Selling an Overseas Property? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Let Your Lawyer or Bank Handle the Currency Transfer
Selling your overseas home? Whether it’s a villa in Portugal, a condo in Spain, or a holiday home in France, chances are you’re preparing to repatriate a large chunk of money back home. And it’s easy to assume your lawyer or local bank will “handle it.”
But here’s the thing:
That assumption could cost you thousands.
The Hidden Cost of Convenience
When you sell a property abroad, the buyer typically transfers the purchase funds to your local lawyer or notary. From there, many sellers just let the lawyer send it straight to their home bank account. It feels easy and safe.
But here’s the catch:
Local lawyers and banks aren’t currency specialists. They often rely on high-street banks that apply poor exchange rates, high fees, or even route the funds through intermediary banks causing unexpected delays and deductions.
We’ve seen it time and time again:
€300,000 becomes noticeably less once it hits the account in USD or GBP.
Here’s a Better Option
At Moving Currency, we work with both sellers and their lawyers to ensure your funds are transferred securely, quickly and with significantly better value.
Your lawyer or notary can send the sale proceeds directly to your Moving Currency account, where we’ll convert and transfer it home at a competitive exchange rate, with no surprise deductions.
We make it simple:
Work directly with your lawyer or notary
Lock in the rate in advance, if you wish
No hidden fees or poor bank exchange rates
Funds delivered safely to your chosen home account
Can’t I Just Let My Lawyer Handle It?
Of course you can. But here’s what they won’t tell you:
They’re not incentivized to shop around for the best rate. In fact, many just default to their regular bank, which may add a 2–4% margin on the rate, especially if you're transferring a large amount.
On a €500,000 sale, that could be a €10,000–€20,000 loss. Ouch.
We’ll always be transparent. We’ll show you the rate, the savings, and the timeline. And if needed, we’re happy to provide letters or instructions for your lawyer so they can transfer funds to us with confidence.
Need to Repatriate Sale Proceeds From...
Portugal
Spain
France
Italy
Greece
Dubai
…or anywhere else? We’ve got you covered.
Selling Abroad? Let’s Make Sure the Money Comes Home Wisely
Before your funds are sent back home, speak to us. It only takes a few minutes to get set up and could save you thousands.
Contact us today or let your lawyer know you’d like to use Moving Currency for the transfer.
Because you’ve made the effort to sell at the right time, now let’s make sure your money follows suit.