Overseas property buyers

Buying a home overseas in the sun or snow has its obvious attractions. Overseas property that increases in value while paying you an income is a dream come true for many property investors. The UK property investor is venturing away from the slowing and expensive markets of home and this trend is set to continue. A recent survey conducted by Homes Overseas magazine at it's Belfast exhibition found that 25% of participants were looking to buy property in Spain, 21% in Portugal, 16% in Croatia, Dubai and Florida, with 12% interested in buying homes in Cyprus and Turkey, 59% of people were looking to buy as an investment, 29% as a second home and 10% for retirement, with only 2% looking to relocate to their new home. Most people wanted to buy a home overseas for between 100,000 and 150,000.

Research research, research

The overseas property buyer researching the overseas property market has a host of sources to satisfy an insatiable appetite for information. Looking for a home to buy abroad has never been so interesting and the thrill of the chase can start using overseas property websites, overseas property magazines, overseas property television shows and exhibitions.

Overseas Property web sites

Its a fact that the majority of overseas buyers will use the internet to find information and homes to buy abroad. The growth of the online overseas property web site is testimony to how vital the internet is in providing buyers with the information. Recent acquisitions by large newspaper groups of some of these web sites are also an indication that they view property web sites as an essential part of their portfolios in securing their share of the overseas property market. Collaboration with TV shows, exhibition organisers, magazines and travel companies is also an area that is set to expand. Simply imagine being an overseas property investor looking for a home abroad without the use of the internet and you can see why overseas property web sites can only get bigger.

Some of the most useful overseas property websites can be found at:

Homesgofast.com

Newskys.co.uk

The Move Channel

Propertyfinder.com

Fish4Homes

Property-abroad

Overseas property magazines

Overseas property magazines have always provided a relaxing and informative way to browse homes for sale and pick up some well researched advice. Some good examples are

A Place In the Sun magazine

Living Abroad

Homes Overseas magazine

UK Overseas television programmes

Overseas property shows are making the presenters household names and are a great way to see a location with your own eyes. All contain buying advice for the overseas buyers. They are great for introducing emerging markets and can be very influential for the indecisive overseas buyer. Programmes such as 'A Place in the Sun' conduct useful surveys advising on their top 20 destinations. Most locations that feature in the top 5 such as Cape Verde experience a surge of interest from investors.

Overseas property exhibitions

Overseas exhibitions provide an opportunity to meet developers and agents and attend seminars offering essential tax, legal and buying advice.

Some of the most popular UK property exhibitions are

Dubai Property Show
A Place in The Sun
Viva La France Show
International Property Show
Home Overseas
The World of Property

Overseas property Associations

The UK overseas property associations aim to protect the consumer and to regulate the industry in the UK. All have codes of ethics that agents adhere to. Some of the most popular are:

Federation of Overseas Property Developers
Agents and Consultants FOPDAC
The Association of International Property Professionals
Ipada the International Property Agents & Dealers Association

The abundance of information at hand for buyers is enormous and the overseas property buyer can research more easily and more thoroughly than at any other time.