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As a general matter, GCM employees assigned overseas must be flexible with respect to their mobility. The changing needs of overseas ministry and the risks of unpredictable events in foreign countries may require staff members and their families to move to another city or country, or return to the United States, with relatively short notice. The purchase of real estate in a foreign country may adversely affect an employee's mobility for various reasons. Further, investment in real estate on foreign soil may involve significant financial and legal risks to GCM employees assigned abroad. For these reasons, GCM does not encourage overseas employees to purchase real estate outside of the United States. GCM employees may consider the private ownership of real estate, however, subject to the following guidelines:

7.14.a Requirements for the Private Ownership of Real Estate Overseas

1. The missionary must receive advance written approval from his or her Country Director and the International Administration Director.
2. The missionary shall have completed at least one full term of service (normally at least two years beginning with the arrival overseas) on the field location where they wish to purchase property.
3. Each missionary, or missionary family, will be allowed to own no more than one residence in the field where they serve. The acquisition of real estate solely for investment purposes is not permitted.
4. Private ownership of real estate must not deter or hinder mobility of the missionary with respect to relocation to another city or country.
5. A missionary is not to become so involved in building or maintaining his or her own property that it detracts from the employee's ministry in the field, as determined by his or her supervisor.
6. The missionary shall bear the total financial, legal, and moral obligations of home ownership, including maintenance, taxes, insurance, assessments for civic improvements, civil liabilities, etc. Legal title cannot, under any circumstances, implicate Great Commission Ministries or the foreign entity by which the mission is known in any given country.
7. The missionary must accept and understand that the possibility of changing conditions (economic or otherwise) in a foreign country could mean the potential loss of investment to the missionary-owned property. The individual employee must knowingly assume all risks involved with home ownership.
8. The responsibility for the disposition of real estate in the mission field rests solely with the employee.
9. When an employee is allowed to purchase property in his or her area of ministry, GCM will require a written agreement from the missionary acknowledging full responsibility for the property. This agreement may be obtained from the Human Resources Department.

7.14.b Limitations on Soliciting GCM Donors for the Purchase of Real Estate Overseas

GCM will not utilize donor contributions for the purchase of real estate, unless initiated and approved by the GCM Board of Directors. If an employee is in a position to receive a personal gift or loan from a family member in order to privately purchase real estate, the following guidelines must be followed:

1. GCM missionaries serving overseas are permitted to receive personal gifts or loans from individuals who are family members for the private purchase of real estate. Personal gifts or loans from individuals who are not family members is not permissible. Of course, gifts to GCM are always welcome from any donor and will be applied to a GCM employee's ministry account for payment of authorized salary, benefits and ministry expenses.
2. The missionary must inform the Human Resources Department in writing of the intent to receive, or having actually received, a personal gift or loan from a family member.
3. The missionary must clearly communicate to family members that the gift or loan is personal in nature and is not being made at GCM's direction or suggestion. Any such gift or loan must be made directly to the missionary and will not be receipted by GCM and will not be considered tax deductible.
4. The missionary must inform family members that he or she personally, and not GCM, bears sole responsibility for funds given or loaned to him or her and assume all risk for their investment.
5. The transportation of personal funds to the mission field must be made on the employee's own time and at his or her own expense.