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...

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...

The property market in Portugal experienced a turnaround in 2015 after several years of recession, which saw property prices fall by 30% on average in the Algarve. Spurred on by property prices that are still around 13% below their 2006/07 peak, British buyers – who have long been the keenest of overseas buyers – were...

From July, Saudi Arabia is collecting a new tax from expats and their dependants, a move that is seen to boost the country’s revenues amid weak oil prices. The new fee will be 100 Saudi riyals (SAR) per dependant per month, around £21 or $27. The amount is expected to increase gradually every year until...

The small Mediterranean island of Malta is proving attractive to property buyers and features tax advantages to those who come to live, invest in a home and retire. Having registered the highest GDP growth rate in Europe in 2015 and the fourth lowest unemployment rate in the EU, Malta is making a name for itself...

Featuring high on the list of Britons’ favourite retirement destinations, Italy has a highly varied property market for you to choose from in mountains, fertile valleys and seafronts. It is best to begin your home search in Italy as soon as possible. Although good housing is available, it may take some time to find the...

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...

International Living magazine’s Annual Global Retirement Index has identified the most-affordable places to buy or rent property abroad in retirement Ecuador was found to be the best in this category. In the colonial city of Cuenca, you can rent a two-bedroom apartment for $500 or less, while the same property in the popular mountain town...

A third of British people who have retired abroad intend to return to the UK, according to findings from the eighth annual NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index. While ‘retired expats’ retiring to warm European countries is an enduring cliché, the index  has found that younger expats (aged 25-35) are actually increasing...

Despite a slowdown in some of the major global economies and growing concerns over rapidly falling oil prices, there are a number of nations whose energy markets continue to thrive. According to contracting services specialists CXC Global, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Mozambique are three examples of countries where demand for specialists in the oil and gas...

Overseas visitors who need healthcare while in England are now being charged differently for using the NHS The way the NHS charges these visitors has been changed so that it does not lose out on income from migrants, visitors and former residents of the UK who have left, who should all pay for their care...

If you’re thinking of moving abroad, one of the biggest things you’ll have to consider is the mortgage. Edward Hardy has the answers to some of the questions you’ve been asking about a mortgage overseas. What are the advantages of taking out a mortgage overseas? As well as the cut-price properties that have been available on...