Buying Property Abroad
- Thread starter FF1078
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FF1078
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Thanks but want to be on Costa Del Sol
FF1078
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Thanks
Moz1000
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I have a place near Alicante. Now is probably a good time to buy as the builders are putting cranes up again which is a good sign.
My tips would be as follows..
1. Choose your location based on easy and reliable flights from your chosen uk airport
2. Go and have a good look round. Who else is buying? Who is selling and why? Talk to a few incumbents. Check out the amenities. How long have the bars been there and how often have they changed hands?
3. Find a good English speaking lawyer in the area.
4. Determine the maintenance costs and the administration of these costs - Administration de Fincas.
5. Find a reliable keyholder/cleaner. Are you thinking pool and garden?
We love our place even though we lost a shed load in value due to the 2008 crash. If we keep it for another 10 years we may break even.....
Moz
My tips would be as follows..
1. Choose your location based on easy and reliable flights from your chosen uk airport
2. Go and have a good look round. Who else is buying? Who is selling and why? Talk to a few incumbents. Check out the amenities. How long have the bars been there and how often have they changed hands?
3. Find a good English speaking lawyer in the area.
4. Determine the maintenance costs and the administration of these costs - Administration de Fincas.
5. Find a reliable keyholder/cleaner. Are you thinking pool and garden?
We love our place even though we lost a shed load in value due to the 2008 crash. If we keep it for another 10 years we may break even.....
Moz
Andyk
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Yes, why go to Spain when you can buy in Italy or France.......My sister lived in Marbella....Went once and yes very hot, lots of nice cars but then it is the Costa del Crime. Full of British which put me off. Saying that is was a lovely place and my sister hasn't lived there for around 8 years now.
allandwf
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yhm
FF1078
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We know the area well as my parents had a villa there until last year and we miss it so are looking to buy ourselves now.
Never been to Italy and the French dont seem to like us like the Spanish do TBH
FF1078
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Gogs253
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Great advice from Moz
Flight availability and frequency from your local airport
Mainland location so that you can drive if necessary
A bit out from the busy areas - great to begin with but can get a bit wearing
A pool can cost a fair bit to maintain and doesn't really get used very much
Spanish laws are very different from ours. Buying and selling is expensive and you cannot pass assets from husband to wife.
Village life is great value for money
I have a place in AndalucÃa about an hour from Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga. Flights to Malaga are frequent and cheap. Very few Brits around. The beach is fine but I can drive there quickly when I want. I had 5 glasses of Rioja and 5 tapas a week last Friday night and the bill was 7 euros and I got a freebee when I left.
If I was to do it again I would probably spend a fair bit of time finding the area I wanted and then rent a place. A lot of Spanish people have houses lying empty and you can get a lot for 300-350 euros a month for long term lets. If you want a change, you can just walk away and go somewhere else.
Gogs
Flight availability and frequency from your local airport
Mainland location so that you can drive if necessary
A bit out from the busy areas - great to begin with but can get a bit wearing
A pool can cost a fair bit to maintain and doesn't really get used very much
Spanish laws are very different from ours. Buying and selling is expensive and you cannot pass assets from husband to wife.
Village life is great value for money
I have a place in AndalucÃa about an hour from Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga. Flights to Malaga are frequent and cheap. Very few Brits around. The beach is fine but I can drive there quickly when I want. I had 5 glasses of Rioja and 5 tapas a week last Friday night and the bill was 7 euros and I got a freebee when I left.
If I was to do it again I would probably spend a fair bit of time finding the area I wanted and then rent a place. A lot of Spanish people have houses lying empty and you can get a lot for 300-350 euros a month for long term lets. If you want a change, you can just walk away and go somewhere else.
Gogs
conaero
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We looked for years for a property in France. We went on various trips to view properties and also when I cycled the length of France I took a leisurely look at different areas.
Initially, I wanted Northern France, and in particular seriously considered the gite we stay in during Le Mans in Le Lude but the wife was not keen as its all too quite for her. In the end we seriously considered Bergerac and that lower left hand corner of France as it had great links back to the UK airports and you could also get easily into Spain and the Balearic Islands.
In the end we worked out investing £250k and upwards to be routed to one place was not the way forward for us and that renting in 6 month blocks was. This meant that we could rent our family home out and this would cover rent/bills/food abroad on a renting basis....seemed silly not to.
This also gives you the opportunity to explore more. We both love France but also Northern and central Italy with Verona being our most favourite place and probably the first one we will try on this basis.
It gives you the freedom to change the type of time you spend overseas, city, rural, beach. We love Lanzarote and were blown away when we went there. Like many, we dismissed it after hearing all the 'Lanza-groty' comments but Playa Blanca is an amazing place, I urge you all to go try it if you are looking for something different. It has wide Cornish type beaches and coves which are quite with a lovely new Marina and some stunning new hotels. Its a really chilled and warm way of life and could quite happily slow the pace down over there.
Initially, I wanted Northern France, and in particular seriously considered the gite we stay in during Le Mans in Le Lude but the wife was not keen as its all too quite for her. In the end we seriously considered Bergerac and that lower left hand corner of France as it had great links back to the UK airports and you could also get easily into Spain and the Balearic Islands.
In the end we worked out investing £250k and upwards to be routed to one place was not the way forward for us and that renting in 6 month blocks was. This meant that we could rent our family home out and this would cover rent/bills/food abroad on a renting basis....seemed silly not to.
This also gives you the opportunity to explore more. We both love France but also Northern and central Italy with Verona being our most favourite place and probably the first one we will try on this basis.
It gives you the freedom to change the type of time you spend overseas, city, rural, beach. We love Lanzarote and were blown away when we went there. Like many, we dismissed it after hearing all the 'Lanza-groty' comments but Playa Blanca is an amazing place, I urge you all to go try it if you are looking for something different. It has wide Cornish type beaches and coves which are quite with a lovely new Marina and some stunning new hotels. Its a really chilled and warm way of life and could quite happily slow the pace down over there.
FF1078
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maverick
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I find the French very welcoming ,may be in big cities but that goes for any big city in the world .
CatmanV2
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