Buying property abroad - Jeremy Davies|Consumers' Association

For recreation, retirement, or investment buying property abroad has never been more popular. Over a million British owners now have homes in another country. Unfortunately, buying abroad is fraught with difficulties. Different cultures, languages, currencies and laws make expert advice essential. The Which? Guide to Buying Property Abroad takes an in-depth look at France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Florida and Greece. The book outlines the sort of property you are likely to encounter, looks at local taxes and how much you'll have to pay, examines local law and how this relates to matters such as inheritance, insurance, liability and land searches, and considers the true cost of holiday homes - assessing estate agents, building societies, euro-mortgages, lawyers, local officials, maintenance charges, utility bills, management fees and the commission charged by letting agencies. Finally, the book looks at the financial and legal implications of long-term residency, with particular reference to retirement, taxation, inheritance and health-care.