Investment Property Sales: Emerging, Overseas & Foreign Property Investments

Why Invest in Overseas Property?

Property investors are still choosing to invest their money in property abroad over the stock market for a number of reasons:

A property abroad provides investors with a tangible asset
Property investments provide better capital growth returns on both long term and short term investments
Historically, the property markets are less volatile than the stock market
Investors in property have more control over their investments than they would investing in the stock market
Properly structured rental returns usually cover the day-to-day property costs and can provide pension incomes

The best strategies for maximum returns on investment.

Identify high quality overseas property investments within criteria
Purchase the best investment properties abroad at minimum cost
Add value to create immediate capital growth through refurbishments or comprehensive modernisation of foreign property investments
Maximise investment property rental cash flow
Chose the optimum time to sell to achieve maximum return on the foreign property investment
Build a well balanced portfolio of international property investments
Provide first class presentation to the local property rental market via websites, through press advertising, magazine and property brochures and direct contact with international relocation and corporate accommodation agencies.

Overseas Property Developers

Property Marketing & Sales

At any given time, three general factors affect the sale of an overseas property:

The economic market conditions
The location of the property
The market competition - other property like yours competing for the same buyers

These three factors are in a constant state of flux. Interest rates rise and fall, neighbourhoods gain or lose desirability, and as properties are placed on the market, the pool of active buyers changes. No-one can control these factors and wait until all the conditions are perfect. However, they can be maximised to a seller's advantage.

When selling your properties we can offer you an advantage:
A targeted viewer
A captive audience
An opportunity to make multiple impressions
Preparation for market

Sellers' information packs: By ensuring that the legal issues are dealt with at the earliest stages we can help you avoid delay and expense later in the transaction.Our service ensures that all relevant due dilligence documentation is gathered in readiness for the eventual sale so as to meet the latest relevant legal requirements.
Valuations: In order to avoid the risks of undervaluing or overvaluing the property it is vital to have the views and expertise of property experts who can advise on local and national economic conditions and trends, as well as take account of special factors.
Property Marketing: We prepare a detailed set of particulars with measurements and select the best buyers for your property. Our expertise will ensure that the property is shown to the market in a way that attracts the right buyer prepared to agree to the terms you want
Property viewings & Negotiations: The assessment of suitable buyers for your property is the service of most value to those not used to selling property. We make the enquiries and checks that are vital to making a deal happen. By establishing relationships with potential buyers we are able to recommend those who may be able to meet your needs and to save time and cost which can be lost through abortive and fruitless negotiations.
Contracts & Exchange: Through the provision of the information pack much of the initial delay can be avoided and our ProgressTracker service means you can keep up to date on the progress of all related matters such as finance and chain related transact

Preparation is half the Battle; Avoid the Pitfalls

Buying a Property Overseas as an Investment?

Preparation - The Key Message, Going to look at properties should be the LAST stage in the process, not the first. The process of buying a property - whether for your personal use or as an investment - SHOULD start with thorough preparation. This will save to a lot of wasted time AND money. We STRONGLY recommend that you make contact with us BEFORE you go to look at any property. That way we can deal with all of the key issues (such as those listed below) calmly and clearly, before you get involved in the rush and pressure always associated with buying a specific property anywhere in the world.

Preparation Check List
Why are you buying the property? Is this for retirement, a holiday home, a holiday home that you want to pay its way or a pure investment. If you are buying a property as an investment, see our Guide to Buying Investment Property.

Which country and area will suit you best? If this is an investment, where are you likely to make the most money?

Which type of property is best for you? Villa, apartment, town house, finca, condo, penthouse, loft, rural, beach font, city centre. This is not always obvious.

How are you going to pay for the property? Are you going to take out a mortgage? If so, where and for how much? What are you doing to guard against the risk of fluctuating exchange rates?

How are you going to manage the property? If you want to let the property, who are your target tenants? Who will manage the lettings? How much money will you make?

Who should be the legal owner of the property? The right choice here can save you £/€/$THOUSANDS, even on an ordinary holiday home. See below for more information

We will be happy to assist you with all of these issues.

Get the Right Advice

Who should own the property?

Getting this question of ownership wrong is probably both the most common and the most expensive mistake people make when buying property overseas. There are many people who could be made the legal owner of the property or, as the case may be, the shareholders in the company that owns the property. The best choice is, often, not obvious.

Getting this wrong can cost you tens of thousands of pounds/euro/dollars of totally unnecessary taxes, during your lifetime and on your death.Most local lawyers will be unable to help you make this decision as it involves an understanding of both the local AND your own legal, tax and inheritance systems.Investmment Property Sales can help with all of these issues.

What are the options?

There are many ways to purchase a foreign property as an investment. These include:

in your own name alone
in your name and in the name of your co-purchaser(s)
wholly or partly in your children's
names or in the name of somebody
whom you would like (eventually!) to inherit the property from you
in the name of a limited company,
whether English, 'local' or "off-shore"
via your SIPP/SSAS pension fund
via an investment fund (REIT, PUT etc)
via an investment club
via a trust