Buying a home abroad made simple

LOOKING to move house or expand a property portfolio?

Buying a house abroad could be a good move and it’s not as scary as many people imagine.

With the UK housing market on the up again buying a property overseas could be a real bargain.

Among the most popular places for Brit to buy a second, or new, home are Spain, France, Italy, Australia and the US, according to Rightmove Overseas.

The property company also cites the top reasons that people choose to move abroad as looking for better weather and a less stressful way of life.

When it comes to buying either a holiday home, a buy-to-let or a permanent residence in a different country, it isn’t too different to buying property in the UK.

Obviously, there may be some legal differences and there could be some language barriers, but the bulk of the experience is similar.

People looking to buy abroad will still work with an estate agent to find the right property, there will still be legal documents drawn up and, once the home has been purchased, the owner will have some requirements as a result of owning (for example, any local property taxes).

Some tips for anyone looking at an overseas home:

Always use qualified and registered professionals (solicitors and estate agents) that speak good English as well as the native language to make the whole process as headache-free as possible.

Research and follow any laws (local and national) on buying property in the area you are looking at, to avoid any problems down the line.

Check that all the utilities are available in the property (including water, sewage and electricity) and make sure the current owner has no debts outstanding.

Make sure you have a local bank account for your new property and you know all the costs before you commit to anything.

When you visit a possible new home, try and speak to the neighbours, because this can give you a real insight into the area.

Use an independent translator if you don’t have a good grasp of the language and be wary of using an estate agent or solicitor’s recommendation.

Check whether you need a will for the country you are moving to, as well as a UK one, to ensure that your loved ones receive everything you want them to.

If you are buying a new-build property, make sure you have done your homework on the developer to avoid a potential scam

For more advice on buying property abroad, visit the Government’s websitegov.uk/guidance/guidance-forbuying