Liz Hodgkinson: The complete guide to buying property abroad

Do you dream of escaping your familiar surroundings and owning a property abroad? Fantasizing about it can be fun, but why not join the increasing number of people who have turned their dreams into reality? The Complete Guide to Buying Property Abroad offers expert advice on the many practicalities that you will need to consider, such as:

• How would I finance the purchase?
• Am I looking for rental income?
• How important is good weather?
• Which country should I choose and why?
• Should I go for a new build or a romantic wreck?
• Is it a good investment?
• Will I have to pay tax?

The answers to all these questions and many more can be found in this fully revised new edition, which has even more useful addresses and websites. Authoritative, informative and down-to-earth, it covers all the financial, legal and lifestyle issues involved in making a purchase. It’s also packed with a wealth of inspiring real-life stories from those who have taken the plunge and made their dreams come true. There is a country-by-country guide to local considerations, as well as new information on China, California, and Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic.

"An authoritative, straight talking book that covers all the financial, legal and lifestyle aspects of buying your perfect home abroad.

It is not just a check list to help you make the right decisions regarding when, where and how you buy, but it is also filled with inspiring case studies. Questions such as whether you should rent out your property or not and whether you can actually afford it are also dealt with.

The author reviews typical properties and prices in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, North America and The Caribbean, devoting around 30 pages per country. There are lots of adverts from the professionals, eager to help you still further with your research, but there is no hard sell about this book.

It is there to help you make a lucid, informed choice, rather than a rash decision formed over too much Sangria in the sunshine." Daily Telegraph