Expat Buying Property News

11 Jun at 6 PM 2020

British expats looking to secure home country property

It seems the effects of the pandemic on British expats overseas are causing increased interest in the purchase of property back in the home country. According to a survey conducted by a leading UK real estate company, increasing numbers of UK expatriate professionals are expressing interest in buying property in the home country. The majority seem to be buying in order to have a base back home to which they can retreat should economic conditions go against them. Many also seem to have realised the value of having a home to go back to...

30 Dec at 6 PM 2019

Expats in Belgium struggling with soaring property prices

If you’re considering buying property in Belgium, perhaps now is not the time! Belgium is a popular choice for expats who’ve saved for a generous pension once retirement kicks in, but the development of its property market over the past decade doesn’t bode well for incomers. As this decade ends and another begins, Belgian property is expensive enough to spur media claims of overvaluation and house price inflation of up to 56 per cent. For Brits for whom Belgian beer, mayonnaise on chips and Belgian chocolates are a must-have in...

21 Nov at 6 PM 2019

Expat property investors scouring the UK for buy to let bargains

Expats on basic UK state pensions and living the simple life have been badly hurt by the slump in sterling, but their wealthier counterparts couldn’t be more pleased. Put simply, wealthy expats living and working overseas are cashing in on lower-priced buy-to-let properties in the UK. For British estate agents, the fall in the pound is a dream come true as the numbers of non-resident landlords increases month by month. At this point in time, overseas landlords make up just over one in ten of property investors, a four per cent rise...

8 Nov at 6 PM 2019

Expats sending money home to be hit by Kuwaiti tax on remittances

Newly promoted expats’ enemy Safa al Hashem hits out again at expat remittances. Al Hashem, now the head of Kuwait’s National Assembly Financial and Economic Affairs committee, hit out yet again at expats living and working in the emirate by calling for government support on a draft bill imposing taxes on money sent back to the home country by expatriates. Lawmakers are expected to push the bill though its approval stage, giving more chance for it to be voted into Kuwaiti law. T he controversial bill was first introduced by al...

31 Jul at 6 PM 2019

Brit expats in UAE taking advantage of sterling crash to repatriate savings

Due to the unprecedented fall in the sterling exchange rate, a good number of UAE-based Brit expats are sending money back to the UK. British expats living and working in the UAE are now moving savings and spare cash back to the UK, thus taking advantage of the worst exchange rate in a decade or more. As sterling sinks ever lower on the threat of a broken economy due to a no-deal exit from the EU, increasing numbers of British expatriates are cashing in on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For British professionals who arrived in...

16 Jul at 6 PM 2019

How to rescue Thailand from itself

After a week of dire media predictions concerning the near-collapse of Thailand’s tourist industry, one local English-language online newspaper is telling it like it is. Traditionally, Thailand was the preferred option for both Western tourists and expatriates for its fascinating culture, ultra-friendly, welcoming local people, natural beauty and, crucially, for its affordability, all of which were plus points attracting huge numbers of Western tourists as well as retirees looking for an enjoyable life amidst warm weather. Over the...

1 Nov at 6 PM 2018

UAE expats warm towards property ownership

Expats now resident in the UAE are beginning to like the idea of property ownership. A report from the online real estate portal Property Finder revealed the result of a recent survey, with 50 per cent of respondents who’d purchased homes over the previous six months now believing owning is better than renting. A further 33 per cent said now seemed to be a good time to buy. Those who’d purchased homes did so for financial reasons, as they were planning to stay in the UAE for at least three years or more and didn’t want to pay...

21 Jun at 6 PM 2018

Tips on selling your Spanish home if relocation is your answer to Brexit worries

For expats giving up and returning to the UK before Brexit, selling your Spanish home isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Selling a property in Spain is tougher as regards bureaucracy than the process of purchasing. The easy part is finding a buyer, especially nowadays as the number of Brits buying property and emigrating before Brexit kicks in ensures a steady flow of interest usually leading to a quick sale. It’s essential for sellers to have the help of experts in the legal process, but there are several ways in which the...

27 Dec at 6 PM 2017

Affordable Bucharest is a haven for UK expats

Is the city of Bucharest as inexpensive as its reputation suggests? Having enough money for a satisfactory lifestyle is a challenge for the vast majority of expats living in a foreign country. Researching the cost of living including renting a suitable property is easier now than in pre-internet days, but the downside of online reports is knowing which to believe and which to discard as just another advertorial. Bucharest is a good example, as many citizens live overseas for a while and eventually return, giving their comparisons of...

21 Oct at 6 PM 2016

Is property purchase a good idea for expats in China

Although apartments in China’s main cities are becoming more expensive, some expats are taking a chance on capital gains by purchasing now. The Chinese government has recently eased laws governing expat property purchase, encouraging more long-stay expats to take the plunge and buy a home. Although owning an apartment gives a feeling of security, the first rule of property choice and purchase – position, position, position - still applies. One couple who’ve been living in Beijing for a while began flat-hunting in 2014,...