Friday, January 2nd, 2009
 One-2-Property The past 10 years have seen an increase in the interest, purchase and benefit of buying a property abroad. The late 90’s and early part of the 21st century has seen house prices surge in the Western countries to record heights, this together with the ever increasing number of the low cost airline destinations has given the average family the excess equity in their existing homes and easier access to be able to think about buying and perhaps living overseas.
We have all been on a holiday to some exciting destination, be it Europe, The Americas or even exotic Asian and Pacific countries, and whenever we see a local estate agent we always make a beeline for their shop window if not to compare the prices to back home then certainly to see how and what we could afford - without really considering the possibilities.
The main question we at One-2-Property are asked by potential investors and holiday home seekers is “where should we buy”? A difficult question to answer as everybody’s idea of owning overseas investment property or off plan developments is completely different. We have a series of questions that we ask our clients to consider when thinking of buying abroad which include:
* Budget - how much do you want to or can you spend. Do you need a mortgage or finance?
* Location - is location important for you? Beach, countryside or town?
* Use - personal for holidays or purely investment or a bit of both?
* Access - is getting to your property easily and cheaply important to you?
* Employment - will you need to work what is the employment situation?
* Schooling - do you need to consider such things as schooling for your children?
* Size - will a one bed apartment be big enough or do you need to consider a 4 bed town house or villa?
* Rentability - is it going to be a necessity to rent your property out to help with mortgage payments?
Although we have many different websites and feature over thousands of properties for sale in different countries abroad no two inquiries are ever the same and as such we treat each inquiry on a personal basis. We feature properties for sale directly from local owners and developers in each country.
What about the legalities
Buying a property abroad can be relatively straightforward and we can help - there is nothing really complicated as long as you follow instructions and use a reliable legal representative - whether they are from the country concerned or from your home country - it will certainly make you feel more at ease and will help things to run smoothly. We feature various articles and information on buying property abroad on our website and apart from various little peculiarities in certain countries most overseas property purchases can run smoothly.
Mortgages
Financing your overseas property is a lot easier now than it was a couple of years ago. Mortgages for buying property abroad can be arranged through One-2-Property or local banks. A typical loan to value %’s can range from 50 - 60% depending on the country.
Insurance
As with all major purchases insurance must play a part in your overall budget plan. We would strongly recommend that adequate property and contents insurance is taken out to cover your investment as it grows. Although you don’t anticipate any problems arising with your new home you certainly want to ensure that your investment is covered against loss and damage.
As we become more and more daring in our ventures of overseas holidays then the general public will continue to conquer new and exciting areas of the globe in which to lay their foundations of a holiday home or indeed a permanent residence abroad. Whatever your reasons are for considering a move abroad then remember there’s only one company out there that can offer direct access to thousands of properties for sale in the hottest destinations Tel: +66807007900
Tags: Buying Property Oversea's, real estate
Posted in Investments | 2 Comments »
Friday, January 2nd, 2009
 One-2-Property Spain
More than 1.2 million passengers jetted out to the country from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports in 2008, their operator BAA Scotland said.
This was twice as many as the Netherlands, which was second, while Ireland was third.
France and Germany overtook the USA, rising to fourth and fifth.
Norway also entered the top 10 for the first time.
Four of Spain’s airports - Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife and Palma - were among the top 10 destinations flown to by Scottish travellers.
The most popular single destination was Amsterdam, with 530,000 Scots travelling there.
The Dutch capital is a popular tourist city in its own right - but is also a major international hub for onward connections.
Dublin was the second most visited city, with Paris jumping from sixth place last year to third place this year, with its numbers being boosted by new services from Glasgow.
BAA Scotland spokesman Donald Morrison said: “It seems that Spain is as popular now with Scots as it has ever been, and with the top three most popular countries unchanged from last year, you could argue that we are becoming creatures of habit.
“However, with France and Germany knocking the US - traditionally one of our most popular tourist markets - into sixth place, and Norway entering the top ten for the first time, perhaps tastes are beginning to change.”
Newark airport in New York was the most popular long haul destination, followed by Dubai, Orlando Sanford and Toronto.
New services
The Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh entered the top five for the first time, while New York’s JFK airport and the Caribbean resort of Puerto Plata made their first appearance in the top 10.
Airport operator BAA Scotland said it aimed to defy the credit crunch by increasing capacity in 2009, despite the economic slowdown which has seen worldwide airline cuts.
Almost half a million extra seats will be on sale from its three Scottish airports, with new services to Norway, Canada, the Caribbean and other destinations.
Mr Morrison said: “There is no doubt that 2008 was a challenging year for the airline industry in Scotland, and 2009 will be no less difficult.
“With demand falling, and airlines around the world reducing capacity, Scotland is not immune to the current economic decline.
“However, with almost half a million new seats on sale in 2009, we have shown that it is possible to attract new business, offering more choice for Scottish holidaymakers and boosting inbound tourism.”
Tags: real estate, spain, Spain vacations
Posted in Investments, Travel | No Comments »
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
As a difficult year for the Spanish property market draws to a close and with future financial concerns at the forefront of many people’s minds, we ask how this market will fair in 2009?
In the last ten years, more and more Brits have taken the plunge of investing in Spanish property, be it in the form of a holiday home, buy to let investment or permanent relocation. Casas de Lorca, established developers in Murcia, south east Spain, offer their thoughts about what they expect to see during the next twelve months. Looking at the key underlying market influencers, they offer concrete reasons as to why the more alarmist predictions of slumps should be exiled and why interest in Spain by Britons will continue to thrive well into the next decade.
Experts believe that both UK and Euro interest rates will continue to fall throughout the first half of 2009 helping to stimulate both the UK and Spanish property markets. As lower interest rates and greater governmental pressure on banks increases lending, the UK property market is likely to be stimulated. As people manage to sell their UK homes, more can buy their dream home and relocate to Spain as is the desire of many. Casas de Lorca has a large database of clients who have decided that they wish to purchase a luxury villa in inland Murcia but are waiting to sell their home in the UK; therefore if the falling UK interest rate simulates the domestic property market, then not only will there be more new buyers for Spanish property but it will allow Casas de Lorca’s existing prospective buyers to complete their purchases.
Aside from economic factors, Casas de Lorca say the popularity of Spain as a holiday destination over the last year has reasserted itself. Twelve months ago, there was a large growth in potential property purchasers looking for new, emerging, often viewed as ‘better value’ markets than Spain leading to a glut of property stock, especially on the popular Costas. Towards the end of 2008 however, many of the flight routes to emerging European destinations were cancelled leaving buyers less sure of the more untried and untested destinations. Nevertheless, the resultant over supply of holiday homes in Spain led to price reductions in some areas, which can be viewed in a positive as well as negative light. Whist some investors became unsure about potential price drops, others saw the opportunity to grab a bargain and this is set to continue in 2009.
Whatever the changing economic circumstances, the underlying reasons why Brits love Spain remain unchanged. The year round sunshine, easy going lifestyle and comparatively lower cost of living are still strong pull factors. For the climate alone it is regarded as one of the preferred destinations for the retirement market. In addition, many looking to retire abroad are coming to the conclusion that emerging destinations may not have the same quality of health care or the familiar culture they see as Spain offering them.
Mike Hamilton, Sales and Marketing Director of Casas de Lorca believes that although 2009 may present more difficulties than in recent years, he remains unconcerned about the Spanish property market and its long lasting attractiveness to Britons. He says:
“Despite current difficulties, I believe the various underlying factors leave cause for optimism in the Spanish property market, chief among them the Brits’ enduring love of Spain. For example, I have forecast for strong growth in our villa sales. The classic designed villas set on five acre plots have continued to sell well during the credit crisis, so I predict that if dropping interest rates begin to stimulate the UK property market we will be seeing at least a 30% growth versus 2008. It will take time for the property market to begin to recover, but with low interest rates and uncertainty in the stock market it is difficult to see where else people would look to invest.”
Posted in Investments | 3 Comments »
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
 One-2-Property Spain Spain’s super-rich will emerge as the key investors in its troubled property sector next year and would do well to take up positions in the office market, the head of consultants Cushman & Wakefield said on Monday. Roger Cooke, Cushman’s managing partner in Spain, said traditional investors like German property funds had the money but not the ability to open new funds in Spain, while private equity buyers were still waiting on the sidelines to swoop on distressed assets. “I expect that in the early part of next year, Spanish private families will be the strongest investors in the market,” he told Reuters in an interview in Madrid. Spain’s richest individuals, such as Amancio Ortega, the owner of Inditex (ITX.MC: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), famous for its Zara fashion chain, have long targeted the property market and have a tradition of more hands-on involvement than others in Europe, who pass investment decisions to fund managers. “They’ve got the money, yields have adjusted, they are not looking for really distressed levels of pricing, so there’s more on offer,” said Cooke. Investment in smaller lots of up to 50 million euros would be the trend next year, as they are easier to finance and match the buying power of family firms. Cooke added that office space was probably the best defensive bet in the downturn. “I suspect the office market will begin to return before the retail market. We haven’t seen the last of retail sales problems, and the office market (in Madrid and Barcelona) is not oversupplied like it has been in previous cycles,” he said, adding that office leases had fallen by 35 to 45 percent this year. “I think the first half of 2011 will be quite an interesting time to be delivering a building.” Retailers’ hesitancy to occupy new units and tenants pushing for rent cuts as consumer sales weaken, put pressure on shopping centre investments, he said.
Spain’s 10-year residential property boom was snuffed out this year by massive oversupply, rising interest rates and the credit crunch, while the commercial business caught the same cold sweeping global property markets.
“There is a complete lack of confidence, and that applies across the board, whether it be residential, development, occupational. The whole Spanish market is very uncertain.” The sector racked up billions of euros of debt in a wave of ambitious expansion, and Cooke said funding that debt while revenues shrivelled had turned almost every Spanish property firm into a stressed, though not distressed, seller of assets.
“Pretty much all have an interest in a sensible sale of assets. We are talking, quite literally, of survival in many cases.”
However, the market would not degenerate into a fire sale because banks would seek to avoid loading their balance sheets with toxic debt, he said.
“The banks are not letting them sell at any price. If you get to a situation where the banks push too far, and they don’t survive, is anything served by that?
“Whether we see more distressed sales next year all depends on the attitude of banks, regulators and even politicians.”
Tags: investment, property, real estate, spain
Posted in Investments | No Comments »
|
|
|
It seems that Spain is as popular now with Scots as it has ever been 
