http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog-feed BuyAssociation Blog en-gb http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/images/en/BA-logo-with-wording-small.jpg http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog-feed http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/rising-prices-0092.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/rising-prices-0092.html Mon, 15th Feb 2010
The two developers I personally have heard about build in two of the most popular destinations for UK overseas property buyers, which are also what would be considered established and safe markets. My question is: are these prices rises genuine, or are the developers getting a bit ahead of themselves?

There is no doubt the global recession has been a long hard slog for us all, and you could even argue that the overseas property world has seen a steeper drop and a harder landing than most. Therefore, the arrival of any kind of positive news for buyers, builders, owners and developers should be greeted with relief and enthusiasm. However, I fear there is a possibility that there is a recurrence of what some agents are seeing from private vendors in the UK – pre-emptive price rises.
http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/snow-joke-0090.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/snow-joke-0090.html Mon, 25th Jan 2010
The point of this isn’t to moan about the lack of salt on the UK’s roads over the past month, or lament the terrible weather we’ve been having. The point is to talk a little about properties in regions of the world which welcome the snowy conditions.

More specifically, I’m wondering why property in ski areas aren’t more popular? For me, they have the perfect combination of scenery, climate and transport links that should make them the first port of call for anyone looking to make money from renting their property to tourists. In many ways, you could argue that they make more sense as a purchase than beachfront properties in climates where you’re not able to sunbath right through the year. So what is it that makes mountain property less attractive to overseas property buyers?

Well, part of that will inevitably be that many people don’t like skiin…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/living-in-croatia-0087.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/living-in-croatia-0087.html Wed, 29th Jul 2009 http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/taxes-in-canada-0086.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/taxes-in-canada-0086.html Mon, 13th Jul 2009 …]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/agent-credentials-0084.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/agent-credentials-0084.html Thu, 21st May 2009
This question has been sent to BuyAssociation from one of our registered members. To post your own question, please contact us by clicking here.

To register for free access to our full range of content, click here.…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/emerging--emerged-or-back-in-hiding-0082.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/emerging--emerged-or-back-in-hiding-0082.html Mon, 18th May 2009
Those buyers who are still out there are being treated to almost the undivided attention of developers and agents so desperate for buyers they will offer all manner of extras along the way. Most of them are sticking to the ‘safer’, established markets – placer where, despite the severe downturn in sales and new projects being felt by agents, there is more than likely to be a good recovery in property values at some point. Think of the favourite holiday destinations for Brits and you won’t be far off…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/distressed-sales-0081.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/distressed-sales-0081.html Mon, 11th May 2009
This question has been sent to BuyAssociation from one of our registered members. To register for free access to our full range of content, click here.…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/french-finance-0079.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/french-finance-0079.html Tue, 21st Apr 2009
I want to release equity of about £25,000 and am struggling to find a loan. I am self employed and with a lowish income but I have a guarantor for any mortgage/loan with substantial assets in the UK.

Any advice on where to go?
…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/best-and-worst-0076.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/best-and-worst-0076.html Thu, 19th Mar 2009
Sometimes it is difficult to square what is being said in the editorials with what is happening out in the real world. As I read articles about how this or that destination is now in a perfect position for investors to make the most of falling prices and highly-motivated sellers, there are yet more stories coming in about job losses, a lack of financial security in the developed world and the perilous state in which most of our banks find themselves.

Now, I don’t want to start criticizing my follow journalists and the piece they write, and it is true that it is practically-impossible to write article which everyone finds informative and pertinent. There is little doubt that the overseas…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/snap-up-a-snip-0063.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/snap-up-a-snip-0063.html Tue, 25th Nov 2008
This idea, which does actually make sense in the current climate, has been coined by Serge Cowan, MD of Unique Living, specialists in high-end properties in the top destinations across the world. The idea of ‘distressed sales’ in the high-end market, he says, is a little misleading as owners just want to relocate, upgrade or just fancy change.

To a certain extent, I aggress with this philosophy. Those lucky enough to consider themselves in the top end of the property market may have enough capital in the bank, trust fund or offshore deposit to be untouched by the troubles in the stock markets, pension funds and housing market in the UK. I…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/catching-and-rewarding-crime-0062.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/catching-and-rewarding-crime-0062.html Mon, 10th Nov 2008
Firstly, there was the announcement that almost all of the illegally-built properties constructed with bribes to planning officials and almost everyone else in Marbella town hall will be saved under a new set of retrospective planning regulations that are due to be given final approval next year. These new laws will provide reassurance for those British buyers whose homes were under threat of demolition when the full extent of official corruption was uncovered in recent years. Some 500 homes are still facing a bleak future as the proposed legislation does not save the, but Marbella mayor Angeles Muñoz is said to be fighting to save these as well.

Unsurprisingly, not ev…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/away-from-the-herd-0059.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/away-from-the-herd-0059.html Tue, 7th Oct 2008
This is not an isolated incident – last weekend, BuyAssociation.co.uk had a stand at the A Place in the Sun Live exhibition and the show was far more of a success than most had predicted. While it was undoubtedly smaller and less well-attended than previous exhibitions, the atmosphere of confidence and optimism coming from both visitors and other exhibitors was both unexpected and inspiring.

So why is it that the overseas property market seems to be faring at least a little better than the UK? Surely some of it has to do with the immediacy of the problems facing the UK house building industry. Buying overseas allows one to have a degree o…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/fear-of-failure-0058.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/fear-of-failure-0058.html Wed, 17th Sep 2008
The reaction here in the UK to the collapse has been mixed, and looking at some of the comments that have been posted on the forums and stories on some of the national newspaper websites, there is a real split in the country as to how this type of situation should be dealt with.

Some posters are incredulous that the government has no stepped in to make sure the company stayed in business long enough to bring back those passengers who were overseas. Others are surprised that it took so long for a company that, they say, has been on the bri…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/mortgage-brokers-the-new-estate-agents-0055.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/mortgage-brokers-the-new-estate-agents-0055.html Fri, 18th Jul 2008
US real estate agent (what does she have to boast about?) and website creator Lisa LaShawn has decided to take aim at the mortgage brokers in the market stateside that she sees as offering bad advice to homebuyers by launching a couple of mildly controversial websites selling anti-broker merchandise. Her aim is to provoke regulation in the mortgage industry there, and help to protect buyers from what she sees as predatory brokers out for commission alone.

Visitors to …]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/water--water-everywhere---0051.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/water--water-everywhere---0051.html Tue, 1st Jul 2008
Two tankers full of fresh water will soon arrive in Cyprus having set off from Athens in order to supplement the supplies of an island that has seen no significant winter rains for four years. The deliveries of fresh drinking water are expected to continue at a rate of two tankers per day for the next six months, delivering supplies only to the southern part of the island. The tankers will make their way to an offshore terminal where they will unload their cargo, via a pipeline, direct to the mainland.

This hugely-expensive operation – reported to be…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/upside-of-a-downturn-0049.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/upside-of-a-downturn-0049.html Thu, 19th Jun 2008
All of this gloom in the market has produced an unexpected by-product in Spanish society, according to our Spanish correspondent, Sarah Drane. Sarah sent me an article this week with news that the number of divorce cases in Spain has fallen by 22 per cent in the first quarter of 2008, compared to the same period last year. According to official Spanish figures, the 4,500 divorces in the first three months of 2008 compares with nearly 5,800 in the same three months of 2007.

The Spanish media are reporting that this drop in the decrees nisi or absolute…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/flying-visit-0047.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/flying-visit-0047.html Mon, 2nd Jun 2008
Although it isn’t a question that comes up regularly, there is a tacit admission among many people in the overseas property business that they wouldn’t be anything like as well-off and successful in finding new and emerging markets if it wasn’t for the no-frills carriers. Not only do they get people out to destinations that they might otherwise find difficult or time-consuming to reach, they have made travelers braver in their choices of destination …]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/how-much-is-it-worth-0043.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/how-much-is-it-worth-0043.html Tue, 20th May 2008
To some extent, it could be argued that these people deserve all they get because in many cases, they only take risks with the property because they think they are getting ahead of the game, or that by cutting corners they will be getting something for nothing, the deal of the century.

On the other hand, I would challenge anyone to honestly say that they have never been taken in by a slick sales pitch and a charming smile, and yes, a certain amount of pressure selling – I certainly have.

In other cases, I have compl…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--moving-stories-0041.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--moving-stories-0041.html Mon, 12th May 2008
All of this goes along in stages. Firstly, there is the dread at the idea of having to pack up everything into boxes, cartons and trunks to get it onto the truck – not forgetting labels, padding and confusion over what should be kept and taken to the new place, and what should be dumped.

Next is the effort of the day itself. Everyone has their jobs to do, and in moving a whole house, with attendant children is a full 12-hour day, even with the help of the professional movers. The satisfaction at the end of the day of physical effort is put against the prospect of unpacking the boxes over the next days, weeks and months.

All of this got my wife a…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--finance-flutters-0036.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--finance-flutters-0036.html Mon, 7th Apr 2008
It’s a bit of shock to be honest, finding out that the property market, and the economy in general, can be so fragile and could conceivably suffer greatly this year. I have managed to be a homeowner now for over 40 years, and have weathered the storms of economic ups and downs. The property market seems to reflect the confidence of the country as a whole, and there is a good chance that there will be a drop in prices this year if past experience is any guide at all.

What this brings into perspective is that we will need to make sure we have considered all of the options when we come to decide how we are going …]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/salute-the-visionary-0034.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/salute-the-visionary-0034.html Wed, 2nd Apr 2008
Pedro Zaragoza Orts was mayor of Benidorm from 1950 to 1967, and brought mass tourism to the region, paving the way for millions of British tourists to visit the country and subsequently buy property. He even risked his reputation and standing in the town by defying the Catholic Church to allow the wearing of bikinis in public, a move he saw as vital to attracting northern Europeans to the Costa Blanca.

Having had to get on a Vespa and drive to Madrid to convince Franco himself that going against the clergy would bring in the foreign currency that Spain desperately needed at the time, Zaragoza was rewarded with tourists flocking to the town. Going out on a limb proved to be one of the most inspired decisions in the history of tou…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--what-am-i-0033.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--what-am-i-0033.html Mon, 17th Mar 2008
According to the articles that have been keeping me awake for a couple of nights this week, we make an ideal couple to become investors in overseas properties. It looks really easy, and seems that we can make money on our property overseas without really doing much. We even get guarantees of rental, so it feels like there’s nothing for us to worry about.

The only thing is the properties I have seen for investment purposes are in countries that we don’t feel any particular attachment to. As I have said before, I am…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/crisis--what-crisis-0028.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/crisis--what-crisis-0028.html Mon, 3rd Mar 2008
You would think this means that most of the UK population is packing away dreams of a second home overseas as well as any thoughts to spend any money on anything other than making it through the year financially unscathed. Well, you would be wrong, it appears.

Rightmove Overseas, the overseas arm of arguably the most recognizable property portal in the UK, has reported a rise in enquiries for properties abroad of more than 25 per cent compared to the same time last year. Not only do people still want to buy themselves a bolt-hole overseas, they are keener than ever!
http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--hope-springs-0027.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--hope-springs-0027.html Mon, 3rd Mar 2008
Consequently, we haven’t really opened a magazine or looked at a website to do with property abroad in a couple of weeks – which has been something of a relief! But, as with many things in life, this was the point at which we have managed to stumble upon something that has renewed our faith in buying overseas, and made us realize why we sta…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--in-for-the-long-haul-0025.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--in-for-the-long-haul-0025.html Fri, 15th Feb 2008
It all started during the week, when my wife came home with what seemed like a fantastic idea. Having seen an advertisement in the newspaper in the evening on her way home for a property exhibition, it seemed to be everything that we needed to start looking seriously for the property we will eventually retire to.

The exhibition was in a local hotel, and although it didn't promise information on every country that we might be interested in, we thought it would help us to get an idea of what is out there in the world of property abroad. As the first thing that we had done towards this newly-decided adventure, you can understand th…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--am-i-behind-0023.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--am-i-behind-0023.html Wed, 6th Feb 2008
In a way, it has been a bit ridiculous. For the past few years, the only people I have ever met with property concerns outside of England have been those bores that inevitably come across your path at dinner parties and take ages to get away from. In most of these cases, I’m left with the feeling that the beautiful sea-view villa they are describing is in reality a poky timeshare in some tourist trap.

This week, I have been telling a few selected people about our plans to buy a property overseas this year, and the response has been amazi…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--the-world-is-our-oyster-0020.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--the-world-is-our-oyster-0020.html Thu, 31st Jan 2008
This has been an exciting week though, it has been the first time we have seen an idea of what we might be able to afford, and the gains that this could bring us later in life. The only problem now is that we need to make a decision somewhere along the way.

We started out with a rough idea of what we were looking for: a large apartment or villa with three to four bedrooms to allow the family to come and stay when they want to. We’d like to be near a beach, not too far from an airport and ideally near some good open countryside where we can walk. Aside from this, we’re not too demanding …]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--first-steps-0018.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/diary-of-a-buyer--first-steps-0018.html Wed, 23rd Jan 2008
The kids have finally managed to get through university and then have had a couple of years working to get themselves on their feet with careers and things. The mortgage on our house here on the outskirts of Northampton is almost paid off, and neither I nor my wife have too long left until we retire. If nothing else, as a worker in the health service, my wife gets something over 35 days holiday a year, while I'm a partner in an engineering firm so only have to answer to one other person!

There's a long way to go though – the only thing we have managed to establish…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/french-invasion-0017.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/french-invasion-0017.html Mon, 21st Jan 2008 French property exhibition of the year. Having spent time at these events in the past few years, I have come to know how most of the businesses at the event are developing, just from the attitude of the staff on the stands.

Often, when a market is in decline, you are confronted on all sides by overly-cheerful salespeople extolling the virtues of the country/region/development/2-bed apartment that they have you pegged for from the outset. Sometimes, you will see people who are selling what is truly the Next Big Thing, but aren’t yet quite sure themselves how big or exciting the final result will be. These are the people who have an air of childish anticipation to them, who can’t sit still or stop talking about their development without smiling. http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/go-the-extra-mile-to-be-green-0013.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/go-the-extra-mile-to-be-green-0013.html Tue, 8th Jan 2008
Without wishing to get too deep into the semantics of the use of the word, it shows people’s hunger for the undiscovered, unexploited and the opportunity to make money. Many people who are coming into the market to buy overseas property are looking to find the Next Big Thing. With the development of the property markets abroad, it is inevitable that Europe will eventually run out of new ‘emerging’ markets.

In the current climate, even with the credit crunch, it appears that interest in overseas property will continue to grow apace. This means that investors, both professional and casual, will look furt…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/chapeau-to-panama-0011.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/chapeau-to-panama-0011.html Tue, 11th Dec 2007
This is not necessarily a bad idea, but it would be hard to suggest that the recent story of John and Anne Darwin emigrating to Panama under one false identity (him) and one false pretence (both of them) does wonders for the idea of living in anonymity in Panama City.

While the wisdom of their methods of concealing the continued presence of John Darwin on this mortal coil can be debated at length, and will be the subject of what will prove to be one of the most reported criminal investigations next year, the choice of Panama as a destination is interesting. What made them head to this Central American state to start their new life?

Safety from discovery may have been paramount…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/where-has-all-the-fun-gone-0009.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/where-has-all-the-fun-gone-0009.html Mon, 3rd Dec 2007
There is no doubt that the trends, processes and habits of buying overseas have changed markedly, and along with them has the advertising and marketing of them. It is now quite difficult to open a newspaper property section or a specialist magazine without coming across a large proportion of the advertising talking about capital returns and rental yields that are either promised or hinted at.

The reasons for this are quite simple, and quite logical. Overseas property is now often seen as a great way of investing money http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/a-shortage-of-polish-plumbers-0007.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/a-shortage-of-polish-plumbers-0007.html Fri, 23rd Nov 2007
Without wanting to edge too much into the realms of cliché, this is a distinct possibility according to a leading economics correspondent in the Guardian. Ashley Seager points out that the wave of economic migrants that have been coming to the UK in recent years could just as easily disappear again should they spot a better deal, better wages or better conditions elsewhere.

And ironically, it is the investments being made by the British public that are making this more of a possibility every day. The mo…]]> http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/dubai--surely-it-can-t-last--can-it-0004.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/dubai--surely-it-can-t-last--can-it-0004.html Fri, 16th Nov 2007 impressively-growing markets the world has seen are any indication, yes, it can last…

The media loves a bad news story, and the explosion of property, and consequently, new wealth, in Dubai has been in the sights of some stories in recent months. In many ways, this is hardly surprising – the market is still new and untested, and the developments are brash, bold and shout their superiority from their skyscraper rooftops.

No-one is under the impression that the phenomenal growth that emerging markets such as http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/bulgaria--why--before-you-buy-0003.html http://www.buyassociation.co.uk/property/blog/bulgaria--why--before-you-buy-0003.html Fri, 9th Nov 2007 property market in Bulgaria has revolutionised the way that people look at buying property overseas. Firstly, we have Bulgaria to thank for introducing the now-ubiquitous phrase “emerging market”, but more importantly, Bulgaria has changed the way property overseas is built, marketed and sold.

The popularity of property in a seemingly dream location and for a price that is sometimes not far above what you might pay for a family car is logical enough, and this concept has made ordinary buyers into ‘investors’. There are plenty of instances of people who have been convinced to extend their finances in …]]>