Buying and Selling Property Abroad
Living abroad is a dream come true for many Britons around the world. But buying and selling property overseas can be a tricky business – and, as many people can testify, it’s easy to get your fingers burnt.
If you’re thinking about buying a home abroad or you want to sell your overseas property, proceed with caution and make sure you get the right legal help. There are many property specialists online that can help you narrow your search and give you the advice you need.
Useful websites for overseas property
Rightmove is one of the leading websites for UK property, but Rightmove Overseas is also very useful for existing and aspiring property owners abroad. Here, you can find property for sale everywhere from the Caribbean to Cambodia. So if you’re looking for a house in another country, there’s plenty of choice here. Alternatively, sellers can also list their properties on Rightmove Overseas and there’s no commission taken. There’s a handy Help & Advice section too: here, you’ll find valuable tips on finance, legalities and the importance of independent advice, so you can arm yourself with knowledge before buying or selling your property abroad.
PrimeLocation also has a range of overseas properties for prospective buyers to view. However, its guide to buying property abroad is essential reading, imparting advice on house hunting, legal tips and investment properties. You’ll also find guides to buying property in specific countries here, including France, Spain and Italy. However, information on selling overseas properties is thin on the ground.
If you want to know how much buying property overseas will cost, or how much you might get for your property abroad, visit Zoopla‘s overseas section. On this site, you’ll not only be able to conduct simple property searches but also see the average asking price for countries around the world. Searches can also be made in Pounds, Euros and US Dollars.
Further sources of online advice
It’s one of Channel 4’s most popular programmes, but A Place in the Sun has a fantastic website too. This is particularly useful if you’re thinking about buying property overseas, particularly in the Mediterranean. As well listings, there’s more advice here about insurance, property laws, emigration and mortgages. You can even visit their regular live show to speak directly to overseas property agents and get money and legal advice first-hand.
Don’t ignore advice from the traditional media either. Consumer specialists Which?, for instance, has a fantastic guide to buying property overseas, including tips on how to conduct your search, tax and completing paperwork. The Telegraph and The Guardian newspapers have a range of resources for overseas property buyers and sellers too, including the latest news on property market developments around the world.
And don’t forget about the UK government. At the comprehensive government advice portal Gov.uk, you’ll find information on buying property abroad from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In the past, the FCO’s team have even appeared at A Place in the Sun Live, so you could catch them at the next event.
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