MILLIONS of Brits dream of buying a place in the sun. We watch the TV shows, we read the magazines, sometimes we even get the house details... but most of us just carrying on dreaming.
Buying a house and moving home are stressful enough in this country. The thought of all that hassle in another country with different rules, often using a foreign language, is just too much to contemplate. Yet thousands of Brits DO find a place in the sun every year. The number of households with second homes abroad rocketed by 30 per cent from 194,000 in 1999-2000 to 254,000 in 2003-2004. If you're still stuck at the dreaming stage, KAREN ROCKETT has devised a beginner's guide to take you a few steps closer...
WHICH COUNTRY?
YOU may have had wonderful holidays in a favourite spot for a succession of fortnights in August - but would you enjoy being there in all seasons for years to come? Make sure you know what to expect.
Breitling WatchFlight times and cost from the UK are a big considerations too, as are distance from the airport, local amenities, cost of living, the culture, the food, and the language.
"You need to seriously consider the language barrier," says Sarah Tucker, 41, writer and presenter of ITV1's I Want That House Revisited, who has her own holiday home in France. "In some countries this is less important, but don't consider buying in France if you're not prepared to learn the language."
This applies to anywhere remote or where English is rarely spoken. If you can't or won't learn the local lingo stick to Florida, big European cities or ex-pat communities on the Spanish Costas.
WHICH TYPE OF PROPERTY?
THE choices are off-plan, re-sale or renovation. An off-plan property is part of a new development that hasn't been completed and may not have been started. It can be the easiest way to buy abroad, but make sure the developer has a banker's guarantee and that there are clauses in the contract to cover any delays in the building work. You will be expected to pay a 10 per cent deposit and make regular contributions as work progresses.
A re-sale is an existing property which you buy in much the same way as you would at home. In some countries you need to make absolutely sure of the ownership of the land and property. In Greece and Spain land disputes are common.
A renovation may sound like a romantic option and appear cheaper but it can be extremely time- consuming and costly. You need to budget carefully and be prepared to spend lots of time supervising major works if you want things to get done. Not for the faint- hearted.
RENT, RELAX OR RETIRE?
IF you plan to rent out the property you need to work out how much it will make you each year. Even the best property in the best location won't be let all year round. The most you can hope for is 80 per cent - will this be enough to cover your mortgage plus service charge?
An area close to an airport with good facilities is easier to rent out. If your property is in a managed block the agency may help find tenants for a fee.
Otherwise you need a good website or lots of friends and family.
If the property's your own holiday home you can afford to go more off the beaten track, but if you don't pick somewhere accessible with a good climate you won't spend much time there. Anything more than six or seven hours away door-to-door will never be a good weekend retreat.
abercrombie clothingIf you plan to retire to your holiday home in the end you need to consider if you could live there as you grow older. Look at the economic and political stability, the climate, the culture, health care and the language, and talk to ex-pats who've already made the move.
PROPERTY FAIRS
THESE are good places to start - the price of different types of properties should give you a good idea of what you might like and what you can afford.
You can also meet agents, developers and financial experts, attend seminars and pick up useful information and contacts without having to travel to the country in question at this stage.
Property fairs and shows are held throughout the year up and down the country. Keep an eye on your local Press for details or try searching on the internet to find a show in your area.
There are also fairs run by single companies. These can be useful if you have already narrowed down your search but it will be a strictly limited selection and usually off-plan only.
There's a World of Property Show at Sandown Racecourse in Surrey from March 17-19 (call 01323 726 040) and an Opportunities Abroad show on
March 25-26 at the SECC in Glasgow. Contact the venue for tickets and more information.
TOUR OF INSPECTION
IF you're serious about buying, some developers offer you the chance to visit the countr y and view several properties in an organised, time- and cost-efficient way. They will arrange your flights and hotel, pick you up from the airport and drive you round while you're there. Trips can last from two to four days and are sometimes free of charge. Otherwise you may be reimbursed for your flights when you sign up or pay a reduced charge of around pounds 100 for the trip.