A Spanish villa with a pool on the Costa Del Sol, a charming old farmhouse in the Dordogne, an apartment in The Algarve or a country home on the rolling hills of Tuscany.  Whatever your vision for your retirement abroad you need to be sure you make an informed decision about where you plan to...

There are many advantages to renting rather than buying in Spain and it is worth considering renting initially even if you plan to buy. How do you find a rental property, what are your options and how does the rental process work? Here we set out what you need to know before renting in Spain...

Whether you are planning to buy a holiday or investment property or are moving to France to live and are buying your main residence you need to consider the best options for funding your purchase. Here we set out how the French property market works and the options available to borrowers. Sources of funding...

For many the idea of moving to France is to buy an old farmhouse deep in the country to renovate and settle into a rural lifestyle. For others it is the attractions of the cosmopolitan life in Paris. With prices in Paris it is generally more practical to rent rather than buy, but buying is...

Are you looking to buy property in Spain? Whether you’re an expat resident, a regular visitor or a holiday landlord, owning a Spanish villa can be a huge asset. And before you say ‘but Brexit’, let’s just explain for the avoidance of doubt that the Spanish property market has always been popular with British (and...

Buying property in New Zealand is generally quick, efficient and safe. It takes four to six weeks from offer to moving in, and is relatively inexpensive compared to most European countries. There are few restrictions on foreigners buying property there, although ownership certainly does not guarantee residency rights. It is worth mentioning though, that buying/building...

Portuguese estate agents must be licensed and qualified, so ask to see their INCI certificate and AMI licence. With typical agent fees of more than 5%, private sales are common – look out for boards saying vende-se or para venda. By Christopher Nye Among Portugal’s largest online property portals are casa.sapo.pt and imovirtual.com, or a...

Step one is to get your professionals lined up and ready. That should certainly include a lawyer who is independent of the estate agent or developer whose property you are viewing, who is qualified and who is a specialist in property in Spain and land law, known as urbanismo. By Christopher Nye It is also...

The property buying system in France is completely different to what you might experience elsewhere. It is better regulated than in many countries, making a purchase safer, but more expensive. For a start, agents (immobilier) are licensed. They will have a Carte Professionnelle, be professionally insured and work under the Loi Hoguet, their code of conduct. They may...

Relocating anywhere can be challenging, but moving to Germany might seem more rigid due to all the German paperwork you have to go through and, yes, the language. However, if you follow this checklist step-by-step, you will have everything you need to get started and quickly settle in – from health insurance to phone plan,...

In their annual report on house purchase and rental prices in Portugal Imovirtual have seen increases in the price of buying property in many areas but a reduction in rental prices. Here they set out the results for each area. Written exclusively for Expat Network by Imovirtual House Prices in Portugal House prices in...

When buying a new build in the UK a deposit is often required and if problems arise in funding the purchase this deposit can be at risk, especially for expats. UK expats looking to invest in new build homes in the UK are increasingly at risk of losing their deposits, thinks expat mortgage specialist,...