3 Of The Best Mortgage Providers For Non Residents Buying Property In Spain

Spain is generally regarded as being an expat friendly country, and indeed it is, but if you are not a permanent resident in Spain (and here is a guide explaining how you can become one) then obtaining a mortgage to purchase a property in the country can be tricky.

Tricky, but far from impossible. Whilst some lenders are not open to borrowers from overseas, others are more than happy to help foreigners finance property purchases. But, if you are an overseas buyer, or even a Spanish person living abroad, then you can expect to pay higher interest rates on your mortgage. Read more “3 Of The Best Mortgage Providers For Non Residents Buying Property In Spain”

3 Expat Friendly Destinations To Consider Now That Winter Is Here

Now that the light is starting to fade and the temperature is dropping across the UK and Europe, it may be as good a time as any to reimagine those dreams of emigrating abroad.

Many of us have thought about, or perhaps been given the opportunity to relocate abroad. Whilst there are many good reasons; children at school, family at hand, the language barrier; to name a few, not to take the plunge, there are just as many persuasive reasons why 2019 might be the perfect year to seize the opportunity for a new and revitalising life experience.

To get you started, let’s look at 3 destinations that contain an enticing blend of culture, opportunity, and life-learning. Read more “3 Expat Friendly Destinations To Consider Now That Winter Is Here”

New Zealand Takes Surprising Step To Ban Foreigners From Buying Property In The Country

In a bid to calm an explosive domestic property market and create affordable housing for local residents, the New Zealand government has taken the unprecedented step of banning the sale of the country’s existing homes to foreign buyers. Read more “New Zealand Takes Surprising Step To Ban Foreigners From Buying Property In The Country”

More UK Citizens Living Overseas Than Any Nation In EU, WEF Reveals

Brexit backlash may have damaged the UK’s reputation for cosmopolitanism, with the referendum result blamed in some quarters on an anti-immigration agenda, but surprisingly, it is Britain that leads the way when it comes to migrating overseas, according to data from the World Economic forum. Read more “More UK Citizens Living Overseas Than Any Nation In EU, WEF Reveals”

Seen A Spanish Property You Love & Hoping To Make An Offer? First Add 15% To The Price. Here’s Why

The spike in temperature here in the UK will provide food for thought for anybody who has been considering relocating, or acquiring a property in Spain. There are two ways to look at it. Read more “Seen A Spanish Property You Love & Hoping To Make An Offer? First Add 15% To The Price. Here’s Why”

If The London Property Market Is Creaking, Does It Make Sense To Start Looking Overseas?

Ever since Britain joined the European Union in 1973, property in London has represented about as sound an investment as anybody could hope for. But now that Britain is set to cut ties with the EU, is the city’s property market about to suffer a correction, and is it worth looking at alternative options? Read more “If The London Property Market Is Creaking, Does It Make Sense To Start Looking Overseas?”

How To Gain Permanent Residency or Citizenship In Spain? EU Membership Helps, Or Spend Half A Million On Property

Brits of all ages, backgrounds and salary brackets flock to Spain every year; some with retirement in mind, others for work or lifestyle reasons. Many of whom, seduced by the Spanish way of life, decide to emigrate permanently to the country. Read more “How To Gain Permanent Residency or Citizenship In Spain? EU Membership Helps, Or Spend Half A Million On Property”

Overseas Buyers Of Prime UK Properties Are On The Rise, As Investors Start To Look Beyond London

Exclusive London properties are selling at their biggest discount to asking price in over a decade, and attracting more foreign buyers, particularly from the Middle East, than domestic ones, according to research from Hamptons Property Agents.

The trend looks to be spreading beyond London, too; research from Knight Frank released in February this year suggests that very nearly half of all country estates in Britain with a value above £5m were sold to foreign nationals in 2017. Read more “Overseas Buyers Of Prime UK Properties Are On The Rise, As Investors Start To Look Beyond London”

Deconstructing The Luxury Property Market; From High End Hong Kong To The “Clamour For Glamour” In Canada

According to a recent report from auction house Christies, investigating the state of the luxury property market in 2017, the world’s most expensive property can be found in Hong Kong; purchased in 2016 for an eye-watering $270 million dollars. Read more “Deconstructing The Luxury Property Market; From High End Hong Kong To The “Clamour For Glamour” In Canada”

Sun, Stability & Growth; Why The Spanish Property Market Is Hottest Destination For Overseas Investment In Europe

What is it that makes Spain such an inviting destination for those looking to emigrate abroad?

Is it the climate, which, at its best, is the envy of the world? Read more “Sun, Stability & Growth; Why The Spanish Property Market Is Hottest Destination For Overseas Investment In Europe”

South America Dominates List of Favourite Retirement Destinations, With Costa Rica Taking Top Spot

From time to time, we all catch ourselves daydreaming about our ideal overseas retirement destination.

Of course, many of us take things a step further and end up living that dream. There’s no doubt that the advantages a warmer climate, better healthcare, or a place where your money goes a little further demand serious consideration, and with the world getting “smaller” everyday, it’s never been easier to turn a dream of the perfect retirement lifestyle into a reality. Read more “South America Dominates List of Favourite Retirement Destinations, With Costa Rica Taking Top Spot”

Moving Abroad. Is It Better To Rent Or Buy?

If you are reading this post then it is probably safe to assume that you have decided to move overseas, or are at least considering it.

Of course, this is a big decision in anybody’s life and it is rarely taken lightly. The worst part is that making the decision to move abroad is just the first step in a process that may take years before you feel properly “at home” somewhere again! Read more “Moving Abroad. Is It Better To Rent Or Buy?”

How Will PSD2 Affect The Fortunes Of The “Big Banks” In 2018?

This content is sourced and brought to you by The Money Cloud – comparing the best rates for sending money overseas offered by hand-picked, regulated brokers and money transfer agencies.

Before we begin to discuss PSD2, let’s remind ourselves why banks exist in the first place.

Banks look after our cash for us. Sometimes they charge a small fee for doing so, and sometimes they request permission to use our deposits for the sake of their own returns, promising to pay us interest for the right to do so.

So far so good. We can all agree that storing our money securely with a bank is preferable to storing it under the floorboards, if only for security reasons. From a bank’s perspective, it is also win-win. Even if we end up owing the bank money, we will incur charges carefully computed to ensure the bank still makes a profit from our business. Read more “How Will PSD2 Affect The Fortunes Of The “Big Banks” In 2018?”

Buying Property Overseas: 10 Crucial Things To Consider Before You Take The Plunge

This content is brought to you by The Money Cloud – comparing the best rates for sending money overseas offered by hand-picked, regulated brokers and money transfer agencies

Welcome to our guide to buying property overseas.

It’s around this time of year, with winter well and truly descending upon us, and daylight-saving time rearing its ugly head, that many of us, those that can afford it, consider the possibility of either relocating overseas, or acquiring a property overseas.

Wouldn’t it be just great to know that, faced with a particularly grim weekends’ weather, we can simply jump on the Eurostar or into the family car, or onto a direct flight to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, or even Croatia, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Albania…or even further afield?

A ski-chalet in the Swiss Alps. A beachside villa in Sitges. A small finca in the Balearics. It’s not as much of a pipe dream as you might think.

All you have to do is to break the process down into small steps, set targets, timeframes, price limits, and devote a decent chunk of time to researching – or better still, visiting – the places where you’d most like to purchase a second home. Here’s how. Read more “Buying Property Overseas: 10 Crucial Things To Consider Before You Take The Plunge”

Escape To The Chateau Returns To TV. Are The “Experts” Right About The Risks Of Buying Overseas?

Dick Strawbridge, from Essex, his partner Angel and their two children are returning to our TV screens this autumn for a new series of Escape to the Chateau on Channel 4. 

In the first series, the couple risked it all by swapping their two-bedroom flat in Essex for a fairy-tale French Chateau, at a cost of £345,000 pounds. Around €390,000 euros based on current exchange rates. Read more “Escape To The Chateau Returns To TV. Are The “Experts” Right About The Risks Of Buying Overseas?”