you don't, your dream can turn into a nightmare.
Second one less work, less refurbishing cost, good access to places. Or look for more options. The guide seems straightforward and neutral.
The guy who shows the properties looks so young.
Johnny don't be hurry. Search more i think you can find out best one.
I am living in colombo for many years, hope to meet in future... Good luck
I would go with the 2nd option . That house is in decent shape and the garden is spacious. If you need to find more property, i recommend you to download ikman.lk app
Non of the houses are good.... search more..... be careful
Jonny I think the second one is the best deal.... Since the original house is at the back of the garden in future you can even build a new flat with rooms actually... And the house is well maintained and you can do few changes with not much cost... 🤔🤔👍👍Love you both... ❤️🙏
My suggestion second one, third one is very weird that place can't suggest to live.
I dont advice you to go into purchasing a house in Sri lanka so soon. Renting is the best option. 3rd one is crap, I think all are crap compared to the one you are staying in. Better for you to negotiate for a long term lease as the house is fully furnished with all the utility stuff. Just imagine if you are gonna get a place of your own, you have to purchase everything for the house and some day if you decide to go back, sellimg all the stuff wont be easy. Also, its very difficult to get good skilled labour and contractors, they even rip locals off. So, they wont spare you to be honest. Just stay where you are mate.
It looks like the second house have lots of asbestos sheets. Check the roofs and ceiling for asbestos.
As a long time subscriber (since 2018) I know those aren't your choice definitely. Maybe the 1st one with garden as you guys said. I think you wanna have see more options. The 4th one is definitely not Fair. I would recommend if your traveling in whole country , you should rent one by one for each months for sure. I wish you luck for you two & hope you guys will find very pretty & nature loving place in 🇱🇰 . May triple gems blessed you ❤️
Foreigners CAN own landed property freehold in Sri Lanka. While it’s true they can’t get a title in their name only, they can start a property holding company with the help of a good lawyer. The house is then titled and held as an asset of and within that company. You will also need a local nominee, preferably another real estate or professional company, to hold a majority of the shares of your company usually 51% shares. The other 49% shares are held by the foreigner. After 20 years, your company qualifies for full foreign ownership and the remaining shares are transferred. The property is always held in freehold title and the foreigner has full control over the company at all times. A good attorney is crucial as well as a trustworthy local nominee or real estate company.
Owning 49% isn’t owning….
Fair. But you are the president of the company and are in charge of all decisions. Also, after 20 years depending on your commitment to Sri Lanka the full company shares are transferred to you automatically with full freehold ownership. It’s also possible to purchase property with property holding company from another foreigner who either started their company before the shareholder restriction, or have less years until the company reaches full shareholder ownership. As time goes on and you get closer to the 20 years threshold, the company also becomes more valuable along with any increase in value on the property itself.
It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and I get that. As an American, I was apprehensive, but we purchased our home in Ahangama along with almost two acres of land and it has been a good experience. We’re actually planning to add an additional two acres to it next year if we’re lucky.
Second house is good. But double check the price and the area to make sure it is safe to live in the area. Also people can ripped you off with the price because you're a foreigner So be cautious. Well best regards to both of you. Keep looking you might find something better don't rush yourself. Just hear what Christine have to say.
Try online property sale sites too. Ikman dot lk, lanka property web, etc.
Hey guys! your best option will be to rent for a while, and see how everything work out for you before a firm commitment.
0.65mil/perch. the second house. Didn't think Ahangama would be that expensive.
Its Rs. 650,000 ish not 6.5 million. For 6.5 million per perch you can get in colombo.
@@l-n-s356 sorry. just noticed. what i meant was, 0.65mil is still too much I think for ahangama.
@@umangasarathchandra717 yeah 650.000 is too much in Ahangama..
@@dishanmadhuranga8032 1.5Lakhs to 3.5Lakhs tops per perch outside of Colombo. 20 million should be more like 10 million . Those properties were awful. Check out Ikman.lk for property at reasonable prices or lankapropertyweb.com
Jonny try ikman.lk which is favourite website here in srilanka to find houses for rent or lease. Be careful when you purchase and always write a rent agreement
It is better to consult a good and reputed real estate agent and not the quacks that are around who would basically take you for a ride. I am sure for that price you will be able to lay your hands on a fantastic property but only with the correct agent. Try to contact one from Colombo who will be able to source the ideal property through personal contacts. The properties that you checked out is certainly not worth it so don't waste your time and money on them.
Just look for some more options jhonny I'm sure you'll be able find a very good place
@@sallysloan9065 what did you mean by that. i didn't get you
Better looking property from other parts of the country, if you are valuing your privacy more..
2nd place is real big with lots of potential
I recommend number 1 because that house 🏠 looking good and brand new, modern house.Number 2,3 also good but that house’s looking very old Contraction.
Dear Jonny, I am a srilankan. Be careful .when you buy houses in srilanka you need to investigate gate thourgly via solicitor in srilanka.Do not exchange the money without a lawyer. All the house you have seen it's too overpriced. I am giving my honest opinion. With my experience. God luck.Do not take any word what ever you do go through the right channel.
2nd is the best. but don't be hurry. my advise go for a ceylon ancient architectural home
Good luck johnny
None of those houses are worth buying or renting according to my knowledge. In Sri Lanka there are so many beautifully decorated houses you can find. Keep trying 🙂
One thing I can tell you about SL houses , PANTRY is from 1970s😃🤣😭 unless you from Colombo
Also SL doesn't have a computerized land registry so always encouraged to check with the land registry to ensure you aren't being taken for a ride( land/fraud) is common in outskirts of Colombo (in a nutshell anywhere apart from Colombo or only an apartment development by a reputed company)
This is a very valid point.
Make sure you speak to a property lawyer first Johnny boy!
Bro my idea just buy the empty land. So you can build up the house whatever you like your style.. $20000 you can make 2 BHK very good house. . Thts good idea brother.
There is a 100% uplift for the buying price for non citizens
You need strong high walls and a gate Johnny, believe me.
Don't forget foreigners need to pay 100 per cent tax on purchase price. Owning a property does not give you right of residence.
i guess it has changed again for foreigners can buy than cant etc
@@sweeta17 A foreign national cannot own a land in Sri Lanka, can only lease it out for a max period of 99 years.
U can buy a land in Sri Lanka only if u are Sri Lankan Citizen, otherwise don't even try. Only for who has a Sri Lankan citizenship!!!
I think you need a Real State Agent who has experience dealing with foreigners. So that they would understand your requirements.
වෙන මොනවා විස්තර කරන්න ද තව? ඒ කොල්ල මුන්ට ඕන ඔක්කොම විස්තර කරනවනේ ? ඕව professional කරන එවුන් නැති ඒවත් කියල ඉඩම් විකුනන්නේ .
විදේශිකයන්ට ගැලපෙන ප්රොපටීස් පෙන්නන්න ඕනේ. කාමරේ බල්ලෝ හුජ්ජ කරන ඒවා පෙන්නලා හරි යන්නේ නෑ.
Guys you might be better off renting a place. The property value appreciates big time in this country but land laws here are still almost a mess, so why risk it all...
However if getting a property on longterm lease go for something really turnkey, construction and renovations here could become a real headache as well....
All are not good quality at all.
I think prices are way too much. I think it’s the expatriate price. Please don’t trust these brokers. Check the market and get advice from your Sri Lankan friends.
That's the normal rate in that area. More close you get to the beach, more expensive the properties get.
Ok. I don’t know the market. But it’s better to consult SL friends or professionals before buying rather than relying on these brokers
Where was the first property located (was it near the beach) and what are you paying per month for your current villa?
Look at Kristina's face haha
$55000 is too much. Renovation is very expensive (labour) check with a qualified architect.
No way $500 rent..
Why aren't the property seekers wearing masks? It's not respectful. Why all the noise in the background #1 - the road? The sound varies so much. I can't watch this.
i liked house number 1 but i dont know how hot it gets there without having ac. dont they get tsunamis in sri lanka as well? i know not all the time but
Much Appreciate 🇱🇰 ❤️💛💚
$55k? I would say waaaay too much!