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Rising prices - 15 Feb 2010
Posted by Paul Collins No comments
The past couple of weeks have seen at least two different overseas property developers putting up their prices, in response, according to them, to increased consumer demand.
The two developers I personally have heard about build in two of the most popular destinations for UK overseas property buyers, which are also what would be considered established and safe markets. My question is: are these prices rises genuine, or are the developers getting a bit ahead of themselves?
There is no doubt the global recession has been a long hard slog for us all, and you could even argue that the overseas property world has seen a steeper drop and a harder landing than most. Therefore, the arrival of any kind of positive news for buyers, builders, owners and developers should be greeted with relief and enthusiasm. However, I fear there is a possibility that there is a recurrence of what some agents are seeing from private vendors in the UK – pre-emptive price rises.
Snow joke? - 25 Jan 2010
Posted by Paul Collins No comments
Firstly, apologies for the headline – you must all be sick of snow puns by now…
The point of this isn’t to moan about the lack of salt on the UK’s roads over the past month, or lament the terrible weather we’ve been having. The point is to talk a little about properties in regions of the world which welcome the snowy conditions.
More specifically, I’m wondering why property in ski areas aren’t more popular? For me, they have the perfect combination of scenery, climate and transport links that should make them the first port of call for anyone looking to make money from renting their property to tourists. In many ways, you could argue that they make more sense as a purchase than beachfront properties in climates where you’re not able to sunbath right through the year. So what is it that makes mountain property less attractive to overseas property buyers?
Well, part of that will inevitably be that many people don’t like skiin…
Living in Croatia - 29 Jul 2009
Posted by Debbie Ridgwell 1 comment
We are hoping to buy a property in Croatia and to live there permanently. I have just noticed your website states that "a foreign national is now only permitted to be in Croatia for six months out of 12". I'd be grateful if you could confirm that this is definitely the case as at 24 July 2009; I have spoken with staff at the Croatian Embassy who were not able either to confirm or deny this fact. Obviously this is critical information for us, as we would be intending to live in Croatia full time. Many thanks for your assistance.…
Taxes in Canada - 13 Jul 2009
Posted by Julie No comments
Is there sales tax on the purchase of a home in Canada? I was hoping maybe you could give me a few hints as to what I should be looking for and what to avoid.
…
Agent credentials - 21 May 2009
Posted by Jeff Cannella 4 comments
I am looking to buy property in Albania in early 2010. I will be going back to Albania for a visit in September. Can you recommend some reputable agencies? How can I check the reputation of a particular agency?
This question has been sent to BuyAssociation from one of our registered members. To post your own question, please contact us by clicking here.
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Emerging, emerged or back in hiding? - 18 May 2009
Posted by Paul Collins No comments
The overseas property market has taken something of a battering in the credit crunch. Brits are worried about whether they will be able still to afford their own main homes with mass redundancies, wage cuts and other pressures edging into their thoughts at all times. There is barely time even to consider the idyll of buying a bolthole overseas to get away from it all – although times of economic hardship do tend to prompt more people to emigrate than at other times.
Those buyers who are still out there are being treated to almost the undivided attention of developers and agents so desperate for buyers they will offer all manner of extras along the way. Most of them are sticking to the ‘safer’, established markets – placer where, despite the severe downturn in sales and new projects being felt by agents, there is more than likely to be a good recovery in property values at some point. Think of the favourite holiday destinations for Brits and you won’t be far off…
Distressed sales - 11 May 2009
Posted by lu lu 1 comment
What is the benefit and downside of buying distressed property in Australia? Is it illegal to buy distressed property overseas?
This question has been sent to BuyAssociation from one of our registered members. To register for free access to our full range of content, click here.…
French finance - 21 Apr 2009
Posted by 1 comment
I currently own a property in France valued at €200,000 in the current market. I have no mortgage or other loan.
I want to release equity of about £25,000 and am struggling to find a loan. I am self employed and with a lowish income but I have a guarantor for any mortgage/loan with substantial assets in the UK.
Any advice on where to go?
…
Best and worst - 19 Mar 2009
Posted by Paul Collins 2 comments
Much has been written about the overseas property markets in the past few months as the recession across the world has deepened and people who once thought they had significant amounts of disposable income are finding out they may struggle to meet all of their repayments.
Sometimes it is difficult to square what is being said in the editorials with what is happening out in the real world. As I read articles about how this or that destination is now in a perfect position for investors to make the most of falling prices and highly-motivated sellers, there are yet more stories coming in about job losses, a lack of financial security in the developed world and the perilous state in which most of our banks find themselves.
Now, I don’t want to start criticizing my follow journalists and the piece they write, and it is true that it is practically-impossible to write article which everyone finds informative and pertinent. There is little doubt that the overseas…
Snap up a SNIP - 25 Nov 2008
Posted by Paul Collins 1 comment
We’ve waited a while for a new acronym to hit the overseas property market, but now we have a phrase with which to describe what is going on in the international real estate market. Having gone through BARBies last year (Buying Abroad, Renting in Britain), we are now faced with SNIPs - Secure Now, Increase Pending.
This idea, which does actually make sense in the current climate, has been coined by Serge Cowan, MD of Unique Living, specialists in high-end properties in the top destinations across the world. The idea of ‘distressed sales’ in the high-end market, he says, is a little misleading as owners just want to relocate, upgrade or just fancy change.
To a certain extent, I aggress with this philosophy. Those lucky enough to consider themselves in the top end of the property market may have enough capital in the bank, trust fund or offshore deposit to be untouched by the troubles in the stock markets, pension funds and housing market in the UK. I…
Fear of failure - 17 Sep 2008
Posted by Paul Collins 1 comment
This is one of those rare times in my life when I am actually quite happy not to have been on holiday. The poor customers of XL Leisure who have been left stranded overseas, or who have had their upcoming holidays cancelled due to the company’s collapse, are in that horrible situation of being on holiday and knowing that they can’t really relax or enjoy it as they have no idea how they might be able to get home again.
The reaction here in the UK to the collapse has been mixed, and looking at some of the comments that have been posted on the forums and stories on some of the national newspaper websites, there is a real split in the country as to how this type of situation should be dealt with.
Some posters are incredulous that the government has no stepped in to make sure the company stayed in business long enough to bring back those passengers who were overseas. Others are surprised that it took so long for a company that, they say, has been on the bri…