Five things to consider before buying property overseas

Exploring new destinations can be great. However, there’s nothing like having a home-from-home where you can get to know the locals, host your friends, and perfect that language you’ve always wanted to learn.

The appeal of owning property overseas is strong, and many people choose to snap up foreign homes. If you’ve made the decision to join them in this endeavour, you may be dreaming of all the beautiful destinations where you can base yourself in a new abode.

However, it’s important to balance your idealistic ambitions with a practical approach to getting a property acquisition over the line.

To ensure your overseas home can be a valuable asset to you as well as a source of fun, it’s wise to consider a few things before taking the plunge.

1. Consider a property’s potential for resale

With so many sun-drenched terraces to compare and homeware sites to browse, working out the future resale value of any homes you’re interested in is likely to be far down your to-do list.

However, by taking a bit of time to assess its resale potential, you can protect your bank account for years to come.

Whilst the usual pulls of home-soil housing like nearby schools, the location of your family, and a big Sainsbury’s close by may not apply in this context, there are still a few common aspects of overseas homes which can add substantial value to a property in the long run. Convenient access to transport, shops, and beautiful nature can add heaps of value to a holiday bolthole. Furthermore, if a new train station or airport is set to be built nearby in a few years’ time, even better.

2. Look for destinations which are investing in infrastructure

Further to our advice above, it’s wise to consider buying property in locations which are sites of ongoing investment in local infrastructure. After all, it doesn’t make much sense considering destinations which have limited potential, both at home and abroad.
It costs a pretty penny to buy property overseas, so you’d ideally want to see exciting new businesses and local interest appearing in your new surroundings. Equally, you’ll also want your home to grow in value as you’ve invested in property which sits in a desirable location.

Post-pandemic, tourism is becoming more important than ever as countries catch up with the dip in revenue from the sector. Owing to this, there are countless resorts and cities that are allocating substantial amounts of money to improving their locale and sustaining its appeal.

3. Consider buying in a location with dual seasonality

When you’re back on home soil for a while, it would be prudent to rent out your overseas property to provide some much-needed assistance in covering any bills you’ll still owe.

In some instances, people are only able to make that milestone property purchase if they can draft in a tenant for a portion of the year.

To offer flexibility in when you can visit your new abode, it would be wise to choose a destination which has dual seasonality. This will make your home-from-home an attractive place to visit for the entire year, ultimately improving your chances of making some quick cash whenever you need it, and being able to visit in summer instead of needing to rent it out.

4. Use a currency specialist

Let’s face it, not many of us have the cash to buy a second property outright. For this reason, an overseas mortgage may be necessary to facilitate overseas property purchases.

What’s more, you may need to make other regular payments related to your new house. All of these payments will, unfortunately, expose you to market volatility across the currency of the country your new home is in, and the pound.

By bringing in some assistance from a currency specialist, you’ll be able to avert exchange rate fluctuations having a negative impact on your objectives and plans. Above all else, you’ll need to consult with a professional who can work with you to create a workable currency strategy, hopefully saving you some money.

5. Take advantage of low interest rates

In 2023, interest rates have hardly been stable. However, you may find that interest rates in certain foreign countries can offer a much more reliable bet.

If you’re able, it may be worth locking in a low mortgage rate which could grow your overall budget for your overseas property. You never know, this could enable you to look for a larger or more high-spec property than you envisaged.

If you would like to learn more about buying property overseas, please contact Richard Kleiner or our property team via propertysector@geraldedelman.com.