You've found your dream overseas home, now what? Here's our list of simple points to remember when you're buying property overseas no matter what destination you choose.
1. Visit your property and its neighbourhood at different times of the day. A quiet district during the day may be less than quiet after dark.
2. Bargain hard on the price, especially if you're buying off-plan from the developer. You're in the driving seat when it comes to price.
3. Get a full list and description of all the fees and charges you'll be expected to pay.
4. Remember to include the costs of service fees for communal areas within your budget.
5. If you're buying new property, it's especially important to undertake research and examine the track record of the developer.
6. Get an independent survey of your property, and a certified translation if necessary.
7. Use an independent legal adviser who knows the property-buying process in your chosen country inside out. Get references from their previous customers.
8. Never sign any document you do not understand. Remember that English translations of legal documents are often simply that — translations which are made for your convenience. They are not legally-binding documents in themselves.
9. Plan ahead and monitor currency rates to ensure you make any currency exchanges at the optimum time.
10. Ensure that flights to your chosen location operate throughout the year, and are offered by multiple carriers. Airlines do tend to alter their networks frequently so make allowances for any changes.
