411 Bliss

They say that if anything is likely to reap a return on your investment then ‘bricks and mortar really oughta!’ Many people have purchased property as a long term, or even short term investment - some even choosing property investment as a source of retirement funding. Although over the short term prices vary, and as the mood and government changes prices will dip or soar, over a period of years all property is destined to virtually guarantee a return on the initial investment. Of course, not only will the value of the property provide a return, but during the period of ownership it will help to pay for itself if you choose, for example, to let it out.

However, with house prices still very much at the top end of most people’s budgets, an increasing number of people are looking at opportunities abroad. Typically there are locations where prices are much lower - in particular where countries are investing in property for investors, and this enables most people to either purchase a much larger and more appealing property, an increased number of properties, or a second home for the first time.

There is another reason of course which makes the whole idea of property investment even more attractive, and that is the fact that the owner gains an overseas holiday apartment, villa or house, so that they can enjoy comfortable holidays whenever they choose. Spending the winter months living in your Spanish villa rather than back home looking out at the dismal skies, the grey cloud and the river of muddy rainwater washing through the gutters is a far more enjoyable way of spending life.

Not only that, but buying property abroad provides an opportunity to purchase accommodation for other people who may wish to go on holiday. Often holiday rental accommodation is available to rent at a higher rate than normal rental would be. People on holiday are usually prepared to splash out a little more for luxury. If you have done your homework and found a property to invest in which will appeal to holidaymakers, then you may well find that it pays for itself during the peak seasons alone.

Of course, if you are buying a property abroad, there are many things which it will be important to know, and it is not a decision to enter in to lightly. There are the obvious choices, such as beach or city locations, flats or villas, but there are many other aspects of the process which are easy to ignore.

Many people entering property investment for the first time will probably have imagined buying a villa in Spain, and may not even consider other countries. Yet there are many countries now which are investing heavily in new properties specifically for investors, and often these locations are niche markets that are far more likely to reap a much better return both on rental and long term price increases than the more traditional, and overcrowded investment locations such as Spain.

If asked to name half a dozen likely alternatives for successful overseas investment, many people would stumble, and the list may well be based on their own personal choice of holiday location. However, there are many countries now which are increasingly popular with tourists, but lack a large number of investors. Many of these are building new holiday villages and investment opportunities that provide very reasonable prices for early investors, with a very substantial gain likely within just a few years. One way of identifying such opportunities is to use one of a number of websites offering a list of countries for overseas investors to consider.

Not only do these websites provide a fascinating inside look at countries which can often be overlooked, but they also provide the investor with information which can help speed up the process of choosing and buying a property, including a range of inside tips and advice. Very often the purchasing process and laws governing overseas investors varies from one country to the next. Not being aware of such factors can often cause major headaches later on - and often these can prove to be expensive. Armed beforehand with the inside advice you can feel much more confident in entering the overseas property market.