Over the years, real estate has been pushed as a better investment to stock. With so many differences as wide as the fact that real estate is a solid, physical good while stock isn't, it's hard to see the similarities between both types of investments. An investment in real estate is similar to stocks, in the sense that, there are both negatives and positives, there is an amount of risk involved and there are no guarantees. However, comparing real estate and stocks over many decades, real estate has performed better in generating consistent wealth and long term appreciation for millions of people. But as mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees. Here are five important factors new investors should consider when buying a home abroad.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Home Abroad

1. Availability of good real estate agents. Hiring a good real estate agent is the single most important thing you'll do as a foreign property buyer. Hence you need to verify that these agents can deliver excellent service. This service will usually include post-purchase assistance. Your real estate agent should be able to help with service connections, home improvements and other requirements after the sale. A good real estate agent will also provide practical help and support. So ask questions and verify what your agent can help you with to ensure smooth purchase process.

2. Insurance. Few things done right will save you the hassles when buying property abroad. One of those things is getting coverage. This is particularly true of vacation home owners who might have to leave the property in someone else's care and investors dealing with tenants. Building insurance is a must for foreign property owners in some countries e.g. South Africa. But don't stop there! Get insurance for the contents of your home. While seeking insurance cover, check around. If you can find an insurance company with base in your home country, then go for it. If not, then settle for local insurers.

3. Property improvement. It's a given that you might not like some of the props and arrangement of your new overseas property. So, many new investors go along with renovation ideas and plans. However, home improvements can eat up your savings. Hence, before buying any overseas property, get a reputable appraiser. Don't expect to meet the property in tip-top shape. But if you'll be spending too much on repairs and renovations, then it's a bad deal.

4. Security. How secure is your new property? If there have been record of burglaries in the house, then having a big padlock might not cut it, you might need to move on. You need to determine how secure the area is. Your real estate agent might not disclose this information, so personal research is necessary.

5. Climate. You don't want to buy in an area prone to floods. Regions of extreme hotness or coldness are also out of the question. Look beyond how cheap the property is and get a house in an area you'd be able to 'survive' in.

These are just some basic factors you already know you should consider. But it's easy to take them for granted.

This article explores the advantages of buying preconstruction homes overseas, the risks involved and some precautions to take.

The Advantages of Buying Preconstruction Homes

Buying preconstruction homes definitely offer great advantages. First you get to CHOOSE! You don't just settle for any kind of property; you can select design features and specifications. You can actually be involved in the design of your new investment. If you're a property specialist, you will be able to tweak some features and make the home desirable to prospective tenants.

Also, these kinds of properties offer the best deals. You get the lowest deals on pre-construction homes within the first two weeks of the project's launching. Buying a preconstruction home also means that you don't have to worry about repairs and maintenance. You may not have to perform renovation on a new home for the next five years.

Buying Preconstruction Homes Overseas Is Risky

Just as they offer great rewards, buying pre-construction real estate overseas can quickly turn out to be a sour deal. Hence these investments require foresight, research and an ability to think and make deductions like an investor rather than the average buyer. You should be able to determine where the neighborhood is heading in the near future and also make a comparison of project options within your budget constraints.

The biggest risk behind pre-construction houses is that it's a non-liquid investment. For the period in which the property is being built, which can be two to four years, in the case of condo units, you freeze up a large chunk of capital. Although you might have access to visual representations or projections, you're practically buying an invisible property. You've not seen the finishes or the outward finishes.

These properties also require more down-payment requirements than their resale counterparts and you can't touch your cash or pull out should you need your money. So, it is a risky proposition. How do you protect your investment in this case?

Rules To Follow When Buying Preconstruction Homes Overseas

1. Never pay the full price upfront on a pre-construction property. It's standard to pay 30% of the cost during construction and the rest on completion. You should pay the balance when the property is move-in ready and when you can transfer the title to your name.

2. Check the specification. Do not leave this to the developer. The more detail you add to your contract, the more likely you are to get what you expect. Detail all. Start with the exact size of the home, broken down by rooms and hallways, patios, balconies and storage space.

3. Time. Get a clear deadline for the completion and delivery of the property. Most developers do not finish as scheduled. But do not allow the developer to add a 12-month overload period and go scot-free. He should have to pay a fine if he’s unreasonably late.

4. Make sure you are covered if something goes wrong. The contract should give you a decent time frame for snag-checking, and outline what type of builder's warranty you get. Be sure to include a clause that covers what kind of steps you will take if you cannot resolve a problem with the developer, be it mediation with a trade body, arbitration or a lawsuit. In some countries, if the developer doesn’t complete the property, you will get some of your money. That is not the norm, though.

Buying pre-construction property can be very profitable when you’re in the right market. These rules will help put you on the right track for a successful purchase.

BUYING PROPERTY ABROAD: HOW TO CURTAIL RISK WHEN MAKING OVERSEAS PROPERTY INVESTMENTS

Many people are buying property abroad today because of the investment potential. The price of foreign property can be especially attractive when exchange rates tip the balance in favor of a prospective buyer’s currency. Imagine buying a beachfront house in Brazil for $50,000 when you’d spend $400,000 for the same house in a place like Orange County. Buying property abroad is a way to get actively involved during retirement.

If you don’t want a hands-on management, this type of investment would still generate passive income for you, an income not depending on the US dollar, denominated in another currency. There are reputable property management companies that can help you take care of your new investment and help you make consistent rental income from your investment. The fact that many Americans are not preparing adequately (or even preparing at all) for retirement means many Americans are not living out their dreams after retirement. “About 60% of Americans have no savings in retirement accounts like 401(k)s or IRAs,” reports Business Insider. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) estimates the shortfall in retirement savings to be at $4.13 trillion for heads-of-households aged 25 to 64.

One of the reasons why many Americans lack sufficient retirement savings is that the traditional means of saving are unreliable, according to USmoneyreserve.com. If protecting your retirement is important to you, buying property abroad can help you get the ideal retirement and offer the kind of security that other asset classes cannot provide.

Moreover, there are wasteful aspects in some markets that haven't worked themselves out yet, and those inefficiencies can work further bolstering your good fortune. For example, there are some markets in the world with restricted wellsprings of capital where people need money. Without access to easy credit, they frequently offer their property at a much lower cost to have fast access to money.

Furthermore, when you spend money on overseas property you do not just get the benefit for those market inefficiencies, you additionally have the advantage that a lot of shareholders are so concerned about risk that they create no real hazard, nor create any competition. But even though overseas properties offer a chance to diversify your investment and can help you get the retirement of your dreams, there are some risks. Here are some tips to help you curtail risk when buying property abroad.

1.     Read the books.

The key to successful property investments overseas is to do your homework and not cut corners. By all accounts, read books about the country you are considering buying an international investment property and read relevant forum posts online but do not get sucked in by the sellers and never overlook the power of local knowledge. Even a simple walk around the area can give you a great insight into the events and settings that take place on a daily basis, giving you a real feel for the place.

2.     Beware of overseas investment property in "emerging markets".

This term can be used to dress up areas of neglect. Look around for signs such as closing shops and boarded up houses, as these may suggest a struggling economy. If you come across something else that you do not feel at ease with, do not go with the property investment. Foreign buyers should feel 100% safe in the area before taking the plunge. Likewise, if you look at a series of new developments that are beginning to emerge, this could be a sign that the real estate market in the area is about to take off.

3.     Do not leave yourself at the mercy of the laws of the country when buying property abroad.

Buying investment property on foreign soil requires the advice and guidance of a local lawyer. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you are accredited and credited as well as fluent in English and the language of the country you wish to purchase.

4.     Don’t take the risk of using cash.

Using a bank with an office abroad to conduct large transactions is always the best. Foreign investment properties and those that sell them must be approached with caution and due diligence.

It’s normal to be apprehensive when buying property abroad for the first time or trying anything new. And yes, the risks are there but to be successful in property investing, you mustn’t let that hold you back.