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.

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.

3 SIMPLE TIPS TO FIND GREAT REAL ESTATE DEALS ANYWHERE

In a hot market like the one US is experiencing now, it’s hard to find great deals. Everything is overpriced; median real estate prices are up 160% since 1990, whereas incomes are up 90%, according to seekingalpha.com. Yet, there are great deals up for the taking and this applies with foreign properties also. However, you don’t want a property that will eventually turn out to be a money sinkhole. What should you look for while on the search for your next profitable real estate investment.

1.     Less Risky.

All real estate investments are risky. However some investments are more riskier. There are so many things that can go wrong with development of real estate, land, Tenant-in-Common (TIC) investments, private real estate funds and fixer uppers. These investments are high risk. You may not see a dime of the money you invest again. Before you put money down, it is necessary to do considerable due diligence, analyze, test, review reports etc., to avoid making risky real estate decisions.

2.     Fair cash-on-cash return.

Your stocks, bonds and other financial assets generate a rate of return of between 4% to 6%. Real estate shouldn’t be an exception. It is necessary to shoot for deals that give a fair cash-on –cash rate of return. This means that you need to buy cash flow positive properties and always pro-forma your deals. Check how pro-forma works in real estate investments

3.     Doesn’t take too much of your time.

If you have to travel every week to check out the status of your investment property, then it’s not worth the effort, money and time. These type of properties require considerable time and energy investment before they become smart investments: vacation rentals, low quality properties in bad areas, college rentals etc.

Here are four basic hints you also can use to find great real estate deals, regardless of whether you're searching for an investment property, a property for your business or just a home for your family.

1. Be the first. . . Or the last one.

In real estate, often the old adage is true: The early bird gets the worm.

Often, it is not the highest bid for a property that is accepted, it is simply the first. So, if you are looking to find great real estate deals, be quick about it! Obtain prior approval from a bank so you can jump to any property immediately, and let your real estate agent set you up with automatic email alerts notifying you of any new property coming to the market. So, do not delay - check it out quickly, and make an offer the same day if possible.

On the contrary, another way to find great deals is to look for properties that have been in the market for a long time. Such homeowners are often much more willing to sell for a discount because they are tired of clinging to that property. Many times, they have been making two mortgage payments for months (or years) and will entertain almost any offer.

2. Approach absentee owners in private.

Some of the best kinds of deals can be got from absentee owners, which simply means someone who owns a property but does not live there. They may be landlords (who hate their tenants) or homeowners who inherited their homes and simply do not know what to do with them. You can find these deals in a number of ways, such as:

Drive around, look for vacant homes, and use public records online to track the owner

Buying a list of public records using an aggregate list site such as ListSource.com

Calling mom-and-pop owners who are listing "for rent" properties on Properbuz. Let them know that you are not interested in renting, but would like to talk to them about the purchase.

3. Take a look at a large number of deals.

Finally, recognize that finding discounted prices is basically a "numbers game." You may have to kiss a great deal of frogs to get the prince!

Whether you want to buy an investment property, buy a home for yourself or buy real estate for another reason, keep in mind: You make your cash when you buy. If you wish to have immediate equity on your investment, which can help you build prosperity in the foreseeable future, or save in case there is an economical turndown, you must find great real estate deals.