Wealthy French residents flee leaving behind a fantastic choice of property in France

The selection of luxurious high end homes in France has greatly increased due to the recent french presidential election. It has been reported by the Daily Telegraph that lots of french families are ‘fleeing a proposed new tax rate of 75 per cent on all earnings over one million euros’ (around £780,000).This means that quite a few fantastic french properties are now making their way onto the french property market, suggesting that now could be a good time to invest in high end french property.

One of the top overseas estate agents has revealed that its french sector has sold over 100 properties valued at at least 1.7 million euros within the past couple of months (A significant increase when compared to the same time period last year)

"The result of the presidential election has had a real impact on our sales. Now a large number of wealthy French families are leaving the country as a direct result of the proposals of the new government.” Says Alexander Kraft, head of Sotheby's Realty in France.

"These properties are then bought up by foreign investors looking for a stable real estate market like France to invest in.”

"It shows the high-end property market is holding up very well, even in these difficult times."

If you have an interest in the french property market, are interested in buying a house in France or would like to take out a french mortgage, please get in touch with Conti - Mortgages Overseas via our website (www.mortgagesoverseas.com ) or via telephone 08009700985.

Invest in your happiness: Buy a house!

The Office of National Statistics has declared that owning a home makes you happier based upon its first national subjective well being report. Many of the entries are not surprising e.g. just under half of people not in employment scored themselves as less than 7 (almost twice the amount of people with work) whereas having a partner gave more scores of 9 or 10 when compared to those who are divorced, widowed or single.

80% of adults that owned a home ranked themselves with a medium to high level of happiness which is quite a lot more than the 68% that don’t. Suggesting that some forms of  happiness can be derived from getting involved with property, despite the recession.

This aspect of the report depicts a British desire to own a home as many Britons aspire to buy property, yet despite general belief, the world wide economic crisis may actually help achieve this dream.

In recent times the pound has steadily been growing in strength, so when compared with the euro this month, buyers interested in European property have been getting the more for their money then they have been for the past 4 years, especially in countries with prices that have drastically fallen e.g. Spain.

"These factors, together with historically low interest rates, are making it more affordable to buy in Spain right now," says Clare Nessling, Director of Conti - Overseas Mortgages, which has seen enquiries for Spanish mortgages increase by a third in May and June this year. "And signs that the market is improving are starting to lift the confidence of prospective buyers."

If you want to find out more about investing in overseas property or taking out an overseas mortgage, get in touch with Conti, via our website (www.mortgagesoverseas.com ) or by telephone 08009700985

Is it the ideal time to invest in Australia?

Have you always fancied relocating down under? Has the prospect of purchasing a home in Australia crossed your mind on multiple occasions? Is there something about the idea of living in Oz that you find particularly appealing?

If so, a top news organisation has reported that, thanks to a combination of several  factors, the summer of 2012  is presenting ‘perfect conditions’ for investing in Australian property. News.com.au has stated that, due to poor auction sales, a huge choice of available homes and reductions in interest rates, a larger proportion of Australia is transforming into a ‘buyer’s market’.

An increasing number of ‘bargain suburbs’ are appearing across Australia, the latest Commonwealth Bank Home Buyer Index (in conjunction with RP data) has revealed.

Tim Lawless, national research director for RP data has mentioned that there are more than 300,000 properties in Australia for sale and that, right now, the market is favouring buyers and investors in Australian mortgages. “It really does suggest there are a lot of properties that are for sale at the moment.  Stock levels remain high across each of the capital cities so prospective buyers have a good range of housing options to choose from.''

The Commonwealth bank - Australia’s most prominent home lender, provided information to calculate the index where the number of properties available for sale were compared to the demand for home loans.

Nick Marr of HomesGoFast.com said “These figures show that it is now the perfect time to buy property in Australia.  There have been modest gains in house prices over the last quarter but with a wide choice of homes to choose from, buyers are increasingly in a position to drive a hard bargain.”

So if you are interested in investing in Australian property, buying a house in Australia or taking out an Australian mortgage, get in touch with Conti - Mortgages Overseas by exploring our  website ( www.mortgagesoverseas.com)  or via telephone on 08009700985

Jargon Buster, Conti - Mortgages Overseas

Jargon Buster, Conti - Mortgages Overseas

Entering the world of overseas mortgages can be a scary and daunting process, but not if you have a good source of helpful advice and a little bit of know-how. So here is an offering from Conti - Mortgages Overseas to help you navigate the realms of mortgages abroad with relative ease. 

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

The measure of how much a loan will cost in interest per year. It takes into account all charges, such as valuation fees on a mortgage or any annual charges on a credit card, so it is the best measure of the total cost of a loan.

Arrangement Fee

Otherwise known as an application fee, it is a mortgage lender's charge that goes to cover the cost of processing a mortgage application. The fee will typically be a couple of hundred pounds and is usually non-refundable, even if your loan application is rejected. Thankfully, many mortgage lenders no longer charge arrangement fees.

Broker

Anyone who sells financial products. A stockbroker sells stock, an insurance broker sells insurance and so on.

Building Insurance

An insurance policy that covers the cost of rebuilding your home if it is destroyed. Most mortgage lenders demand that building insurance is taken out as a condition of your loan.

Completion

The final stage of the property buying process. The completion date, which must be agreed by banks and solicitors for both parties, is typically two weeks to a month after contracts have been exchanged. On this day the money will be deposited with the seller and then it is just a matter of picking up, or handing over the keys.

Cooling off period

The time given by the lender for the applicant to reflect on the arrangement and change their mind if necessary

Contents insurance

Cover for household possessions. As a rule it covers anything that can be moved, and often covers items when they are outside of the house, such as a camera you have taken on holiday.

Conveyancing

The legal work carried out during the sale of a property. This should include a local authority search to check that there are no factors that will affect the future value of your home, such as subsidence or planned development.

Credit Reference Agency

A company which collects and stores information used by lenders to determine an individual's credit risk. You have the right to see this information, for a small fee.

Discount Mortgage

A mortgage that offers a short-term discount on its standard variable rate. These types of mortgages typically carry a penalty for early repayment.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A mortgage that has an interest rate which does not move with market fluctuations. This means you can fix your monthly repayments in advance, helping you to plan your financial future. The fixed term can last anything from one year to 25 years. The downside is the mortgages often come with heavy fees and penalties. And, if interest rates fall, you could be locked into a high rate.

Flexible Mortgage

This is a mortgage that allows you to vary your monthly repayments. The advantage is that, if you have extra money, you can pay your mortgage off early and so reduce its cost. Also you can put payments on hold if times are lean. In exchange for this flexibility the loans usually charge more interest.

Gross

Income, such as interest, wages or dividends, before tax and other charges are removed.

Income Multipliers

When it comes to getting a mortgage, this is the most common way lenders work out how much you can borrow.

Interest

The amount charged by the lender for the borrowing of a certain amount of money. How much it is depends upon the credit risk of the borrower and the current inflation rate. It can also refer to the return upon an investment.

Interest-only Mortgage

This is where monthly payments cover only the interest on a mortgage. The outstanding balance remains the same, so the borrower needs to make additional investments to ensure the full amount can be repaid at the end of the mortgage period.

Loan to Value (LTV)

A mortgage term that describes the amount of money a lender will forward you as a percentage of your property's value. Banks and building societies tend to lend up to 95% of property value.

Mortgage

A loan where the borrower offers a property as security to a lender until the full amount is repaid.

Mortgage Broker

A person or company authorised to search the mortgage market for a deal that suits you. They can contact mortgage lenders on your behalf to make arrangements to complete a loan. They charge a fee for their services, though often this will be paid as commission from the lender to the broker.

Negative Equity

The moment your mortgage is worth more than your home you are said be in negative equity. It is never a good thing, but only becomes a real problem if you want to sell your home. Unless you can make up the deficit then your lender can block the sale.

Notaire or Notary

A public official who can witness legal documents, administer and take oaths

Redemption Penalty

This is an interest penalty levied by mortgage lenders on borrowers who pay back mortgages early. It is typically included on mortgages that offer some form of interest rate discount as a means of stopping borrowers leaving as soon as the discount period has run out. Increasingly redemption penalties only apply during the discount period of a mortgage.

Repayment Mortgage

This is a mortgage that requires the borrower to repay interest and a slice of the money borrowed at regular intervals. As long as the homeowner meets every payment, the loan will be fully repaid at the end of the mortgage term.

Survey

An inspection of the property to identify defects, faults and any necessary remedial work. This can then affect the valuation

Valuation

The process of assigning a value to a property. Lenders will demand that a property you plan to buy has a valuation by a registered surveyor before they agree a mortgage.

Variable Rate Mortgage

A mortgage whose interest rate moves in line with changes in the Bank of England Base Rate. The mortgages are set at a premium to the Bank of England rate.


If you have any further questions about buying a property abroad, taking out an overseas mortgage or just need a little bit of a nudge in the right direction, please get in contact with Conti, either via our website (www.mortgagesoverseas.com) or by telephone 08009700985

Frequently Asked Questions Conti - Mortgages Overseas

Frequently Asked Questions

Conti - Mortgages Overseas

I have never heard of Conti, are you safe to deal with?

Conti is the UK's leading independent overseas mortgage specialist and over the last 14 years has arranged thousands of mortgages for satisfied customers. As we are a mortgage broker, we are bringing applicants and lenders together, therefore your mortgage and property are with that lender, not Conti.

Can I rent the property?

Most lenders we work with do allow the rental of a property they are mortgaging. Certain conditions may apply and can vary by lender

How do I get good Legal Advice?

Conti works closely with 2 excellent law firms that specialise in the legal matters related to purchasing overseas. You can find their details on the Other Services page of our website to contact them directly and independently from Conti

How long will I have to wait to find out how much I can borrow?

Conti offers a free 'decision in principle' service, where you can find out how much of a mortgage is generally available to you. This service can be accessed via the website (click here) and takes no more than a few days

Are there ways I can use my UK property to fund the purchase?

At Conti we believe there are significant benefits in having a mortgage through a lender based in that country. However we often have clients who reduce the size of their required mortgage by putting down a larger deposit. This can be facilitated by using the UK property to raise money against. Conti can certainly assist you with this and can find more details on the Other Services page of our website

How long does it take to arrange a mortgage?

This can vary significantly by country and mortgage lender but broadly Conti is able to process the application within a week, subject to the applicant being able to provide all the details we need. It is then submitted to the lender for approval

How do I apply for a mortgage?

Simply click here or call 08009700985

What are the advantages in taking out an overseas mortgage as against raising equity on a property in the UK?

The main advantage of taking out an overseas mortgage is the lender will carry out checks on the property such as an independent valuation. The lender will also ensure clients have clear title and the property is registered in the clients' name upon completion.

Raising equity on a property in the UK may seem straightforward but buying an overseas property in 'cash' could present problems for the buyer if they do not ensure independent checks are carried out on the property. Sadly, all too often we hear of cash buyers where the heart rules the head and basic checks are overlooked, leaving them with a raft of problems such as boundary and title issues. Some may have bought a place in the sun but have had their fingers well and truly burned during the process.

Is it better to buy in the local currency or in Sterling?

Generally it's recommended to take out a mortgage in the same currency as you earn where available. However, if the intention is to rent out the property it may be beneficial to take out a mortgage in the local currency to avoid currency fluctuation costs.

What additional costs above the purchase price should I allow for?

This does depend on the country however it's usually best practice to allow for additional costs such as Legal fees, local or government purchase taxes, arrangement fees, surveyors costs, title searches and deed amendments etc. We generally suggest our clients allow an additional 10-15% on top of the purchase price to allow for these 'extras'

How much do you charge for your services?

Once you are happy with the quotation and wish to proceed we charge an administration fee of £95 for French mortgage cases and £145 for the rest of the world. We then earn commission from the lender that funds the remainder of our costs for processing and submitting the application. In some instances the lender either does not pay a commission or only pays a reduced amount. In these instances we do charge you a completion fee. Clients are always made aware of this at the quotation stage

How will I know how my mortgage is progressing?

A dedicated adviser will handle your mortgage application and will provide regular updates. You can also track the progress of your mortgage online at your own convenience.


For any further information on buying a property abroad, taking out an overseas mortgage or general help and advice, please do get in touch with Conti - Mortgages Overseas either by our website (www.mortgagesoverseas.com) or by telephone 08009700985

Expats: Handy hints and tips for moving abroad

If you want to buy a house abroad and think that an international money transfer would be the best way to fund it it would be worth reviewing the rules for import and export of your possessions.

Everyone has those items that hold huge sentimental value, be it a wedding video, family photo albums, a toy rabbit or a penny you found on the floor the day you won the lottery (I wish). So you should try to be aware of the sometime strict rules that  accompany the process of moving all your things abroad. It always pays off to be as informed as you possibly can.

For example, the transport of vehicles is often tightly regulated. You need to check on the age of car, whether it complies with local maintenance and emission standards among other things to ensure that you can import your vehicle with minimal hassle.

Pretty much all countries will have a list of forbidden objects that will vary from place to place so it’s worth double checking with a relocation expert early on and putting in a little bit of time and effort into research, as you never know what may be considered dangerous in another country. Another mistake people often make is with electrical items. There’s a possibility that your electronic goods won’t work abroad if there’s a significant difference in power or voltage.

It may seem obvious ( some people do forget!), but you should also ensure that any important documents, e.g. your passport, are in a secure yet accessible location. As it would be a pain to remember that your passport is hidden away with your china at the other end of the moving vehicle buried beneath 2 tonnes of old clothes, books, furniture and cuddly toys.

Clare Nessling, director of the UK’s leading overseas mortgage specialist, Conti endorses the use of meticulous planning when moving overseas. Since, with the economic recession, investors making the most out of low property prices overseas may be caught out and have their dream move postponed if they haven’t followed protocol to the letter. However, with common sense, helpful advice, support and a bit of expert knowledge, there’s no reason why moving to your dream home abroad can’t be an efficient experience with minimal hassle.

If you’re planning on moving abroad, buying a home overseas or are thinking about taking out an overseas mortgage, get in touch with Conti - Mortgages Overseas by exploring our website (www.mortgagesoverseas.com )

Best places to retire abroad

While we batten down the hatches and attempt to ride out the economic storm, there are places in the world that i know i would far rather ride it out.

People purchasing a holiday home buy it to rent out, or buy it for personal use, or even a bit of both, but research has found that increasing numbers of people over 50 years old are purchasing properties abroad to ride out retirement. 

There are four main incentives for people moving abroad  such as less tax a much nicer climate so heating bills arent as expensive, a general lower cost of living and with house prices across the world having been hit by the recession, there are SO many great deals around, it is the best time to buy.

Here are 10 places with some of the best deals for anyone looking to buy or retire overseas:

Florida

On average the climate’s a lot warmer than Britain’s, so you’re guaranteed sunshine. Property prices have fallen by 30-70 per cent over the past four years.

You can pick up a one-bedroom condominium apartment for £25-£40,000. A more spacious, and more rentable alternative, would be a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment for £55-£60,000 at Tuscana.This is a new resort just ten minutes from the Disney World Theme Park, in Orlando, and 45 minutes from the Legoland Park at Winter Haven, due to open in October.

Barbados

Brits are the biggest expat community in Barbados. Celebrities such as Sir Cliff Richard and Andrew Lloyd Webber are known to have brought property on the island. Estate agents have  reported a 70 % increase in 2010, in comparison to sales in 2009. This is partially due to house prices being lower in 2008 by 15%. The biggest discounts are on condominium developments.

France

Overall, prices in France are eight per cent down on their 2007 peak. 39 % of Britons moving to France tend to opt for coastal properties, 37% choose rural areas and 19% decide to recline in mountainous areas.
Areas such as Aquitaine, the Dordogne and the Languedoc remain very popular. However the prospect of spending a year or more in Provence, à la Peter Mayle, is as attractive as ever.

If you have a big chunk of money and are looking for a quick return, however, the historic centre of Paris is the place to buy. According to the British specialists Home Hunts apartment prices rose by 20 per cent in 2010.

Cyprus

While the beautiful Cyprian sunshine is just one of the reasons to consider moving to the Greek Island, if in one financial year you spend over 183 days on the island, you become a tax resident, liable for as little as five per cent income tax.

Corporate rates of tax are only 10 per cent. There are newbuilds at Limassol Marina, the Leptos Apollo Beach Villas, near Paphos, and the Sea Gallery Villas, at Amathus.

Italy

You won’t find stacks of cheap, soulless, little modern apartments in Tuscany and Umbria. But you will find lots of rural residences with character.

Prices are between 5-20 per cent lower than September 2008, so for £150,000 you can buy a pretty, stone-built town house in the village of Collodi Castello.

And £208,000 will buy you a three-bedroom hillside home with barn and garden, near Lucca. Purchase tax goes up to 18 per cent from 10 per cent if a property’s land is cultivable.

Mauritius

Picture postcard beaches, and an expat-friendly Integrated Resort Scheme, whereby you, your spouse and offspring enjoy not only residency status, but freedom from inheritance and capital gains tax. This is provided you buy a top-end property such as at the (288-villa) Valriche development next to two golf courses (with another planned). Prices start from £500,000 for a two-bedroom villa.

South Africa

Cape Town is where most Brits gravitate, with its fine beaches and equable climate. Prices can be 50% lower than the most expensive parts of Europe, too.

You can buy a three-bedroom house, in a gated community, overlooking Hout Bay, for £500,000, and rent it out for around £2,000 per month. The two most UK-friendly areas are Clifton and Camps Bay, where 30% of the population is British.

Spain

Property sales in Majorca are up, as is the number of Monarch Airlines flights from Britain. You can buy an (as yet unbuilt) two-bedroom beachside villa at Cala Anguilla for £180,900.

Murcia, in south-east Spain, was the original star of Spanish golfing properties. It now has more links-side homes for sale, at below-par prices. A two-bedroom home costs £45,000 at the Camposol Golf Development, at Mazarron. 

Switzerland

You need to be rich to get in, but once you get in, you’ll get richer. In Switzerland, taxes are decided by an individual’s expenditure and standard of living, rather than income and assets.
 

Turkey

During 2010, property sales to foreigners rose by 40 per cent on the year before, totalling £2.5 billion.

Not quite as good as the 3 billion of the boom years (2006-08), but enough to name Istanbul the best European city for investing in property during 2011.

Buy a place in this fascinating metropolis and you also have a ready supply of would-be tenants for when you’re not there. Istanbul has an estimated housing shortage of 250,000 units per year.

A one-bedroom apartment at the new Belgravia Residence development, in Bahcesehir, 20 minutes from the city centre, costs £48,000. 
 

Before you buy

Ten things to think about before you decide on moving:

·        Do your currency sums. What happens if the pound plummets – or soars?

·        Think jet lag – how many hours’ difference between there and GMT?

·        How dependent on low-cost airlines will you be?

·        Can you afford to keep the place for your exclusive use? Or will you need to rent it out?

·        If you’ve only been there on holiday, what’s the weather like during the rest of the year?

·        Have you a good local lawyer? Often, a mere notaire is not enough.

·        Do you speak the language? If not, you may want to buy into an expat British community.

·        How free (or otherwise) is health care out there?

·        How re-sellable is the property?

·        How easy (or hard) does the country in question make it for your descendants to inherit the place?

if you are thinking of moving abroad, and are looking into taking out an overseas mortgage, whether it be in France, Spain, Italy or South Africa, here at Conti overseas mortgages we can offer you great mortgage deals so you can start soaking up the sun.

Alternatively, if you are happy here in the UK and are in the process of moving but need conveyancing, visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your conveyancing solutions today!!