It’s something most of us can only dream of: the chance to own a holiday home abroad. Picture it for a moment. Sitting and drinking sangria beside a moonlit swimming pool. Stretching out in the garden on a sun lounger, soaking up the heat of the summer sun. It definitely beats doing the same at home. You can check out the best reo properties in Florida if you are planning to buy your dream home for the lowest cost.
If you’re lucky enough to be in a position to be thinking about it as your reality, however, it soon starts to feel a lot less dream-like. It’s not that you’re ungrateful – it’s that there are so many things to consider.
That’s why you need to know what you’re doing. This article is designed to help you do exactly that.
Learn the language
Wherever you’re thinking of purchasing, one of the most important things is to get to grips with the language. That extends not only to you but to your partner and children too. Languages can now be learned in numerous ways, with convenient options including online classes for kids that have a variety of tutors to choose from so you can find the best fit for your child.
For you as an adult, it’s not only nice to be able to speak the language; it’s essential. That’s because you’re going to spend a lot of time contracting with local professionals, both while looking at properties and when finalizing your sale.
While you may well find English-speaking agents or be able to hire someone to translate, it’s still nice to have at least a basic understanding of what’s going on, especially when you’re spending so much. After all, buying a holiday home is expensive. It pays to be clued up.
Have a set list of criteria
When looking for homes abroad, it’s easy to get swept up in the romance of it all, but this is a long-term decision and it pays to be sensible. While it’s incredibly easy to view an unsuitable property and instantly fall in love with it, this is a lot harder to do if you have a strict set of criteria you’re sticking to.
Your good sense in the beginning will pay dividends long term, helping you to avoid buying a potential money pit. So what should be included on this list? Settling in a country is a good place to start, so you can make practical preparations in advance, like learning the language. If you can narrow it down to a particular region or city, even better.
Next, set yourself a strict budget and decide how many rooms you’ll need as a minimum. Are there any other essentials, such as a swimming pool or easy access to a beach? Are you willing to put some work in or do you want somewhere that’s ready to go immediately? All of these are important considerations.
Choose the right professionals
Once you have a list of criteria, you need to enlist professionals to help you in your property search. Naturally, you’ll want them to speak a common language so you can communicate easily. They should be trustworthy, have a good reputation, and ideally have others who can recommend them. This is especially important as they’ll be doing a lot of work on your behalf while you’re not even in the same country.
You also want someone well connected. If you can find a reputable property agent, they’ll most likely have contacts they can recommend for any other needs that might arise. For example, if you require a solicitor to finalize contracts or a builder to carry out work, they should be able to point you in the right direction. This makes them the most important piece of the puzzle and the one you can least afford to get wrong.
With the right groundwork and professional help, it’s perfectly possible to find your dream property abroad. What are you waiting for? Start your search today.