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Buying a holiday home

Trying the dream:

OK, so you've done your research, been in touch with all of the local estate agents, contacted the embassy and know all there is to know about the area. Now comes the exciting bit - house hunting!

When house hunting abroad don't just dash over on a weekend, look around as many properties as possible, fly back and make a decision. Remember, new houses come onto the market every day (just as in the UK) so there's no need to rush.

If you haven't already visited the area, you may find that what sounds great in a guide book doesn't quite feel right for you. This is normal so don't worry if this is the case, just explore the surrounding areas and you should soon find an area that you like.

A really good way to get to know the area is to combine a holiday with house hunting. Try to take a couple of weeks off work, arrange your viewings in advance and remember to put some time aside to relax and unwind...... you are on holiday after all!

If the viewings are close together try to visit one in the morning and one in the afternoon. That way you don't have to rush between viewings and can sit down and consider each property at a leisurely pace. If you have too many viewings in a day you may find that it all becomes a bit of a blur.

Some lucky owners actually found their dream holiday home just by taking a holiday and driving around exploring an area. If your lucky, you might just happen across your dream holiday home in a perfect location.

Remember, as in Scotland, some countries operate on a verbal agreement system. This means that if you make an offer and the buyer accepts, you are legally bound into buying that property ( so just be careful if you jokingly offer someone £100,000 for a ramshackle old shed! )

Finally, if your opting for the "lifestyle change" option it may be an idea to try before you buy! It's a simple idea but can be a real eye opener and will either confirm that your doing the right thing, or highlight any potential problem areas you may not have considered. It's a popular option with people moving to Australia but there's no reason why you shouldn't do it anywhere.

The idea is that you take at least a month off work and move to your chosen destination. Many holiday home owners offer reduced rates for long term lets so it isn't as expensive as you might expect. In some cases it can cost less than a 2 week break! Then try to live as close to your planned new life as possible. Remember that you may need to obtain a temporary work permit if you plan on working for this period.