By Lisa Bathurst

Picture this: sipping chilled vinho verde on your terrace in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Or walking your child to school through the sunlit streets of Seville. Perhaps it’s harvesting olives from your hillside retreat in Greece or fine-tuning your latest idea in a Milanese loft as your business gains EU traction.

For globally minded individuals, the Mediterranean is more than a holiday destination—it’s a base. A lifestyle. A bridge between continents. And increasingly, it’s a strategic route into Europe, accessed through property investment starting from just €250,000.

At Hurst & Wills, we’ve helped dozens of families and entrepreneurs do just that—own property with purpose. Whether they’re looking for lifestyle, mobility, or a long-term legacy plan, real estate remains one of the most reliable and rewarding ways to unlock European residency.

Here’s what you need to know.

Let’s talk about timing. In an increasingly unpredictable world—economically, politically, environmentally—having options isn’t just nice, it’s necessary. Residency-by-investment (RBI) programs give you and your family access to:

• Visa-free travel across the Schengen zone (27 countries)
• World-class education and healthcare
• Legal tax optimisation
• New markets, better business infrastructure
• A Plan B (or Plan A) lifestyle option
  

And the Mediterranean offers all of that, wrapped in sun, history, and red wine. Better yet, you don’t need to spend millions to make it happen.

The €250,000 Property Strategy
Unlike full Golden Visa programs that often require €500K+, several countries in Southern Europe offer residency via real estate at just €250,000. These aren’t scraps—they’re hand-picked homes, apartments, and villas in growth regions with rental yield and appreciation potential.

Here’s where the opportunity shines:

1. Italy is the new kid on the block, where Heritage with a Business EdgeCombine real estate with €250K Innovation Visa, a Path to citizenship after 10 years, No wealth tax, no minimum stay required. This program is Ideal for founders, creatives, and freelancers, thinking of restored countryside villas or Milanese loft apartments.
2. Portugal & Spain, no longer have direct route via Real estate, but there are funds and other options, making Spain and Portugal still popular, particularly with families and the digital nomad market due to its access to excellent healthcare, education, and infrastructure, The NHR tax regime, and the route to EU citizenship after 5 years
3. Greece – Value, Lifestyle, and Crypto Friendly. The Entry is from €250,000, but rising. There is great value for money in Athens, Thessaloniki, and Crete, No income tax on crypto gains if structured right, Schengen access, short-term let-friendly. Think modern city flats, whitewashed island homes, or heritage gems in Nafplio.

Who’s Doing This?

It’s not just retirees or millionaires anymore. We’re seeing African and Middle Eastern families seeking Plan Bs for education and security, British entrepreneurs wanting EU access post-Brexit, Founders and consultants building a base for tax efficiency and remote work, NCEs (non-conventional earners)—crypto investors, content creators, and nomads—securing lifestyle freedom, Multigenerational families future-proofing for their children and grandchildren

And they’re all starting with one thing: property.

The Smart Investor’s Strategy

Here’s how our clients are making it work:

1. Buying income-generating homes or lock-up-and-go city apartments
2. Using tax structuring and ownership vehicles (especially for crypto or business assets)
3. Leveraging residency to gain EU-wide access for business, banking, or school
4. Planning future citizenship and dual nationality
5. And in the meantime? They’re holidaying in their own homes, earning rental income in Euros, and building equity in stable European markets.

Let’s be honest: the world isn’t getting simpler. But your options can.

At Hurst & Wills, we specialise in helping globally minded clients navigate international property with clarity and confidence. We connect the dots between investment, residency, and lifestyle—to help you live better, earn better, and move freely.

📩 hello@hurstandwills.com
Own with purpose. Live without limits.