Why Italy?

For many years Italy has been one of the main tourist destinations in Europe due to its stunning scenery, historical value and its religious importance in the word, With no inheritance tax and no capital gains tax after owning the property for more than five years Italy can offer a very good investment market combined with stunning lifestyle and unmatched climate and standard of living. Southern Italy Calabria, the southernmost province of Italy is surrounded by the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian and Ionian seas. Across the Ionian Sea lies Sicily and beyond it the East Coast of Tunisia on the middle East: to the West the Mediterranean stretches from the Straits of Messina to the Straits of Gibraltar. In the north of the region lies the stunning high mountain region, with an alpine landscape with excellent skiing, rich in forests and lakes where the wild boar still roam unhindered. Around it are over 800 Km of the richest and most scenic coastlines that Italy possesses. There are many historical sites and temples Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Norman and Bourbon palazzos in the region, real testimony of a fascinating past as well as of a cultural vivacity. When you start to build your dream at heart there's a single foundation: Location, location, location. Here just a couple of hours and a world away, is a place such as dreams are made of. Miles of sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and a climate among the best in the world .

Why Cape Verde?

The beautiful, unspoiled islands of Cape Verde provide a new and exciting investment opportunity for property buyers who wish to maximise both capital growth and rental yields. Excellent all year weather, political stability, easy access to Europe with no jet lag, direct UK flights, warm clear seas, stunning scenery and beautiful white sandy beaches make Cape Verde property an opportunity not to be missed. The Atlantic archipelago of Cape Verde sits 280 miles off the coast of west Africa, midway between Brazil and Senegal. The population of 500,000 is scattered  across 10 islands, three of which are desert and blessed with pristine beaches and crystalline waters; the rest are mountainous and more tropical. This emerging market is nowadays democratic, politically stable and has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa. Rises in capital spending, tourism revenue and inflows of foreign direct investment over the past decade have strengthened the economy. The islands are peaceful and welcoming, with a population proud of its rich musical heritage. The archipelago’s fledgling property market is in the throes of discovery, and the desert island of Sal gets top billing for buying a holiday property or permanent home.   

Why Turkey?

Turkey was somewhat overlooked in 1990 but is now popular with property buyers and second home owners - and no wonder. It has some of the world's oldest settlements together with important classical remains - Ancient Greek, Roman, Persian, Arabic and Byzantine. The Turkish coast has a delightful climate: mild in winter and hot in summer with dramatic scenery and turquoise waters. The Turkish people are very warm and helpful to foreign visitors and the cost of living in Turkey is low. It is likely that real estate prices in coastal areas will continue their present upward trend. With its long rental season and property prices 10 years behind those in Spain, Turkey makes a sound
economic choice for property investment. Villas with pools and luxury apartments with shared facilities are popular. At the start of 2005, over 50,000 foreign nationals owned property in Turkey. Buying a second home or villa in Turkey is easier than one might expect and no more difficult than elsewhere in Southern Europe - providing you have a lawyer who is fluent in Turkish and English. Foreign nationals buying property in Turkey currently must have security clearance from the military. Although this process can be time consuming (3-4 months) it is usually straightforward. You will need to budget for 7 - 10% above the purchase price of the property to cover all extra purchase costs such as stamp duty, legal fees and purchase levy. It seems unlikely that Turkey could become a member of the European Union before 2014. If you intend to stay in Turkey for longer than 3 months at a time, you will need to apply for a residency visa. 

Why Portugal?

The sunny climate, slower pace of life, excellent food and wine, the friendly and fun people are all reasons to buy property in Portugal.  By starting a new life you can improve your life.  Think of the beaches, the mountains, the sea and the golf courses, think of the beautiful Portuguese properties that are far cheaper to buy than property back home. There are strong expatriate communities in Portugal, particularly on the Algarve and around the main cities like Lisbon. This means that you will be living a new life in a brand new country but you’ll never be too far away from a safety net of friends and like minded people; people who will help you buy your property in Portugal and assist you to settle into your new life. If you’re thinking long term about affording your retirement and you’re not impressed with the meagre returns offered by the stock market or related investment products such as pensions and retirement savings policies, you might like to consider the longer term investment potential offered by property.  It’s long been accepted that property over the longer term offers a safer alternative to stocks and shares and property in Portugal is of course no exception to this rule.  In fact, property in Portugal has been growing in desirability which in turn means that over the medium term property prices in Portugal have been moving up and up.  A very good reason to buy property in Portugal could be the long term investment potential offered by the bricks and mortar you purchase.  The economic and political climate in the country is a stable meaning that you should not encounter any issues that will have an adverse effect on the value of your property investment, and if you retain the property for the long term you should be financially rewarded when you come to cash in your investment.

Why Brazil?

Talk of an economic crisis has dominated the financial world in recent months. But while the US and Europe are facing a major economic downturn Brazil is simply booming. Interest rates are at an all-time low, inflation is stable and employment levels are rising at unprecedented rates, encouraging a flood of foreign investment. Brazil is Latin America’s most stable country. It produces over 40% of Latin America’s GDP and already has the world’s ninth-largest purchasing power. Political stability, investment into infrastructure, abundant natural resources, booming tourism levels, an unbeatable climate and thousands of miles of virgin coastline are all contributing to the country’s phenomenal growth.As domestic wealth increases, property demand within the Brazilian market is growing at an unprecedented rate. More and more Brazilians are getting on the property ladder and developers are struggling to meet the demand. For early adopters this will continue to push up the value of their investments for years to come as the new-build and resale markets really come into their own. Brazil is widely predicted to be one of the world’s leading economic superpowers along with Russia, India and China and is the Fifth largest country in the world and ninth largest economy. It is Completely self-sufficient in natural resources with a Trade Surplus ($47 billion in 2007) and economic growth only exceeded by BRIC colleagues China and India with Inflation at an all-time low. Interest rates stable and dropping annually. The of Cost of living just 25% of UK and Europe combined with a Thriving manufacturing industry and investment by multinationals lead this to be the investors top choice! 

Why Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is a land of tremendous beauty and diversity. The cost of living is incredibly cheap and the economy is booming. A boom is probably too weak a word to describe the phenomenal rise in property prices taking place and set to continue for the next few years. It is predicted that property values will rise 200% in the next few years before Bulgaria joins the European Community in 2007. The people are friendly, the taxes are fair and there are numerous historic towns and rural traditions. The cost of living is low, food tastes as it really should and property prices are exceedingly low...just some of the reasons why buying property in Bulgaria makes sense. Although property prices are low, they are set to rise dramatically. This increase is fuelled by the growth of tourism and the increasing realisation that Bulgaria is a fine alternative to other more expensive holiday and retirement destinations. Property prices on the coast and ski resorts increased by 40% in the 12 months up to April 2004, and forecasters expect that prices will continue to increase by about 200% up to the accession of Bulgaria to the EU in 2007. This means it is an excellent time to invest, and many clients wish to let their property in order to generate some rental income. Given the established nature of the Bulgarian tourist industry (fourth most popular destination for the British tourist in 2004), there’s always a strong demand for short-term holiday lets.  You can expect anything form 8 to 12% gross rental yields per year. Rental yields are better for apartment complexes than for resale property. The general rule of thumb is the smaller apartment, the higher the rental yield. As such, a one bedroom apartment is likely to achieve a higher percentage yield than a three bedroom villa.

Why Florida?

With English and Spanish the predominant languages and a strong exchange rate, more and more Florida-bound Brits are preferring to buy their own holiday accommodation rather than sink their funds in pricey hotels, as they get far more living space and privacy and often their own pool. Florida has numerous natural attractions, including 12,000 miles of coastline and 30,000 lakes. In Florida, coastal properties tend to be very expensive. Affordable properties in building programmes are based inland. In rural areas and smaller towns, a spacious house in its own grounds is easy to obtain for under £120,000. In Miami, £300,000 will get you a spacious 6 bedroom waterfront property with moorings, and in the plush Bal Harbour district the same amount nets a 3 bedroom ocean-view apartment.Flights to Florida are widely available from major airports in the UK. It pays to book well in advance as you could halve the cost of your ticket, especially if you plan to go during school holidays. Direct flights take around 8.5 hours and are offered by airlines such as Virgin and BA. Visiting for periods of up to 90 days is fairly easy for UK citizens and simply requires that you complete a couple of forms on arrival into the country. However, for those wishing to spend long periods of time, obtaining a visa and immigration issues are notoriously complicated in the US and the bureaucracy involved should not be underestimated. Either consult the American embassy for advice or hire an independent consultant to guide you through the steps.

Why France?

It is not surprising that more and more Britons are becoming property owners on the other side of the channel.  The idea is appealing for a number of reasons. 
France is our nearest neighbour, and most of us already have at least a smattering of the language.  Life seems to run at an easier pace and the climate is generally better than our own.  Since 1992 immigration has been easier, and the tunnel has fulfilled its promise of rapid transport.  The Sea Cat, new super ferries and a network of regional airports make commuting a possibility, and modern communications means that many kinds of business can be run effectively from any base on Europe’s mainland. There are warm summer days and lazy evenings with good food and fine wine.  There is the sound of the sea and the magic of the mountains.  Here is a land of history and culture with quiet country roads and busy vibrant cities.  There is something for everyone to enjoy in a country where children are made as welcome as their parents.  It is hardly surprising that France has become the UK’s most popular destination for holidays, retirement and investment.

Why Spain?

Spain is over a quarter of a million square miles of enormous diversity – climate, terrain, culture, art, religion, and history, even language all vary widely throughout this vast country. With over 60 million visitors every year, tourism is the major money-spinner, but the climate means there is a thriving agricultural and fishing industry For obvious reasons, the Spanish lifestyle appeals to people of all generations and this is why 300,000 Britons have decided to buy properties in Spain. In the past, Spain
was seen as a country where people relocated to after they had retired, however, research now suggests that the age of people buying property in Spain is continually dropping, meaning that more and more younger people are now moving there. In addition to living in Spain a lot of people also now decide to set up their own businesses there. Although over the last decade, it is known that the cost of properties has increased, the cost of living in Spain is still considerably lower than in the UK