✈️ Real Estate Passport : A Global Tour of Unique Homes

Vacations are often an opportunity to discover new cultures, new flavors, and new landscapes.

But did you know that housing customs can be just as eye-opening?

From Seoul to Buenos Aires, via Kyoto or London, certain real estate rules, traditions, or practices are sure to surprise even the most seasoned travelers.

Welcome to our Summer Real Estate Passport.

South Korea: When the Security Deposit Replaces Rent

Imagine paying up to 70% of a home’s value before even moving in.

This is the principle of Jeonse, a typically Korean rental system. The tenant pays a very large security deposit to the landlord at the start of the lease and recovers this sum upon moving out. No monthly rent is paid for the entire duration of the contract.

Enough to make a French tenant read the contract twice.

China: The number 4 can lower an apartment’s value

In China, the number 4 is often avoided in real estate because its pronunciation sounds similar to the word “death.”

In some buildings, the 4th, 14th, or 24th floors are sometimes omitted from the numbering. Some buyers even prefer to avoid these numbers when searching for a property.

It just goes to show that the address can sometimes matter as much as the home itself.

Italy: Houses Sold for €1

Since 2019, several Italian municipalities have launched a program that has become famous worldwide: selling certain houses for a symbolic €1.

The goal? To breathe new life into depopulating villages.

There is, of course, a catch: buyers must commit to renovating the properties within a set timeframe.

An initiative that has already attracted buyers from all over the world.

United Kingdom: owner of the house… but not the land

In the United Kingdom, many homes are sold under a leasehold arrangement.

In practical terms, you can own your apartment—or even your house—without owning the land on which it is built.

For a French buyer, this distinction is often one of the most surprising aspects of the British market.

United States: when your neighbors can regulate your facade

In many American neighborhoods, Homeowners Associations (HOAs) govern community life.

The color of the front door, the height of the lawn, the type of fence, or exterior decoration: some rules can be particularly specific.

A view of neighborhood life that often surprises Europeans.

Japan: the famous bathroom slippers

It’s well known that you must remove your shoes before entering a Japanese home.

But some families take it a step further: they have slippers reserved exclusively for the bathroom.

You must then change into these slippers before entering, and put your regular house slippers back on when leaving.

A simple rule... provided you don’t forget to switch pairs.

Argentina: Buying an Apartment in Dollars

Although the official currency is the Argentine peso, a large portion of major real estate transactions has historically been conducted in U.S. dollars.

In Buenos Aires, it is therefore not uncommon to see real estate listings priced directly in dollars.

A peculiarity that often intrigues foreign buyers.

Senegal: a home designed for multiple generations

In many Senegalese families, the home is designed to accommodate several generations within the same living space.

Parents, children, grandparents, and sometimes cousins share a single compound organized around a central courtyard.

A concept of housing that reminds us that a home can be, above all, a place of tradition and communal living.

Greenland: Colorful houses for easy navigation

In several Greenlandic cities, buildings were once painted according to their function: red for shops, yellow for healthcare services, blue for government offices, and green for telecommunications.

Beyond their visual charm, these colors allowed for quick identification of buildings in an environment that could be challenging.

Even today, they contribute to the unique identity of Greenland’s landscapes.

All over the world, houses tell a story.

Some reflect beliefs, others climatic constraints, family traditions, or societal choices.

At SQUARE'S INTERNATIONAL, we love the idea that behind every door lies much more than just a property: a way of life, a legacy, and a vision for the future.

We wish you a wonderful summer and many wonderful discoveries, wherever your travels may take you.