Investment property in Majorca, property investments in Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, Italy, Cyprus, France, Bulgaria, Morocco, Brazil, Croatia and Greece.


The American property market is in recession, UK investment property depressed and most likely to go into free fall and despite everybody trying to talk the investment property markets up, European property prices and indeed the rest of the world are going to be hit. So don't let any estate agent or property developer paint you a rosy picture and tell you that property prices in their part of the world are still on the increase.

Property should be seen as a medium to long term investment unless you are very lucky and pick up a property that can be turned around very quickly. If you are looking at overseas property investments, we have property finders on the ground in most countries who can help you find investment properties that represent good value for money.

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY INVESTMENT PROPERTY?

Despite the fact that property prices are likely to fall everywhere, a depressed market is always a buyers/investors market providing you pick and choose and get your timing right. When the property markets are slow, there are always property developers who will need to shift properties, estate agents who need to make sales and sellers looking to make a quick sale.

It is essential that you take advice from our property finders who know the markets and often know developers who are desperate to sell or estate agents ho have reduced properties for a quick sale. It is also imperative that you take independent legal advice and don't use the same Notary as the vendor, which is often possible in foreign countries.

Although we cover many countries, these are our suggestions for anyone looking to invest in property abroad.

Majorca - expensive but investment property prices are likely to remain fairly stable and offer future growth in the medium term because of the restricted building potential. Demand is always likely to be higher than supply.

Portugal - Likely to see property prices slip in the short term so opportunities to pick up bargains if you take advice and are looking to the long term.

Turkey - Prices have risen over recent years but will slip back but not too far as property prices are cheaper than most countries. Bargains to be had and medium to long term gains possible.

Thailand - a specialised market but tipped as a winner for the investor who is looking for something different

• Best Currency Exchange Rates
  
  
• Find me a bargain investment property
  
  
• Cheap flights
  
  
• Competitive overseas mortgages
  
  
• Cheap removals abroad
  
  
• Self-catering accommodation
  
  
• Hotels
  
  
• Find investment property for sale
  
  
• Cheap Car rental

Italy - Bargain resale properties are hard to find but many new developments offer the medium to long term property investor exceptional opportunities

Cyprus - Actually growing in popularity at the moment and prices are fairly stable. Certainly worth investigation.

France - Over took Spain last year as the most popular destination to buy holiday homes. Prices are slipping back but resale properties can be snapped up by many investors who let their hearts rule their heads when buying in the last couple of years.

Bulgaria - The current European hotspot as far as investment property is concerned. Suffering a little like Spain because of the growth in property developments but bargains to be picked up if you know where. Certainly worth investigating by the shrewd property investor.

Morocco - There were bargains to be had before the UK property market went into recession and this remains the case. Many European investors are buying property in Morocco and this is likely to maintain prices in the short term and increase them in the medium to long term.

Brazil- Is an emerging market with big property investors dipping their toe in the market. Long term gains expected.

Croatia - Prices of investment property have not made the gains many predicted but Croatia could be the market that comes up on the inside. A little risky but no investor is going to lose their shirt at these prices.

Greece - Like Spain, Greece went into over build for some time. Now property prices are dropping and timing is the only thing you need to worry about.

Spain - over built, over developed and over priced and probably the most desperate developers in the market today. Definitely need to use one of our property finders and be prepared to haggle and make substantially lower offers than the asking price. And definitely get your self an independent Notary.

Many investors make the mistake of trying to time investing in property when prices have reached their lowest and then get caught in the up turn because they waited to long. Likewise, many just keep investing when property prices are on the increase and get caught in the down turn. The art is buying at the right price when property prices are falling because sellers are desperate to sell and selling when prices have been increasing because of demand and getting out at the right time.

Never sell in a down turn market and never buy when property prices have been continually increasing for the long term. You will be very lucky to get your timing absolutely spot on, property investment is like everything else - it is about making a profit. If you try and time your buying and selling so that you buy at the bottom and sell at the top, you are likely to miss the boat. Be happy to take a a profit when you feel the time is right. There are two types of investor that lose money when buying property - the fool and the over greedy. The fools because they don't take advice and the greedy because they hang on too long, trying to squeeze as much profit out of a deal.

Property is like anything else you can invest in, prices go up and eventually they adjust. The USA and UK banks knew this but got greedy, continuing to lend money in a market that was going to re-adjust at some point. Timing is everything no matter what you are investing in and property is no different to anything else.

It is also important to understand that you only make a loss on any investment when you sell at a loss. If you are prepared to hang on and wait, markets always return when confidence returns. There are experienced investors who sold up some time back now moving back into the property markets. They are just not paying the full asking prices.