Buying Foreign Property 5 Effective Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out

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In a seller's market, like the US, buyers must be prepared to do some ground work and move fast whenever they spot homes that offer what they are looking for. In a competitive market, a buyer with cash doesn't necessarily win these days. 2015 Realtytrac stats say that about a third of property buyers in the US are cash buyers. Cash might still have an advantage over mortgage but below are some more tips to create a winning offer.

Only a few sellers can reject an offer of cash but chances are you're not the only one bringing cash to the table. Hence you need other strategies when making a home offer:

1. Move fast.

Moving fast could help you win when making a home offer in a competitive market. If you’re dealing with a seller who doesn't have much time (who does?) and wants to sell fast, all you need to do is put your best foot forward and follow other steps in these article to seal the deal.

You can also offer to close quickly. A standard closing period is about 30 days. If you can close in three weeks instead, this could convince the seller to accept your offer even over one that offers more money.

2. Get a professional.

A proactive and knowledgeable agent will know what works in that community and will be able to create a winning offer fast.  A good agent will be the strongest weapon in your arsenal when in a competitive market. A knowledgeable agent will guide you through winning strategies in that competitive market that may seem crazy when you try them in a slower market.

3. Be human.

Display personality with your offer. One way to do this is by writing a letter to the seller that tells him the reason why you want to buy. Indicate a subtle feature you like about the house (which other buyers didn't notice). Other sellers will appear impersonal.

4. An earnest deposit

A substantial first deposit makes a major difference. A reasonable first deposit will be about 3% of the value of the house. A seller often takes this offer seriously and can feel positive you are focused on the stand by position this offer.

This may give you a winning edge. Submitting a pre-approval notice with the first deposit puts your offer before others by telling the owner you are serious.

 

 

 

5. Money talks.

Of course, the more money you can offer upfront, the better your chances. If you can afford a 30% or 40% down payment (or more), sellers will be tempted to accept your offer. And, in the long run, it will save you money on a mortgage, shortening the length of your loan and the interest you pay. You can also waive some contingencies, depending on what your agent approves.

These tips can put your offer on top of the pile. However, in a competitive market, beating the competition depends on your creativity. 

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Buying a Property Abroad Tips for Investors Entering the Foreign Property Market for the First Time

  • 01, June 2023

It's easy to see why many people dream of buying a property abroad. You can retire on a sea front property or a beach house on one of the popular European costs. Some people have a lifetime dream of living in an alluring resort villa abroad.

As a traveler, it's easy to fall in love with a particular place so much that you develop an ambition to buy a house or an apartment there. If your job requires travelling a lot and you have the means and the courage to buy a property in one of the cities you frequent, why not? This would be a home you can return to on your next business trip.

You can also make a living off renting out foreign property. If you have an investment unit in a tourist location, you'll be getting big returns. This becomes more profitable as currency exchange rates tip in your favor. Exploring foreign housing opportunities is good but here are some things to consider if you're going in for the first time.

Factors You Need To Consider When Buying a Property abroad

1. Purpose of Purchase and exit strategy.

Why are you buying property abroad? Whether you're buying to live in it, for future retirement, for a family member who might be living or working there, perhaps to rent out or to resell at a higher rate, going in with a clear purpose will give you direction and keep things in perspective.

Having an exit strategy is also important. If things don't go as planned, what are the prospects of selling? Knowing your exit strategy before you make a purchase is key. You need to check the attractiveness of the location and the expected demand for housing as well as any renting or selling restriction on foreign property.

2. Growth prospects of the location's economy

You'll want to purchase a house that is situated where there are flourishing businesses or there are forthcoming growth potentials.

3. Land Regulations.

Unlike the purchase of local property, buying a house abroad is not so simple. This is because the laws of foreign ownership differ from country to country. Foreign buyers tend to have more hoops to jump through the purchase of land and face a more complicated buying process.

 

 

4. Potential Property Performance.

Any person buying a property abroad expects to earn from their investment. Before signing any agreement, be sure to ask for evidence to substantiate the projected returns, either through supporting investment reports or external surveys from credible sources.

Tips for New Foreign Property Buyers

1. Thoroughly research the market.

Although global trends in property prices occur, real estate markets in different countries will likely go through separate cycles of rise and falls. If real estate values ??are increasing in London, that doesn’t mean that they are also increasing in Italy or Spain. For those who buy to invest, it is important to pay attention to these trends - the ideal is to buy near the bottom and sell close to the top of a cycle.

2. Use a real estate agent.

Buying directly from an owner can sometimes be a big deal. However, if you are not familiar with the foreign real estate market or struggle with the local language, buying through a real estate agent or a reputable real estate developer can provide a useful guide and help you avoid a number of pitfalls.

3. Have your documents translated.

Before signing any documents related to a potential purchase, make sure that you have translated them professionally. It is essential that you understand any document you will be signing.

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3 Ways Top Investors Finance Their Foreign Property Investments

  • 20, May 2023

What do you do when bank financing is not available in your destination country? This article explores other options to finance your foreign property investment.

You’re not getting the same mortgage deal you’re used to

Bank financing abroad will be different from what you’re used to at home. Here are some ways in which the terms will likely be different:

1. Loan-to value ratios will be around 50 to 75 percent of what you're used to.

2. Terms may be shorter. It's almost impossible to get a 30-year loan when buying abroad.

3. You will be offered adjustable interest rates, rather than fixed.

4. You might be required to get a life insurance to secure your loan for foreign property. This isn't good news if you're already around 60, as banks wouldn't borrow you loans of more than 15-year terms. The reason being that insurance companies, as a rule, wouldn't cover you when you're above 75 years old.

Hence, there is need to check out other financing sources.

Financing tips from experts

Generally, here are some financing tips from foreign property experts:

1. If possible when starting out; start small and pay in cash. If this isn't possible, you can use your current home as collateral, without having to rely on banks or regular mortgages. Depending on the amount of equity in your home, you might get lower rates.

2. Research bank financing terms, requirements and laws in your destination country to decide which financing option would work for you. 

3. Since most of what you know about real estate might be ineffective in your destination country, it would be wise to get a partner or local agent. You'll need someone who can offer useful advice regarding financing and home ownership laws in the country.

4. If you'll be transferring funds denominated in your domestic currency, either to make a down payment, full payment or mortgage payments, don't go through the local bank. Local banks, with their wide dealing spread and limited transaction sizes, offer poor Forex services. Foreign exchange services would offer a better deal. 

 

Options to finance foreign property without using the local bank

Here are three options for foreign property investors who don't want to go through the local bank:

1. Personal loans.

Potential buyers with excellent credit will often fund an overseas purchase with an unsecured personal loan for foreign property. Interest rates can be in the single digits for qualified buyers.

Financing with a personal loan avoids the risks that go with leveraging property with a HELOC or cash refinance. This type of financing is particularly attractive when you are investing in a developing country where mortgage rates are high, and the cost of property ownership is relatively cheap.

2. Seller financing.

Some private sellers might be willing to pay part of the price. The conditions will be whatever you and the owner decides, and an average term is up to five years. In most cases, the longer a bit of property has been on the market, the better conditions you can negotiate. Much like bank funding, don't expect the owner to provide the deed until you've finished paying the loan.

3. Home equity (HELOC).

When cash is not an option, tapping into your home equity is one of the easiest ways to finance a property abroad. If you are investing in a country without a developed banking industry, it can also be the cheapest. Getting a HELOC has the added benefit of making you a cash buyer, which provides leverage when negotiating price.

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Top 5 Considerations for New Investors Seeking To Buy Overseas Property

  • 12, August 2023

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.

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