Americans Are Eyeing Europe, But August May Be the Smarter Way In

Last week’s Financial Times headline said it all: “Americans want to move to Europe, but just how easy is it?” The answer, as the FT details, is not very.

With a potent mix of political anxiety, concerns over safety, the rising cost of healthcare, and a desire for better work-life balance, more Americans than ever are exploring homeownership and even permanent relocation across the Atlantic. Property agencies from Lisbon to London are reporting record inquiries. According to investment migration consultancy Global Citizens Solutions, inquiries from U.S. clients looking to relocate to Europe have increased by 250% since the start of 2025.

But for most Americans, moving to Europe isn’t as simple as falling in love with a villa in Tuscany or an apartment in Paris.

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Legal minefields and linguistic fog

What the FT piece makes clear is that buying property in Europe is not the same as living in it. Golden visa programs, once a fast-track option for non-EU nationals, are being phased out across the continent. Spain has just shut its program down entirely, and Malta’s passport-for-investment scheme has been ruled illegal by the European Court of Justice. Even in countries where visas are still available, like Greece or Cyprus, requirements are complex and shifting.

Then there’s the local legal system, which varies not just country to country, but often region to region. Buyers must navigate unfamiliar tax codes, inheritance laws, and transaction norms, ideally in the local language. “I had so many spreadsheets,” Angela Wiggins, an American who recently moved to Lisbon, told the FT. “But I didn’t speak the language and needed assistance on the hoops we needed to jump through.”

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The August approach: try before you commit

At August, we see the same trend, but we also see an alternative path.

Rather than diving headfirst into a €2M+ home in a country where they may not speak the language or understand the legal landscape, many of our American buyers are choosing to join August as their first step toward European homeownership and lifestyle.

A share in one of our Grand Pied À Terre Collections, for example, is only €700,000 (approximately $750,000). That’s not just a smaller investment, it’s a smarter one. It grants access to a portfolio of five fully renovated, design-led city homes across Europe. From Rome’s Monti district to the heart of Paris or Barcelona, August co-owners enjoy 8–12 weeks of use per year across multiple destinations.

But the benefits go far beyond the price tag.

Our model is built to eliminate the barriers that often derail American buyers:

• No renovation stress: August finds, acquires, renovates, and furnishes each home to the highest design and hospitality standards.
  
  
• No language barrier: We handle all local negotiations, permits, and legalities.
  
  
• No management burden: From home maintenance and housekeeping to local concierge support, everything is handled.
  
  
• No administrative headaches: Owners don’t have to set up foreign bank accounts, register with local authorities, or chase down rental managers.
  
  
• Equity-based ownership: This is not a timeshare. Each August share is a real equity investment into the property-owning company, with resale rights and capital appreciation potential.
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Testing lifestyles, not just properties

Crucially, August enables American families to experience life in different parts of Europe before making long-term decisions.

We’ve seen clients use August to explore their ideal future, spending spring in Rome, late summer in Mallorca, or autumn in the French Riviera, before choosing where, or if, to put down permanent roots.

For many, August becomes a bridge between aspiration and decision. A way to fall in love with European life, gradually, intelligently, and with support.

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A growing American presence

It’s no surprise that interest in August is surging among U.S. families. With a strong dollar, real estate diversification in Europe is increasingly attractive, not just for lifestyle, but as a strategic hedge. As Knight Frank noted in the FT piece, prime London real estate is 18% cheaper than at its 2015 peak. Similar opportunities exist in cities across the continent.

But owning well, without the stress, requires a new model.

That’s the August way: a simpler, curated, and smarter path to living well in Europe.

This month, we launched the Arcadia Collection, a city-based set of design-led flats in Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona, and Cannes. Built for slower living and smarter ownership, Arcadia offers the perfect balance of cultural immersion, urban convenience, and Mediterranean access.

Early interest has come predominantly from U.S. buyers, many of whom have spent years visiting Europe and are now looking for a more flexible, less burdensome way to own.

→ Explore the Arcadia Collection

Whether it’s a pied-à-terre in Monti, a sun-filled flat near the Croisette, or a home base in Notting Hill, Arcadia is designed for those who want to live well now, while keeping their options open for the future. As our first-ever artist collaboration, the Arcadia Collection is the most ambitious chapter in the Grand Pied À Terre Collection and is set to leave a lasting impression.