Property ownership often comes with a hidden cost: it locks you into a country's tax system. Many nations treat real estate holdings as a key indicator of tax residency. Once they flag you as a resident, compliance obligations multiply.

The problem gets worse when you look at global tax trends. Western countries are aggressively hiking rates—take Spain's recent crypto tax proposal hitting 47%, or similar moves across Europe and North America. For crypto holders and digital nomads especially, this matters. A house deed doesn't just represent shelter anymore; it's leverage in the tax authority's hands.

When you factor in wealth taxes, property taxes, capital gains rules, and residency thresholds, home ownership starts looking less like an investment and more like a liability. The math breaks down fast once taxation enters the equation.