Purchasing International Real Estate

As a general matter, Reliant employees on international assignments must be flexible with respect to their mobility. The changing needs of international 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 Reliant employees assigned abroad. For these reasons, Reliant does not encourage international employees to purchase real estate outside of the United States. Reliant employees may consider the private ownership of real estate, however, subject to the following guidelines:

Requirements for the private ownership of international real estate

1. The missionary must receive approval from the field supervisor.
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 the 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 the 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 Reliant Mission 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.

Limitations on soliciting Reliant donors for the purchase of international real estate

Reliant will not utilize donor contributions for the purchase of real estate, unless initiated and approved by the Reliant 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. Reliant 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 Reliant are always welcome from any donor and will be applied to a Reliant employee's ministry account for payment of authorized salary, benefits and ministry expenses.
2. The missionary must inform the Missionary 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 Reliant's direction or suggestion. Any such gift or loan must be made directly to the missionary and will not be receipted by Reliant and will not be considered tax deductible.
4. The missionary must inform family members that he or she personally, and not Reliant, 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.