One of the major attractions of purchasing a skiing property in the US rather than Europe is the cost. Since the global recession, US property has tanked and has yet to fully recover. This means that there are more opportunities for investors at both ends of the scale – budget ski properties and luxury skiing properties. Estate agents in Colorado have said that some properties have seen price drops of up to 35pc since their highest point and this has piqued the interest of increasing numbers of international property buyers.

Aside from the price, Colorado is an east place to get to. For skiers, it offers regular snow falls, slopes to suit any ability and it tends to be slightly quieter than the European ski resorts. During the off season, there are plenty of things to do in the area meaning there is no shortage for rental potential all year round.

Europe has also seen a price drop however the US still tends to win on a ‘bang for your buck’ basis – although Europe still remains an excellent proposition for those looking to invest in ski property.

The price reductions on European ski properties are not as great as those that have been seen in the US however they still offer great value for money, especially in the more popular ski resorts, as there will always be rental demand in the area.

Wherever you choose to purchase your ski property, the basic principles of buying remain the same:
- Altitude is not the most important factor; look for properties when it is ski in/ski out
- Infrastructure should be good
- Accessibility to the local ski areas should be excellent
- Good local amenities are a bonus
- Consider a leaseback scheme if you want to take some of the stress out of managing the property

No related posts.

According to research by the UK’s Post Office International Payments, 40 percent of UK overseas property investors have been stung with unexpected maintenance bills that they hadn’t budgeted for. When looking to buy real estate abroad costs such as tax, stamp duty, professional fees, mortgage payments are property ‘downtime’ are usually included in the budget. However a significant proportion of people forget that a property abroad will likely need some money spent on maintenance each year.

Maintenance bills are wide and varied – for example there may be shared maintenance fees for communal areas or properties may need renovating or white goods fixing.

When looking for a property abroad, it is vitally important to check the state of the property carefully. For example old stone houses may have had work bodged in the past so that the previous owners can avoid large bills – leaving new owners with a massive bill several months or years down the line. It is also worth looking at how expensive materials and labour is in the region as it can differ significantly from your home country and what may seem like a routine problem at home, could cost a lot more abroad.

Related posts:

1. Pre-budget report hits UK holiday home owners The Chancellor’s Pre-Budget report has hit holiday home owners. UK property investors who rent out their holiday home in the UK will no longer be...
2. Overseas investors flock to France French property is rapidly becoming the place to buy in Europe again for overseas property investors. During the boom years, many property investors took mortgages...
3. Chinese Investors Attracted To Overseas Property With China looking to limit Chinese property investors with a raft of new legislations, Chinese investors are now looking abroad to expand their property portfolios....

Firstly, you need to ensure that the holiday home is in good decorative order throughout and meets any local health and safety regulations. It is better to have fairly neutral furnishings and decorations to ensure that you don’t put people off. Your holiday home should also not be cluttered by lots of personalised effects – some decoration is required however anything personal like family photos or expensive heirlooms should be locked away out of sight. It is also good to have clean, matching crockery.

You should also think about first impressions – when the guests first arrive, it is nice to have a basket of essentials for them to help them relax and get settled in after their journey. The basket should include items such as tea, coffee, milk, a small snack such as a packet of biscuits of sweets, and a bottle of water. It is also useful to include a little ring binder full of up-to-date local information such as the activities that are going on in the area (festivals, farmer’s markets etc), local travel arrangements, nearest amenities and recommended tourist spots and restaurants.

You now need to decide what dates your holiday property will be available for and how much you are intending to charge – do your research and remember that prices will change according to the season.

You will also need to consider how the property will be maintained and how the handover of keys etc will be handled. It is useful to use a local letting agent if you do not live nearby as they can handle the handover, can ensure that the welcome basket is always ready for new guests, and can also help out in case of emergency (such as helping you find a plumber).

It should go without saying that you need to find out about legal and tax issues in the country where your property is located and, indeed, with your own country’s taxes associated with overseas rental income. You may want to contact a solicitor and/or accountant to help you sort out all the legal and tax issues surrounding holiday home letting.

Now for the advertising. If you have an unusual property or you have a large number of properties you wish to let, you might want to consider having your own website. If you choose to create your own website, just because it is there does not mean that people will automatically come – you will need to either look at online marketing and/or SEO to help drive visitors, or you will also need to look at other ways of marketing your holiday home.

There are some fantastic holiday home portals already on the internet and it is a good idea to add your properties here – these websites will already be well known and will rank highly in the search engines therefore your property is likely to get much higher visitor numbers and therefore bookings than if you run your own website.

When writing your advertisement, make sure that you use good English and you fully describe your property. Take a look at other ads and base your own advertisement on the bits that you like. You should include all the facilities that your holiday home has to offer including TV, satellite, internet, WiFi, kitchen appliances, air conditioning etc.

Remember to include a pricing structure, how far away your home is from popular tourist attractions, and what there is to do in the local area.

It is also really important to take photographs of your property – both internal and external – as an ad without good photographs is unlikely to attract much interest. Ensure that the property looks clean and tidy and that the photographs are taken from good angles and it is clear what the property looks like. Try and ensure that the photos are a good resolution so that prospective renters get a good feel for the property.

Don’t just look at free property portal websites – although it may be a good idea to try these first, research and talk to other holiday home owners to see what portals work for them and then try them out for yourself. Try the portals out for yourself and choose ones which offer the best user-experience. Many portals offer free or low-cost ads with extra charges for extras such as photos, highlighting an ad in the search results or adding extra words to an add. Think carefully about whether any of these extras will actually help you sell your property or not.

When you receive an enquiry, it is important to respond promptly in a professional and friendly manner. You should try and respond to e-mails within a day as many people will only research for a day or two, so waiting longer than this may make you lose a booking. Be prepared to be flexible in areas such as times of arrival and departure, minimum night stay, help with airport transfers, price etc. The friendlier and more helpful you are, the more likely you are to get the booking – and the more likely the people are to recommend you to their friends and family!

Related posts:

1. Pre-budget report hits UK holiday home owners The Chancellor’s Pre-Budget report has hit holiday home owners. UK property investors who rent out their holiday home in the UK will no longer be...
2. Club together to buy your home in the sun There are increasing numbers of people buying homes abroad together for a number of reasons. But is it always such a good idea? The good...
3. Top destinations to go on holiday are also the best places to buy properties right now Results from the UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation) showed that France continues to maintain its postion as the top holiday destination in the World. World tourism...

The most notable decline in visitor numbers came from the US where visits fell by 17 percent to 3 million.

The top UK visited towns, in order of popularity, were London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, proving that property investors would do well to look in these five major cities if they wish to invest in UK property.

Matching the decline in visits to the UK, UK residents also made fewer visits abroad in 2008 – down 0.6 percent to 69 million visits. Again, the final quarter of the year saw the most marked change with visits down 9 percent. Spain and France remain two of the most popular countries for Brits to visit, although slightly more unusual countries such as Romania, Mexico, Egypt and Slovakia are starting to prove a lot more popular.

John Luke Busby, director, London-based French mortgage specialist, Athena Mortgages, comments, “Once again, France and Spain remain the most popular destinations for Brits. But we aren’t just crossing the channel for our holidays. There has been a noticeable increase, recently, in the number of people enquiring about buying, or actually buying, French property.

“The main reasons for this are exceptionally competitive mortgage finance, the support being given to the French property market by the Sarkozy-led tax incentives and, closer to home, continued nerves surrounding the UK property market.”

Related posts:

1. Morocco: Higher visitor numbers make it an excellent place to invest Morocco remains an excellent country to buy property in with the number of tourists increasing by 6 percent last year despite the global economic crisis....
2. France house prices predicted to fall The national association of real estate agents in France is predicting that the average house price in the country will fall by around 7-8 percent...
3. Why now is a good time to buy property in France The French property market and German property markets are tipped to be a good place to invest over the next few months as new figures...

If you are buying a manufactured home, there are lots of factors to consider. Here at BuyingForeignProperty.com we have put together a short guide to help you through your manufactured home purchase.

Affordability
Many manufactured homes are actually sold separately to the land on which they will be placed therefore when you are looking at which home to buy, it is important to make sure you factor in land purchase or land rental into your figures.

If you are planning to buy land for your mobile home, be aware that there may be costs over and above purchase costs for example the land may need clearing, systems such as the septic system, electricity and water may need to be installed, and landscaping and driveways and pathways may need to be created, all of which will cost money.

If you are looking at putting your manufactured house into a park, there may be costs associated with this such as improvements to pathways and carports. It is wise to examine all the park rules and lease terms before you make a decision on location, most notably any allowable rent increases. Rental contracts may also include terms such as the landlord’s rights to access the inside of your manufactured home, the behaviour of children on the site, the use of clothes lines, and parking on the site.

When buying your manufactured home, you may also have to add additional transport costs onto the purchase price to allow your home to travel from the factory to your chosen site. You should always try and allow for a little leeway in your calculations for the unexpected – despite warranties, surveys have shown that some manufactured home owners have had to shell out for significant costs in the first few years of ownership.

The Design and Floor Plan
There are likely to be a few options of manufactured home open to you and it is wise to look at a range of manufactured homes in your price range to ensure you choose the right home for you. Single-section mobile homes are one main unit; Multi-section mobile homes consist of two or more units joined together.

There are different common problems associated with each style – single section homes are typically more associated with floor, roof, window and door problems; multi-section homes are typically more associated with problems related to the joining of the sections.

There are a variety of sizes available for both styles of home although single-section homes tend to be slightly cheaper than multi-section manufactured homes.

Your style and size of manufactured home may be dependent on the location you choose so ensure that you have done your research before you decide on a purchase – there may be zoning or restrictive covenants that limit mobile homes on private lots. Some rental parks may also have restrictions on the size of homes, as well as the type and appearance of the manufactured unit. Even if the rental park does not have a limit on the appearance of the home, it is wise to try and find a home which fits in well with the neighbourhood as it will probably have a higher value when you come to sell up than one which sticks out like a sore thumb.

When choosing a home, try to choose one where the roof hangs over the edge of the house and that it is properly ventilated. The overhand on the roof will prevent rainwater from getting into the walls and damaging them. If your home has an attic, ensure it is ventilated properly – if your house has a shingled roof, an unventilated attic can shorten the lifespan of the shingles or invalidate the warranty on the shingles.

If possible, the walls should have studs 16 inches apart as they will be sturdier. Vinyl is preferable over metal or hardboard sidings as manufactured homes with metal or hardboard sidings tend to have more water problems.

Loans and Financing
It is important to investigate all your financing options and not go for the first deal you are offered. This will ensure that you get the best financial deal possible. Have a look at banks as well as credit unions and traditional manufactured housing lenders. Many manufactured home dealers will use personal property loans rather than mortgage loans which means that rates are typically 2-4% higher than a normal mortgage rate.

Transportation and Installation
All manufacturers should provider their manufactured home buyers with instructions explaining how to prepare the home site and how to install and anchor their new home. Read these instructions carefully before your home is delivered and if possible, be at the site when the house is delivered. Bring the guide along with you and watch what the installer is doing.

Ensure that the installers and movers have experience of working with manufactured homes, preferably with experience of your particular make and model of home. Many manufacturers have certification for installers or can provide a factory crew to help install your new mobile home. It is a good idea to make sure whoever moves and installs your home not only has good references but also has insurance and bonds in case of damage.

Warranties
Warranties are always a good idea. Many manufacturers, retailers, installers and component manufacturers can offer separate warranties to cover most aspects of your manufactured home. Unfortunately having many different warranties can make if difficult to work out who to turn to when you do have a problem.

If you have the option of having a warranty from several people, there are two factors to consider – the length of the warranty and the cover provided by the warranty. Some warranties may exclude cosmetic items, and this term may cause debate further down the line; others may not cover the moving and installation of the manufactured home, a common time for damage to occur.

If you are buying a second hand home, these usually come with limited or no warranty. It is wise to have a professional inspect the home before you purchase it to make sure there are no hidden problems with it.

Related posts:

1. A Buyers Guide To Albania Albania is hotly tipped to be the next big thing in overseas real estate investment. Albania: Ancient Apollonia Since the end of the Balkan war...
2. More Spanish homes to be bulldozed The saga of British expats being threatened with having their homes bulldozed continues after police turned up on the doorstep of around a dozen homes...

1. Why?
Why are you buying the property? Are you buying it as a holiday home? For capital growth? Many people see overseas property as a way to make a fast buck – a holiday home for free holidays, and a place you can rent out when you aren’t on holiday with the added bonus that the property price will grow significantly.

However, impressive price rises are not guaranteed and many of the high-growth areas are in high-risk areas. It is important not just to look at the best-case scenario, but also the worst case scenario – what will happen if you can’t rent the property out? What happens if property prices in the area stall? It is best to be prepared for all possible outcomes.

2. Research
So you think you’ve found the perfect property – but have you done your research? It is easy to look at pretty brochures and listen to agents’ sales patter however what is the reality of the property? Have you acquainted yourself with the local law on property ownership, inheritance and taxes? Can you get a mortgage – and how much deposit will you need? What are the future development plans for the area? What is the surrounding area like and will it remain that way? It is important that you hire a good lawyer to help you through the minefield of your overseas property purchase as they can advise you on the most common pitfalls and problems.

3. Income
Are you planning to rent your property out? If so, are you buying a property which will appeal to a large number of people? You need to find out what your target market likes – and check your property ticks as many boxes as possible. Check out the local rental market and see if the reality meets your expectations – it is a good idea to research the local property market on your own and not just listen to the people selling you the properties. It is best to consider any rental income to help cover running costs and not to make you a fortune – if it does make you any money on top of the running costs, see it as an added bonus.

4. Transport Links
Transport links are a very important factor. When budget airlines announce new routes to small regional airports in Europe, it helps the local property markets grow significantly.

If you can get a property ahead of a new budget airline route, it will probably help increase your bank balance. However, remember that a lot of these smaller routes are only there because local authorities pay the airlines to fly there. If there are any arguments between the airline and the local authority, the flights may stop (as was threatened in the French town of Nimes).

5. Resale
It is important to think about how well your property will do when you put it back up for sale – will it be easy to sell in the future? Obviously the better the property market is, the more the property is likely to fetch. However quirky, odd, high-maintenance or remote properties should be avoided as these will probably be quite difficult to sell on and only appeal to a few people. Check out how long your property has been for sale for – if it has been for sale for a while, ask yourself why.

Essentially, the overseas property game all comes down to research – know and understand your market well, and take on good professional advice and you will hopefully not go too far wrong.

Related posts:

1. 5 Golden Rules For Buying Land in Brazil Investors can once again hold confidence in the Brazilian land market as the President of the ADIT (Association for Real Estate and Tourism Development in...

What do you look for in an overseas removal company?
It is important to look for a removal company who is FIDI and FAIM certified and they should also be a part of the BAR Overseas Group.

FIDI is an international federation of overseas movers which has strict entry requirements. FAIM is an audit program which ensures that the removals company maintains a basic level of competence through employee training and skills, response times, company documentation and procedures, as well as examining the financial stability of the company. By choosing a company who have both of these certifications, you will know that the company meets quality criteria and you are therefore more likely to have your move go smoothly.

Generally speaking, removals company will require payment in advance of shipping (although if you are a regular client, you may be offered credit facilities). To ensure that the money you pay is safe, many companies are part of the Bonded Overseas Group of the BAR. Essentially this means that all household goods shipped by the company are covered by an advanced payment guarantee scheme so if the removals company goes under for any reason, your moves will still be funded by the guarantee scheme.

Therefore, we advise that you look for a company who have all the correct certification and are also a part of a money guarantee scheme to ensure that all potential issues are covered.

The typical moving process
A surveyor will typically visit your home and assess the amount of work required for the removals company. They will make a list of the goods you want moved abroad and will discuss what sorts of requirements you have for the move. A detailed written quote should then be sent to you within a few days of the surveyors visit – we advise that you get two or three quotes to ensure you are paying a fair price for your move. Beware of companies who seem very cheap as you tend to get what you pay for.

Upon acceptance of the quote, dates should be agreed for the packing of your goods and a schedule for the move should be agreed upon. You should also be provided with a contact list should you have any queries or problems. The company should be able to provide any assistance you may require with customs export/import papers and also advise you on any insurance you will need.

On the day of the move, a removals team will move in and start packing up your goods. As they pack, they should be compiling an inventory of the packages before loading your packed-up goods onto their mode of transport. You should be given a destination contact for the delivery at this stage.

On the day of delivery, you goods will be unloaded from the transport, checked off against the inventory and placed into the rooms of your choice. Most companies will also unpack your goods for you and dispose of all the packaging (unless you specify otherwise). If any goods have been damaged or broken, it is important to note them down now to ensure you can get recompense. Otherwise, once the unpacking is finished, your overseas removals is completed.

Related posts:

1. Huelva to build international airport The Spanish city of Huelva has finally been given the go-ahead to build an international airport. The city has officially been in talks with the...
2. New international airport for Murcia in Spain Murcia, a lesser-known area of south-eastern Spain, is getting it’s own international airport with work beginning later this year. The news will be music to...
3. Romania – a buyer’s guide Romania joined the EU on January 1 2007, opening up a new route to European property investors. With a colourful history and cheap prices, Romania...

Here at BuyingForeignProperty, the team have come up with their top tips for getting your properties in tip-top condition to help them sell quickly, and for a good price.

First Impressions Count
You only get one chance at a first impression. Take a look at the exterior of the house with a critical eye – are there any areas which could do with tidying up? Perhaps the house needs painting, the front garden needs tidying, or some more flowers would spruce the place up.

Cleanliness
This has to be our top tip. If your house is not clean, people will be put off no matter how nice the bricks and mortar are. Buying properties tends to be an emotional transaction and dirty sinks, grimy work surfaces and tatty carpets will lead to negative impressions. So make sure you either employ a professional cleaner to spruce the entire house up, or scrub until every surface is gleaming.

Ensure the house does not smell, particularly if you have animals. Sometimes, pet owners do not notice that a house smells of their pet. Ask a friend for their honest opinion on the house.

De-Clutter
Minimalist is a good look. Make sure surfaces are uncluttered and extra items hidden away. If you have small or dark rooms, consider renting out a storage locked and store some of your furniture there to help brighten the room and make it look larger. The same applies to any clutter that is lying around – if you can’t put it away into a cupboard, ask a friend to store the items for you, or rent a storage locked.

Light
Natural light is a big bonus so try and let the light in wherever possible. Leave doors to rooms open so as much light as possible can get into the house. Open curtains and make sure all your windows are sparkling.

Mood-setting
As house buying is normally emotional, ambiance plays a big part in the selling process. Cleaning and de-cluttering are a good start to a positive ambiance. Some people believe the smell of freshly baked bread or freshly brewed coffee helps – if you choose to do this, don’t go overboard. The smell should enhance, not overpower.

Home Improvements
Do not slack on the home improvements. If there is an area that needs addressing – perhaps one of the rooms needs a coat of paint, or a shelf needs fixing – do it before you show people around. If you leave the DIY, people will feel that the house needs a lot of work doing to it and that it has not been looked after well. Incomplete or poor standards of work will make buyers nervous and may put them off making an offer on the property.

Personalisation
A little personalisation is good however do not go overboard. Too many personal items such as pictures and photos can distract a buyer from the feeling of space. Try and remove some of your personal items from display so that the buyer can imagine themselves living in the property more easily.

Personalising a room by painting it a strong colour may work for you, but it may also put many buyers off. Painting rooms in a neutral colour should not cost a lot of money but will help sell your property as it will appeal to many more people.

Related posts:

1. Top tips for new Foreign Property Investors Real estate – it’s the latest bandwagon that everyone wants to jump on to make a fast buck. But it’s really not that easy! Here...

Firstly, you should shortlist three or four attorneys – do not be tempted to go with the first one you are recommended or the first one you find. If possible, do some preliminary research into each attorney, reviewing some of their more recent cases to ensure that they have gone well.

When you meet your attorney for the first time, there are several questions you should ask:

What experience do you have in real estate investing, in particular with foreign investors? If possible, look for an attorney who has worked with foreign investors – preferably from your home country – as they should have a better understanding of your country and what you expect.

How much of your practice is real estate? Depending on the market size, it should be at least 30-50%. The attorney you use should specialise in real estate although in smaller markets, you may find that there is less need for an attorney to devote all their time and practice to real estate.

How long have you practiced in real estate law? If possible, look for an attorney who has experience of real estate – five years or more is preferable.

Do you have other real estate investors as clients? It is better if your attorney has several real estate investors on his books as he will be more attuned to your needs. You can also contact other investors for references.

What are your fees? Larger firms tend to charge more because of their overheads, however do not discount smaller firms. You tend to get what you pay for so if someone seems unusually cheap, there is probably a catch somewhere.

Do you work with other real estate professionals? The attorney may be able to recommend and refer you to other professionals such as mortgage brokers, CPAs etc.

These are the main points you should ask each of the attorneys on your shortlist. From their answers, you should be able to determine which real estate attorney you feel will be best for you.

Related posts:

1. How to find a good Foreign Property Lawyer It may seem slightly obvious, but when you are hiring a lawyer to handle your real estate transaction, it is important to pick one who...
2. Montenegro: Real Estate Update What a difference a year makes. At the start of 2008 Montenegro was heralded as one the best places for foreign investors to buy property,...
3. Italy’s Great Real Estate Sell-Off Fancy owning a piece of Italian history or culture? Or maybe you fancy your own island off the coast of Sardinia or Venice? If you...

Spain and Portugal are both popular destinations for European golfers, but other countries are starting to catch onto the golfing theme and golf resorts are popping up all over the world.

Canada is not a country generally thought of as big on golf but it does have an excellent golf resort in the form of The Rock at the Red Leaves resort in Ontario. The course was name as Best New Course by Golf Digest magazine. Although currently closed whilst improvements are made to the course, it is due to reopen next year with expanded teeing areas and wider fairways. Prices within the resort start at around US$280,000 and some overseas investors are guaranteed a 7% pre annum return on their properties for the next four years.

Cape Verde is another country that isn’t synonymous with golfing and yet houses many golf resort gems. A number of golf resorts are in the planning stage. If you are a fan of Jack Nicklaus, there will be a Signature Course on Sao Vicente at Salamansa Islands. However, the resort is not due for completion until 2015 so there is a long wait. A new airport is under construction and is due to open in late 2007, so buying off-plan now could reap huge rewards in the next few years. If a Nicklaus course isn’t for you, Ernie Els has also got two courses under planning in Cape Verde – one on Sal and one of Sao Vicente – again, these will not be completed for the next few years.

Cyprus is also home to some top-notch golf resorts and is a good option for those on a budget. Prices in the Tsada golf resort start from around US$180,000 for a two-bedroomed apartment, making it an affordable option for many people. If your budget stretches a little further, Limassol star offers one bedroomed apartments for around the US$250,000 mark.

So, if you are looking for a property on a golf resort, sometimes you may do well to look outside of the most popular countries and you might just find yourself a golfing gem.

Related posts:

1. Tiger Woods to design exclusive golf Mexican golf course Golfing legend Tiger Woods is set to design an ocean-front golf course for a new Mexican property development. The Punta Brava is a private golf...
2. Golf on your doorstep European market leaders, the Fractional Ownership Consultancy and its sales and marketing arm, The Fractional Group, have teamed up with International Golf & Resort Management...
3. Huelva to build international airport The Spanish city of Huelva has finally been given the go-ahead to build an international airport. The city has officially been in talks with the...