Mortgage Advice for First Time Buyers, First Time Buyer Mortgages and First Mortgage Advice

Buying Property Abroad

Could Buying a Property Abroad Secure your Future?

Many people are buying a property abroad to secure their future? Is this a wise investment?

It's true that property investment can bring large returns, but it needs to be properly managed in order to do so. If you're going to rely on the income from renting or selling a property abroad, then you need to approach its purchase and management in the same way as you would a business in order to maximise the profits you can make.

Is it a guaranteed income? Will it rise in value?

No-one can guarantee that your property will be able to fund your first home or your retirement. You are relying on property prices increasing in the location where you have your property abroad – and they will need to increase by at least a certain percentage in order for you to make enough money on your property to live on in the future. Many properties are available before they are even built (buying off plan) and can have accumulated considerable value by the time they are available for rent or habitation. If a location becomes saturated with holiday properties, or suffers from a sudden drought, or particularly bad weather, or a change of government for example, the value of your property could fall. On the other hand, some resorts and locations are just beginning to increase in popularity and so a canny buy now could produce some impressive returns in 10 years or more.

If you are buying a property abroad in order to have something to generate income for your retirement, you need to spend some time researching the places where you have the greatest chance of making money. Work out how much you're prepared to spend and what sort of return you want, and over what period. If you're renting, look at the general market rental for properties like yours and see if you can make a profit by charging a similar rate. See how you can limit your costs so that you can get as much return on your investment as possible.
 
More information on buying property abroad:

Researching buying a property abroad l Why buy a property abroad? l Points to Consider when buying a property abroad l How to finance your property abroad – various options and likely costs l Building a property abroad l General tips for buying a property abroad l Buying a property abroad with friends l Choosing your new property l Insuring your property abroad l Buying property abroad as an investment l Living permanently in your property abroad l Maintaining your property l Property abroad - don't stop at Europe l Property abroad - FAQs  Renting your property abroad l Tax and your property abroad l The responsibilities of owning a property abroad  l The true costs of an overseas property l Viewing your property abroad l Legal considerations when buying a property abroad


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There's alot going on! What do you think?

Interest rates are low but could rise? Is this a good time to buy?

Yes
No

Varialbe rate mortgages go up if bank interest rates do. Which is your preference?

Fixed Rate
Variable rate

Interest only mortgages are cheaper but in the end you don't end up owning the property. Which is better?

Interest Only
Repayment

House prices are waivering. Do you think this is a good time to buy?

Yes
No

Shared equity mortgages allow you to buy a new home with 5% deposit and an equity loan through FirstBuy. What do you think?

Too complicated
Too expensive
Too risky

Rent to buy allows you to peg a property price, save towards a deposit and pay reduced rent. What do you think?

Works best in a rising market
Too complicated
Good option