Property Abroad, Ideas & Advice for International Property Investors

The property market in the UK is apparently in a downward phase of its regular boom bust cycle, with would-be buyers utterly confused about which way mortgage lending, interest rates and property prices are going to go in Britain.  This fact alone has seen a significant rise in the numbers of Britons actively contemplating buying property abroad in order to secure a solid investment.

Real estate is a consistently sold investment if held for the long-term – everyone knows this.  However, timing an entry into the property market in Britain when everything is so confused is difficult which is why, according to a survey by Moneycorp, up to a quarter of those thinking about buying now are thinking about buying abroad.

Certain nations have fared far better than the UK in terms of being affected by the fall out from the global economic crisis, which means certain nation’s real estate economies currently represent a potentially more stable investment environment.  Other nations have been harder hit and clearly crashed, in such countries property can constitute a bargain.  Therefore, in this report we’re going to discuss the 5 hotspots for property abroad if you’re currently seeking bargains or searching for stability.

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There has been a flurry of media excitement this last week focused on the property market in Dubai now that Tamweel, Dubai’s second biggest Islamic mortgage company by assets, won the right to repossess five homes in the emirate.  Headlines have suggested that Dubai will become the next foreclosure hotspot where investors and speculator will be able to buy bargains.

However, talking up the repossession property market in Dubai is very unwise for many reasons which we will explore in this report.  For a start, any repossessed homes will be a long time coming back to the market – what’s more, speculators and investors got Dubai into the mess it’s in, therefore you can guarantee that the powers that be will not want to welcome them back by offering them a veritable flood of repossessed homes for sale at bargain prices.

If you’re looking for a more realistic take on the property market in Dubai now that homes are finally being repossessed when buyers default on mortgage payments, you will find it here.  Any fantasies you harbour for picking up an offshore island in Dubai for a rock bottom price may be damned however!

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The British property market is a rollercoaster ride, as anyone who’s in it will tell you.  Historically it booms and then the bubble bursts before it booms all over again - and yet the property market seemingly underpins the economy hugely, because whenever it stalls the government does what it can to get it rolling again.

There is certainly a strong appetite for home ownership in the UK – yet affordability issues and insecurity in the workplace currently mean that there is also a strong desire for homes to rent too.  All this has created a situation where many buy-to-let landlords in the UK have been doing quite well from their property portfolios even in these troubled economic times.

However, it was a case until recently that if you wanted to join the buy-to-let landlords you’d have a real job on your hands because the lending situation in Britain was just so bad.  Good news on that front came from the Nationwide Building Society last week however, when they announced that they are not only lending again, but they have increased their loan-to-value percentage.  So, is the time right for expats to invest in UK property?  We take a look…

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